context
Makesales needed a vendor system that could handle everything: product management, order processing, invoicing, payouts, coupons, point-of-sale, and a complete website builder. I led the experience for this system end-to-end and set the design standard for the platform. The design system I built alongside it is what other engineers layered on to build the overseer / admin portal.
constraints
- -Had to support real-time order updates without overwhelming the server
- -Website builder needed to be flexible but not intimidating
- -Multiple vendors sharing infrastructure meant strict data isolation
- -Performance had to stay fast even with thousands of products
- -POS had to feel instant at the counter while syncing with the same inventory the online store uses
approach
I built the portal as a modular system where each feature (products, orders, invoices, POS, etc.) could operate independently but share a common design language. Real-time updates via WebSocket kept vendors informed without constant polling. The design system I built for it became the foundation of the platform's web interfaces.
key decisions
- -Used optimistic UI updates for instant feedback on actions
- -Separated critical paths (order processing) from secondary features (analytics)
- -Built a preview mode for the website builder so vendors see changes instantly
- -Designed POS and web inventory against the same backend, so a sale at the counter updates the online store in real time
- -Ensured that error handling is smooth and users are not left in the dark.
outcome
The vendor system now powers 500+ vendors who onboard and manage their stores end-to-end without technical support. It became the design backbone of the platform. The same design system drives the storefront experience on makesales.shop and was adopted by other engineers building the overseer / admin portal.