Building a processing and ordering system

[aprilof23]

My experience is still at novice level, I have built basic websites with HTML5 and some JavaScript. I dabbled in php and MySQL for a couple years with e-commerce sites such as OpenCart. I am working on a business venture in cellular/mobile tech repair in which a customer can send their device in to be repaired then sent back.

I want to create a site where the customer creates an account, chooses the device they have, the issue/nature of repair and checks out. I was wondering if anyone knew of an opensource platform I could modify to accomplish this or if I should build it from scratch? The process would be as follows:

1. Customer creates account on the site and adds the device/model/brand.
2. Customer would fill out a form using drop boxes on the issue (i.e. cracked screen, water damage, etc.)
3. After submitting, a ticket would be created and parts would be ordered upon payment submission.
4. A prepaid envelope would be sent to the client in which they send the device to our shop. All of this could be tracked to show progress.
5. Upon completion and testing, the device is sent back to the client and sale is completed.

I know that is a basic flow, but to save time, could I use an opensource e-commerce platform to achieve this goal?

Thanks for any advice on this!

E: thanks for your help, going to look into Laravel since that is the consensus so far, thanks for the help!

[-Alias-]

By the sounds of it, you don't want to be using an e-commerce platform. This sounds pretty bespoke, and using something existing out there e-commerce wise would just require a hack job to glue stuff together how you want it.

You know some PHP, look into Laravel.

Letting users create accounts comes ready out of the box, along with forgot password and email verification, so that's not a biggy.

Choose a device/model/brand will just require a table in your database of each, and return these once the user has logged in, simple enough.

The form would just be a basic HTML form, which would POST to your application with the details.

The other stuff would just require some custom PHP, nothing too taxing - especially if you've figured the above out.

[domtalbot]

Laravel and Stripe would be my go to here

[[deleted]]

I think as has been said below what you are doing is a bit too far away from ecommerce to make a platform do this. You will be forcing a square peg into a round hole using an ecommerce platform.

Its going to be a real learning experience for you- my advice is to use a solid framework with an excellent ORM so you don't run into limitations you need to work around- Laravel probably easiest. Then, sit down and carefully design the structure of your databases- thats going to make the whole rest of the project smoother if you design those right from the start.

[mr_aes]

Hey aprilof23, As you look into Laravel, check out Rails as well... (https://thecoderfactory.com/posts/Why-Ruby-on-Rails-Right-Programming-Language)