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Premium same-day delivery platform with driver and customer apps

A white-glove, same-day delivery platform for Los Angeles, built from scratch in 5 months: a React admin panel and driver and customer apps for iOS and Android, on one Python backend.

Logistics & transportationMobile appsWebsite development
Client
A premium last-mile delivery startup
Markets
Los Angeles, California, United States
Timeline
5 months to launch, 2022-2023
Scope
From scratch: UX/UI design, development, launch and support
Services
UX/UI design, web and mobile development, backend, cloud
Platform
React · React Native · Python · PostgreSQL · AWS
Language
English

5 months

From the first design to launch

1,000+

Orders managed every week

5.0

App Store rating, based on 15 ratings

3 products

Admin panel, driver app and customer app

Project

Overview

The client set out to build a white-glove delivery service for Los Angeles: an exclusive network of top-tier drivers delivering for premium brands, agencies and people the same day. Its customers included well-known beauty, spirits and entertainment brands, where every delivery had to be safe, on time and in perfect condition.

We designed and built the whole platform from scratch. In five months we launched three products on one Python backend: an admin panel in React for the platform owner, and a driver app and a customer app, both cross-platform React Native apps for iOS and Android.

  1. 1Order a delivery in a few taps
  2. 2Offer every order to the nearest available driver
  3. 3Work only with checked, approved drivers
  4. 4Photo proof at pick-up and drop-off
The customer app on three phones: orders by status, a new order and payment
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The driver app's route to the pick-up on a phone in a car mount, on a Los Angeles boulevard
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What we built

Three products on one backend

The platform

Admin panel

React, for the platform owner

  • Orders and batch orders
  • Drivers: review, approve, assign orders
  • Clients: review and approve
  • Order details with photo proof

Driver app

React Native, iOS and Android

  • Sign-up with licence, car documents and background check details
  • Accept an order within 60 seconds
  • Route and map to the pick-up and drop-off
  • Photo confirmation and delivery status

Customer app

React Native, iOS and Android

  • Sign-up and account
  • Single orders and batch orders from a CSV file
  • Scheduled, in progress and completed orders
  • Card payments

Backend

Python, PostgreSQL and AWS

  • Each order offered to the nearest online driver
  • Pricing by service, time and distance
  • Push, SMS and email notifications
  • Error monitoring

All three products share one Python backend: an order placed in the customer app reaches the nearest driver in seconds, and its status and photos come back to the customer and the admin panel as the delivery goes.

Problems & Solutions

1

Every order had to reach a driver fast, without a dispatcher calling around

The backend offers each order to the nearest online driver; if they don't accept within 60 seconds, it moves to the next nearest one

2

Some deliveries needed a specific driver

Admins can assign any order to a chosen driver from the admin panel

3

Premium brands trust the service only with checked drivers

Drivers apply in the app with their licence, car registration, insurance and background check details, and the team approves each one in the admin panel

4

Brands send many deliveries at once, for events and PR mailings

Batch orders: the customer uploads a CSV file in a set format, and every delivery in it becomes an order

5

Customers and the team needed proof of every delivery

Drivers take photos at pick-up and drop-off, and both appear in the customer app and the admin panel

6

The price had to be clear before the order is placed

An estimated price based on the service (Regular same-day or Rush nonstop), time and distance from the Google Distance API, paid by card through Stripe

7

Customers, drivers and the team had to stay in touch

Push notifications through Firebase, SMS and calls through Twilio, and email through SendGrid

A driver confirms a delivery with a photo in the app at the door of an apartment building
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Key Features Developed

Driver applications in the admin panel on a laptop and an order with photo proof in the customer app on a phone
View

Orders and batches: Every single and batch order with its status, service, recipient and addresses.

Driver applications: New drivers sorted by status, from pending approval to verified or denied.

Driver profiles: Contact and car details, licence and documents in one place.

Smart dispatch: Each order goes to the nearest online driver, with a 60-second window to accept.

Manual assignment: Admins can give any order to a specific driver.

The background check and car registration steps of the driver sign-up, and batch orders in the customer app
View

Driver sign-up: Personal details, profile photo, licence, car registration and insurance, and background check details.

Accept or deny: The price, time, route and items of each order before the driver accepts it.

On the road: The route on the map, navigation and an "I've arrived" step at every stop.

Customer orders: Single or batch orders, scheduled for later or rush.

Orders and payment: Scheduled, in progress and completed orders, and saved cards.

How we worked

From the first screen to launch in 5 months

  1. Step 1

    Discovery

    Who uses the platform, and how an order moves from the customer to the driver and back.

  2. Step 2

    UX/UI design

    Every screen of the three products designed from scratch, in one calm, premium style.

  3. Step 3

    Backend and dispatch

    The Python backend, the nearest-driver logic and the integrations for payments, maps and notifications.

  4. Step 4

    Apps and admin panel

    The React admin panel and both React Native apps, for iOS and Android.

  5. Step 5

    Launch in 5 months

    Published in the App Store and Google Play, then supported and improved after launch.

Client testimonial

It’s rare that you come across someone like Vlad! I had the pleasure of working with him for over two years executing our platform. I was particularly impressed by Vlad's ability to streamline our vision and make it come to life. An overall incredible Project Manager and a great asset to any team.

FounderDelivery platform
Project

Conclusion

Sentysoft designed and built the platform from scratch and launched it in five months. Customers ordered a delivery in a few taps, one at a time or in batches; the nearest driver got the order in seconds; and the team saw every order, driver and client in one admin panel. The client then worked with us for over two years as the service grew.

Planning a delivery or on-demand app?

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Vlad Aleksandrov, Founder & CEO

Vlad Aleksandrov

Founder & CEO

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Vlad Aleksandrov, Founder & CEO

Vlad Aleksandrov

Founder & CEO