ABOUT PROJECT
Tired of limited selection? Craving something unique? BorderBuys shatters borders, connecting you to a world of exciting products. Founded by visionaries Yuting Tao and Brigitte Chua, BorderBuys was born from a straightforward yet strong vision: to make global trade as easy as local shopping. This innovative peer-to-peer marketplace caters to a diverse array of products and services, from tangible goods to digital downloads and professional services, creating a truly comprehensive international marketplace. What makes BorderBuys impressive is its seamless handling of the intricate logistics involved in cross-border transactions. By taking care of international shipping and payment processing, the platform eliminated the headaches typically associated with global commerce. This allows the users to focus on what really matters – finding great products and growing their businesses.
For buyers, BorderBuys opens up a world of possibilities. Whether you’re an individual looking for unique items or a business seeking cost-effective suppliers, this buying and selling marketplace provides access to a global inventory at your fingertips. The diversity of products available is matched only by the cultural richness of the international seller community. Sellers, on the other hand, can reach customers far beyond their local markets without the need for complex international business setups. BorderBuys provides the tools and infrastructure necessary to sell globally, allowing businesses of all sizes to tap into new markets and expand their customer base exponentially.
Key Challenges
From the outset, the development of BorderBuys required us to be exceptionally creative and resourceful. While we didn’t have a detailed design document, this challenge pushed us to excel in translating abstract concepts into tangible, user-friendly features. To bridge this gap, we developed a process of creating simple yet effective mockups and visualizations. These visual aids became the cornerstone for discussions with the client, ensuring a clear understanding of the user experience we envisioned. Every task, no matter how small, became a topic of intense discussion with the client.
It was a delicate balance of fostering innovation and maintaining perfect clarity. By constantly explaining the logic behind each element and presenting visualizations in an easy-to-understand manner, Roobykon ensured the client remained on board throughout the development journey. This emphasis on collaboration and visualization proved to be the key to overcoming the challenges and transforming BorderBuys from concept to reality.
TECHNOLOGY STACK
core API
Solution Highlights
BorderBuys leverages the solid foundation of Sharetribe, a popular open-source marketplace framework. Such a pre-built infrastructure streamlines development and ensures a secure and scalable platform. The backend, the engine that drives BorderBuys, is built with Express.js, a robust web framework for Node.js. This combination guarantees efficient handling of server-side logic and data processing. Plus, the inventory marketplace resides on Digital Ocean, a trusted cloud infrastructure provider, which ensures exceptional performance, scalability, and robust security for all user interactions.
THE PROCESS
01
Client consultation and requirement gathering: When the BorderBuys team approached Roobykon with their vision, we knew we were in for an exhilarating challenge. The journey began with an in-depth consultation between our team at Roobykon and the client. The initial focus was to understand the client’s vision for the marketplace and identify the key objectives. We gathered requirements through a series of meetings and workshops, delving into the specifics of the reverse payment functionality and the need for additional payment checkpoints.
02
Design and planning: Based on the gathered requirements, we crafted a comprehensive design plan. This included mapping out the reversed listing process, redesigning the user interface to accommodate the new “help me buy” focus, and planning the integration of additional payment checkpoints.
03
Development: Our development team tackled the project in sprints, focusing on two main areas – reversing the marketplace logic, and enhancing the payment process. We reconfigured the listing system to make “help me buy” listings more detailed and prominent. We also reversed the payment flow so that when a listing is created, the payment is directed to the person fulfilling the purchase rather than the lister. Moreover, we implemented additional checkpoints in the payment system to increase security and transparency for cross-border transactions.
04
Testing and quality assurance: Following our rigorous development cycle, each new feature and modification underwent thorough testing on our staging environment. This included functionality testing of the reversed marketplace logic; security testing of the new payment checkpoints; user experience testing of the redesigned interface.
05
Client feedback and iteration: We maintained constant communication with the client throughout the development process, primarily through Slack. After each major development milestone, we presented our progress for client verification. Based on their feedback, we made necessary adjustments and refinements.
06
Deployment and launch: Once all features were approved and thoroughly tested, we proceeded with the deployment to the production environment. This involved ensuring all systems were in place and fully operational for the new user base.
07
Post-launch support: After the successful launch of BorderBuys, we provided ongoing support to ensure smooth operation and address any issues that arose during the initial usage period.
08
Continuous improvement: We established a feedback loop with the client to gather user insights and identify areas for future enhancements, ensuring that BorderBuys continues to evolve and meet the changing needs of its users.
Main Features
Innovative reverse marketplace logic
BorderBuys introduces a unique feature that revolutionizes the traditional marketplace model by allowing buyers to post listings for desired products. Sellers can then respond with offers or negotiate prices. It facilitates a dynamic negotiation environment, supported by a robust notification system.
Enhanced transaction documentation
The platform supports multi-photo uploads at crucial transaction stages, enhancing transparency and user confidence. This feature includes user-friendly elements such as file previews and format validation to ensure a smooth experience.
Flexible commission structure
The marketplace employs a hybrid commission model, combining percentage-based and fixed fees. This approach offers scalability and transparency for all users.
Clear listing categorizatio
Distinctive labels clearly differentiate between various listing types across the platform, improving navigation and user understanding of different transaction modes.
Streamlined communication channel
An intuitive inquiry system allows for direct communication between buyers and sellers, facilitating information exchange and negotiation.
Comprehensive payout management
The platform includes a dedicated section for sellers to manage their payout details, supporting multiple payment methods to ensure efficient fund transfers.
Adaptive shipping fee system
BorderBuys features a flexible, weight-based shipping fee structure. This system is configurable, allowing for customization to meet varying logistical needs and preferences.
RESULTS
When Roobykon and BorderBuys joined hands, we undertook a mission to reinvent cross-border commerce. The results of our collaboration have been truly transformative, turning the inspirational idea into a powerhouse of international trade that’s setting new benchmarks in the e-commerce world. One of the most impactful features? The reverse marketplace system with price negotiation option. It allows buyers to request help in purchasing items and engage in negotiations directly with sellers, making the process more dynamic and user-driven. This is a game-changer that elevates user interaction and brings a fresh, user-centric twist to online shopping.
In the world of online P2P marketplaces, trust is currency. Our enhancements to the payment process, with additional checkpoints and robust measures, ensure every transaction is safe and transparent. This builds trust among users, solidifying BorderBuys’ position as a leader in secure cross-border trade. The story of Roobykon and BorderBuys is far from over. It’s a narrative of continuous improvement, relentless innovation, and unwavering commitment to making global trade more accessible than ever before. With the successful launch of BorderBuys in May 2024, we’ve marked a significant milestone in our journey and added another successful Sharetribe case study to our list of achievements.
Lessons from BorderBuys
They say smooth seas don’t make skilled sailors. Well, the BorderBuys project was our perfect storm, and it turned us into master navigators of the digital realm. Firstly, the absence of a pre-existing design taught us the importance of visualization in communication. We found ourselves creating mockups and wireframes not just as design tools, but as essential communication bridges. This challenge honed our ability to translate abstract concepts into tangible visuals, a skill that has since become one of our greatest strengths.
The reverse marketplace concept of BorderBuys pushed us to think outside the box. We had to unlearn traditional e-commerce paradigms and reimagine how a marketplace could function. This experience taught us the value of questioning assumptions and approaching problems with a fresh perspective. It’s a mindset that now permeates all our work, allowing us to bring innovative solutions to even the most conventional projects.
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