MVB: How to build the backend for a Two-sided marketplace

Hey there! Prakash here, co-founder and Head of Product at Xano, along with our CEO Sean Montgomery. In this new series titled "The Minimum Viable Backend," we're focusing on helping you kickstart your application building process, specifically targeting popular app types like two-sided marketplaces.

Introduction to Two-Sided Marketplaces:

Two-sided marketplaces, think Uber or Airbnb, consist of a demand side (users who need services) and a supply side (providers of those services). The beauty of such platforms is the interaction between these two segments, creating a dynamic ecosystem. We'll guide you through setting up this type of application in Xano, emphasizing database schema, tracking locations, and handling reservations.

Key Components:

Basic Database Schema Setup: We start by structuring your Xano database to accommodate the relationships between customers and service providers. We cover essential tables like Users, Trips, Vehicles, and potentially Transactions.

Tracking and Reservation: We delve into how to keep track of service providers' locations (such as drivers) and set up the basic reservation mechanics linking the demand and supply sides seamlessly.

Exclusions from This Tutorial: While important, we'll not cover third-party integrations (like Stripe for payments or SendGrid for messaging), recaptcha for security, or real-time features in this basic setup. However, Xano offers resources and support to tackle these when you're ready.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Defining Your User Table: We recommend having a unified 'User' table to accommodate both customers and service providers. This approach is flexible and allows for role expansions, like a user being both a driver and a customer in an Uber-like app.

Vehicle and Trips Table: We guide you through setting up these tables to represent the service being offered (like cars in Uber) and the individual service instances (the trips themselves).

Creating API Endpoints: Sean demonstrates how to build API endpoints in Xano that facilitate essential marketplace interactions like finding available service providers near the customer and booking services.

Practical Implementation:

We walk through the actual process of creating these components in Xano, explaining the logic and steps involved in making a functional two-sided marketplace backend.

Conclusion:

Two-sided marketplaces are complex but immensely popular due to their utility and scalability. By following our guide, you can understand the foundational aspects required to start building your marketplace with Xano.

Remember, while we focus on the basics, your application's needs might require additional features and functionalities. Xano's robust platform is designed to grow with you, accommodating more complex scenarios and integrations as your marketplace evolves.

This series aims to simplify the backend creation process for your two-sided marketplace, setting a solid foundation for your application. If you have any questions or need further clarification, don't hesitate to reach out or comment below. We're here to help turn your ideas into reality with Xano.