AuctionWorx Enterprise

AuctionWorx Enterprise Auction Software
Enterprise-Class online auction software
built cleaner, friendlier, and extensible.

AuctionWorx Enterprise is a complete auction website solution.

List your own products or create a marketplace with multiple vendors.

It can be configured and ready to deploy as-is or customized to suit your business needs.

We chose AuctionWorx after extensive research and comparison... The professionalism that we have encountered has been second to none.
The RainWorx team has treated us very well...
James B - Maryland
More than Auctions

AuctionWorx Enterprise includes Auctions, Fixed Price, and Classified listings. All listing formats can be turned on/off and configured through the Admin Control Panel.

Enable multiple vendors to sell on your marketplace - allow sellers to post listings and optionally charge fees

Single Seller Mode - list your own products as the only seller, replace or build on to existing sales channels, or liquidate assets

auction listing template
bidding checkout
Essential Ecommerce Features

Offer buyer checkout with sales invoicing, sales tax, shipping options, and multiple payment options.

AuctionWorx Enterprise intelligently suggests the grouping of items purchased from each seller, according to shipping and payment options, for each invoice.

Custom Field Attributes
Custom Fields
Any number of Custom Fields may be defined for listings and user accounts. The advanced parameterized search system will query listings utilizing these custom fields.
Examples:
  • A Real Estate listing may contain custom fields for : Square feet, Number of Bedrooms or Year Built.
  • A Vehicle listing may contain custom fields for : VIN number or Mileage.
  • A Fashion listing may contain custom fields for : Size or Condition.

Feature List

Complete Auction Website
  • Multiple Sellers mode
  • Charge listing Fees
  • Single Seller mode
  • List your own products
Technology
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • ASP.NET MVC 2
  • jQuery JavaScript Library
  • ASP.NET 4.0 (C#)
  • Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (or Express)
User
  • Registration
  • Feedback
  • Custom User Fields
  • My Account Buyer/Seller Controls
  • Internal Messaging System
  • New Message Indicator
Ecommerce Functions
  • Sales Invoicing with checkout options
  • Credit Card Payments
  • PayPal Payments
  • Flat rate shipping options
  • Sales Tax
  • Taxable shipping option
Browse and Search
  • Categories
  • Regions
  • Advanced search
Developers and Customization
  • Accounting Service
  • Common Service
  • Listing Service
  • Notification Service
  • Scheduler Service
  • Site Service
  • User Service
  • Templates based on master pages
  • CSS based design
  • Extend using Provider model
  • Developer API
  • N-tier application architecture
Security
  • SSL support
  • Encryption (3DES)
  • Microsoft AntiXSS
  • External authentication through Membership Provider
  • Forgot Password Reset
  • Impersonate User (Admin Function)
  • Role based permissions
  • Require Admin Approval (Optional)
  • Require Authentication to access website (Optional)
  • Email Verification System
Performance
  • Support for load-balanced environments
  • Microsoft Azure support
  • Database level paging
  • Caching
Site Control
  • Web-based Site Administration
  • CMS - Site Content HTML Editor
  • CMS - Social media content
  • CMS - Footer and Header Scripts
  • Users - Edit and Assign Roles
  • Users - CSV Export
  • Category Management
  • Banner Ad system
  • Email notifications with templates
  • Reports - Sales Transactions
  • Reports - Listing Fees
Listing Formats
  • Standard Auctions
  • Fixed Price Sales
  • Classified Ads
  • Allow listing formats by category
Auction Features
  • Proxy Bidding
  • Reserve Price
  • Buy Now
  • Auto-extend (Sniper Protection)
  • Configurable Bid Increments
  • Auto Relist
Listing Options
  • Multiple Image Uploads (Asynchronous)
  • Custom Listing Fields
  • YouTube Video Support
  • Bulk Relist
  • Featured and Decoration Options
  • Add to Watch List
  • Price Field Updates via AJAX (Asynchronous)
  • Specify End Date/Time (Optional)
  • Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC)
Localization Support
  • Multiple Language support
  • Multiple Currency support
  • Server Time Zone Offset
SEO
  • Clean, semantic HTML
  • Friendly URLs
  • Sitemap
  • Dynamic Meta Keywords and Meta Description
  • Custom Meta tags for Categories

An Enterprise-Class .NET solution built from the ground up and based on over 10 years of experience and customer feedback.  We started by developing a solid base framework - FrameWorx is an extensible platform for ecommerce marketplaces with its first incarnation as AuctionWorx.

Technologies

 
  • ASP.NET 4.0
  • Microsoft MVC 2
  • Microsoft WCF
  • Microsoft Azure
  • jQuery & jQuery UI
  • AJAX & JSON
  • SQL Server 2008

Architecture

Presentation Layer

We selected Microsoft’s Model-View-Controller (MVC) technology as the forward facing web technology.  It greatly enhances development efforts by segregating domain logic from presentation logic and from basic presentation HTML.

 
  • Complete control over HTML Markup
  • Rich AJAX and jQuery integration
  • SEO-friendly URLs
  • Test Driven Development (TDD)
Business Logic Layer

The Business Logic Layer (BLL) contains the business logic of FrameWorx; the foundation of AuctionWorx. This layer is designed to execute in-process with the presentation layer or as separate Windows services accessible via Windows Communication Foundation.

Data Access Layer

The Data Access Layer (DAL) handles all Create/Read/Update/Delete operations for AuctionWorx.  It was written with the provider paradigm so that the underlying backing store could be rewritten if necessary.  We chose to implement Mindscape’s LightSpeed O/RM.

Architecture Diagram

Business Logic Components

Accounting Service

The Accounting Service handles all invoicing and payment transactions of site fees and third-party sales. Site fees are any fees that are triggered by the event system, typically when a seller utilizes features of the site such as listing items. Third-party sales are the buy/sell agreement between a seller and the eventual winner of a listing (highest bidder of an auction, purchaser(s) of a fixed price listing, etc).

The Accounting Service supports a Fee provider model which allows developers to assess fees based on events and listing state.

The Account Service supports a Payment provider model which allows payments to be made either synchronously, as in the case of Authorize.Net; or asynchronously, as in the case of PayPal. The provider model allows additional payment providers to be implemented and integrated into the platform.

Common Service

The Common Service handles many of the commonly used components of AuctionWorx such as the Custom Field system, and the hierarchical Category system.

Listing Service

The Listing Service handles the workflow of creating, editing, and resolving listings in addition to buyer initiated events (bids).

The Listing Service supports a Listing Type provider model which allows additional listing types to be defined. The software includes Standard Auctions and Fixed Price listings.

Site Service

The Site Service supports the presentation layer and administrative interface.

Notification Service

The Notification Service handles all outgoing emails from the site asynchronously so as not to impact performance.

Scheduler Service

The Scheduler Service triggers listing starts and resolutions.

User Service

The User Service provides user and account services and is extended by the ASP.NET membership provider to provide login functionality.

Multiple Deployment Options

Standard (In-Process)

In this mode, the BLL and the DAL execute within the IIS worker process context which includes the Scheduler and Notifier, in addition to the front-end MVC. MVC communicates with the BLL via client classes with In-Process access to the BLL Services. The BLL communicates with the DAL In-Process. This is most useful in environments where the installation needs to be kept simple, or where multiple AuctionWorx sites could be executing on the same IIS webserver.

Enterprise (Services)

Both the BLL and DAL execute within a Windows Service which includes the Scheduler. There is an additional Windows Service for Notifications since there is such a clear demarcation between other BLL services, and Notification fulfillment. Additionally, Notification can be setup to be run on a more appropriate server, perhaps closer to, or even on, an outgoing mail server if the customer so chooses. MVC still executes within the IIS worker process context. MVC communicates with the BLL via client classes with Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) service remoting to the BLL/DAL Windows Service. This mode is most useful in environments which require scalability. An example of this would be a web farm of more than one web server serving the MVC layer, an application server serving the Windows Services for BLL/DAL, and optionally a notification server serving Notification fulfillment.

Development

The source to the MVC project, views, and controller code is included. This will allow a developer to change any aspect of the presentation layer. The remaining functionality can be extended by implementing providers and making calls to the API. The BLL and DAL are available only as compiled runtime binaries however the source to these are not necessary to implement any required changes.

MVC

The MVC project source is included: controller code (presentation logic), web pages (ASPX), web partials (ASCX), and any related HTML resources can be modified. All MVC related source code is commented and documented.

Views - ASPX/ASCX (HTML)

View code exists to actually present the data (model) to the user. There usually isn’t much logic in View code, except logic pertaining to presentation, such as looping through collections, etc.

Controller Code (C#)

Controller code exists to prepare the data (model) for presentation by the View. Therefore, calls to the client are usually made in the Controller code. Changes that involve modification to the data about to be displayed or the form data entered can be made here.

Content (CSS, Images, etc)

These static HTML assets are used by Views and can be modified as desired.

BLL: Providers

The provider model design pattern allows specific functional areas to be implemented and integrated into the platform using a dependency injection container (Microsoft Unity). As such, developers can implement additional or replacement providers to the following functional areas:

Listing Format Provider

The Listing Format Provider allows you to define your own listing formats. Standard Auction and Fixed Price are both included with the software.

For example, if you wanted to implement a Dutch or a Reverse Auction, you would implement your own Listing Format Provider that contains the necessary business logic.

Membership Provider

The Membership Provider allows you to implement your own authentication mechanism.

For example, you may have an existing site with existing users and rather than setup each of your existing users in AuctionWorx, you could implement a Membership Provider that authenticates users against your existing user data.

Fee Provider

The Fee Provider allows you to assess fees, based on events and the listing state. The Fee Provider is queried any time a listing is created, updated, closed, etc… to calculate site fees.

For example, you may want to implement your own Fee provider if you have special cases where certain users should receive discounts or an existing database is queried.

Payment Provider

The Payment Provider allows you to implement payment methods to be made either synchronously, as in the case of Authorize.Net; or asynchronously, as in the case of PayPal.

For example, you may want to implement Google Checkout and offer that as a payment option to your users.

Media Asset Provider

The Media Asset Provider allows you to define new types of media that can be included in Listings and Listing Actions (Bids, Purchases, etc…). The system provides interfaces for generating, storing, and referencing media.

For example, you may want to implement saving and storing listing images with a specific image hosting service, or you may want your sellers to be able to embed YouTube videos with their listings.

Encryption Filter

The Encryption Filter allows you to implement other encryption methods into the system to encrypt/decrypt passwords and credit card numbers. Currently, a TripleDES symmetric encryption filter is included with the software.

For example, you may want to implement AES symmetric encryption, or change the default encryption keys.

Our online demo is a great way to explore what our software can do.

View Online Demo: AuctionWorx Enterprise external link to online auction demo

The demo also provides access to the Admin Control Panel so you can actually try out configuration options.

View Admin Control Panel external link to online auction admin demo


Note: the online demo resets periodically throughout the day in order to maintain a consistent experience.
A few minor functions and settings are also disabled for security reasons.
Server-side requirements
  • Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012
  • 32-bit or 64-bit operating system
  • IIS 7.0 or newer
  • .NET Framework 4.0 or newer
  • Microsoft MVC 2
  • SMTP*

 

Database
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012
  • with Full Text Indexing
  • Microsoft SQL Express 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012

 

For Development
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

 

* An existing SMTP service is required for the system to send email notifications.

 
AuctionWorx Enterprise v1.2
31-AUG-2012

Good ‘Til Canceled (GTC)
Fixed price and classified listings can optionally remain active indefinitely until ended early, or in the case of fixed price listings, the quantity drops to zero.

Auto Relist
Auction listings can optionally be automatically reactivated when they expire without a winning bidder

Improved User Management
Completely rebuilt User Management with Search, Sort, Delete, Deactivate and Edit all user details.

Export User Data
Admin function for exporting user data to CSV, including filter option for email newsletter selection

Email template branding
Deploy a custom email Header & Footer for all system generated email notifications

Admin Reports
Sales Transactions and Listing Fee reports with functions to search, sort, and export to CSV

Improved SEO Support
Updated Dynamically generated meta keywords & meta description for listings and browsing categories.

Bulk Relisting
Sellers can now reactivate a number of unsuccessful closed listings all at once, keeping the original listing number.

Improved navigation with additional links and 'back' buttons on pages to enhance usability

Relist function now resets and activates existing listing and retains original ID

Admin option to require manual approval from the Admin before being able to login

Admin option to require authentication before users can view listings

Admin option to require credit cards for new user registration

Admin option to extend all active listings

Admin option to disable all credit card related functions

Admin option to show seller location on listings

Taxable shipping option on sales tax rates

Taxable checkbox for each invoice line item

Admin can now assign roles to specific users (buyer, seller, and admin permissions)

Seller preferences can now be updated when creating new listings (Payment and Tax Details)

Sellers can now archive completed successfully sold listings, hiding them from view

 
AuctionWorx Enterprise v1.1
06-JUN-2011

Classified Listings

YouTube Video Support

Auto-Extend Auctions (Sniper Protection)

Banner System

CMS Content sections: Social media, Footer and Header scripts

Relist

New Message Indicator

Azure Support

 
AuctionWorx Enterprise v1.0
17-DEC-2010

Standard Auctions

Proxy Bidding

Reserve Price

Buy Now

Configurable Bid Increments

Fixed Price Listings

Multiple Image Asynchronous Uploads

User Feedback

Internal Message System

Watch Listings

Sales Tax

Listing Fees

Sales Invoicing

Flat Rate Shipping Options

Multiple Currencies Support

Multiple Language Support

International Support

Time Zone Offset

Email Notifications and Templates

Content Management

Web Based Administrative Control Panel

Custom Fields

Single Seller Mode

Categories

Regions

Advanced Search

SiteMap

SSL Support

PayPal Standard Payment Support

Authorize.Net

What's New in v1.2?

Good 'Til Canceled Listings
Good 'Til Canceled (GTC)
Fixed price and classified listings can optionally remain active indefinitely until ended early or the quantity drops to zero.
Auto Relist
Auto Relist
Auction listings can optionally be automatically reactivated when they expire without a winning bidder.
Improved User Management
Improved User Management
Completely rebuilt User Management with Search, Sort, Delete, Deactivate and Edit all user details.
Export User Data
Export User Data
CSV export for user data, including filter option for email newsletter selection.
Email Template Header & Footer
Email Template Branding
Deploy a custom email header and footer for all system generated email notifications.
Admin Reports
Admin Reports
Sales Transactions and Listing Fee Reports with functions to search, sort, and export to CSV.
Bulk Relist
Bulk Relist
Reactivate a selection of closed listings all at once, retaining the original listing number.
Improved SEO
Improved SEO
Updated Dynamic Meta Keywords and Description for Listings and Browsing Categories.

Whats New in v1.1?

Classified listings
Classified Listings
Generate sales leads and advertise goods or services.
Add YouTube videos to listings
YouTube Video Support
Increase sales conversions with product demos or home tours.
Sniper Protection
Auto-Extend Auction (Sniper Protection)
Increase final sale prices by automatically extending the auction end time when bids are placed at the last second.
Banner advertising
Banner System
Monetize your website, up-sell services, or cross-promote products or auction events.
Social Media
Social media
Increase visibility across social networks.
New Messages Indicator
New Message Indicator
Visual cue for new messages in your inbox.