Website for Consumer 'ELYSEE' Using PHP –
Store Locator
Client Brief
Client approached us with a requirement of enhancing the existing store locator functionality in his Amazon Webstore site. The client wanted to have a better system where they can show stores only of USA, Canada as well as the Caribbean countries. He was using MySQL database to input store information into one table and then select a priority for every zip code in America. This was a very tedious and long process because every time the client used to add a new store, he needed to enter the priority for that store for the few hundred or thousand zip codes you want the store to show up in.
Our Endeavor
Initially our idea was to move over to Google maps, which will sort the results based on closest location as per the entered zip codes. Suppose customers enters 90210 zip code in the new version, he/she can see the results showing all the locations (both on the map and then in complete detail on the right side of the map). These results would be shown based on the proximity of a maximum of 75 miles and the default display should be the closest location to the furthest location. If the Zip code is entered incorrectly or the map couldn't find a location for that code, it will have a generic message to call client's toll free line or shop online.
We have integrated the Google maps functionality to display the stores from USA, Canada and Caribbean on the map. The search functionality was further enhanced to search stores based on Country, State in addition to Zip Code. This helped the users to easily search for the desired stores within the range.
A list of stores i.e. the data has been also shown at the bottom of the page in a tabular format based on the proximity, so that users can found the nearest stores first. We have also provided the "Locate Store" feature for each store so that the stores can be individually shown on the map.
Other functionalities like "Clustering", "infoWindow" and "Search by State" has also been added. There were several modifications made on the Admin Section of the site to consolidate the same with the new store locator page.
Other functionalities includes:
Clustering: We have made a cluster of stores that are available in a given area. When a user enters a zip code, he/she can see the cluster of stores available in and around the area.
InfoWindow: InfoWindow looks like any comic-book word balloon. It has a content area and a tapered stem, where the tip of the stem is at a specified location on the map. We have also integrated a floating InfoWindow in the website, which will carry the relevant information about a store available in a particular area.
Technology/Platform
PHP
Industry:
Retail & Wholesale
