Smooth Migration and Advanced Features

The Challenge

Circular Supplier had the complex job of moving their existing directory to Brilliant Directories. This directory included hundreds of members and important old data from another platform. The main challenge was dealing with the existing data setup, especially members having multiple service places, which isn't a standard Brilliant Directories feature. Also, they needed to add more functions to the platform with custom filters and better data management ("Assets" and "Actions"). This was to make the new site much stronger and easier to search than the old one. The main goal was to do this migration and upgrade without losing any key information or features.

The Solution

We built a complete solution that involved custom development, processing data, and changing the main platform parts to help with a successful move and build the advanced features needed on Brilliant Directories:

1. Custom Data Migration & Multi-Location Import

   We created special PHP plugins to process the client's CSV data from the old platform. These plugins were made specifically to handle importing members, correctly reading and automatically connecting multiple locations from one CSV line to Brilliant Directories' service_areas table. We added data checking and geocoding logic to make sure all imported locations were correct, worked well, and were properly linked to member profiles from the start.

2. Flexible "Assets" & "Actions" System

   We created a completely custom system, managed from the BD admin area, that lets admins define and assign specific "Assets" (like materials handled, equipment) and "Actions" (like services provided) to member profiles. This included building an easy-to-use CRUD interface using AJAX and DataTables that fits smoothly into the BD admin area. This gave the client strong new ways to put their members into categories.

3. Advanced Dynamic Search & Filtering

   We added the new "Assets" and "Actions" categories into the site's search. This meant adding dynamic dropdowns and checkboxes to the main search form on the homepage and the sidebar search module. This lets users do very specific searches by mixing location filters with certain Assets and Actions, getting much more relevant results.

4. Sophisticated Backend Search Engine Modification

   We made big changes to the main Brilliant Directories member search code. This involved changing the main search algorithm to handle complex SQL queries that used combinations of location, Assets, and Actions filters dynamically. This made sure the advanced search worked well and accurately without breaking anything in the existing platform.

5. Streamlined Multi-Location Management

   After the first import, we set up strong management tools for multiple locations. This included smart geocoding specifically for Australian states and building an admin area to easily see members with multiple locations and start the geocoding process for many or single members.

Technical Implementation Notes

This project used a lot of backend development with PHP and complex work with the MySQL database inside the Brilliant Directories system. Main technical challenges were building strong logic for reading CSVs and checking data, creating and adding custom Brilliant Directories plugins, changing main search algorithms, using AJAX and jQuery for dynamic frontend and admin areas, and integrating geocoding services.