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Moline, IL
Corporate Website
http://www.rockislandauction.com
GOALS:
- Redesign the existing RIA website from the ground up, taking full advantage of emerging technologies such as Microsoft Visual Studio and SQL Server 2005
- Devise a mechanism for integrating the existing auction item management system with the online bidding process
- Aid and assist RIA in developing an interactive, online catalog that mirrors their high-quality, printed catalogs used for regional and premiere auctions with the option to order a printed catalog to be mailed out to them
- Create a secure area of the website for users to bid on auction items, create and manage wishlists, view previous and current bids, set up online notifications for items of interest and manage their online account
- Synchronize images used for auction items, customer name and address information, wishlists, bids, and notifications with the existing auction item management system
- Aid and assist RIA in the management of consignment requests for items to be sold
- Provide RIA with a means to create, schedule, send out and track targeted email campaigns to visitors who chose to sign up for additional information through the website
SOLUTIONS:
disEntropy started by providing RIA with an in-depth analysis of the current website as well as a list of recommendations for the new website based on conversations with RIA administrative, marketing and technical staff. RIA reviewed and approved the recommendations and gave disEntropy the go ahead to develop wireframes and design compositions to be used on the new site. Through a series of meetings online, in person and over the phone, the final design for the site incorporated auctions and online auction information, consignments and the ability to submit consignment requests, news articles and press releases, upcoming events, related links as well as general information about RIA as a company and contact information for both the corporate and auction facility.
The integration and synchronization of online information with the existing auction item management system took on the form of a series of web services created using Microsoft Visual Studio. These web services process a set of complex business and procedural rules for data management in order to reconcile data from the website and data stored on the RIA network; they are scheduled to run on a regular basis as determined by RIA and are also available to be run from the content management system used to govern the site.
This content management system allows RIA to manage and maintain the content displayed on the website – including images, downloadable documents, and media such as movie and audio files. The system provides RIA with screens and modules to review catalog orders, manage bid and consignment requests as well as to send and track a variety of scheduled email marketing campaigns. The existing auction item management system is synchronized with the content management system on a nightly basis and gives RIA the ability to control the auction items displayed on the site, suggested bids for upcoming items and prices realized for items sold.
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