Case Study - HelpWorks Italia
HelpWorks Italia, based in Italy, provides various services to property owners (see their website for full details). It also makes available on the web directories of local businesses, property for sale and property to rent.
As it is a new company, we designed their new computer system to be as easy to use as possible, with the ability to expand as the business grows. The system is at present in its third phase of development; more functionality (for example, search, sort and filter capabilities, registration for newsletters) are planned for development when business needs dictate.
The website contains a mixture of static (i.e. the information changes infrequently) and dynamic (the information often changes) pages; the static pages contain text supplied by the client and the dynamic pages are created on demand from XML generated by the back-office system.
The back-office system is built using Microsoft Access© although any database with the ability to generate XML could be used. Microsoft Access provides robust database features. The data is stored in a separate database from the forms, reports etc. which means that it can be protected from unintentional changes while allowing additional reports and queries to be written quickly and easily by HelpWorks Italia as required.
The site is fully dual-language (English and Italian) - a user can click on the flag at the top right of every screen to switch from one to the other.
Website:
Home page
Summary page
Details page
Response Form
Google MapBack Office:
Main Screen
Data Entry
ReportBack-Office - Main Form
This screen allows access to all the back-office functionality. The application stores all the dynamic information displayed on the website. Functionality is supplied to enable advertisement and feedback details for display on the website to be safely added, amended and deleted. Provision is also made for HelpWorks Italia's own notes and details to be recorded for each advertisement and for an advertiser's contact details to be stored. A basic contact management system is also provided.
XML data files can be generated independently for property advertisements and general advertisements (to allow different staff members to be responsible for different sections of the business). Once generated, the advertisements can be previewed locally before a third-party application is used to copy the XML to the live site. The new data is then instantly visible online.
Back-Office - Data Entry
This is an example of one of the many forms used to enter/change data. This one is for amending the details of a general advertisement; the forms for property sales/rentals are similar. All forms have a similar look and feel and data is validated on entry for reasonability.
The ad will not be shown on the website until the Publish? checkbox is ticked; this cannot be done until all the mandatory information has been entered.
Back-Office - Report Example
This report shows advertisements overdue for renewal or due for renewal within the next month.
Because the advertisement data is stored in a protected Microsoft Access© database, HelpWorks Italia can write their own reports and queries using it without fear of inadvertantly changing vital data.
Website - Home Page
This static page contains an overview of the services offered by HelpWorks Italia and highlights current offers and links to frequently-visited parts of the site.
Website - Summary Page
This dynamic page shows a list of summary details of properties to rent. The region is selected by the user from the row of tabs at the top.
The features of a particular property are listed in the coloured title bar and also as icons at the foot of each advert. The colour of the title bar is determined by the environment of the property (town, village or rural).
Feedback for each property is encouraged and can be viewed in a pop-up window.
Advertisements for HelpWorks Italia's services and tips on what to do next are interspersed between properties - after the first one then after every two - these intervals and the text shown are configurable.
The link at the top left of the screen encourages prospective clients to request an information pack. This consists of a form and other documents, created and maintained by HelpWorks Italia, that are automatically sent to the email address entered.
Advertisements for private property sales and general advertisements (regional and international) are displayed in a similar way.
Website - Details Page
This dynamic page shows full details of a property for sale. In can be displayed by clicking on the Details icon, reference, picture or More details... link on the summary page.
A form to encourage contact with the property owner is incorporated at the foot of the page and a link to the owner's website (if they have one) is supplied.
A pop-up window showing the location of the property can be opened. The maximum zoom level is restricted for property sales to deter exact identification of the property.
The page incorporates a picture gallery - a larger picture is shown when the user hovers over a thumbnail.
Website - Response Form
This is an example of one of several forms in the website. This form enables a user to contact an advertiser. The email will either be sent directly to the advertiser or will be sent first to HelpWorks Italia for translation and forwarding.
Website - Google Map
This sample page uses Google Maps© to show the locations of outlets for an advertiser in the International Directory. This advertiser has three outlets, listed in the right-hand panel. When the user clicks on an outlet its marker changes colour from brown to green and its information box is displayed. The map can be zoomed and panned.
Google maps are also used to show the locations of properties for sale and to rent, in which case the right-hand panel is omitted (as a property only has one location usually!); the feature icons and a picture of the property are shown instead.
Please note: the pictures of forms and webpages show data from a test system.
If a system like this could seriously help your business, contact us to discuss the options.
