Project Overview

A peer-to-peer delivery platform connecting travelers with people who need items transported between cities. Built as a minimum viable product to validate the marketplace concept, this application enables travelers to monetize unused luggage space while helping others send packages through trusted individuals.

The Challenge

The client needed a functional two-sided marketplace MVP that could match travelers with delivery requests, handle real-time communication, and build trust through identity verification all while keeping costs lean and avoiding complex payment infrastructure in the initial version.

Technical Solution & Key Features

Smart Onboarding Experience

• Designed chat-style onboarding flow making signup feel conversational rather than form-heavy
• Built dual-role account system allowing users to switch between traveler and sender modes from a single login
• Created intuitive landing page explaining the concept and driving signups

Intelligent Trip Matching

• Developed rule-based matching algorithm connecting delivery requests with relevant travel routes
• Implemented filtering by location, dates, package size, and user preferences
• Built notification system alerting travelers to relevant opportunities

Real-Time Communication

• Integrated one-on-one chat functionality allowing direct coordination between parties
• Added real-time message delivery using Supabase real-time subscriptions
• Designed clean chat interface focused on logistics discussion and arrangement

Trust & Safety Layer

• Built manual verification system where users upload ID documents and selfies
• Created admin review dashboard for approving or rejecting verification submissions
• Implemented user reporting system with admin oversight
• Added read-only chat viewer for admins to monitor platform communications

Admin Management Tools

• Developed verification review interface streamlining identity approval workflow
• Built moderation dashboard showing flagged content and user reports
• Created read-only chat monitoring for safety oversight without privacy invasion

Off-Platform Payment Coordination

• Designed clear UI explaining that users arrange payment directly (Venmo, PayPal, cash, etc.)
• Added payment coordination messaging in chat interface
• Built foundation for future escrow integration while keeping MVP costs minimal

Strategic MVP Decisions

This project focused on validating core assumptions before investing in expensive infrastructure:

What We Built: Identity verification, trip matching, real-time chat, dual-role accounts, admin moderation

What We Deferred: Escrow payments, commission processing, ratings/reviews, dispute resolution, native mobile apps, automated KYC services, multi-language support

This approach let the client test market demand and gather user feedback before committing to payment processing compliance, escrow complexity, and third-party KYC subscriptions that can run thousands monthly.

Results & Impact

• Launched functional MVP within budget constraints enabling immediate user testing
• Created scalable architecture ready for future payment integration when validated
• Built trust system balancing safety with lean operations through manual verification
• Delivered real-time matching and communication without enterprise-level infrastructure costs
• Established foundation for iterating based on actual user behavior rather than assumptions

The platform successfully demonstrates the core value proposition connecting travelers and senders while keeping operational overhead minimal during the validation phase.

Project Type

SaaS Marketplace MVP - Peer-to-peer delivery platform with real-time matching, chat, and identity verification.