Building a game-changer in just 3 months: FLEETLOOP's MVP journey

How do you build a groundbreaking digital rental platform for semitrailers in just three months? FLEETLOOP's journey, told by Matthias Cordes, Chief Product Officer at FLEETLOOP and Jonas Köhne e-Commerce Project Manager at basecom, reveals the power of agile MVP (minimum viable product) development and microservices-based innovation.

When we first set out to create FLEETLOOP, our vision was clear: We wanted to disrupt the semitrailer rental industry by building a digital platform that was fast, intuitive and scalable. Carriers should be able to rent a semitrailer in under a minute and pick it up 24/7 — with the same level of convenience they’d expect from any modern digital service.

We knew that achieving this would require a bold approach and partnering with basecom, a very experienced systems integrator, was a fit from day one. Jonas and his team brought a level of technical expertise and agility that perfectly matched our ambitions.

When we started to build FLEETLOOP's rental platform, we knew we had to take a different approach from classic eCommerce businesses. The semitrailer rental industry is full of old-school processes — fragmented, slow and, frankly, frustrating. If we wanted to create a rental platform that made sense for today’s world, we needed more than just a new coat of digital paint. We had to rethink how everything worked, right down to the smallest detail.

One of the biggest hurdles was how disconnected things were. Our customers needed access to real-time information, like which vehicle was where and when it would be available. But a legacy system or manually filled database simply can’t handle that. We needed a platform that could constantly communicate with Schmitz Cargobull’s TrailerConnect® portal as a consolidation platform for different telematics providers.

That data was essential for fast, informed decisions. Then there was the user experience. We didn’t just want a platform that “worked” — we wanted a solution that business users actually enjoyed using. Our vision was a digital tool where customers could find, rent and activate semitrailers in less than a minute. The old processes? Forget it. They were sluggish, clunky and anything but user-friendly.

Customization was another challenge. We had unique needs, like dynamic pricing models and a tailored onboarding process for different business units. Off-the-shelf solutions couldn’t support that kind of flexibility. But building something fully custom from scratch? That would’ve taken way too much time and resources. Speed was also critical. We didn’t have years to tinker and perfect the platform — we needed an agile approach that would get an MVP up and running fast. Our goal was bold: Build and launch a fully functional platform in just three months. It was ambitious, but we knew without that speed, we’d lose our competitive edge.

One of the biggest lessons I learned through this project is the true value of an MVP. By launching quickly and iterating based on user feedback, we were able to test our assumptions and deliver a solution that met real customer needs.

The decision to use commercetools Platform was a game-changer. Its composable commerce architecture allowed us to build exactly what we needed without compromising on speed or scalability. We created a customized frontend that gave users an intuitive experience while integrating critical backend processes like order management microservices and real-time vehicle tracking.

For our B2B customers, this wasn’t just about convenience — it was a business-critical solution. Dispatchers and fleet managers needed immediate access to available semitrailers, whether for transporting refrigerated packages or duty tippers for industrial use. Time was of the essence, and the ability to select, book and activate the right trailer in real-time meant the difference between seamless operations and costly delays.

What’s more, commercetools’ flexibility allowed us to set up dynamic pricing models tailored to different business needs and effortlessly onboard new users through a streamlined process. Instead of being bogged down by complex manual workflows, our operations team can now onboard business customers with just a few clicks, empowering them to keep their fleets moving without disruption.

When Matthias Cordes from FLEETLOOP first approached me at basecom with the idea of building a rental platform for semitrailers, I knew we were stepping into something ambitious — and I was all in. The goal wasn’t just to create a simple digital storefront. Matthias wanted to revolutionize how B2B rentals were done, automating disparate processes and offering real-time fleet tracking with seamless telematics integration.

The kicker? We had just three months to get a fully functional MVP live. That’s a tall order, but as someone who thrives on challenging timelines, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to show just how powerful agile development could be when paired with the right technology.

One of the first decisions we made was to build the platform using commercetools, not just for its technical flexibility but for the business advantages it provided. Its API-first, cloud-native and microservices-based architecture allowed us to minimize upfront investment, accelerate time-to-market and reduce the risk of ongoing maintenance challenges. Given the complexity of creating a dynamic semitrailer rental platform, commercetools' composable approach made it possible to quickly deliver essential features like order management and custom pricing logic without being burdened by rigid templates or time-intensive custom builds.

From the beginning, we adopted a hypothesis-driven, iterative approach, breaking down the platform’s core functionalities into sprints. This was uncharted territory — as the first platform of its kind in the semitrailer rental business, we had no existing customer experience blueprint to follow. Every sprint required creative problem-solving and relentless testing, bringing us closer to a solution that met FLEETLOOP’s ambitious vision: A highly personalized system where business buyers could onboard quickly, find the best-positioned semitrailers in real time and manage rentals seamlessly.

But technology wasn’t the only key to our success — MVP project management played a massive role. By focusing on delivering only the most essential features first and iterating based on user feedback, we were able to launch a powerful product faster than anyone thought possible.

To meet FLEETLOOP's ambition of delivering a world-class user experience for semitrailer rentals, we combined Schmitz Cargobull’s TrailerConnect® with a portfolio of state-of-the-art digital services. This orchestration allowed us to integrate telematics data alongside essential functions such as B2B billing, customer communication, map services, payment processing and translation capabilities.

By seamlessly combining these systems, we provided dispatchers with powerful tools to view trailer availability, select the best-positioned vehicles and make data-driven decisions quickly. TrailerConnect played a critical role by not only tracking vehicle status and location but also delivering actionable insights that optimized routing and operations.

The flexibility of commercetools' microservices architecture was instrumental in managing these complex integrations. We efficiently pulled in critical data points like chassis numbers and license plates, displaying them alongside dynamic features, such as custom pricing models and optional add-on services.

Launching the MVP early enabled us to gather real-world insights and make continuous improvements based on user feedback. The result? A streamlined platform that delivers complete fleet visibility, faster decisions and more efficient rental processes — saving time and reducing costs for customers.

Jonas: Reflecting on this project, it’s incredible to see what we accomplished together. In just three months, we went from a concept to a fully operational platform that’s already transforming the semitrailer rental industry. This project is a testament to the power of agile MVP development, the flexibility of commercetools’ microservices and the strength of true collaboration.

Matthias: At FLEETLOOP, we see this as just the first chapter. With a robust, scalable foundation now in place, we’re geared up to push the boundaries of innovation and expand our platform’s capabilities all over Europe  — unlocking even more value for our customers and reshaping the future of trailer rentals.

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About FLEETLOOP

FLEETLOOP is a joint venture between the innovative rental company Greiwing Truck & Trailer and trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull. As an established industry leader, the company wants to establish a new standard in commercial vehicle rental.

About basecom

As a software service provider, basecom ensures the successful implementation of custom software projects in the areas of e-commerce, PIM systems and digital experience solutions. With locations in Germany, Romania and the United States, the company combines the expertise of more than 250 employees and over 25 years of experience with certified know-how and strong partnerships with leading technology providers.