Q: What does the orders team do?
Currently, 90% of auto parts transactions occur offline—via phone calls, emails, and quoting systems. The orders team works alongside other teams to enable repairers to purchase parts in real time.
Q: What’s it like working in the orders team?
There are many nuances in the parts ordering flow. We focus on both pre-order processes (such as order requests) and post-order processes (such as returns). Additionally, the team facilitates collaboration with assessors.
My favourite aspect of this project is the opportunity to visit customers, observe their day-to-day operations, and identify ways to improve their experience. From wireframing with our designer to validating ideas with other teams, the process has been both challenging and enjoyable.
Looking back at what we’ve delivered, I’m proud of our accomplishments. However, there’s still plenty of work ahead to meet future requirements.
Q: What is your tech stack?
One of the highlights of working in this team is the modern stack and tooling, including Reflect, our open-source Rust API/codegen spec. Our ordering vertical operates within a modern tech stack, with the backend fully written in Rust and the frontend in React. This stack provides a solid foundation with well-established patterns that enhance our efficiency.
We use Scylla as our primary database, syncing data like listings and supply via webhooks from our main Postgres database (the repairer server operates at the ‘edge’).
Real-time feedback is crucial when ordering parts from suppliers, so we use websockets to provide this functionality. The ordering vertical also handles significant business logic to manage various edge cases and ensure a smooth ordering process.
Q: How does your team work with other teams at Partly?
Partly has a flat team structure, fostering collaboration across different teams. We work closely with the repair app and supplier platform teams, ensuring that supply data appears in the app for us to select from. We also have a weekly sync with other focus area teams to stay aligned on progress and meet seasonal deliverables.
Additionally, we collaborate with the core platform team to build features such as tenancy and email scheduling. We also contribute to the core platform to support the functionality required for the ordering process.
