Modernizing eCommerce Platform

Background

I led a critical project at for a growth-phase SaaS startup specializing in parking enforcement and permitting solutions for municipalities. Our task was to modernize the eCommerce platform, which allowed patrons to pay parking tickets and purchase permits, into a PCI-compliant, user-friendly portal. As 75% of traffic came from mobile devices, our legacy system, which lacked responsiveness and modern UI/UX design, needed an overhaul to meet customer expectations, enable scalability to larger municipalities, and maintain compliance.

Business Needs

Mobile-friendly design: With 75% of traffic originating from mobile devices, the outdated, non-responsive system needed a redesign.
Modern UI/UX: The portal’s legacy interface lacked modern design patterns, negatively impacting user experience.
PCI compliance: The existing platform processed unencrypted credit card data, rendering it non-compliant. A PCI-compliant solution was mandatory to ensure data security.
Customizability: The old system allowed minimal customization, with just a logo and a paragraph at the top. We aimed to offer customers more flexibility in branding their pages.
Zero downtime: With a goal of 99.999% uptime, ensuring uninterrupted service was vital as any downtime could significantly affect revenue streams.
Fund distribution: Funds from payments needed to be disbursed directly into customers’ accounts within 48 hours.
Recurring charges: We needed to support recurring payments for parking permit renewals.

Project Implementation

Team Structure

I compiled a team of three people, including a frontend developer, backend developer, and a QA tester. I led the project and contributed hands-on development, specifically the Stripe integration for payment processing.

Technology Stack

I used Stripe for payment processing, leveraging their "Checkout" and "Connect" features, which allowed us to avoid acting as a payment facilitator. This ensured out-of-the-box PCI compliance, as Stripe handled all payment forms securely.

On the frontend, Bootstrap and jQuery for a responsive design. Despite the availability of modern JavaScript frameworks like Angular / React / Vue, jQuery was chosen due to the team’s familiarity and the tight project deadlines. The backend was built using C# .NET MVC, with extensive use of partial views for customization features such as:

Custom backgrounds and logos
Dynamic color schemes
Banners and announcement options

Project Phases

To minimize risk and gather feedback, we implemented the project in four distinct phases using Azure DevOps for project management:

Phase 1 (~4 months): Stripe integration with ticket payments for low-volume customers.
Phase 2 (~1 month): Rollout to higher-volume customers while continuing work on the permitting module.
Phase 3 (~3 months): Rollout to customers using our parking permitting services.
Phase 4: General availability.

Challenges and Solutions

After Phase 1, we encountered issues with payment inconsistencies, causing concerns among early adopters. These transient errors prevented some payments from processing completely, resulting in discrepancies between Stripe’s records and our system.

To address this, we quickly developed an internal daily reconciliation process using an Azure Webjob. This tool automatically compared transactions in Stripe against our database, sending notifications to the engineering and support teams if any discrepancies were found. Proactively addressing these concerns and communicating our efforts to customers restored confidence in the platform.

Outcome

The project was a success on multiple fronts:

Improved sales and marketing: The redesigned portal became a highlight in sales presentations and RFPs, showcasing our software’s modern design and robust functionality.
Customer satisfaction: Both customers and their patrons responded positively to the improved mobile experience, faster fund distribution, and the added customization options.
Scalability: The new platform allowed the company to expand its offerings to larger municipalities, significantly growing our customer base.
PCI compliance: By leveraging Stripe’s compliant solution, we ensured data security and reduced our compliance burden.

The portal was not only a technical success but also played a pivotal role in the company's growth, providing value that extended well beyond its initial scope. The improved payment portal became a centerpiece for sales presentations and RFPs, helping the company expand its customer base and solidify its position in the market.