Expected duration: 1 - 6 months This project is a total redesign of a website selling custom number plates. The site has a very simple structure and the key functionality is a master search of approx 40 million records within a database. The database will be updated based on a regular api call from the DVLA personalised registrations.
Functionality 1. Master Search – the focus of the homepage (and indeed the entire website) will be a simple search box inviting users to enter a combination of characters to search all databases. Results should be returned in an extremely quick time (Similar to DVLA personalised registrations homepage).
2. Current Style Search – the homepage will also include a series of drop down menus providing an alternative method of searching for suitable ‘Current numbers’.
3. Prefix Style Search – again the homepage will provide a series of drop down menus providing an alternative method of searching for suitable ‘Prefix numbers’.
4. Buying – On the Search Results page, each result will be displayed with a price and a Buy Now button. Whenever a visitor clicks the “Buy Now” button, they will be directed to a new page requesting a range of information including: • Name • Address • Tel no • Email • Year of Car • Reg of Car new plate is going onto • Google Captcha – to prevent any spam orders After entering the above information, the buyer will be transferred to PayPal to pay a deposit of £120. This will receive email notification of their purchase including details of the total cost, deposit and remaining balance.
5. Admin Panel – This will display all orders including details of the buyer, total cost and amount outstanding. In addition, it will facilitate database maintenance, enabling aspects of the API call.
6. There are approx. 400 pre-owned numbers and a similar number of NI numbers. These pages should return these results is alphabetical order. Users should have the ability to sort by cost also.
7. Pagination – all results pages should have include a standard pagination script. The user should have the ability to increase the number of results shown per page.
Notes/ added functionality: A. The website should be based on an existing platform or framework to ensure that it is kept continually up-to-date. This platform could include a CMS to enable content to be updated and provide a secure admin panel. *Note: We would be interested to see if the WordPress platform can be used as this would be preferred by the client. However the overarching objective is the fast retrieval of results from the database.
B. The website should be responsive – so that it displayed optimally on mobile devices.
C. The DVLA database contains a single table with c. 40 million+ records. There are approximately 400 pre-owned numbers and a similar number of NI numbers which will require a separate table.
D. The DVLA table (current and prefix numbers) will be updated using their API service (see separate guidance). This should be an automated process with an API call every 60 mins. Appropriate error handling should be included.
E. The Pre-Owned and NI numbers table will be updated as numbers are purchased and the administrator will be able to manually add/edit through the admin panel.
F. All areas of the website will be secured with a SSL certificate.
G. We propose obtaining a VPS to host the website.
Website Proposal – Please provide the following information: • An itemised cost breakdown to deliver the project; • Approximate length of time to undertake the project; • Your cost schedule (i.e. % of deposit etc...); and • Any questions/recommendations on the above specification – or any Terms & Conditions you have. • Your approach/ methodology including the proposed framework/ database schema/ design of the API call etc including a project plan.
If there are aspects of the site that have a disproportionate impact on the project cost these should be highlighted within the proposal as the client has a limited (4 figure) budget - excludes VPS/SSL etc.
