Use vendors as wishlist's items
Overview
Enhancing the usability of a marketplace that focuses on services or job boards, the "Vendors as Favorites" feature allows users to mark certain vendors as favorites, providing a streamlined way to re-access and manage preferred service providers, profiles, or companies.
This feature leverages the Kreezalid Front API and requires users to be logged in to utilize it.
Endpoint Utilization and Details
Add a Vendor to the User's Wishlist
HTTP Method: POST
Endpoint: /front_api/v1/wishlists
Body Request:
{
"item_id": 123456,
"type": "vendor"
}
Remove a Vendor from the User's Wishlist
HTTP Method: DELETE
Endpoint: /front_api/v1/wishlists/{item_id}?type=vendor
Retrieve all Vendors from the User's Wishlist
HTTP Method: GET
Endpoint: /front_api/v1/wishlists?type=vendor
Check if a Vendor is in the User's Wishlist
HTTP Method: GET
Endpoint: /front_api/v1/wishlists/{item_id}?type=vendor
Considerations
Parameter: type
While employing the same endpoint for both listings and vendors, it is crucial to utilize the type
parameter to denote the kind of item being manipulated:
-
Value: Can be
listing
orvendor
. -
Default Behavior: If this parameter is omitted or contains an invalid value, the type will default to
"listing"
. -
Mixing Types: The usage of both
listing
andvendor
types is supported but cannot be amalgamated within a single API request.
Usage Tips
Clarity in API Calls
Ensure that API calls made by your application are explicitly defined with clear parameters, especially the type
parameter, to mitigate the potential for incorrect data manipulation or retrieval due to the defaulting behavior.
Managing and Displaying Vendor Favorites
Developers might implement user interfaces that smoothly allow users to manage and view their favorited vendors. Ensuring that these UI elements provide intuitive interactions (such as adding, viewing, or removing favorites) will enhance user experience and encourage the usage of the feature.
User Authentication
Since users must be logged in to utilize the wishlist feature, developers should ensure seamless user experiences by aptly handling scenarios where non-authenticated or non-logged-in users attempt to utilize the feature. This might involve triggering login prompts or displaying informative messages.
Error Handling and User Feedback
Ensure your implementation includes adequate error handling. Should an API request fail or return an unexpected response, providing the user with appropriate feedback or alternatives is paramount. This not only maintains a smooth user experience but also assists in troubleshooting should issues arise.
Future Improvements and Iterations
- Wishlist Management Features: Explore and implement additional functionalities like sharing wishlists, notifying changes in favorite vendors (like updates, new offerings, etc.), or enabling sorting and filtering within the wishlist.
- Analytics and Data Utilization: Employ data on user’s favorited vendors to provide personalized recommendations, targeted marketing, or to gain insights into popular vendors and services within your platform.
Conclusion
The "Vendors as Favorites" feature enriches the user experience by providing a tailored approach to browsing and interacting with a service-oriented marketplace or job board. Developers should ensure a precise, secure, and user-friendly implementation by following the outlined endpoint usage, ensuring adequate error handling, and focusing on user experience in the UI/UX design and interaction flow.