Zero My Gear Case Study: How Codica Built an AI-Powered Inventory & Marketplace SaaS

Most gear owners know how challenging it is to keep track of equipment, let alone profit from it. Behind every piece of unused gear lies untapped value, if only it could be managed and sold more easily.

For many enthusiasts, from firearm collectors to outdoor adventurers, inventory management was fragmented and manual, relying on spreadsheets or scattered tools.

Zero My Gear set out to change that by creating the first-of-its-kind web-first SaaS platform with AI-powered automation, a secure peer-to-peer marketplace, and seamless cross-device access. The platform empowers users to organize their inventories, monitor consumables, and turn underused assets into profit, all in one secure, user-friendly solution.

To bring this vision to life, the founders partnered with Codica as a full-cycle development team. We handled everything from project discovery and UX prototypes to building a scalable architecture with React, Next.js, and Ruby on Rails, as well as integrating AI tools, Stripe payments, and strong security practices.

The result was a robust, future-proof platform that redefined how individuals manage and monetize their personal assets. The initial public launch not only showcased the platform’s usability but also demonstrated strong early market demand, validating the product’s concept and its potential for growth.

Project background: Building an AI-driven inventory platform for personal gear management

Zero My Gear (ZMG) was created to transform the way individuals and enthusiasts manage and monetize their personal assets, from firearms and tactical gear to tools, outdoor equipment, and perishables.

The goal was to move beyond simple tracking and offer a comprehensive AI-powered SaaS solution that would also provide automation and monetization opportunities.

Unlike fragmented and manual methods such as spreadsheets, ZMG combines intelligent inventory organization with AI automation and a built-in marketplace, creating a one-stop, community-driven ecosystem.

To achieve this, the client asked for a web-first, mobile-friendly platform with fast item entry, smart monetization suggestions, secure marketplace features, and strong data protection. By integrating automation, compliance-ready processes, and robust security, ZMG was designed to help users organize their assets, reduce manual work, and unlock the value of unused items.

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Key features delivered for Zero My Gear SaaS

AI-powered inventory management and automation

The platform helps users quickly add new items, including through voice-to-record functionality, and reduces manual input.

AI-driven suggestions support smart monetization of underused assets, while consumables tracking with alerts and restock recommendations ensures users never run out of essential items.

Integrated and secure peer-to-peer marketplace

ZMG includes a built-in marketplace that enables users to list, sell, and promote gear within a single platform.

It supports secure Stripe-powered payments, compliance flows for regulated items (such as firearms), and creates opportunities for community interaction among enthusiasts.

Partner and vendor features for monetization

To support ecosystem growth, ZMG allows partner self-registration, management of payouts, referral programs, and commission tracking.

Partners can run advertising campaigns with images and links, pay ad fees via wallet or card, and monitor their ad performance.

Advanced security, compliance, and data protection

Given the sensitive nature of certain inventory types, the platform includes end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and secure access controls.

Transparent privacy policies and opt-in features ensure user trust and compliance with relevant regulations.

User-friendly responsive UI/UX for web and mobile

The Codica design team delivered modern, intuitive interfaces that adapt seamlessly across devices.

Clear navigation, Elasticsearch-powered search and filtering, and visually engaging dashboards, such as ammo distribution and collection value, simplify the user experience for both individual users and partners.

Scalable SaaS architecture with modern tech stack

ZMG was built as a full-cycle SaaS platform using React, Next.js, and Ruby on Rails with a PostgreSQL database.

The architecture supports ongoing feature expansion and stable performance. Integrations with Elasticsearch, Google Cloud, Google Analytics, and Mailchimp enhance search, analytics, and marketing, while GitLab CI/CD and Sentry ensure smooth deployments and monitoring.

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Product discovery and planning for Zero My Gear

Interactive prototypes and user flow design in Figma At the discovery stage, the team created comprehensive prototypes and wireframes in Figma to visualize every major user flow. Onboarding, inventory management, marketplace interactions, checkout, and partner dashboards.

The design system was synchronized with Storybook, providing consistent UI components for the frontend.

Defining business logic and technical specifications

Together with the client, Codica defined the business logic and requirements for a multi-tenant SaaS platform.

This included outlining AI-driven automation, marketplace workflows, partner and advertising features, security measures, and compliance processes.

Selecting the optimal tech stack for SaaS and marketplace

The carefully selected stack allowed Codica to deliver a secure, high-performing, and future-ready SaaS platform, meeting the client’s business goals while ensuring efficient development and reliable ongoing operation:

• The choice of React + Next.js for the frontend and Ruby on Rails for the backend provided a strong foundation for building a robust and scalable SaaS platform. This combination ensured fast MVP delivery, seamless integrations, and long-term maintainability.
• React + Next.js enabled high development speed thanks to a component-based structure, improved SEO and faster page loading through server-side rendering, and delivered a responsive web-first experience for both desktop and mobile users. Its flexibility made it ideal for handling dynamic marketplace features such as search, filters, dashboards, and chat, while the rich ecosystem of libraries and tools accelerated development and supported future scalability.
• Ruby on Rails was chosen for its rapid development capabilities and mature ecosystem. It simplified building core features, integrating third-party services like Stripe, Elasticsearch, and Twilio 2FA, and supported a multi-tenant architecture needed for different user roles and partner programs. The framework also provided reliable admin tools and operational simplicity, enabling predictable releases and streamlined maintenance.
• For payments, Stripe offered secure handling of subscriptions, payouts, and marketplace transactions, as well as compliance with global standards. Elasticsearch ensured fast and accurate search for large inventories and marketplace listings.
• To guarantee stable performance and smooth delivery, the team implemented GitLab CI/CD pipelines, enabling automated builds, testing, and deployments, and integrated Sentry for real-time error tracking and monitoring.

Codica’s development process for Zero My Gear

Step 1: Infrastructure setup and DevOps best practices

A strong product begins with a reliable foundation. For Zero My Gear, Codica focused first on infrastructure and DevOps to ensure smooth delivery and long-term stability.

Key actions at this stage:

• Configured GitLab CI/CD pipelines to automate builds, testing, and deployments.
• Set up a dedicated staging environment to test new features before release.
• Integrated Sentry for real-time error tracking and performance monitoring.

This approach provided predictable releases, minimized risks during updates, and gave the team full visibility into the system’s health from day one.

Step 2: Product design and consistent UI/UX system

At this stage, the focus shifted to UI/UX design services, which Codica treated as the core of the whole experience, not just how the platform looks. The goal was to make it feel natural and easy to use, so that both new and experienced users could quickly find their way around.

The team built interactive prototypes in Figma to map out all key flows, from onboarding to managing inventory, marketplace transactions, and partner dashboards.

A unified design system in Figma was connected to Storybook so that developers could work with ready-to-use, consistent components. The web-first approach ensured the interface looked and worked equally well on desktop and mobile.

An important part of the design was choosing the color palette. It had to look modern and stay practical:

• Ruby Flame gave energy to buttons and main calls-to-action.
• Wineberry added depth and balance for highlights and secondary elements.
• Urban Navy provided a strong, calm background that kept focus on the content.
• White kept the interface clean and easy to read.

This thoughtful mix of design structure and colors made the platform feel solid and approachable while keeping the brand recognizable and consistent as it grows.

Step 3: MVP development with AI and marketplace features

Once the groundwork was in place, Codica’s engineers moved on to creating the first live version of the platform, the MVP.

Key actions at this stage:

• Delivered AI-powered voice-to-record item entry to simplify adding new inventory items.
• Implemented automated consumables tracking with restock alerts.
• Built an integrated peer-to-peer marketplace with Stripe-powered payments.
• Used React + Next.js for the frontend and Ruby on Rails for the backend to achieve both fast delivery and future scalability.
• Integrated Elasticsearch for fast, relevant search results and applied secure access controls for sensitive data.

The MVP was not just a prototype, it was a production-ready platform capable of handling real users and transactions.

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Step 4: Quality assurance, compliance, and security testing

Before launch, the focus turned to reliability and trust, the platform needed to perform flawlessly and comply with strict regulations. Codica put a strong emphasis on quality assurance services, ensuring that every part of the product worked as intended and met security standards.

Key actions at this stage:

• Ran thorough QA testing for all workflows: inventory management, marketplace transactions, and partner features.
• Verified end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced data protection.
• Checked compliance flows for regulated items, such as firearms, to meet legal and safety requirements.

This step ensured the platform was reliable, compliant, and trustworthy from the start.

Step 5: Ongoing maintenance, support, and feature expansion

A successful launch was only the beginning. Codica continued to work alongside Zero My Gear to support its growth.

Key actions at this stage:

• Provided continuous monitoring and bug fixing to maintain performance and security.
• Released new features iteratively, responding to user needs and market demands.
• Leveraged the scalable multi-tenant architecture and modular React components to expand the platform without disrupting existing functionality.
• Used the CI/CD pipelines to keep each release smooth and minimize downtime.

This sustained collaboration allowed the platform to evolve confidently while maintaining the high quality of the user experience.

How to build a custom SaaS inventory & marketplace solution with Codica

Turning an idea like Zero My Gear into a working product means shaping a concept into a reliable platform that people can use and trust. This means asking the right questions early, choosing suitable technologies, and building with future growth in mind.

Codica has guided many projects through this process. With expertise in online marketplace development services, we help businesses build SaaS platforms that combine inventory management, secure transactions, and community-driven features.

Our team can join at any stage: from the initial idea, when the vision is still forming, to delivering a complete solution that includes discovery, design, development, AI integration, marketplace functionality, compliance, and long-term support.

While each SaaS platform is unique, there are proven steps that make the process smoother:

1. Start with product discovery to define business goals, user needs, and essential platform features.
2. Build prototypes and user flows early to test ideas and resolve issues before development begins.
3. Select a tech stack and architecture that can handle future growth without costly rebuilds.
4. Integrate quality assurance and DevOps from the beginning to ensure stable releases and consistent performance.

This approach helps move from a concept to a live platform faster and with fewer risks.

For anyone planning a custom SaaS inventory and marketplace solution, whether for gear, specialized equipment, or niche collections, Codica provides the experience and guidance needed to build a product that is functional, scalable, and trusted by its users.

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Delivering a secure, scalable, and AI-driven marketplace SaaS

Zero My Gear proved that the combination of AI-powered automation, an integrated marketplace, and a reliable architecture can transform an entire product category.

With a clear strategy and attention to detail, Codica turned a complex vision into a scalable platform that’s ready for growth and trusted by its users.

As the founder of the platform shared:

“Codica has delivered exactly what we wanted. They’ve taken Zero My Gear from initial concept to a fully functional, live web application. We’ve achieved a smooth public launch on schedule, creating a solid foundation for user acquisition. Within the first three major marketing campaigns (gear giveaway contests), we attracted over 440,000 contest entries and added more than 4,200 new email leads to our database. We’ve also converted 235+ new free plan subscribers, providing an early indicator of product-market fit and demand for our unique offering.

Our overall experience working with Codica was excellent, especially in terms of communication and collaboration. They invested time in fully understanding our business goals, user needs, and technical requirements. Ultimately, it’s this holistic, team-wide dedication and synergy that makes working with Codica not only effective but truly enjoyable. It plays a crucial role in turning Zero My Gear from a detailed concept into a robust, market-ready platform that we’re incredibly proud of today.”

— Founder, Personal Inventory & Marketplace SaaS, USA

The story of Zero My Gear shows that with the right partner, an idea can quickly grow into a product that earns user trust and proves its market value.

Contact us to discuss your project and see how we can help bring it to life. You can also browse our portfolio to explore other successful solutions delivered by Codica.