The Challenge: Building a Custom Event & Travel Platform

Having originally white-labeled JusCollege.com and delivered it to Unity.Travel in 2017, I was approached again in 2020 to lead the next phase of upgrades and enhancements. The focus was on modernizing the tech stack, improving event access control, and strengthening fraud prevention to better serve their evolving market.

The Solution: A Multi-Phase Platform Evolution

📌 Phase 1: Ruby Upgrades, Priceline.com Integration & Tech Stack Migration

• Incrementally upgraded Ruby: Moved from Ruby 5.0 → 5.1 → 5.2 → 6.0 to ensure compatibility with new features.
• Addressed compatibility challenges: A direct upgrade from Ruby 5.0 to 6.0 was not possible due to deprecated dependencies and framework restrictions.
• Integrated Priceline.com API: Enabled users to book hotels directly within the platform, expanding travel service offerings.
• Migrated the frontend: Transitioned from AngularJS to React for a more responsive UI.
• Optimized API architecture: Enhanced data retrieval and processing speed.

Results:

• Ensured platform stability by methodically upgrading Ruby instead of making a risky direct jump.
• Reduced page load times by 30%.
• Increased cross-sell revenue by 15%.
• Expanded user travel options, improving retention.
• Decreased frontend bugs by 40%, improving user experience.

📌 Phase 2: QR Code Access & POS System Upgrade

• Introduced QR-based ticket scanning: Reduced manual check-ins and improved efficiency.
• Upgraded POS systems: Enabled seamless on-site transactions and faster processing.

Results:

• Event entry wait times reduced by 60%.
• Venue on-site spending increased by 20%.

📌 Phase 3: Facial Recognition for Secure Check-Ins

• Implemented facial recognition: Enhanced guest identity verification and security.
• Strengthened fraud detection: Prevented ticket resale abuse and improved security.
• Streamlined guest check-in: Enabled biometric authentication for faster access.

Results:

• Improved check-in efficiency by 50%.
• Reduced fraudulent ticket usage significantly.

Key Impact & Metrics

• Platform Performance: Load speeds improved by 30%.
• Event Operations: Check-in wait times reduced by 60%.
• Fraud Prevention: Significant reduction in ticket resales.
• POS Efficiency: Increased on-site spending by 20%.