web development projects during lockdown_

While our office doors remain closed, our developers have remained busy providing our custom web development services. Tucked away in their home offices, our teams have still been supporting businesses that have had to make huge changes to how they operate. Some of the requests we have received have been pretty simple, such as basic website updates. Others have been a lot more involved and will have a significant impact on how that business operates.

Bespoke Web Development Specialists

We are experts in building bespoke software for a wide range of clients. We have seen an increase in demand for these projects due to the current pandemic. One project involves a complete transfer from paper files (yes seriously) to a bespoke ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. For another, we have been tasked with building an exhibition portal for students to display their work in place of the actual annual event. Both of these bespoke software projects have allowed our clients to adapt and continue to function in challenging times. By choosing to invest in their systems and processes, they have proved to their customers that they can be relied on whatever the circumstances.

Custom Web Development Using Laravel

One of our longstanding clients, Middlesex University approached us to assist with building a custom web portal. They would normally hold a large exhibition showcasing their Creative Minds students’ portfolios. However, due to Covid -19 that could no longer go ahead. Understandably, both the university and the students were extremely disappointed by the prospect of the event being cancelled. The university still wanted to give the students the chance to showcase all of their hard work so we helped to bring the exhibition online. We developed an interactive student portal using Laravel PHP Framework.

Client Requirements:
  • Student profile area – each student needed a secure login accessed with a unique university email address
  • Individual and group work areas
  • Seven main programme categories with further sub categories
  • Each category required an individual admin user so that the requested accounts could be approved. To limit the requests, the email address has to be in the format of [email protected]

The portal is nearly ready to launch and we are excited to see it come to life with all of the students’ work. Our developers ran the project seamlessly over the last several weeks. It will be delivered on time and on budget, making another great joint venture with Middlesex University.

Supercar Finance – Custom ERP System

Background

Supercar Finance is one of the leading specialist finance brokers for luxury, vintage and supercars. However, their processes needed some serious updating. With the outbreak of Covid-19 this became an urgent priority. This was a very traditional business that utilised paper based files and basic spreadsheets for their processes. This obviously made things extremely difficult for staff to work remotely. Paper files were handed between each staff member whilst in the office, but there was no way to transfer them digitally without huge amounts of administration work.

Odoo Development
  • Wirebox held a discovery session that allowed us to learn as much as possible about their businesses processes. Our consultants put themselves into the shoes of their employees to ensure that we understood every requirement.
  • We then created a brief that would allow us to pivot their business so that it could be conducted remotely.
  • Finally, following a gap analysis we identified that the best solution for this finance client would be the open source solution Odoo, which we are highly experienced with.

Odoo is an Enterprise Resource Planning solution that can be customised to any business. It includes modules for managing sales, CRM, billing, accounting and much more. For Supercar Finance, this system needed to log and track all enquiries from the website, follow up the leads, send quotes and above all, be accessible to all employees wherever they were based. Our solution allows the client to track their business processes remotely without the need for paper files or excel. Every stage of the sale is accessible to all members of staff, saving a huge amount of time and administration work. The system not only manages the day to day business but streamlines them boosting the overall performance of the business.

Outcomes

Currently, in the final testing stages, the software will transform how the company works and assist with the growth of the company. Furthermore, it allows them to future proof their business and continue to run while employees need to work from home.

Summary

Whilst categorised as an Enterprise solution, Odoo can be tailored to suit businesses of any size. Wirebox consultants are experienced in working with businesses to provide tailored packages. These will reduce costs, time and administration in managing your business. As an Open Source offering the costs for managing your business can be reduced, tailoring Odoo to work for your business and how your business operates provides high value and low maintenance.

If You Want To:
Streamline your business
Increase efficiency and productivity
Save time, money and resource
Ensure all employees can access and update a database remotely
Then contact us to discuss your requirements and take a look at some of our other custom web development projects – https://www.wirebox.co.uk/our-work/