Streamlining Hosting and Domain Services

The Client

Chillidog Hosting is a customer-centric hosting provider supporting platforms like RapidWeaver, WordPress, and Weebly. They're committed to delivering scalable and straightforward hosting solutions to an international customer base.

The timeline

Despite the challenges posed by WHMCS's legacy code and inadequate API documentation, our expertise in software development enabled us to decipher the necessary data points and establish a stable connection for data manipulation. The project spanned over a year to guarantee a smooth and reliable user experience.

Laravel authentication and WHMCS

By using Laravel's powerful authentication system, we designed a secure gateway that allowed users to access their data directly from our application. We use the WHMCS API for efficient and secure user registration and login. On new user sign-ups or logins, we send their details to WHMCS, triggering the API to create a client record. This integration streamlines user account creation and ensures consistent user management across our platform and WHMCS.

We can fetch real-time data on hosting packages, domain registrations, and other related services associated with the user's account. Through custom-built controllers and middleware in Laravel, we used API requests to interact with WHMCS, ensuring that data flow was both seamless and secure.

This integration provides a secure and streamlined experience for users, encouraging customer loyalty and trust in the Chillidog Hosting brand.

Domain Registration Process

The domain registration process is designed to boost visibility for users searching for domain availability, registration, and additional services, leading to an intuitive checkout experience. Domain registration is often the first step for businesses establishing an online presence, and we've optimized this process to be as smooth and stress-free as possible.

1. Search your Domain: This step includes checking domain availability, providing suggestions, assessing ID protection status, and detecting possible errors. It also displays prices for both standard and premium domains.

2. Add Domain to Cart: Users select one or more domains to add to their cart.

3. Domain Configuration: The registration period for the domain is selected, with the option to add ID protection available.

4. Adding Hosting: The registration period for the domain is selected, with the option to add ID protection available.

5. Additional Services: This provides options for extra services such as SpamExperts Email Security, a robust website builder, and CodeGuard Website Backup.

6. Checkout Process: The user selects their preferred payment method, such as Stripe or PayPal, and enters their card information to make the payment. The order is then completed, and an invoice is generated and paid for the chosen domain and services.

Domain Management and Enom API

Whether transferring a domain in or out, or choosing extra services such as hosting and security, our intuitive interface provides a seamless experience. The user can manage everything with just a few clicks.

Multiple features are missing from the WHMCS API and that's why we had to communicate directly with the Enom API for domain-related matters. Users can manage their domain's nameservers, update contact information, enable ID protection, and verify WHOIS status. Additionally, we have integrated Spatie's SslCertificate package to monitor the SSL status of the domain.

Hosting and additional services

Based on the user location the hosting packages are either from US or EU servers. Several hosting packages are offered and the user can buy them with a few clicks. Managing the hosting services is a breeze and there are several other additional services that the user can choose such as:

• Chillimail - It provides extra virus and spam protection for business emails.

• Codeguard - It offers daily automated backups for the website.

• Website Builder - A website builder can also be selected during the hosting checkout process.

Billing system

We categorize invoices as Paid, Unpaid, Cancelled, and Refunded. Users can easily pay an unpaid invoice through the system. Users can settle unpaid invoices directly and add funds via credit card to pay for services like hosting and domains. For convenience, multiple invoices can be paid at once through the Mass Payment feature, creating a single collective invoice. Stripe payment details are securely held in Stripe, not our database, but can still be managed through our system.

Support and ticket management

The new system enables users to effortlessly submit and manage support tickets, promoting a user-centric approach to customer service and support efficiency. We recognize that excellent customer support is a key differentiator in the hosting industry, and our system is designed to ensure that users receive the help they need quickly and efficiently.

For added convenience, users can view the details of each ticket and, once their issue is resolved, they have the option to mark the ticket as resolved, ensuring an efficient and user-friendly support experience.

WHM and cPanel integration

WHMCS offers automated features for account management, including billing services. WHM provides a suite of tools to manage your cPanel server, its services, and its accounts. We've integrated WHMCS's automated account management features with WHM tools for comprehensive cPanel server and account control. This integration provides users with a powerful suite of tools for managing their hosting environment, allowing them to focus on their core business activities.

Server Status

In today's always-on world, users expect their websites to be available 24/7, and our server status feature provides them with the assurance that we are actively monitoring and maintaining the infrastructure that supports their online presence. The server status feature provides users with immediate visual feedback on server performance, ensuring transparency and trust in our hosting services.