Develop Scalable E-Commerce Marketplace App

E-Commerce Marketplace App Development – Meesho-Like Platform

Project Overview

We are looking for an experienced mobile app and e-commerce development team/freelancer to build a marketplace platform similar in concept to Meesho.

The platform will allow sellers/vendors to list and sell products, while customers can browse products, place orders, make payments, and track deliveries.

We are looking for someone who can develop the complete solution including Customer App, Seller Panel/App, Admin Panel and Backend/API.

1. Customer App

The customer should be able to:

- Register/Login using mobile number and OTP
- Browse products by category
- Search and filter products
- View product images, videos, description, price and variants
- Add products to cart
- Add/manage multiple addresses
- Place orders
- Choose Cash on Delivery / Online Payment
- Apply coupons/discounts
- View order history
- Track order status
- Cancel orders according to defined rules
- Request returns/refunds
- Receive push notifications
- Rate and review products
- Share products through WhatsApp/social media
- Create/share product links
- Manage profile and account

2. Seller/Vendor Panel

Sellers should be able to:

- Register and submit KYC/business details
- Login securely
- Add/edit/delete products
- Upload product images/videos
- Manage product categories and variants
- Set selling price, MRP and inventory
- Manage stock
- Receive and manage orders
- Accept/process orders
- Update order status
- View cancellations and returns
- View sales reports
- View earnings/payouts
- Manage bank/payment details
- View customer/order information required for fulfilment
- Receive notifications

3. Admin Panel

A comprehensive web-based admin dashboard is required.

Admin should be able to:

- Manage customers
- Manage sellers/vendors
- Approve/reject seller registrations
- Manage KYC
- Approve/manage products
- Manage categories/subcategories
- Manage banners and promotions
- Manage coupons
- Manage orders
- Manage cancellations and returns
- Manage refunds
- Manage commissions
- Manage seller payouts
- Manage COD orders
- View sales/revenue reports
- Manage users and permissions
- Send push notifications
- Manage customer complaints/support tickets
- View overall business analytics
- Block/suspend sellers or customers when required

4. Payment Integration

The application should support:

- UPI
- Debit/Credit Cards
- Net Banking
- Wallets where applicable
- Cash on Delivery

Payment gateway should be integrated securely using a reputed Indian payment provider such as Razorpay, Cashfree, PhonePe PG, etc.

5. Logistics & Order Management

The system should be designed so that logistics partners can be integrated later.

Required order statuses may include:

Order Placed → Confirmed → Packed → Shipped → Out for Delivery → Delivered

Also support:

- Cancellation
- Return
- Replacement
- Refund
- Failed delivery

The architecture should allow future integration with third-party logistics APIs.

6. Notifications

Integration required for:

- Push notifications
- SMS/OTP
- Email where required
- Order status notifications
- Promotional notifications

Firebase Cloud Messaging can be used for push notifications.

7. Technology Requirements

The freelancer can suggest the technology stack, but it should be:

- Scalable
- Secure
- Fast
- Easy to maintain
- Suitable for future expansion

We are open to technologies such as:

Mobile: Flutter / React Native / Native Android & iOS

Backend: Node.js / Laravel / Django / equivalent

Database: MySQL / PostgreSQL / MongoDB

Admin: React / Next.js / equivalent

The freelancer should clearly explain the proposed technology stack before development.

8. MVP First

We want to start with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) rather than building every advanced feature from day one.

The freelancer should provide:

1. MVP feature list
2. Development timeline
3. Fixed project cost
4. Technology stack
5. Hosting/server requirements
6. Third-party API costs
7. Post-launch maintenance cost

Advanced features can be developed in Phase 2.

9. Deliverables

The selected freelancer/team must provide:

- Android application
- iOS application (if included in agreed scope)
- Seller panel/app
- Admin web panel
- Backend/API
- Database
- Complete source code
- UI/UX design files
- API documentation
- Database documentation
- Deployment assistance
- Production build
- App Store/Google Play publishing assistance

10. Ownership & Intellectual Property

Very important:

All source code, UI designs, database structure, APIs, documentation and other project-related intellectual property developed specifically for this project will belong to the client after agreed payment.

The freelancer must not lock the project to their own server, account or proprietary system.

All important accounts should be created in the client's/company's name, including:

- Google Play Console
- Apple Developer Account
- Firebase
- Payment Gateway
- Domain
- Hosting/Cloud
- SMS/WhatsApp API accounts

11. Security Requirements

The application must include:

- Secure authentication
- OTP verification
- Role-based access
- Secure API authentication
- Payment security
- Password/data encryption where applicable
- Protection against common web/API vulnerabilities
- Secure admin access
- Regular database backup capability

12. Development Process

Development should be divided into milestones:

Milestone 1 – Requirement & UI/UX

Finalise requirements, user flow and UI/UX.

Milestone 2 – Backend & Database

Develop APIs, database and authentication.

Milestone 3 – Customer App

Develop customer-facing application.

Milestone 4 – Seller Panel

Develop seller functionality.

Milestone 5 – Admin Panel

Develop complete admin dashboard.

Milestone 6 – Integrations

Payment, OTP, notifications and logistics integrations.

Milestone 7 – Testing

Complete functional, security and performance testing.

Milestone 8 – Deployment

Production deployment and app store submission.

13. Freelancer Requirements

Please apply only if you have experience developing:

- E-commerce applications
- Marketplace platforms
- Multi-vendor applications
- Payment gateway integration
- Seller/vendor dashboards
- Admin dashboards
- Scalable backend systems

Please share:

1. Your previous e-commerce/marketplace projects
2. Portfolio/demo links
3. Proposed technology stack
4. Estimated development timeline
5. Fixed project quotation
6. Team size
7. Post-launch support terms
8. Any recurring/third-party costs
9. Examples of similar applications you have developed

Important

We are not looking for a simple shopping app. This is intended to become a scalable multi-vendor marketplace, so the backend architecture and database should be designed with future growth in mind.

Please quote separately for:

A. MVP Development

B. Advanced Features / Phase 2

C. Annual Maintenance & Support

Budget and final scope will be discussed after reviewing proposals and technical approaches.