How We Built Yogas: A Real-Time Gas Delivery Web App
A deep-dive into building Yogas.co.za — a real-time gas delivery platform with live order tracking, payment gateway integration, and a customer dashboard built from scratch.
The Challenge
Yogas needed a web application that could handle real-time gas cylinder orders, route drivers efficiently, and give customers live delivery tracking — all on a tight timeline.
Tech Stack
We chose React for the frontend for its speed and component reusability. Node.js powered the backend APIs, and we integrated Google Maps API for live tracking. Payment processing was handled via a local South African payment gateway.
Key Features Built
- Real-Time Order Tracking: Customers can see their driver on a live map from order confirmation to doorstep delivery.
- Customer Dashboard: Order history, address management, and repeat order functionality.
- Admin Panel: Driver assignment, inventory management, and revenue reporting.
- Payment Integration: Secure checkout with card and EFT support.
Results
The platform launched successfully in 2025 and immediately streamlined operations. Delivery times dropped by 30% due to optimized routing and real-time communication between customers and drivers.
Lessons Learned
Real-time applications require careful state management. We used WebSockets for live updates and learned the importance of fallback polling when connections drop — a critical lesson for any logistics app.
