Build a Grocery Delivery App with Rider Payouts

Tables: products (name, price, category, stock), orders (customer_id, items[], subtotal, delivery_fee, total, delivery_address, status, paystack_ref), riders (name, phone, paystack_recipient_code), deliveries (order_id, rider_id, assigned_at, delivered_at, payout_ref).

async function checkout(customerId, customerEmail, cartItems, deliveryAddress) {
  var subtotal = cartItems.reduce((sum, item) => sum + (item.price * item.qty), 0);
  var deliveryFee = 150000; // NGN 1,500 in kobo
  var total = subtotal + deliveryFee;
  var reference = 'GROC-' + Date.now();

  var order = await db.orders.create({
    customer_id: customerId, items: cartItems, subtotal, delivery_fee: deliveryFee,
    total, delivery_address: deliveryAddress, status: 'pending', paystack_ref: reference,
  });

  var res = await fetch('https://api.paystack.co/transaction/initialize', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + process.env.PAYSTACK_SECRET_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      email: customerEmail, amount: total, currency: 'NGN', reference,
      metadata: { order_id: order.id, delivery_fee: deliveryFee },
    }),
  });
  return (await res.json()).data.authorization_url;
}

// Webhook: confirm payment and start fulfillment
if (event.event === 'charge.success') {
  var orderId = event.data.metadata.order_id;
  await db.orders.update(orderId, { status: 'confirmed' });
  var rider = await assignAvailableRider(orderId); // your assignment logic
  await db.deliveries.create({ order_id: orderId, rider_id: rider.id, assigned_at: new Date() });
  await notifyRider(rider.id, orderId);
  await notifyCustomer(orderId);
}

// Rider confirms delivery — trigger payout
async function confirmDelivery(deliveryId) {
  var delivery = await db.deliveries.findById(deliveryId);
  var order = await db.orders.findById(delivery.order_id);

  await db.deliveries.update(deliveryId, { delivered_at: new Date(), status: 'delivered' });
  await db.orders.update(order.id, { status: 'delivered' });

  // Pay rider via Transfer
  var rider = await db.riders.findById(delivery.rider_id);
  var payoutAmount = order.delivery_fee; // rider gets the delivery fee

  var res = await fetch('https://api.paystack.co/transfer', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + process.env.PAYSTACK_SECRET_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      source: 'balance',
      amount: payoutAmount,
      recipient: rider.paystack_recipient_code,
      reason: 'Delivery payout #' + deliveryId,
      reference: 'RIDER-' + deliveryId + '-' + Date.now(),
    }),
  });
  var transfer = await res.json();
  await db.deliveries.update(deliveryId, { payout_ref: transfer.data.reference });
}

To register a rider as a Transfer Recipient: POST to /transferrecipient with type "mobile_money" (for M-Pesa) or "nuban" (for Nigerian bank), the rider's phone/account number, and bank code. Store the returned recipient_code in the riders table.

See build a restaurant ordering and payment app for the same rider payout pattern in a restaurant delivery context.

Sign up for the McTaba newsletter