Case Study: Auction Express – Overseas Auction System Development Success

Project Overview

In July 2023, LOGIQUE partnered with Auction Express, a Thailand-based auction house, to develop a complete end-to-end auction system. The solution covered the mobile inspection app, the auction platform, and the accounting report module.

The project culminated in the first successful auction launch on March 4, 2024. Since then, the system has been under an annual maintenance contract, during which we continuously improve and expand its features.

Scope of Work

The engagement included :

Mobile Inspection App
built with Kotlin

Auction Web System
(frontend, backend, API, PWA)

Accounting & Reporting Module

Real-time auction features
with Socket.io

Bidding system
powered by RabbitMQ

API Gateway
using KrakenD

Development Approach

During the initial phase, a team of 15 members (PM, BA, BE, FE, QA, DevOps, Designer) collaborated closely with the client.

Communication Channels

Primarily via the Line app (popular in Thailand) and client's SharePoint for documentation

Methodology

A semi-agile approach — high-level requirements were fixed upfront, but we remained flexible to incorporate feedback during UAT.

Meetings

Ad-hoc, based on agreement
between both parties.

Challenges & Solutions

1. Transition from Legacy System

Auction Express had an existing system with performance and scalability limitations. Transitioning to the new system required:

Maintaining the same domain name.
Planning a seamless switchover without downtime.
Running simulation auctions in parallel with the old system for 2–3 months before launch.

This strategy prevented post-launch disruptions, as reverting to the old system was not an option.

2. Language & Communication

While English was the working language, some requirements risked misinterpretation. We solved this by:

Preparing clear visual materials before requirement confirmation.
Keeping documentation on SharePoint for version consistency.
Supporting onsite presence during UAT and the first two auctions.

3. Overseas Project Coordination

Despite the distance, we maintained trust and efficiency through:

A dedicated Point of Contact for quick responses.
Proven experience in delivering auction systems for other markets.
Proactive steps like early planning for initial data migration, avoiding delays that often happen when data readiness is left too late.

4. Requirement Confirmation Delays

Some requirements took time to be confirmed, which could have impacted the schedule. We mitigated this by:

Providing impact analysis with pros/cons for each change.
Offering technical and business recommendations to speed up decision-making.
Committing to overtime when necessary to meet milestones.

Results

Performance Improvement

The new system reduced downtime by 50% compared to the previous system.

Flexibility

Unlike the previous vendor arrangement, changes and enhancements can now be requested at a fair cost and timeline — even allowing for negative maintenance balance in urgent cases.

Operational Readiness