Advanced Swiss Insurance Auction Scrapers System - AXA, REST, SCC, Allianz

Project Overview

I designed and implemented a comprehensive system for automatic monitoring and data extraction from salvage vehicle auctions conducted by four major Swiss insurance companies: AXA, Allianz, SCC, and REST. My solution operates continuously, collecting data with a frequency of several updates per day and immediately synchronizing it with the client's system.

The project was created in response to the need for quick access to current information about salvage vehicles available on the Swiss insurance market, which is characterized by high dynamics and competitiveness. The system enables Refericon to effectively monitor auctions, analyze price trends, and make quick purchasing decisions.

Advanced Authentication and Security Mechanisms

Multi-Platform Login Systems

Each of the four Swiss auction platforms uses unique authentication mechanisms, which presented a significant technical challenge. I created dedicated solutions for each:

• AXA Swiss Auction - I implemented handling of two-factor verification with dynamic security tokens
• REST Insurance Portal - I developed a mechanism bypassing captcha using image recognition techniques
• SCC Auction System - I created a session rotation and cookie storage system for long-term authentication
• Allianz Vehicle Platform - I implemented a JWT mechanism with automatic token refresh

Session Management and Connection Stability

• Intelligent cookie management - I designed a system for storing and rotating cookies, ensuring session continuity
• Handling temporary blocks - I implemented mechanisms for detecting IP blocks and automatically switching to proxy
• User behavior simulation - I created algorithms emulating human browsing behaviors to avoid detection
• Retry system with exponential backoff - provides resistance to temporary platform availability issues

Advanced Data Extraction and Processing System

Comprehensive Vehicle Data Acquisition

• Detailed technical information - extraction of full vehicle specifications, including model, year, mileage, fuel type, and damage details
• Auction and price history - tracking price changes, number of bids, and auction activity
• Photographic documentation - downloading all available high-resolution images, often over 50 photos per vehicle
• Diagnostic data - extraction of information about damages, technical reports, and estimated repair costs

Advanced Data Processing

• Unified data model - I created a universal data schema integrating different formats from four platforms
• Technical data normalization - I developed algorithms standardizing vehicle specifications to a common format
• Auction deduplication - the system automatically detects and merges duplicate listings of the same vehicle
• Natural language processing - implementation of description analysis in German and French to extract additional information

Optimization and Management of Graphic Resources

• Intelligent image downloading - the system detects new and modified images, avoiding re-downloading existing ones
• Batch processing - optimized mechanism for parallel downloading of multiple images
• Adaptive compression - algorithm adjusting compression level to image type and content
• Image categorization - automatic sorting of images by represented vehicle parts and damage types

Advanced System Architecture and Infrastructure

Efficient Scheduling and Monitoring

• Dynamic update intervals - the system automatically adjusts scraping frequency depending on auction activity
• Auction prioritization - implementation of an algorithm scheduling tasks according to approaching auction end time
• Notification system - immediate alerts about new, modified, or completed auctions
• Advanced monitoring - comprehensive system for tracking performance, errors, and changes in auction platform structure

Scalable Infrastructure

• Container architecture - I implemented a Docker-based solution enabling easy scaling depending on load
• Selenium Grid - use of distributed browser infrastructure for parallel scraping of multiple auctions
• Database optimization - advanced PostgreSQL indexing and partitioning for fast data access
• Task queuing system - implementation of task management mechanism with priority and dependency handling

Integration with External Systems

• REST API - I created a complete API for two-way communication with the client's system
• Webhook notifications - mechanism for immediate notifications of auction changes
• Real-time synchronization - sending updates to the external system immediately after detecting changes
• Cache layer implementation - buffering mechanism reducing the load on the client's system

Measurable Results and Business Benefits

The system I created brought measurable business benefits to the client:

• Data completeness - increasing Swiss auction market coverage from 65% to 98%
• Information timeliness - reducing the delay time between auction publication and its availability in the system from 12-24 hours to an average of 28 minutes
• Operational efficiency - elimination of over 160 work hours per month previously devoted to manual auction browsing
• Competitive advantage - faster access to new auctions translated into a 37% increase in purchasing effectiveness
• Scalability - the system currently handles over 3500 auctions per month with the possibility of easy extension to new platforms

Technical Challenges and Solutions

Handling Frequent Changes in Page Structure

One of the main challenges was frequent updates to the interfaces of auction platforms. To address this:

• I created a system for automatic detection of changes in DOM structure
• I implemented adaptive selectors with a fallback mechanism
• I developed an alert system for potential changes requiring intervention
• I designed an architecture enabling rapid deployment of updates without system operation interruptions

Managing Large Data Volumes

• I optimized data processing and storage while maintaining complete auction history
• I implemented an archiving system with the ability to quickly restore historical data
• I created query optimization mechanisms for quick access to the latest data

Conclusions and Development Perspectives

The advanced Swiss insurance auction scrapers system I created is a comprehensive solution to the problem of monitoring and acquiring data from the dynamically changing salvage vehicle market. By applying modern web scraping, automation, and data processing technologies, I delivered a tool with high business value.

The system is regularly developed, and plans include:

• Extension to additional Swiss auction platforms of smaller insurers
• Implementation of predictive analysis modules for final auction prices
• Integration with transport and logistics systems
• Addition of advanced machine learning algorithms for assessing vehicle condition based on images

The project demonstrates the effectiveness of advanced web scraping techniques in delivering business value through automation of data acquisition from distributed internet sources.