Boosting Efficiency in Online Trading with CRM Integration
Integrated the client’s CRM with a trading platform, streamlined tax management, and gave the team more time to focus on growth.
Client
For over 20 years, Precious Metals has operated a coin auction. What started as a single brick-and-mortar shop in California grew to four locations. Eventually, the client went online to reach customers nationwide. Demand grew so rapidly that Precious Metals had to build custom software to automate its business processes.
By 2018, the company decided to monetize this software: turn it into a product and sell it alongside the core business. At that point, the client chose to replace the original development team and found us through a hiring platform. Switching vendors is never easy—we understood their concerns. That’s why we suggested starting with a single task and moving forward based on results.
Challenges
Our starting point was to integrate the client’s software with the eBay marketplace to enable international sales. All of Precious Metals’ products—both offline and online—were already tracked in their own system. With our help, synchronization with eBay was the next step in that chain.
To be honest, we knew little about coin collecting. At first glance, it looked like another eCommerce project—we had already built dozens of online stores. But eBay integration came with its own unique challenges and required us to learn fast.
We had to dive deep into the subject matter—numismatics, notaphily (paper money collecting), gemology, and precious metals. It turned out to be surprisingly engaging.
1. Narrow Niche
At first glance, the client’s CRM looked like any other. We had built similar systems before, but this time the challenge was more complex. The project required creating unique API integrations not found in other sales management solutions.
2. Legacy Code
The database design had been handled by another vendor, leaving the project with a significant amount of legacy code—a common trait of the niche and that earlier development.
Sometimes it’s easier and cheaper to start from scratch. But in this case, legacy wasn’t a verdict—it was a challenge. We didn’t choose the stack, refactor the code, or touch the architecture. We worked with what we had—that was Precious Metals’ condition.
We dug into the code, studied the details, and asked questions. Open communication with the client made all the difference.
How Precious Metals Significantly Increased Profits With Our Help:
CRM–eBay Integration
The client no longer has to do double work: first pulling data from eBay, then re-entering and processing it in their own system, and finally sending it back to eBay.
Now, once a purchase is made on eBay, the data is instantly duplicated into Precious Metals’ database. The team continues working in their own software, while the buyer can track order details and status directly in their eBay account.
Automated Tax Compliance
The U.S. tax system is complex in general—and even more complicated in this niche. We implemented an integration within the client’s CRM that completely automated tax compliance.
Now everything happens automatically: filing returns, verifying reports and payable amounts, sending deadline reminders, and monitoring outstanding balances.
API Design for Data Processing
To ensure smooth performance, we combined several methods: data streaming, compression, caching, and asynchronous processing. This approach enables Precious Metals to scale its business many times over without sacrificing performance.
Result
The success of the first project encouraged Precious Metals to continue working closely with us for several years. Over that time, we solved a wide range of challenges—from synchronizing with eBay to enabling CRM customization for individual customer needs.
Most importantly, we tackled the client’s most complex, costly, and time-consuming challenge: tax automation. As a result, 75% of the time previously spent on preparing reports and tax returns manually was freed up. This allowed Precious Metals to focus on what really matters—scaling the business.
manual work with process automation.
online sales growth through eBay expansion.
average order value year-over-year.
What happens next:
Having received and processed your request, we will reach you shortly to detail your project needs.
After examining requirements, our analysts and developers devise a project proposal with the scope of works, team size, time and cost estimates.
We arrange a meeting with you to discuss the offer and come to an agreement.
We sign a contract and start working on your project as quickly as possible.