In today’s fast-paced world, on-demand delivery apps are revolutionizing the way businesses and individuals send and receive goods. Whether it’s food, groceries, or packages, people want fast, affordable, and reliable delivery services. But what if you could create a delivery app with a bidding system—where multiple drivers can bid on a delivery request, and customers choose the best offer?
This blog post will guide you through building a delivery app with a bidding system using Flutter, as explained in the YouTube video How to Build a Delivery App with a Bidding System | Flutter Guide for On-Demand Courier Apps. Let’s break it down in a fun, simple, and informative way so you can start building your own app today.
Why Choose Flutter for Your Delivery App?
Flutter, Google’s UI toolkit, is one of the best frameworks for building cross-platform apps. Here’s why it’s perfect for an on-demand courier app:
✅ Cross-Platform Development – Write once, run on both iOS and Android.
✅ Fast Performance – Built on Dart, it compiles to native code for smooth performance.
✅ Beautiful UI – Customizable widgets for a modern, responsive app design.
✅ Community Support – A vast developer community and extensive documentation.
Key Features of a Delivery App with a Bidding System
Before jumping into the coding process, let’s highlight the essential features of a bidding-based delivery app:
🚀 User & Driver Registration – Secure sign-up/login for customers and delivery drivers.
📍 Real-Time Location Tracking – Enable GPS tracking for precise pickup and drop-off locations.
💰 Bidding System – Drivers bid for deliveries, and customers select the best offer.
🔔 Push Notifications – Instant updates on bids, delivery status, and payments.
💳 Payment Integration – Allow customers to pay securely via multiple payment methods.
📦 Order Management – Track active, completed, and canceled orders.
⭐ Ratings & Reviews – Let users rate drivers to maintain service quality.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Delivery App with a Bidding System in Flutter
Step 1: Set Up Your Flutter Environment
First, make sure you have Flutter installed. If not, download it from Flutter’s official site. Then, create a new Flutter project using the following command:
flutter create delivery_app
cd delivery_app
Next, install dependencies in pubspec.yaml:
dependencies:
flutter:
sdk: flutter
firebase_core: latest_version
firebase_auth: latest_version
cloud_firestore: latest_version
google_maps_flutter: latest_version
geolocator: latest_version
flutter_local_notifications: latest_version
flutter_stripe: latest_version
Run flutter pub get to install them.
Step 2: Design the UI for Customers and Drivers
Your app needs two main UIs:
1️⃣ Customer Side:
- A simple form for entering pickup and drop-off locations.
- A list of available bids from delivery drivers.
- A button to accept a bid.
2️⃣ Driver Side:
- A dashboard to view available delivery requests.
- A bidding form where drivers enter their price.
- A status tracker for active deliveries.
Here’s a basic Flutter UI structure for the customer’s bid listing screen:
ListView.builder(
itemCount: bidList.length,
itemBuilder: (context, index) {
return ListTile(
title: Text("Driver: ${bidList[index].driverName}"),
subtitle: Text("Bid Amount: \$${bidList[index].amount}"),
trailing: ElevatedButton(
onPressed: () {
acceptBid(bidList[index]);
},
child: Text("Accept Bid"),
),
);
},
);
Step 3: Implement User Authentication
Use Firebase Authentication for secure login and registration.
final FirebaseAuth _auth = FirebaseAuth.instance;
Future<User?> signInWithEmailPassword(String email, String password) async {
try {
UserCredential userCredential = await _auth.signInWithEmailAndPassword(email: email, password: password);
return userCredential.user;
} catch (e) {
print("Error: $e");
return null;
}
}
Step 4: Set Up Firebase Firestore for Data Storage
Firestore will store delivery requests, driver bids, and user details.
Example Firestore structure:
/users/{userId}
/drivers/{driverId}
/deliveries/{deliveryId}/bids/{bidId}
To store a bid in Firestore:
Future<void> placeBid(String deliveryId, double amount, String driverId) async {
await FirebaseFirestore.instance
.collection("deliveries")
.doc(deliveryId)
.collection("bids")
.add({
"driverId": driverId,
"amount": amount,
"timestamp": Timestamp.now(),
});
}
Step 5: Implement Google Maps & Real-Time Tracking
Add Google Maps to the app using google_maps_flutter. Display the driver’s live location with the Geolocator package.
GoogleMap(
initialCameraPosition: CameraPosition(
target: LatLng(userLat, userLng),
zoom: 14.0,
),
markers: {
Marker(
markerId: MarkerId('driverLocation'),
position: LatLng(driverLat, driverLng),
),
},
);
Step 6: Integrate Payment Gateway
Use Flutter Stripe to allow customers to pay securely.
Future<void> processPayment(double amount) async {
final paymentIntent = await Stripe.instance.createPaymentIntent(
amount: (amount * 100).toInt(),
currency: "usd",
);
await Stripe.instance.confirmPayment(paymentIntent.clientSecret);
}
Step 7: Deploy & Test the App
Once development is complete:
- Test the app on real devices to ensure smooth functionality.
- Deploy to Google Play & App Store by following Flutter’s deployment guide.
Monetization Ideas for Your Delivery App
Want to make money from your app? Here are some ideas:
💵 Transaction Fees – Charge a small commission on every delivery.
📢 In-App Ads – Use Google AdMob to display ads and generate revenue.
📍 Subscription Plans – Offer premium features for a monthly fee.
🔄 Partnerships – Collaborate with local businesses for deliveries.
Conclusion: Ready to Build Your Delivery App?
Creating an on-demand delivery app with a bidding system is easier than ever with Flutter and Firebase. By following this guide and watching the full YouTube tutorial, you’ll be well on your way to launching a successful delivery service.
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