AutoPartEx Now Has Agile Map Navigation

Just a few days ago, we set out to enhance the presentation layer to ensure it’s exceptionally user-friendly across mobile, tablet, and desktop platforms. At first, the map displayed simple pins, acting as an introductory point and a blank canvas, if you will. Fast forward from 2022 to 2024, and the map now offers the agility to seamlessly navigate through OEM auto part listings. In fact, the home page has received a well-deserved upgrade—how do you organize over 100 million records? Simply showing all those pins on the map isn’t user-friendly; it would lead to an overwhelming mess.

Clustering and Layers Now In Place

What improvements have we implemented to enhance the organization of thousands of auto parts on a map? We've chosen to truncate the auto part results, allowing users to gain access to more detailed OEM auto part data as they zoom in from a bird's-eye view. This enhancement was made possible by incorporating clustering on the map, utilizing colors and circular shapes to indicate areas with multiple pins. This approach effectively organizes extensive data, creating a layer that reveals high-density auto part listings. By zooming in using your fingers or mouse, you can swiftly ascertain the quantity or numerical count of listings available in that area.

As illustrated in the snapshot above, a grayish circle containing a number indicates to users how many auto part listings exist in that specific location. We believe this strategy is preferable to displaying numerous pins, particularly in a "zoomed-in" scenario. Such clutter could lead to several issues, including the inability to trigger pop-up or tooltip cards, difficulties in viewing other pins obscured by product cards, sporadic pop-ups as users scroll, and various other inconveniences.

Instead, there will be a single pin representing a particular dealer, and within the product card, a paginated pop-up will allow users to cycle through listings using previous and next buttons.

Paginated OEM Auto Part Map Listings

Below, you’ll find an example of pagination at a closer view, where all the necessary information is readily available for users to take action. We are committed to continuously enhancing this feature, with the aim of making it easier and more efficient for users to find and act on information. Over time, we will refine the UX/UI of this feature, including the addition of image previews. Currently, there is only an icon intended to grab the user’s attention; when clicked, it will reveal a full-size or medium-sized image of the auto part. This is a significant advancement, as a vast number of OEM auto parts available online only feature representations and not actual images.

 OEM Auto Part Image Preview

In this last photo, you can clearly see an example of what the image preview feature looks like, showcasing its user-friendly design. Notably, it includes mobile-friendly options such as a conveniently placed "x" button that allows users to easily close the image preview with just a tap. This thoughtful design consideration ensures a smooth and efficient experience for users navigating the interface on their mobile devices.

So What's Next?

We are experiencing significant pressure to expand the AutoPartEx categories and data within the web application framework. Our primary objective is to scale quickly and update our desktop mega menu as soon as possible. This initiative could take anywhere from three to six months to fully program and populate all categories with data. To put this into perspective, we’re looking at approximately 2,000 categories along with hundreds of thousands of listings.

Once we successfully scale the initial categories and data seed, we will focus on enhancing the responsive design for mid-desktop and mobile devices.

Simultaneously, we will connect the main menu to the "back-office," allowing auto part dealers and recyclers to upload, edit, sell, and manage their auto part listings. Although a beta version has been developed, it is not yet ready for public use. In the meantime, we have created powerful software to manage data aggregation from hundreds of oem auto part recyclers for free and for the public to consume and take action on!