Mobile Websites and data feeds

tadpole88 · 9th Nov 2011, 08:14 PM

I have been asked by 2 Auto dealers about pulling their data feeds from their system to populate a inventory listing on their mobile site. The feed will come in via csv can anyone provide me a way or point me to someone who can help me build something for this.

Aaron Doud · 9th Nov 2011, 11:13 PM

Honestly this is something that people get paid a lot to handle for dealers.

Our old webhost was 1500 a month and the current is about 500 a month.

arty49 · 10th Nov 2011, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by tadpole88

I have been asked by 2 Auto dealers about pulling their data feeds from their system to populate a inventory listing on their mobile site. The feed will come in via csv can anyone provide me a way or point me to someone who can help me build something for this.

I am building the exact same thing for my car dealers here in NZ. BUT I have advised them that I will develop it in Php/Mysql so whenever they make an update it is immediate no waiting around for a new csv to be built and uploaded.

As the above poster alluded this is not a cheap exercise; HOWEVER once you have it built for one car dealer it is pretty much money for jam as you can on-sell the script many times over or better still lease it for a monthly fee and even host it. lol

Hope this helps.
And if you are interested I can help you build the web application with master admin and owner login for your user to login and update as and when they want too.

Ron
skype me if interested: snazzyarty

tadpole88 · 10th Nov 2011, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by lordauric

Honestly this is something that people get paid a lot to handle for dealers.

Our old webhost was 1500 a month and the current is about 500 a month.

Exactly thats why I want my share. I currently am working with 6 dealers handling some of their social marketing in one form or another. I also have personal contacts at another 15 dealerships from another business that I sold recently that only serviced dealerships. I know auto dealerships fairly well and understand what their goals and expectations are but more importantly I understand what they are willing to pay.

Originally Posted by DEaFeYe

You're going to need a tad bit more information.

When you say "feed" it makes it sound like a live web service, but when I think .csv (although very possible) I don't think of something that's frequently updated and hosted for access any time.

So, is somebody going to be manually dumping this .csv files somewhere, or is it pulling from a source that frequently updates or changes?

Oh, and most competent developers who have experience building mobile optimized sites will have no issues with something like this. A .csv is really just like working with a single table in a relational database model... it's just a different format for the data.

He calls it a feed but it is basically a .csv file (with information each particular vendor needs) that is exported from his database on a daily basis and sent out.

Originally Posted by arty49

I am building the exact same thing for my car dealers here in NZ. BUT I have advised them that I will develop it in Php/Mysql so whenever they make an update it is immediate no waiting around for a new csv to be built and uploaded.

As the above poster alluded this is not a cheap exercise; HOWEVER once you have it built for one car dealer it is pretty much money for jam as you can on-sell the script many times over or better still lease it for a monthly fee and even host it. lol

Hope this helps.
And if you are interested I can help you build the web application with master admin and owner login for your user to login and update as and when they want too.

Ron
skype me if interested: snazzyarty

Not sure why this will be so expensive because like DEaFeYe states it just a table out of a relational data base. I was thinking that if I built the mobile site using html and then pull the data needed from the table to populate what needs to be populated it would not be that difficult, but I know very little about this that is why I am asking. As customer sends updated .csv for now I could just ftp new file over old file and data would be current. (Just thinking out loud)

The owner of the dealerships showed me his system and how it works he also stated I could buy the feeds from other companies he is providing it to like: dealer.com, digital motorworks, integralink, stoneeagle to name a few. I am not interested in purchasing the feed from these guys if he is willing to provide it for free.

Here is an example of a mobile site he liked: Dallas Ford Dealers | Bankston Ford | New & Used Ford Cars, Trucks, SUVs in Dallas, Irving, Lewisville, & DFW

If you need a good mobile phone emulator I like this one works better than any I have used to date: Mobilizer | Springbox

zardon · 10th Nov 2011, 08:44 AM

Why is it in CSV? Is it not possible to get in JSON, as it sounds like you are writing some kind of PHP based API to help get feed data from your sources.

zardon · 10th Nov 2011, 11:35 AM

No, just offering an idea for a possible route of delivery thats all, sorry for the mis-understanding.

JToneyUK · 10th Nov 2011, 01:46 PM

If there's a backend mysql database a system can be developed in PHP. That's one thing I'd do. Obviously it's a pricey job. As someone has pointed out though there may be some universal backend system in place tailored to the motor industry. If that's the case integrating it into your mobile system could be problematic and very expensive.

Alternatively, a cheaper option is to have a mobile site totally separate from their system and you charge monthly or a pricing structure to manage it. This then brings in recurring income for easy page updates which should take no time at all. Especially if you charge on a per car/page basis.

scarab · 15th Nov 2011, 09:03 AM

tadpole, you get what you pay for. Of course it is not hard to do for someone that can write code. Outsource it overseas and get it cheap but some will take your code and resell it to others right here on this very forum(ANS, Azhar,ExpertAzhar).

I have done this and like most real US programmers you are going to pay me what it is worth. Programmers don't bitch about paying for an SDK or some other tool, so salesmen shouldn't bitch about paying for our services.

Not sorry for the rant.

Aaron Doud · 15th Nov 2011, 10:01 AM

Also once you make the system you can sell it to multiple dealers.

Also you can offer to send the feeds to other places they uploading their inventory.

9th Nov 2011, 08:14 PM	#1
tadpole88 Active Warrior Join Date: 2011 Posts: 83 Thanks: 10 Thanked 26 Times in 21 Posts	Mobile Websites and data feeds Share on: I have been asked by 2 Auto dealers about pulling their data feeds from their system to populate a inventory listing on their mobile site. The feed will come in via csv can anyone provide me a way or point me to someone who can help me build something for this.

9th Nov 2011, 11:13 PM	#2
Aaron Doud Sales & Marketing War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 2,813 Thanks: 716 Thanked 1,696 Times in 954 Posts	Re: Mobile Websites and data feeds Share on: Honestly this is something that people get paid a lot to handle for dealers. Our old webhost was 1500 a month and the current is about 500 a month.

10th Nov 2011, 08:44 AM	#5
zardon HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2010 Location: Newcastle, UK Posts: 202 Thanks: 24 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Mobile Websites and data feeds Share on: Why is it in CSV? Is it not possible to get in JSON, as it sounds like you are writing some kind of PHP based API to help get feed data from your sources.

10th Nov 2011, 11:35 AM	#6
zardon HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2010 Location: Newcastle, UK Posts: 202 Thanks: 24 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Mobile Websites and data feeds Share on: No, just offering an idea for a possible route of delivery thats all, sorry for the mis-understanding.

10th Nov 2011, 01:46 PM	#7
JToneyUK HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: North West, England Posts: 267 Thanks: 97 Thanked 41 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Mobile Websites and data feeds Share on: If there's a backend mysql database a system can be developed in PHP. That's one thing I'd do. Obviously it's a pricey job. As someone has pointed out though there may be some universal backend system in place tailored to the motor industry. If that's the case integrating it into your mobile system could be problematic and very expensive. Alternatively, a cheaper option is to have a mobile site totally separate from their system and you charge monthly or a pricing structure to manage it. This then brings in recurring income for easy page updates which should take no time at all. Especially if you charge on a per car/page basis.

15th Nov 2011, 09:03 AM	#8
scarab Making It Happen Join Date: 2010 Location: Everywhere Posts: 159 Thanks: 42 Thanked 20 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Mobile Websites and data feeds Share on: tadpole, you get what you pay for. Of course it is not hard to do for someone that can write code. Outsource it overseas and get it cheap but some will take your code and resell it to others right here on this very forum(ANS, Azhar,ExpertAzhar). I have done this and like most real US programmers you are going to pay me what it is worth. Programmers don't bitch about paying for an SDK or some other tool, so salesmen shouldn't bitch about paying for our services. Not sorry for the rant.
	Last edited on 15th Nov 2011 at 09:04 AM. Reason: spelling

15th Nov 2011, 10:01 AM	#9
Aaron Doud Sales & Marketing War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 2,813 Thanks: 716 Thanked 1,696 Times in 954 Posts	Re: Mobile Websites and data feeds Share on: Also once you make the system you can sell it to multiple dealers. Also you can offer to send the feeds to other places they uploading their inventory.