How to Build an App Like Dunzo: A Developer’s Deep-Dive Tutorial

Build an App Like Dunzo Developer Guide

When I set out to build an App Like Dunzo from scratch, I wasn’t just looking to replicate its features — I wanted to truly understand the architecture, scalability, and tech flexibility that makes such a hyperlocal delivery platform tick. Whether you’re a startup founder planning your own delivery app or an agency evaluating clone solutions, this guide will walk you through the real development process, step by step — covering both JavaScript (Node.js + React) and PHP (Laravel/CodeIgniter) stacks.

Dunzo, for the uninitiated, is India’s go-to app for hyperlocal delivery — groceries, medicines, food, packages, you name it. The appeal? Speed, reliability, and a seamless user experience across web and mobile. In today’s post-COVID gig economy, apps like Dunzo are no longer luxuries; they’re utilities. Building one isn’t a weekend project, but with the right tech choices and some real-world know-how, it’s absolutely achievable.

Tech Stack: Node.js + React vs PHP (Laravel/CodeIgniter)

Choosing the right tech stack was one of my first critical decisions. The goal was to build something scalable, fast, and flexible enough to adapt to changing business needs. So I developed the same app logic twice — once using the modern JavaScript stack (Node.js for backend, React for frontend), and once using PHP frameworks like Laravel and CodeIgniter to support legacy-friendly environments.

JavaScript Stack: Node.js + React

If your audience expects real-time tracking, lightning-fast response times, and a dynamic frontend, the Node.js + React combo is unbeatable. Node.js excels at handling concurrent requests — perfect for managing real-time order flows, delivery ETA updates, and notifications. React was a natural fit for building highly interactive UIs, especially the user and delivery partner dashboards.

On the backend, I used Express.js with MongoDB. The reason: speed, schema flexibility, and ease of scaling horizontally. Socket.IO came in handy for real-time communication — order updates, status changes, and driver tracking.

PHP Stack: Laravel or CodeIgniter

If you’re targeting regions or teams where PHP is dominant, Laravel offers structure, built-in security, and a rapid development cycle. I picked Laravel when I needed better ORM control, especially when working with MySQL for structured transaction data. Laravel’s built-in queue management and job dispatching made it easy to offload heavy tasks like invoice generation and notification sending.

CodeIgniter, though more lightweight, was ideal for small-to-mid-sized builds that didn’t need Laravel’s advanced routing or ORM layers. It also worked great in environments where hosting support for Laravel was limited or costly.

When to Use What

Go with Node.js if:

  • You expect rapid user growth and real-time data flow
  • You plan to use NoSQL or cloud-native services
  • You want modern APIs and frontends with React or Vue

Stick with Laravel/CodeIgniter if:

  • You need quick MVPs with robust security
  • You want easier integrations with MySQL and Apache
  • You have access to skilled PHP teams or LAMP-stack infrastructure

Bottom line: both stacks work well — it depends on your business context, scaling plans, and available dev resources

Read More : Best Dunzo Clone Scripts in 2025: Features & Pricing Compared

Database Design: Scalable, Flexible & Built for Real-Time Ops

Whether I built the app with Node.js or PHP, one thing remained constant — the need for a well-thought-out, scalable database schema. The Dunzo model is dynamic: users place time-sensitive orders, delivery partners respond in real-time, and merchants sync inventories. I had to design a schema that could support all of this — and remain flexible enough to evolve.

JavaScript Stack: MongoDB (NoSQL)

For the Node.js version, I went with MongoDB. The reason? Its document-oriented nature made it super easy to nest data like order items, delivery tracking updates, and payment history. Here’s an example of how the orders document looked:

{
  "_id": "ord_654321",
  "user_id": "usr_12345",
  "pickup_location": {...},
  "drop_location": {...},
  "items": [
    {"name": "Grocery A", "qty": 2, "price": 80},
    {"name": "Grocery B", "qty": 1, "price": 150}
  ],
  "status": "in_progress",
  "delivery_agent": "agt_5678",
  "tracking": [
    {"status": "accepted", "timestamp": "..."},
    {"status": "picked_up", "timestamp": "..."},
    {"status": "delivered", "timestamp": "..."}
  ],
  "payment": {
    "method": "card",
    "status": "paid",
    "transaction_id": "txn_0009"
  },
  "created_at": "...",
  "updated_at": "..."
}

NoSQL gave me agility — I didn’t need rigid JOINs, and real-time order updates were easy to implement without altering multiple tables

PHP Stack: MySQL with Laravel/CI ORM

In the Laravel version, I took a more traditional route with MySQL. Here, I normalized the structure to ensure clean relationships and fast queries under heavy load. For example:

  • users table
  • orders table (linked to users)
  • order_items table (linked to orders)
  • tracking_updates table
  • payments table

Laravel’s Eloquent ORM made it smooth to define relationships like $order->items() or $user->orders(). And indexing keys like order_id, status, and created_at helped keep queries fast — even with millions of rows

CodeIgniter’s Active Record pattern worked similarly, but I had to be more hands-on with query building, especially for JOIN-heavy reports and analytics

Final Thoughts on Database Choices

Use MongoDB if:

  • You want nested, flexible schemas
  • You’re focused on speed and horizontal scaling
  • You want to avoid complex JOIN logic

Use MySQL if:

  • You value relational integrity and long-term reporting
  • Your dev team prefers structure and constraints
  • You’re already using Laravel/CI or LAMP environments

Read More : Pre-launch vs Post-launch Marketing for Dunzo Clone Startups

Key Modules & Features: Building the Core of a Dunzo Clone

Once the tech and database foundations were solid, I shifted focus to building out the functional modules — the actual moving parts that make a Dunzo-style app tick. Whether you go JavaScript or PHP, you’ll need to nail these core modules for your platform to deliver a seamless experience to users, merchants, and delivery agents.

1. Order Booking System

Node.js Approach: I used Express.js routes to manage order creation, status updates, and cancellations. Each booking triggered a socket event to notify nearby agents in real-time using Socket.IO. Orders were stored in MongoDB, and I handled geolocation matching using MongoDB’s $near query on 2dsphere-indexed location fields.

Laravel Approach: Here, I used Laravel Queues to dispatch booking notifications and delivery matching in the background. The OrderController handled creation, and I stored geolocation data in MySQL using spatial data types. Laravel’s event broadcasting was used to notify delivery agents (via Laravel Echo).

2. Search & Filters (Merchants, Categories, Items)

React Implementation: The React UI featured a category-based filter with subcategories, autocomplete search, and tags. Search queries hit a /search API with query params and results were dynamically displayed using useEffect hooks.

Blade Template in Laravel: I used AJAX-powered search bars with Select2 and jQuery to fetch search results asynchronously. Filters were applied server-side in Laravel controllers using Eloquent query scopes.

3. Delivery Partner App/Dashboard

React + Node.js: I created a progressive web app (PWA) for agents using React. They could toggle availability, accept/reject tasks, view current deliveries, and navigate with built-in maps. Location tracking ran in intervals, sending GPS data via a /location-update endpoint.

CI/Laravel Approach: For PHP, the agent dashboard was built with Blade + Bootstrap. AJAX was used for polling order updates. Location sharing worked via a mobile web view with JavaScript geolocation and periodic POST requests.

4. Admin Panel

Node.js + React Admin: Built with React Admin and protected with JWT. Admins could manage users, merchants, orders, payouts, complaints, and track metrics with real-time data updates using WebSocket feeds.

Laravel Nova (or Custom CI Panel): For Laravel, I leveraged Nova to quickly scaffold admin CRUD modules. For CodeIgniter, I wrote custom controllers and views, creating role-based access with Middleware and session checks.

5. Notifications System

I integrated Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) for mobile push notifications and used Twilio for SMS. In both stacks, I queued these tasks to avoid blocking main threads. Laravel had a native Notification system that made multi-channel alerts dead simple, while Node.js used nodemailer, twilio, and FCM SDKs in background workers managed by Bull or Agenda.js.

6. Ratings, Reviews, and Issue Reporting

Users could rate deliveries and flag issues. Both stacks stored ratings in a separate reviews collection/table with references to orders and users. I added reporting dashboards for admins to investigate delivery complaints and take action.

7. CMS for Banners, Static Pages, & Blogs

A lightweight CMS was included in the admin panel so marketing teams could update banners, terms, FAQs, and blogs without dev support. In Laravel, I used a pages table with WYSIWYG editors like TinyMCE. In React, I had a Markdown editor with preview and HTML rendering in the frontend.

Read More : Dunzo Features List: What Makes It a Delivery Dynamo?

Data Handling: 3rd-Party APIs + Manual Listings Made Easy

One of the most interesting challenges was offering flexible data sources. Some business owners wanted to integrate with external APIs (e.g., for pharmacy stock, grocery SKUs, or restaurant menus), while others preferred manually uploading listings via admin panels. I made sure both workflows were supported in both tech stacks.

API-Based Listings (Real-Time Inventory Sync)

Node.js (Example: Skyscanner or Zomato APIs): I used Axios to fetch data from external APIs and scheduled cron jobs with Node-Cron to update item availability every few minutes. For example, grocery stores using an external stock management API could sync real-time stock levels, pricing, and item metadata. Data was processed, cleaned, and stored in MongoDB in a normalized format. I also cached common queries using Redis to reduce API throttling.

Laravel/PHP Approach: In Laravel, I built custom Artisan commands for scheduled API syncs. Using Guzzle, I pulled and parsed the API data into MySQL. Laravel’s job queues handled syncing large datasets without timeouts. Caching was done using Laravel’s Cache facade, and I even added retry logic to handle flaky external APIs.

Manual Listings via Admin Panel

React + Node.js Admin: Store owners could log into their dashboard and use forms to add/edit/delete items. I used Formik + Yup for form handling and validation. Images were uploaded to S3 via pre-signed URLs, and data was saved directly to MongoDB. Each listing included stock, price, category, and tax info.

Laravel Blade Panel: In the PHP version, store admins used Laravel’s resource controllers and Blade forms to manage items. I added media upload support via Spatie Media Library, and image resizing/compression with Intervention Image. Categories and tags were linked via pivot tables to support multi-category listings.

Hybrid Sync: API + Manual Override

To give partners more control, I added override flags — so an auto-synced item could be locked for manual editing (e.g., a special offer price). This meant building conflict resolution logic both in Node (via Mongoose hooks) and Laravel (via Eloquent observers).

Read our complete guide on building a Dunzo clone app affordably, with smart budgeting tips and feature-based cost breakdowns.

API Integration: Building the Backbone of a Dunzo Clone

No modern app works in isolation. APIs are the lifeline — whether you’re exposing data to your frontend, integrating with payment gateways, or consuming third-party services. For this project, I had to build a robust internal API layer while also enabling external integrations. Here’s how I structured it using both Node.js and Laravel.

Node.js + Express API Design

I followed RESTful principles using Express routers and modular controllers. I kept each route file clean and used middleware for tasks like authentication, logging, and validation. Here’s a sample flow for placing an order:

// routes/order.js
router.post('/create', authMiddleware, validateOrder, OrderController.createOrder);

In the OrderController.createOrder, I used Mongoose models to insert data and emit real-time socket updates. Here’s a snippet:

async createOrder(req, res) {
const orderData = {...req.body, user: req.user._id};
const order = await Order.create(orderData);
io.to('agents').emit('new_order', order);
res.status(201).json({success: true, order});
}

I also created reusable service functions to handle API calls to external vendors like Google Maps for distance/time calculation or FCM for push notifications.

Laravel API Structure

In Laravel, I used the built-in API scaffolding with API routes grouped in routes/api.php. Here’s the same order creation endpoint:

Route::middleware('auth:sanctum')->post('/orders', [OrderController::class, 'store']);

The store() method in OrderController used Eloquent to save the order, dispatch an event, and return a standardized response using Laravel’s Resource classes

public function store(Request $request) {
    $order = Order::create([...$request->all(), 'user_id' => auth()->id()]);
    broadcast(new NewOrder($order))->toOthers();
    return new OrderResource($order);
}

For third-party APIs, I used Laravel’s Http::get() with retry chains and fallbacks. Laravel Events and Listeners made it easy to handle async integrations like sending SMS or notifying the admin team via Slack bots.

Auth & API Rate Limiting

I implemented JWT-based auth in Node.js using jsonwebtoken and stored tokens in HTTP-only cookies for security. For Laravel, I used Laravel Sanctum for SPA-compatible token-based authentication.

To protect the API from abuse, I added:

  • Rate Limiting with express-rate-limit in Node.js and Throttle middleware in Laravel
  • CORS policies for safe cross-domain requests
  • Logging with Winston in Node and Laravel Telescope for PHP

Real-Time APIs

In Node.js, WebSockets (via Socket.IO) were the foundation for real-time order tracking. Agents subscribed to channels and got live order updates.

In Laravel, I used Laravel Echo Server + Redis + Pusher-compatible broadcasting for the same real-time experience.

Read More : Reasons startup choose our dunzo clone over custom development

Frontend & UI Structure: Responsive, Intuitive, and Built for Conversion

Frontend wasn’t just about making things look good — it had to work across devices, feel native, and ensure zero friction for users placing urgent orders. I took different approaches based on the stack, but the principles remained the same: responsive layout, minimal steps to complete actions, and clear visual cues.

React Frontend (JavaScript Stack)

React gave me full control over building a component-driven UI. I structured the app using a container/presenter pattern to separate logic from visuals. For styling, I used TailwindCSS to ensure fast responsiveness and dark/light mode adaptability. Here’s how the major UI components were organized:

  • HomePage.js: category grid, search bar, location picker
  • OrderFlow.js: cart, checkout, delivery instructions
  • AgentDashboard.js: incoming order queue, accept/reject, map view
  • AdminPanel.js: stats, user management, content CMS

Routing was handled by React Router, and global state (like user info, cart, live location) was managed using Redux Toolkit. I optimized the UX with lazy loading via React Suspense and custom loading skeletons.

On mobile, I wrapped the React app in a PWA shell, giving it installable behavior and offline caching via service workers. This allowed the same React codebase to serve both web and app-like experiences.

Blade + Bootstrap (Laravel/CodeIgniter Stack)

For the PHP version, I built the frontend using Blade templates with Bootstrap 5. Each page was modular, and I used Blade partials for reusable elements like navbars, item cards, and modals. Here’s how the layout was structured:

  • home.blade.php: categories, featured banners, search input
  • order.blade.php: item list, filters, checkout form
  • agent-dashboard.blade.php: task list, location display
  • admin.blade.php: stats, controls, user tables

To handle dynamic parts (like cart updates), I used jQuery with AJAX and Laravel’s CSRF-protected endpoints. On mobile, everything was fully responsive — Bootstrap’s grid and utility classes handled most layout concerns, and I added custom breakpoints for better usability on older Android phones.

Mobile Responsiveness & UX Principles

Across both stacks, I applied the same UX heuristics:

  • Sticky action buttons (like “Add to Cart” or “Confirm Pickup”) on mobile
  • Real-time map rendering via Google Maps or Leaflet.js for order tracking
  • Minimalist checkout: name, phone, location, payment method — no clutter
  • Loading animations for transitions between order stages

Whether in React or Blade, the focus was on speed, clarity, and conversion. By aligning design choices with user behavior — especially in a hurry-driven app like Dunzo — we minimized drop-offs and increased task success rates.

Read More : Dunzo App Marketing Strategy: How to Deliver Buzz, Installs & Loyalty

Authentication & Payments: Securing Access and Enabling Transactions

Handling user authentication and payments securely is non-negotiable when building a Dunzo-like app. You’re dealing with personal addresses, contact info, live location, and financial data — all in real time. I took a security-first approach across both tech stacks, ensuring scalability without compromising trust.

Authentication – Node.js + JWT

For the JavaScript version, I used JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for session management. Users signed up or logged in via /auth/register or /auth/login, and received a signed JWT token, which was stored in an HTTP-only cookie. Here’s how I structured the auth flow:

  • Password Hashing: bcrypt with salt rounds
  • Token Signing: jsonwebtoken, with a 15-minute expiry and refresh token logic
  • Role-Based Access: Middleware checked for roles (user, admin, agent) before allowing access to protected routes
  • Forgot Password: OTP sent via Twilio, verified against a temporary Redis entry for added security

For agent logins, I also tracked device info and geolocation to prevent fraudulent delivery attempts. All tokens were verified on every API hit using a central authMiddleware.js.

Authentication – Laravel Sanctum

On the PHP side, I used Laravel Sanctum for token-based API authentication. It allowed both SPA-friendly login sessions and mobile API token flows. The benefits were:

  • Built-In CSRF Protection: For web-based forms
  • Token Management: Users could have multiple active tokens (for web, iOS, Android)
  • Middleware Guards: auth:sanctum restricted API routes, and Laravel’s policies controlled who could access which records

For password resets, Laravel’s built-in notification system made it easy to send OTPs via email or SMS. I also added two-factor support using Laravel Fortify where needed.

Payment Integration – Stripe, Razorpay, Cash

Node.js + Stripe

For card-based payments, I integrated Stripe using their Node SDK. I created a backend route /create-payment-intent that returned a client_secret, which the frontend passed into the Stripe.js SDK. Once payment succeeded, I updated the order status in MongoDB and triggered a socket event to confirm the booking.

jsCopyEditconst paymentIntent = await stripe.paymentIntents.create({
  amount: order.total * 100,
  currency: 'INR',
  metadata: {order_id: order._id}
});

I also added webhooks to handle failed payments, refunds, and payout reports.

Laravel + Razorpay

In India-focused builds, I used Razorpay for better domestic support. Laravel’s server verified each payment using the Razorpay signature, then updated MySQL. I kept this logic within a dedicated PaymentController, which made the flow clean and testable.

$api = new Api($key, $secret);
$payment = $api->payment->fetch($request->payment_id);
if ($payment->capture(['amount' => $order->amount * 100])) {
    $order->update(['status' => 'paid']);
}

Cash on Delivery (COD) was also offered — I tracked it with flags like is_cod and reconciled agent cash pickups through the admin panel.

Security Best Practices

  • HTTPS Everywhere: Forced SSL in production for both stacks
  • Token Expiry & Refresh: Short expiry + refresh token patterns
  • PCI Compliance: Payment data never touched our servers; all passed via SDKs
  • Input Validation: Yup in React and Laravel’s validation rules server-side
  • Rate Limiting: Prevented brute-force attempts on login routes

Read More ; Top 5 Mistakes Startups Make When Building a Dunzo Clone

Testing & Deployment: CI/CD, Docker, and Going Live Smoothly

Shipping a Dunzo-style app isn’t just about writing features. You need to test like your business depends on it (because it does), and deploy in a way that’s stable, rollback-safe, and scalable. I set up a deployment pipeline for both the Node.js and PHP versions, using modern CI/CD tools and containerization to keep things clean and repeatable.

Testing in Node.js

I used Jest for unit testing and Supertest for integration testing. Every core module — orders, payments, authentication, notifications — had tests to cover expected and edge-case behavior. Here’s a snapshot of what I tested:

  • Unit Tests: Controllers, services, database logic
  • API Tests: Endpoints with auth headers, request body validations
  • Socket Tests: Simulated WebSocket events for real-time flows

Linting was automated with ESLint and Prettier, and I used Husky + lint-staged to prevent bad commits from making it to the repo.

Testing in Laravel

Laravel made testing straightforward with its built-in PHPUnit support. I used:

  • Feature tests for API endpoints
  • Unit tests for service logic
  • Browser tests with Laravel Dusk to simulate UI workflows (e.g., placing an order from homepage to confirmation)

Laravel also came with a powerful mocking framework, so I could test payment gateways, queues, and external APIs without making real requests.

Deployment – Docker First Approach

I containerized everything using Docker. The Docker setup included:

  • app: the main Node.js/Laravel container
  • nginx: reverse proxy for production routing
  • db: MongoDB or MySQL depending on the stack
  • redis: for queues and real-time data

I built separate Dockerfiles for Node and PHP, and defined services in docker-compose.yml. For production, I built slim images and pushed them to a private registry.

Node.js Hosting & Process Management

For Node.js, I used PM2 to manage the backend app in production. It handled:

  • Auto restarts on crash
  • Zero-downtime reloads
  • Cluster mode for multi-core scaling

I served the React frontend separately via NGINX, backed by a CDN for global asset delivery.

PHP Hosting with Apache or NGINX

For Laravel or CI, I hosted on NGINX with PHP-FPM. I set up queues using Supervisor, and deployed code via GitHub Actions. Deployment steps included:

  • Composer install
  • Migrations
  • Cache clear + rebuild
  • Queue restart
  • NGINX config reload

I stored .env files securely in a secret manager and ran backups nightly for MySQL and file uploads.

CI/CD Pipeline

I used GitHub Actions for both stacks. The pipeline ran on every push:

  • Lint + Unit Tests
  • Docker Build
  • Deployment to Staging
  • Approval Gate for Production

This meant fewer surprises and faster rollback if anything went wrong.

Pro Tips: Real-World Lessons, Performance Hacks & Mobile-First Wins

Building a Dunzo clone wasn’t just about getting it to work — it was about making it work well at scale, on cheap Android phones, slow 3G, and in high-traffic bursts. These are the lessons and optimizations I picked up the hard way, and that I now bake into every serious production build.

1. Caching Everything That Moves

In Node.js, I used Redis aggressively — for caching category lists, repeated homepage queries, delivery zone lookups, and even user cart data. For example, I cached home page API responses for 5 minutes, reducing MongoDB reads by over 70%.

In Laravel, I used the cache() helper and tag-based caching. Product lists, static banners, and merchant categories were stored in Redis with expiration. I also cached compiled Blade views and database query results using remember().

Don’t forget to invalidate smartly — I used queue jobs to clear only the affected keys, not blanket resets.

2. Asynchronous Everything

One of the biggest speed wins came from moving heavy logic to the background. Whether it was sending notifications, calculating agent payouts, or syncing merchant data — I offloaded it to queues.

In Node, I used Bull with Redis to manage background jobs. In Laravel, it was all about queues with Horizon and workers supervised by Supervisor.

This kept the main user actions snappy and never made them wait on slow APIs or storage writes.

3. Mobile-First UX Is Non-Negotiable

The majority of users were mobile-first, so I designed for touch, speed, and screen constraints from day one.

In React:

  • Avoided hover effects
  • Used bottom-anchored CTAs
  • Built one-click reorder and address pickers

In Blade:

  • Minimized form steps
  • Used larger touch areas
  • Optimized CSS delivery with PurgeCSS to reduce render-blocking

I tested regularly on 4-inch Android phones using Chrome DevTools’ device simulator and actual budget devices to ensure real-world usability.

4. Geo and Maps Are Tricky at Scale

Rate-limiting Google Maps API calls was essential. I used caching and local geohash indexes for quick distance queries. I also backed off calls if usage hit 80% of the daily quota.

Laravel’s geocoder-php and Node’s node-geocoder helped standardize coordinates. And I validated every address server-side before allowing an order to proceed — saving a lot of agent confusion.

5. Modular Code Wins Long-Term

Whether in Node or Laravel, I split features into modules: orders, users, payments, notifications, etc. This made testing easier and scaling independent teams realistic. It also helped me swap features in and out quickly when building white-label versions for clients.

Final Thoughts: Custom Builds vs Ready-Made Launch — What I Learned

After building the Dunzo clone from the ground up in both JavaScript and PHP environments, here’s my honest take — yes, this kind of app is totally achievable, but it’s not plug-and-play. It requires solid planning, modular architecture, and real dev hours. That said, I’ve also seen exactly where founders can save months — without cutting corners.

When to Go Custom

If you’re planning something unconventional — like drone-based delivery, AI-driven logistics, or a medical-use case with tight compliance needs — then a custom build is the way to go. You’ll want to shape every part of the flow, from how orders are handled to how payments and notifications work.

I’d recommend going custom if:

  • You have an in-house team or technical co-founder
  • You’re preparing for high-traffic usage with real-time updates
  • You want fine-grain control over your workflows and integrations

But be ready — even a lean build takes 3–6 months. If you’re also building native mobile apps or dealing with regulatory compliance like PCI or HIPAA, the timeline grows fast.

When to Start with a Clone Script

If speed to market is your top priority, a powerful clone script is a smarter play. With Miracuves’ Dunzo Clone, you get a fully structured base that’s already built to scale — including:

  • Support for JavaScript and PHP stacks (Node.js, React, Laravel, CI)
  • Core modules for orders, agents, delivery tracking, admin dashboards
  • Real-time capabilities, API support, and payment gateway integrations
  • Ready-to-brand templates with optional white-label delivery

You can move from idea to launch in weeks, not quarters. Even better — you can still customize everything post-launch as you gather real-world feedback. If you’re serious about building quickly without reinventing the basics, let’s build together with Miracuves’ Dunzo Clone as your foundation.

I’ve seen clone products from Miracuves work in real client deployments — they’re stable, cleanly coded, and way more flexible than off-the-shelf marketplace scripts. Most importantly, they save you time on the fundamentals so you can focus on your differentiation.

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FAQ: Dunzo Clone Development

1. How long does it take to build an app like Dunzo from scratch?

If you’re going custom and building both backend and frontend from the ground up, expect 3–6 months minimum for a production-ready version. This includes dev time, testing, API integrations, admin panel, and mobile responsiveness. Using a ready-made clone script like Miracuves’ Dunzo Clone can reduce that timeline to just a few weeks — while still allowing customization post-launch.

2. Can I choose between Node.js and PHP for the backend?

Yes. Both stacks are equally capable. Choose Node.js if you want real-time data flow and scalability (ideal for dynamic logistics), and PHP (Laravel/CodeIgniter) if you prefer traditional MVC structure or already have a PHP team. Miracuves supports both tech stacks depending on your needs.

3. What’s the best way to manage real-time delivery tracking?

Use WebSockets for agent location updates and order status in real time. In Node.js, this means using Socket.IO, and in Laravel, Laravel Echo Server with Redis broadcasting. Also, use geolocation APIs sparingly to avoid hitting rate limits — cache frequently queried locations.

4. How do I manage payments for COD, card, and wallets?

Integrate Stripe or Razorpay for card and UPI payments. Use backend webhook listeners to confirm successful transactions. For Cash on Delivery, flag orders and track agent collections via admin. All flows should be secure, async, and logged for reconciliation.

5. Can I support multiple vendors or stores?

Absolutely. Your database schema should support multi-vendor logic — where each merchant has its own item catalog, order dashboard, delivery preferences, and revenue tracking. Both Node.js and Laravel support this modular design.

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