A well-known Croatian company, HETA, one of the largest and most respected importers of watches and jewelry in the Croatian and regional markets, had a mission: to establish an online presence that would reflect their reputation and tradition dating back to 1892. Turning to Dwizards, they sought a webshop solution that would be functional and reflect the spirit of their brand.

Challenge

HETA, already well-known in the Croatian market, wanted to further expand its reach through an online presence. Their requirements were:

1. Flawless user experience.
2. Strong brand identity representation.
3. A scalable platform that could keep up with the growth of inventory and user traffic.

Solution

1. User-focused design: Dwizards began with intensive user research, resulting in an intuitive design that facilitates easy browsing and shopping.
2. Brand Integration: Using HETA’s existing branding, Dwizards integrated the colors, typography, and ethos of the brand into every aspect of the online store. The aim was for visitors to feel the essence of HETA as soon as they visited the site.
3. Scalable backend structure: Dwizards provided HETA with an e-commerce platform ready for future growth.

Technologies

Front-end: For a dynamic user interface, we combined HTML as the foundation for structuring content, CSS for customizing the appearance of interface elements in line with HETA’s brand identity, and JavaScript for dynamism and interactivity, allowing fluid browsing and user interaction.

Back-end: To support scalability and security, we chose PHP as the language to build dynamic features, ensuring fast and efficient processing of user requests.

Database: To guarantee stability and continuous data availability, we chose the MySQL database, enabling secure and efficient storage, and frequent management of a wide range of information.

Such a technological approach ensured not only the fulfillment of all HETA project expectations but also provided a flawless user experience, strongly and authentically emphasizing brand identity, while simultaneously ensuring scalability crucial for future growth.

Result

A few months after launch, HETA’s online store recorded an increase in online sales, an increase in the number of registered users, and the average website uptime climbed to 99.9%.

User feedback indicated a high level of satisfaction with the shopping experience, highlighting the ease of navigation and the payment process. Dwizards’ dedicated approach to understanding HETA’s unique requirements and challenges resulted in the creation of an e-commerce platform that is both brand-focused and user-oriented. HETA’s online store testifies to how the combination of technology with a deep understanding of brand identity can yield phenomenal results.

With the progressive growth and evolution of modern technological solutions, boundless opportunities arise to enhance and expand our perceptual understanding of the world through various digital platforms. Dwizards, known for its expert software development, embraced the unique opportunity to develop a mobile application related to the educational book titled “Discover Animals Through AR Experience.”

Project Background

The book “Discover Animals Through AR Experience” isn’t an ordinary educational tool; it represents a complex amalgamation of information that aids readers of all age groups in understanding different animal species better. The aspiration to produce an interactive version of this book led its authors to search for a software company competent for this undertaking.

Why Dwizards?

Dwizards is primarily recognized for its technical prowess and commitment to quality. With a team of experienced developers and designers, we were the logical choice for crafting this application.

Development Process

The app development process was segmented into pivotal phases, each having its unique goals and requirements:

a) Analysis and Planning

Target audience research: Detailed investigation into the needs and wishes of prospective app users.
Feature definition: Selection of key functionalities for implementation.
Prototype and wireframe creation: Constructing visual guidelines to serve as the foundation for design and development.

b) Design and Development

Graphic design and User Interface (UI): Crafting intuitive and visually appealing interface components.
Backend and Frontend programming: Implementing the application’s logic using modern programming languages and tools:
• Unity – Modeling and execution of 3D elements.
• Vuforia Augmented Reality SDK – Linking 3D elements with book graphics.
• Android SDK – Customizing and launching on the Google Store.
• iOS developer SDK – Customizing and launching on the Apple Store.
Multimedia content integration: Incorporating interactive illustrations, videos, quizzes, and related components.

c) Testing

Automated and manual testing: Identifying and rectifying bugs and flaws within the app.
Performance optimization: Enhancing the app’s speed and efficacy.

d) Launch

App deployment: Publishing the app on relevant platforms.
Maintenance and updates: Ongoing surveillance and upkeep post-release.

Application Features

“Discovering the World’s Animals” isn’t just any app. It offers a rich spectrum of interactive attributes, presenting each animal within the book in an intriguing and novel manner.

Results and Feedback Collection

The application achieved remarkable success, receiving positive reviews from users and industry experts alike. Its role in education and access to new layers of interactivity is invaluable.

Terms like “API”, “Bug”, “Hosting”, “Frontend”, “Backend” and many others often leave those who communicate with web developers with a big question mark above their heads. In order not to appear completely ignorant in the eyes of IT professionals, many do not dare to ask the simplest question: “What does that mean?” Therefore, we bring you a small dictionary of the most common developer terms.

“404”

A page indexing error that usually occurs when trying to open a web page that does not exist. Why is it called 404? 404 HTTP is a status code used by the web server to describe this type of error.

Algorithm

It represents a draft of a problem and a way to solve it, it represents a set of operations needed to solve a task in a specific order.

API – Application Program Interface

API allows two different programs to communicate with each other by making certain parts of a website’s code available to developers. Using an API enables developers to use the work of other developers to write new complex code, with everyone using the same standards.

Adaptive/Responsive Design

Adaptive design creates a website in several different looks, each suitable for different screen sizes. Depending on the device used to access the website, the website will adapt and deliver the appropriate design.

Attribute

Information about the elements of the component in the design/creation of your website.

Agile

Agile web development essentially refers to a certain way of working. In an agile team, web developers will work in weekly or bi-weekly sprints. A sprint usually consists of five phases: design, development, testing, implementation, and review.

Backend

All digital operations behind the scenes that are needed for the front-end of the website to work, such as coding, styling, and add-ons. If the front-end of your website is what the audience sees, the back-end drives what the audience sees.

Bug

A website error that prevents normal operation in accordance with expectations.

CMS – Content Management System

A program used to create and maintain the content of your website. It is usually designed for non-programmers for ease of use. Our personal favorite at DWizards is WordPress.

CRM – Customer Relationship Management

Software used for collecting, analyzing, and maintaining customer information.

CSS – Cascading Style Sheet

Code that tells the browser how to display a website to end-users. It pertains to formatting fonts, colors, and other visual elements.

CTA – Call to Action

“Buttons” on your website that encourage specific conversions or goals such as donations, newsletter signups, or user registrations.

Debugging

When a bug occurs, it needs to be “debugged” – meaning identified and solved.

Domain

The website address as entered in the browser (ours is www.dwizards.agency). If the hosting company where your web project is located is like a house, the domain is its postal address.

Firewall

A system for protecting a secure network from an insecure network.

Framework

A package of programs used in the development of websites or software.

Frontend

The user interface of a website, or what the end-user sees and interacts with.

Git

During the development of a web project, developers constantly change their code. Git allows you to track changes and undo them if necessary.

HTML – Hypertext Markup Language

A coding language used to create a website in terms of form and function.

Mobile-first

Mobile-first is a web design and development approach that prioritizes mobile devices.

Plugin

Modules or software that can be added to your system for additional functionality or features.

Redirects

Automatic forwarding from one URL to another – typically from an old website URL to the same page on a new website. Other redirects can range from between two domains to short URLs to full URLs (e.g. bit.ly URLs).

Sitemap

A sketch of all the pages on a website, organized in hierarchical order.

UI Design

Refers to the design of the user interface, which includes screens and interactive touchpoints that make up a website or application. Swiping motions, scrollbars, and clickable buttons are all part of user interface design – basically everything that makes up the user interface.

UX Design

UX design refers to designing the user experience, which involves providing a smooth, user-friendly experience for the end-user as they navigate through a website or application.

Wireframe

The basic structure of a web page. It shows the layout of the page, how content should be arranged, which interface elements and navigation systems should be included, and how all these components work together. The focus is on functionality, not aesthetics.