Schedule online tours - marketplace built on Sharetribe

Schedule online tours - marketplace built on Sharetribe

A Sharetribe based marketplace for booking mountain and outdoor sports tours, featuring custom design, SEO optimisation, and off-session payment

Schedule online tours - marketplace built on SharetribeSchedule online tours - marketplace built on Sharetribe
Client
Bergzeit GmbH
Year
2022
Services
Marketplace development
Platform
Sharetribe

Project Overview

Bergzeit GmbH, based in the south of Munich, is a renowned online retailer offering a wide range of mountain and outdoor sports goods. Bergzeit Erlebnis extends this by providing numerous courses, tours, and trips for various mountain sports. Whether mountain biking, skiing, paragliding, or canoeing, Bergzeit Erlebnis offers activities for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts. The marketplace allows tour operators to sell their products, enhancing the overall experience for customers.

Schedule online tours - marketplace built on Sharetribe

Execution

IT House collaborated with Bergzeit to build their marketplace on the Sharetribe Flex platform, incorporating numerous customizations to meet their specific needs. Key features implemented include:

  1. Off-Session Payments: While Stripe allows escrow payments for up to 90 days, many guests prefer to book further in advance. We implemented off-session payments, extending the possible booking period to one year.
  2. Unique Design: The marketplace design was customized to match Bergzeit's online store, ensuring a cohesive brand experience.
  3. Complicated Listing Wizard: A detailed listing wizard was developed to help tour operators provide comprehensive information about their offerings in multiple steps.
  4. File Storage on Azure: Integrated Microsoft Azure for storing PDF files within listings, allowing tour operators to upload and manage documents efficiently.
  5. Start & End Date Overlapping: Developed a specific availability management system to handle overlapping start and end dates for the same tour, enhancing booking flexibility.
  6. SEO Optimization & Route Change: Customized routes for category pages to maintain SEO rankings. Additional SEO improvements included updating meta information, adding a sitemap, optimizing images, and changing cache policies.

Project Results

The collaboration between IT House and Bergzeit has resulted in a robust and user-friendly marketplace that aligns with Bergzeit’s brand and operational goals. The custom features have significantly enhanced the functionality and user experience of the platform. Off-session payments have increased booking flexibility, while the unique design and detailed listing wizard have improved usability for both customers and tour operators.

The integration with Microsoft Azure for file storage has streamlined document management, and the advanced availability management system has optimized booking processes. SEO optimization efforts have preserved Bergzeit’s search engine visibility, ensuring continued traffic and engagement.

Jürgen Roth, Head of Travel Business at BERGZEIT GmbH, praised the collaboration, highlighting the continuous improvement and valuable advice received from IT House, which has contributed to the marketplace's success.

Overall, Bergzeit Erlebnis stands out as a comprehensive and efficient platform for booking mountain and outdoor sports tours, supporting the company’s mission to inspire and equip outdoor enthusiasts.