HoursDev

Bridging the gap between traditional marketplaces and modern e-commerce.

 

What is Haatwale?

Haatwale isn't just another shopping site; it’s a digital rebirth of the traditional "Haat." At Hoursdev, we built this platform to give local artisans and small-scale vendors a professional stage to showcase their craft. We transformed a centuries-old way of trading into a high-performance e-commerce engine that connects authentic local goods with modern shoppers everywhere.

The Problem We Solved

Most e-commerce platforms are built for tech giants, not local sellers. Our challenge was to build something incredibly powerful under the hood, yet simple enough that a vendor with zero technical background could run a successful business from their phone. We had to solve for:

• Accessibility: Making sure the site flies even on shaky 3G/4G connections.

• Vendor Empowerment: Designing a dashboard that feels natural, not clinical.

• Trust: Building a secure, "neighborhood-feel" payment system that people actually trust.

How We Built It

We didn't just use a template; we engineered a custom ecosystem:

• The Vendor Hub: A bespoke backend where sellers can manage stock and track their growth without needing a manual.

• Smart Discovery: A search experience that understands intent, helping users find hidden gems among thousands of unique items.

• Built for Mobile: Since most users shop on the go, we prioritized a "thumb-friendly" interface that mimics the responsiveness of a high-end mobile app.

• Local Payments: We integrated the payment methods people actually use—like UPI and local wallets—making the checkout process friction-free.

The Tech Behind the Scenes

The architectural foundation of Haatwale.com was built for both speed and resilience. We crafted the "face" of the platform using React.js and Next.js, ensuring that page transitions are lightning-fast and every product is fully optimized for search engine visibility. Powering the "brain" of the operation is a Node.js and Express backend, specifically engineered to manage thousands of concurrent user requests without a dip in performance. For the "memory" of the site, we utilized a hybrid approach with MongoDB and PostgreSQL, providing the flexible data structures needed to house a massive variety of unique artisan products. Finally, the entire system is energized by AWS and Redis, which serve as the "engine" that guarantees 99.9% uptime and near-instant data retrieval, even during peak shopping hours.
 

The Impact

Since going live, Haatwale has changed the game for its sellers. It has moved beyond being a "website" to becoming a livelihood. We’ve seen local vendors expand their reach from a single village to the entire country, creating a 24/7 revenue stream that simply didn't exist before Hoursdev stepped in.