Introduction
Viorne Marketplace primarily focused on B2B connections but also aimed to serve the B2C segment. It offered a diverse range of products, services, and accommodation rentals. A standout feature of the platform was its reverse marketplace functionality, which allowed buyers to post their needs, enabling sellers to reach out with tailored offers.
Challenge
The Viorne team faced several hurdles in creating a versatile and user-centric marketplace:
- Diverse Listing Types: The platform required four distinct listing types, each with customized fields, pages, and detailed line-item breakdowns, adding significant complexity.
- Reverse Marketplace Model: Unlike traditional marketplaces, Viorne allowed customers to post service requirements as listings, enabling service providers to find and connect with them. This necessitated a robust matching system to ensure users only viewed relevant listings.
- Multilingual Functionality: To serve its Bulgarian audience, Viorne needed comprehensive language translation beyond what Sharetribe’s native tools offered.
- Dynamic Static Landing Page: The platform called for a visually striking static landing page with smooth transitions, localized content, and full integration into the broader application.
- Subscription based features: Sharetribe provides robust tools for building online marketplaces, including options for setting up subscription-based access to features.
Solution
To address these challenges, the team customized Sharetribe extensively:
- Customized Listings: Each listing type was uniquely designed to match its purpose, with tailored display pages, user-specific fields, and a detailed line-item breakdown for enhanced transparency.
- Reverse Marketplace Implementation: A category-based matching algorithm was developed, ensuring users only saw listings relevant to their needs. This complex feature turned Viorne into a dynamic, two-way platform for providers and customers alike.
- Comprehensive Language Translation: Every category, field, and menu option was translated into Bulgarian. With a single click, users could switch the entire application to their preferred language, delivering a truly localized experience.
- Dynamic Static Landing Page: The team designed a completely new static landing page featuring engaging transition slides and seamless language integration, setting the tone for a polished and professional user experience.
- Subscription based features access: The marketplace operated on a recurring subscription-based revenue model and the users can cancel their subscription at their wish, any time. Sellers were required to subscribe to unlock certain premium features, such as contacting potential buyers and accessing restricted buyer details.
Matching Listings:
This feature enabled the automatic matching of buyer requests with relevant seller listings and vice versa. Whenever a matching listing was created, users were notified via email, ensuring they were promptly informed about new opportunities aligned with their interests. This required integration with a third-party email service provider. These notifications played a crucial role in driving user engagement and encouraging regular interaction with the marketplace.
Outcome
The Viorne marketplace transformed into a powerful, user-friendly platform that exceeded expectations:
- Enhanced User Engagement: The intuitive listing types and reverse marketplace model simplified connections between customers and service providers.
- Localized Experience: The fully translated interface resonated with Bulgarian users, boosting adoption and satisfaction.
- Professional First Impressions: The visually stunning static landing page drew users in and showcased Viorne’s innovative capabilities.
Impact
The success of the Viorne project demonstrates the adaptability of the Sharetribe platform and the power of tailored customization. Viorne not only brought its vision to life but also set a new standard for marketplaces with unique operational models and multilingual capabilities.
