Sparkwise is a cutting-edge platform that revolutionizes business logic management by empowering experts to effortlessly define and manage their business without coding. However, when a key engineer left, Sparkwise faced considerable obstacles. In their quest for a solution, they turned to us at Uplift for assistance.
Case Study: Sparkwise
Bridging the gap when engineers transition.
Remote
Short-term transition
Client Goal
Sparkwise's sought to achieve the following objectives:
1. Continuous support and uptime of the legacy platform.
Sparkwise wanted to ensure that the legacy platform was running smoothly. This involved maintaining the existing infrastructure and applications to guarantee seamless operations, as well as migrating data without any loss or downtime.
2. Introducing innovative features to enhance user experience.
Sparkwise aimed to introduce innovative features to elevate user experience, focusing on developing and implementing new functionalities to make the platform more intuitive and user-friendly, thus enhancing marketing efforts
3. Creating a learner dashboard specifically designed for Sparkwise learners
Developing a specialized learner dashboard tailored for Sparkwise users was a primary goal. This personalized dashboard aimed to offer Sparkwise learners a seamless and intuitive learning experience, facilitating effective navigation and engagement with the platform.
4. Streamlining administrative capabilities for better management.
Lastly, Sparkwise sought to streamline administrative capabilities for better management. To achieve this, they planned to enhance the admin dashboard by incorporating new features and making architectural improvements, specifically utilizing tRPC.
The task at hand
The uplift team had a dual responsibility: to ensure the smooth functioning of Sparkwise's legacy platform while also introducing new features and rebuilding parts of it to align with Sparkwise's objectives. With a departing key engineer, there was a technical leadership vacuum, a backlog of issues and features, and scalability challenges due to the growing user base.
To address these issues, an improved platform was necessary to enhance page loading times and facilitate collaborative learning experiences for customers. Furthermore, the new platform aimed to enable Sparkwise to move faster in creating learning modules and implementing new features with greater ease and efficiency.
“I was genuinely astounded by the team's agility”
Despite actively recruiting full-time engineers and being aware of the lengthy process it entailed, our eagerness to accelerate development prompted us to reach out to Uplift's expertise even before completing the hiring process. I was genuinely astounded by the team's agility in adapting and delivering significant value right from the start.
Ari Bader-Natal — Co-founder and CTO at Sparkwise
Solution
In order to address Sparkwise's goals effectively, Uplift and Sparkwise worked using a phased approach that prioritized maintenance and stability while gradually introducing new features. This approach ensured a smooth transition and allowed for continuous integration of user feedback.
The solution provided by Uplift’s team encompassed three main components, to address Sparkwise's three key objectives:
The backbone of the site uses Node and Uplift introduced tRPC.
The front-end uses React.
Data is accessed through Prisma.
Data is stored in a PostgreSQL database.1. Maintenance and support of the legacy system
A specialized team was assembled to offer prompt support and maintain the seamless functioning of the existing platform. This dedicated group promptly addressed any arising issues, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of Sparkwise's operations. Throughout the migration and reconstruction phase, our team undertook the critical task of keeping the legacy platform operational and adaptable to their clients requirements. This meticulous process involved thorough planning, execution, and testing to reduce disruptions and downtime effectively.
2. Design and implementation of new features
The Uplift team assisted in integrating new features into the system, boosting its capabilities and resolving key challenges. In partnership with Sparkwise, we jointly developed and launched a brand-new platform tailored to meet the distinct needs of Sparkwise customers. This holistic strategy delivered a user-friendly experience and enhanced functionality.
3. Migrating to the newer, more efficient system
Furthermore, we were tasked with addressing challenges with the old interface, which hindered effective group learning and was prone to errors during session administration. Through iterative testing and feedback, the Uplift team enhanced the platform and facilitated the migration process. The newer system was carefully designed to be more efficient and scalable, allowing Sparkwise to better serve its users and future-proof its operations.
The Uplift's team's swift comprehension of Sparkwise's platform intricacies played a vital role in enabling them to ship and test growth experiments, enhance internal tools, facilitate a major platform migration, and successfully onboard new engineers.
“Amazed by the exceptional engineering work of Uplift's team from day one”
There is a leap of faith in bringing on engineers who you don't vet through your own process. However, we were pleasantly amazed by the exceptional engineering work of Uplift's team from day one. The straightforward, friendly, and unpretentious approach of Uplift was truly appreciated.
Ari Bader-Natal — Co-founder and CTO at Sparkwise
Outcome
In conclusion, the collaborative efforts of Uplift and Sparkwise resulted in a successful launch, meeting key objectives. This partnership ensured reliable service, introduced valuable enhancements, and facilitated a seamless transition to an improved system. This case study exemplifies the value of strategic partnerships, showcasing positive outcomes when combining industry expertise and collaborative solutions.