Background
Our client is a well-established manufacturer of high-quality hot tubs, serving the US, Canadian and International markets. Their product line boasts an impressive array of 18 different hot tub models, each designed to meet specific user preferences and requirements. Initially, the company’s website showcased these models on a single, static webpage. This approach, while straightforward, had its drawbacks, particularly in terms of user experience.
Challenge
The primary issue with the existing website setup was its user-unfriendly interface. The long, static page listing all 18 hot tub models in detail was overwhelming for visitors. Potential buyers found it challenging to navigate through the extensive list to find a hot tub that met their specific needs – such as a particular seat capacity (like 4 seats), or preferences for different ranges (Custom Series, Classic Series, Core Series). Additionally, customers interested in specific features like the number of loungers, jets, and pumps had to manually sift through all the options, leading to a time-consuming and often frustrating experience.
Solution
To address these challenges, we developed a dynamic and user-friendly search filter through a custom-made plugin designed to work on WordPress. This filter is a collection of tick boxes, each representing different features of the hot tubs, such as seat capacity, series type, and specifics like the number of loungers, jets, and pumps. When a user selects a combination of these features, the website dynamically updates to display only the hot tubs matching the selected criteria. This update happens in real-time, with no need for the page to refresh, thereby offering a seamless and efficient browsing experience.
Customised Filter on Front End
We created an easy-to-use, instantly updating filter which allows the end user to filter the range down based on their needs.
Customised WordPress Plugin in the Backend
The front-end filter itself is powered by a customised plugin. An additional feature of this plugin is that it allows a web designer to edit the CSS search filter and results giving them control of the layout and appearance.
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Technologies Utilised
- MySQL: We employed MySQL to efficiently manage and store the detailed product information. This robust database system allowed for quick retrieval of hot tub details based on user queries.
- Central API with PHP: A central API, written in PHP, serves as the backbone of our solution. It processes the user’s selections and communicates with the MySQL database to fetch the relevant product information.
- AJAX: To ensure a smooth and uninterrupted user experience, we integrated AJAX into the website. This technology enables the webpage to update the displayed hot tub models dynamically, based on user inputs, without the need to reload the entire page.
Post Written by Craig Edmonds
Craig co-owns JUCRA Digital and brings a rich background in hospitality and finance. Transitioning from finance, he embarked on a sabbatical to Marbella, Spain in 2000 and has since made a significant shift into web design and wordpress development. Residing in Marbella ever since, Craig thrives on the dynamic challenges of the internet, has a strong affinity for WordPress, and is an enthusiast of Cpanel.