The problem
Sending a parcel in Italy means comparing couriers whose prices are published as unreadable tables, then discovering the real cost at the end. Small businesses and private customers were doing that comparison by hand, every time, and small e-commerce sellers were doing it dozens of times a week.
What I built
A shipping platform where the price is visible before anything else:
- An instant quote from dimensions and the two addresses, with transparent rates — from €8.42 including VAT up to 2 kg, published on the page rather than hidden behind a form.
- Booked collection from the sender’s address, with the date chosen by them.
- Real-time tracking through to delivery, and secure payment.
- A business tier for e-commerce sellers and companies: rates based on volume, a single monthly invoice instead of one per parcel, recurring scheduled collections, and a panel with history and statistics.
- Live chat with a human operator, because a parcel that has not arrived is not a question a bot should be answering.
Over 5,000 shipments have gone through the platform.
Built with
A custom web application with courier integration for rates and tracking, online payments, and a separate business area with its own billing logic. Delivery across Italy in 24 to 48 hours.
Why it was done this way
The quote engine was built first and everything else around it. For this kind of service the moment that decides whether somebody becomes a customer is the one where they find out the price: if it takes four screens and a sign-up to get there, they are already comparing somebody else.
