Full-Stack Development on Webflow – Building the CargoNetwork Logistics Platform

Category: Full-Stack, Webflow, Xano, JavaScript, API Integration, PayPal

CargoNetwork had a vision to modernize the logistics industry—to create a platform that seamlessly connects shippers with carriers. This wasn't a job for a standard website builder. They needed a robust, scalable, and fast system that could manage users, shipments, and, most importantly, complex financial transactions.

My task was to turn that vision into reality using a modern tech stack (Webflow, Xano, JavaScript) to build a complete full-stack web application from the ground up.

The Project Goal

The main objective was to create two components that work as one:

1. The Marketing Site (Frontend): A fast, responsive, and professional site (the one you see) to attract new shippers and carriers.
2. The Web Application (Backend & Logic): The "brain" of the operation—a system where users register, post shipments, receive quotes, and process payments.

The Technical Challenge & Solution

This project was a fusion of three powerful technologies that had to work in perfect harmony.

• Webflow (Frontend): I leveraged Webflow not only for the marketing site but also as the frontend for the web application itself. This allowed for the rapid development of a complex and responsive user interface (UI) without compromising on design.
• Xano (Backend): Instead of traditional backend coding, I used Xano—a powerful no-code backend platform. In Xano, I built the entire database (for users, carriers, shipments, quotes, statuses) and created a set of custom API endpoints that served as the "brain" for the entire application.
• JavaScript (The "Glue"): Custom JavaScript was crucial. I wrote scripts that connect the Webflow frontend with the Xano backend. Every registration form, every quote request, and every real-time status check happens via JS calling the Xano API.

Key Achievement: The Custom PayPal Integration

The biggest and most complex challenge was payment integration. The client didn't just need a simple "pay" button. They needed a complete, custom payment flow.

Using PayPal's API in combination with Xano:

1. I developed a system where a shipper could securely pay for the transport service.
2. I implemented logic that verifies the payment.
3. I built the process that manages those funds and facilitates future payouts to carriers upon successful job completion.

This required a deep understanding of APIs and creating security checks within Xano to ensure every transaction was secure and accurately recorded.

The Result

A fast, scalable, and fully functional web application that automates key logistics processes. By using Webflow for the frontend and Xano for the backend, the client received a system that can grow, all while significantly reducing the development time and cost compared to a traditional full-code approach.

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