Allens Hire

Allens Hire, a leading event equipment and furniture rental company, sought to modernise its online presence with a complete website rebuild. The primary goals were to enhance the user experience, improve product discoverability, and streamline the rental process. We built a powerful and intuitive platform that allows customers to easily browse, search, and book equipment for their events.

As the backend lead developer, I was responsible for the overall architecture and functionality of the website. This included developing a robust search feature using Meilisearch, implementing a hierarchical authentication and permission system, and integrating with Allens Hire’s existing Insphire software. I also led scoping and grooming sessions to ensure the project stayed on track and met the client's needs.

One of the main challenges was indexing the diverse range of products and catalogs in a way that was both efficient and developer-friendly. We overcame this by implementing a flexible indexing system that could handle various data types and relationships. Another challenge was ensuring seamless integration with the Insphire software, which required careful planning and communication with the client. Ensuring a smooth transition from the existing website required careful analysis and refactoring of the original business logic, which we successfully implemented in the rebuild.

The new website has significantly improved the user experience for Allens Hire's customers, making it easier to find and book the equipment they need. The advanced search functionality and hierarchical permission system have also streamlined internal processes and enhanced security.