How to Build a Successful Marketplace for Electric Vehicles Using No-Code Tools

What inspired the creation of Cardino's marketplace for electric vehicles?

Lukasz, originally from Poland and now residing in Berlin, founded Cardino after recognizing a significant gap in the market for electric vehicles (EVs). With a background in business and stints at McKinsey and Rocket Internet, he was well-versed in the entrepreneurial landscape. However, his inspiration didn't come from his tech background but rather from a desire to tackle a specific market inefficiency.

He observed that while companies like Tesla were flooding the market with new EVs, there was no seamless way for these vehicles to find new owners once they entered the second-hand market. Existing options were cumbersome and lacked the digital efficiency seen in other industries. This realization sparked the idea to build a marketplace connecting EV sellers with buyers, specifically corporate buyers like dealerships in Scandinavia.

Focused on creating an end-to-end digital solution, Lukasz and his co-founder Henrik, who also came from a non-tech background, managed to pivot their concept by leveraging no-code tools, setting the stage for what would become a revolutionary platform in the EV market.

How did Cardino leverage no-code tools to build their platform?

Cardino ingeniously utilized no-code tools like Airtable and Bubble to bring their vision to life. Initially, they started with WhatsApp to sell their first EV. Seeing potential, they transitioned to Airtable to list vehicles and manage early interactions. This simple setup enabled quick validation of their business model.

For a more robust solution, they built their platform using Bubble. This tool allowed them to create a full-fledged marketplace without needing to write a single line of code. Bubble's flexibility enabled Cardino to handle complex workflows, such as live auctions and dealer interactions, crucial for their operations.

As their platform grew, they continued to use integrations like Zapier and Make to automate tasks. This approach not only accelerated development but also kept costs low, allowing for rapid iterations and scaling. By leveraging these no-code tools, they efficiently bootstrapped their way to success.

Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned in Utilizing No-Code Technology for a Complex Business Model

Building a marketplace for electric vehicles using no-code tools came with its own set of challenges. Initially, the team relied on simple setups like WhatsApp and Airtable for their MVP. As they scaled, the complexity of their operations grew exponentially.

Managing live auctions on Bubble proved particularly challenging. There were incidents where backend workflows failed, causing delays and issues during live bidding. Despite these hiccups, their flexible approach allowed for quick problem-solving and iterative improvements.

One major lesson was the importance of having a robust API strategy. Integrating multiple services and automating processes were crucial for operational efficiency. It also became evident that some parts of the platform would eventually need to transition to traditional coding for better scalability and performance.

By embracing a learn-and-fail-fast mentality, they were able to navigate these obstacles, demonstrating that no-code solutions can be incredibly powerful, even for complex business models.

Scaling a No-Code Platform for High Transaction Volumes and Operational Efficiency

Cardino efficiently scaled their no-code platform to handle high transaction volumes and maintain operational efficiency. Using tools like Bubble and Airtable, they managed to build a backend that supported complex, real-time operations such as live auctions.

To handle the increasing load, they transitioned to a dedicated server setup on Bubble. This allowed them to manage multiple simultaneous actions, ensuring smooth user experiences even during peak times. Integrating with services like Zapier and Make added another layer of automation, streamlining processes and reducing manual work.

One of their key strategies was leveraging APIs for additional functionalities, such as image processing and KYC procedures. By outsourcing these tasks to specialized services, they could focus on optimizing their core operations.

Transitioning from simple MVPs to more elaborate workflows enabled rapid iteration and testing. This approach provided quick validation and helped them stay agile, ensuring they could scale effectively without breaking the bank.

Future Plans for Transitioning Parts of the Platform to Traditional Coding

As Cardino continues to grow, transitioning certain components from no-code to traditional coding becomes essential. Currently, their platform heavily relies on Bubble and Airtable for both frontend and backend operations. However, scaling demands more robust and efficient solutions.

Critical Functions Transition

The first step will be moving complex backend workflows. These include live auctions and the bidding engine, crucial for maintaining performance when user engagement spikes. Migrating these to a more scalable, high-performance environment is a priority.

API Integrations

By leveraging APIs, Cardino maintains the flexibility to integrate new services seamlessly. Moving forward, core functionalities like payment processing and logistics will transition to custom-coded solutions. This approach ensures better control over system scalability and reliability.

Maintaining the No-Code Foundation

Despite the transition, no-code will remain integral for rapid prototyping and non-critical workflows. This allows the team to stay agile, developing and testing new features quickly before committing to full-scale deployment.

Cardino’s strategic approach ensures they retain the agility of no-code while leveraging the robustness of traditional coding for critical operations. This blend allows for continuous growth and scalability.