KATALOGDOMU.COM
Kategoria
Custom Development
Klient
MEDIA EXCELLENT, s.r.o
Realizácia
3 weeks
KatalogDomu.com is a leading advertising platform focused on distributing ready-made architectural plans for family homes to customers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The site serves as a comprehensive catalog of house projects – from bungalows to multi-story houses, duplexes, and terraces. It is not an e-commerce platform with online payments but a fully functional advertising site where customers can browse, filter, and select from an extensive database of construction projects, including complete project documentation and building permits.
The project consisted of two key pillars: migrating the original outdated website to a modern WordPress platform with a completely new visual design, and developing a sophisticated administrative CMS system that allows the client to effectively manage hundreds of architectural projects.
(VÍZIA)
The vision of the project was to create a modern, fast, and intuitive platform that would become a reference point for anyone planning to build a family home. The goal was not just to transfer existing content to a new foundation but to fundamentally improve the user experience and provide the client with tools for effective content management.
At the same time, we wanted the administrative interface to be intuitive enough that the client would not need technical support for daily catalog management. Therefore, we invested significant effort in developing a custom CMS system that operates like an Excel spreadsheet – an environment with which the client is already familiar.
(PROBLÉM)
The migration of the old website brought numerous technical problems – inconsistent data formats, missing metadata, non-functional images, and broken links between entities. We systematically identified and resolved each issue through custom migration scripts and manual quality checks.
In the area of the CMS system, we faced the challenge of creating an interface that could seamlessly operate with hundreds of records without performance degradation. We implemented virtual scrolling, lazy loading, and database query optimization. The admin panel functions like an Excel spreadsheet with options for deletion, boosting (highlighting) projects, advanced search, filtering, bulk updates, and import/export to Excel.
The upload queue for products was a specific requirement from the client. The admin can upload up to 20 products at once, and the system processes them in a batch. This way, the client does not have to wait after each individual upload – instead, they click on upload and all projects are processed in one batch. The implementation included an optimistic UI, where products are displayed immediately with a status indicator, and advanced error handling, which retains successfully uploaded projects in case of failures and allows retry only for those that failed.
(NÁŠ POSTUP)
We approached the project strategically, emphasizing long-term sustainability and scalability of the solution. The first step involved a thorough analysis of the original website, identifying all existing functionalities and mapping user scenarios. Based on this analysis, we designed the architecture of the new solution that reflects the real needs of both end-users and administrators.
The migration was carried out in phases – first, the transfer and transformation of data, followed by the implementation of the new design, and finally, the gradual deployment of new functionalities. This iterative approach allowed us to minimize downtime risk and ensure a smooth transition without losing organic traffic or search engine indexing.
We closely collaborated with the client to define priorities and requirements, ensuring that every decision was supported by real data and user research.
(POTREBY UŽÍVATEĽA)
The end user of KatalogDomu.com is typically someone planning the construction of a family home and looking for a ready-made architectural project, including complete documentation and building permits. Their primary need is to quickly and easily find a project that meets their requirements – budget, plot size, number of rooms, and lifestyle.
Therefore, we implemented an advanced filtering system with sliders for price range, footprint, and house width. Users can sort results by various criteria and instantly see relevant offers. The search functions in real-time without the need to refresh the page, significantly enhancing the user experience.
From the administrator's perspective, a key need was to efficiently manage a vast catalog of projects. The CMS system with batch operations, import/export to Excel, and advanced filtering in the admin environment allows the client to manage the entire site content independently without reliance on a development team. This significantly reduces operational costs and increases the speed of content updates.
(VÝZVY)
One of the biggest challenges was the migration itself. The original website contained hundreds of products with complex data – technical parameters, images, prices, and inter-project links. It was essential to ensure that no data was lost and that the SEO value of existing URL addresses and backlinks was preserved.
Another challenge was search optimization. The original search system did not work correctly, and users had difficulty finding relevant projects. We implemented advanced filtering by project type, number of rooms, garages, footprint, maximum house width, and construction cost – all with real-time result updates.
The third pillar of the challenges was the CMS system. The client needed to manage a large number of products efficiently. They requested batch upload of up to 20 projects at once to avoid waiting for the completion of each individual product upload. This required implementing a queuing system during uploads, optimistic UI, and advanced error handling that could gracefully process failures of individual items without affecting the entire batch.
(USER CENTRIC)
In the redesign, we focused on making the entire user experience intuitive and seamless. The new design is built on clean lines, clear navigation, and an emphasis on the visual presentation of projects. The hero section on the homepage allows for immediate filtering by key parameters – project type, number of rooms, garages, construction cost, maximum house width, and footprint.
Detailed pages for individual projects present all important information clearly – from technical parameters to visualizations and floor plans, to information on prices and availability. The entire design is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices, where most traffic today originates.
For administrators, we created an interface that respects their work habits. The CMS system with an Excel-like interface facilitates quick orientation and manipulation of data without the need for technical expertise. Inline editing, drag-and-drop functionality, and keyboard shortcuts increase productivity in the daily management of the catalog.
