SaaS / B2B Marketplace (Logistics & Supply Chain)

Objective:

The goal was to design and deliver a scalable digital platform for the logistics ecosystem in the African market. The client needed a centralized solution where logistics providers could present their services and customers could easily discover, evaluate, and connect with them.

From an engineering perspective, the objective was to build a production-ready MVP within a short timeframe, while ensuring flexibility, performance, and ease of non-technical administration.

Challenge:

The project combined several constraints that typically pull in opposite directions:

• No existing backend infrastructure, yet the platform required structured data models (companies, users, memberships) and workflows
• Complex membership logic, including application, moderation, and approval flows
• Non-technical end users, meaning the system had to be manageable without developer support
• Tight timeline (2 months) with a minimal team (1 designer, 1 developer)
• Mobile-first usability, critical for the target region

In short: deliver a flexible, scalable system without building a traditional backend, and do it fast.

Solution:

We approached this as a lean, headless architecture problem.

Instead of building a custom backend, we used a CMS-driven architecture, where the CMS acts as both the data layer and admin panel.

The platform was implemented as a web-based marketplace + directory, with:

• Structured company profiles (catalog system)
• Membership application and moderation workflow
• Clean browsing and discovery experience
• CMS-powered content and data management
• Fully responsive UI for mobile and desktop

A key decision was to shift complexity from code to configuration, allowing us to model workflows inside the CMS rather than hardcoding them.

Technologies:

• Next.js + TypeScript
  Used for building a scalable, high-performance frontend with strong typing and maintainability.
• Strapi (Strapi Cloud)
  Chosen as a headless CMS to manage content, users, and company data without building a custom backend from scratch.
• Axios
  Used for handling API requests between frontend and CMS.
• Formik + Yup
  Implemented for robust form handling and validation (e.g., membership applications).
• react-toastify. Used for user feedback and notifications.

• Vercel
  Enabled fast and efficient frontend deployment with CI/CD capabilities.

• Git
  Used for source code management and collaboration.

• Visual Studio Code
  Main development environment.

• Figma
  Used to design both desktop and mobile versions of the interface.

Why this stack

• It minimized development overhead, reduced backend complexity, and allowed rapid delivery without sacrificing scalability or maintainability.

Results:

From an engineering and product standpoint, the project delivered:

• Fully functional MVP in 2 months
  Despite limited resources, the platform was delivered on time and production-ready.
• End-to-end logistics marketplace
  Logistics providers can register, apply, and manage profiles; users can discover and evaluate companies.
• CMS-driven autonomy
  The client can:
  • Approve or reject membership applications
  • Manage company listings
  • Update content without developer involvement.

• Reduced operational complexity
  No custom backend = lower maintenance, fewer failure points, faster iteration.

• Mobile-ready experience
  Optimized for real-world usage patterns in the African market.

• Scalable foundation
  The architecture supports future extensions such as:

• Ratings and reviews

• Messaging between users

• Analytics and reporting