Case Study 5: Contract Work — Logistics Dashboard MVP
Overview
Company: Seed-Stage Logistics Venture
Role: Contracted Engineer
Duration: May 2023 – August 2023
Industry: Logistics / Operations
The Challenge
A former CEO I'd worked with at Winc was launching a new logistics and operations venture. They needed a frontend MVP to demonstrate the platform to investors and validate the concept. The backend wasn't built yet, so the frontend needed to be ready for future API integration.
Key Problems:
- 3-month timeline for investor presentations
- Multiple user roles with different access needs
- No backend yet—frontend must be API-ready
- Real-time data visualization requirements
- Authentication and security requirements
My Approach
First: Architecture Planning
- Designed component structure for future scalability
- Planned API integration points for backend connection
- Established TypeScript patterns for type safety
Second: Authentication System
- Implemented AWS Cognito for secure authentication
- Built role-based access control system
- Created distinct permission levels for different user types
Third: Role-Based Interfaces
- Shippers: Dashboard for outbound logistics metrics
- Receivers: Inbound tracking and delivery management
- Sales Teams: Pipeline and customer metrics views
Fourth: Visualization Components
- Built chart-ready components using modern patterns
- Designed for real-time data updates
- Created responsive layouts for desktop and tablet
The Results
| Deliverable | Status | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Production-Ready MVP | Delivered | Supported investor presentations |
| Timeline | 3 months | Met deadline |
| Authentication | AWS Cognito | Secure, scalable |
| Role-Based Access | 3 user types | Distinct experiences |
| API-Ready Architecture | Complete | Backend integration ready |
Key Takeaways
- Professional relationships matter. This opportunity came from a former CEO who valued my previous work.
- MVP discipline is crucial. Scoped appropriately for timeline while building for future scale.
- Frontend-first can work. Building API-ready components before backend exists enables parallel development.
Technologies Used
Next.js, React, TypeScript, AWS Cognito, Role-Based Access Control, Chart.js, Tailwind CSS, Vercel