Project Concept: Multi-Brand e-Gift Card Aggregator Platform
Overview
We want to build a WooCommerce-based e-commerce platform that serves as a digital gift card aggregator.
The platform will host multiple brands (restaurants, salons, cafes, retail, etc.) that can sell their own branded e-gift cards through one central store.
Customers can browse and purchase any brand’s gift card, then send it instantly to a recipient via email, WhatsApp, or SMS.
Each brand will also have a redemption portal to validate and redeem the codes when customers use them.
⸻
Main Objectives
•Build a centralized WooCommerce marketplace for digital gift cards.
•Allow multiple brands to join and manage their own gift card listings.
•Automate digital gift card code generation and instant delivery.
•Provide a redemption system for partner brands to validate and redeem codes securely.
•Manage full tracking, balance management, and reporting for admin and merchants.
⸻
Platform Structure
1. Frontend (Customer-facing)
•Homepage showcasing featured brands and categories.
•Individual Brand Pages:
•Brand logo, description, and available card denominations (e.g., 5 OMR, 10 OMR, 20 OMR).
•Option to personalize message and recipient info.
•Product checkout integrated with WooCommerce payment gateways.
•Customer confirmation page and email after payment.
2. Backend (Admin)
•Manage all brands (add, approve, suspend).
•Manage all gift card transactions.
•Monitor redemptions and generate reports.
•Set commissions or fees per brand.
•Control payout and settlement cycles.
•Manage API keys for WhatsApp, SMS, and email delivery.
3. Merchant (Brand) Dashboard
Each merchant (brand) should have their own login to:
•View their sales and redemption history.
•Create and edit their gift card listings (values, designs, expiry).
•Manually validate and redeem codes from customers.
•Export reports and request payouts.
⸻
Core Functional Modules
A. Gift Card Generation
•Each purchase generates a unique alphanumeric code (e.g. GC-BRANDNAME-123456).
•The code is stored in the database with:
•Brand ID
•Card value
•Remaining balance
•Status (active, redeemed, expired)
•Expiry date
•System supports partial redemption (optional).
B. Instant Delivery
After successful payment:
1.Generate gift card code.
2.Send automatically to the recipient through selected channels:
•Email (HTML or PDF design)
•WhatsApp message (via Meta Cloud API or Twilio)
•SMS (via Twilio, Vonage, or local gateway)
3.Include:
•Brand logo & design
•Recipient name
•Gift message
•Gift card code
•Expiry date and redemption instructions
C. Redemption System
•Each brand gets access to a Redemption Portal (web-based, login-protected).
•Brand staff enters the gift card code to check validity.
•System verifies:
•Code exists
•Belongs to the brand
•Not expired or already used
•Shows current balance or marks it redeemed.
•Logs redemption details (brand, staff, date, time, value).
D. Reporting & Analytics
•Admin Dashboard:
•Total sales per brand
•Total redeemed vs. unredeemed values
•Commission overview
•Settlement reports
•Merchant Dashboard:
•Sales summary
•Active cards and remaining balances
•Redemption activity log
⸻
Technical Specifications
ComponentDescription
PlatformWordPress + WooCommerce
Multi-Vendor ManagementDokan or WCFM Marketplace
Gift Card EngineCustom WooCommerce plugin or extension (can extend YITH/PW Gift Cards)
DatabaseMySQL (custom tables for gift cards & redemptions)
Payment GatewaysStripe, PayPal, Tabby, or local Oman gateways
Email DeliveryWooCommerce email templates or SendGrid/Mailgun
WhatsApp APIMeta Cloud API or Twilio WhatsApp
SMS GatewayTwilio / Vonage / Ooredoo / Omantel API
SecurityCode verification, status tracking, encrypted communication
Optional Add-onsREST API for mobile app, multi-currency support, balance top-ups
⸻
User Roles & Permissions
RolePermissions
Admin (You)Manage brands, commissions, system settings, and payouts
Merchant (Brand)View & redeem codes, manage listings, access reports
CustomerPurchase, send, and view their gift cards
⸻
Workflow Summary
1. Purchase Flow
1.Customer selects a brand gift card → chooses value → adds recipient details.
2.Payment completed via WooCommerce checkout.
3.System generates unique gift card code.
4.Code + digital design delivered instantly to recipient (email/WhatsApp/SMS).
5.Admin & brand dashboards updated with sale record.
2. Redemption Flow
1.Recipient presents code to brand (in store or online).
2.Brand logs into redemption portal → enters the code.
3.System checks status and validity.
4.If valid:
•Marks as redeemed or deducts balance.
•Updates transaction logs.
5.Redemption details reflected instantly in both brand and admin dashboards.
⸻
Revenue Model
•Admin earns a commission on every gift card sold.
•Optionally charge brands a monthly subscription for listing their gift cards.
•Feature paid placements or promotions for specific brands.
⸻
Deliverables Expected from Developer
1.WooCommerce setup with multi-vendor architecture.
2.Custom gift card generation and redemption plugin.
3.Merchant and admin dashboards.
4.WhatsApp, SMS, and email delivery integrations.
5.Redemption portal with real-time validation.
6.Reporting module and settlement tools.
7.Responsive, user-friendly front-end (categories, filters, brand pages).
8.Basic security and data-protection measures.
... Show more