Project snapshot
For a global tour and vacation marketplace, Intellias implemented an advanced booking website upgrade to improve overall performance and enable multiple integrations with travel service providers. Streamlining delivery processes and using powerful AWS technologies alongside the latest Java tools, we helped the client establish a firm market position by creating next-level customer experiences.
Founded 15 years ago, our client is a European online marketplace for city and destination tours and activities, aggregating offers by multiple tourism service providers. The company has expanded its presence to 150 countries, offering more than 60,000 guided tours and events across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and other regions. With ambitions for further expansion and to meet growing demand, the marketplace is looking into employing digital transformation initiatives to modernize its offering and provide exquisite customer service.
Business challenge
A global tour guide embarked on a journey to strengthen its competitive potential by optimizing booking platform performance and enhancing the selection of tour provider offerings. Featuring hundreds of tours, activities, and events at destinations across the globe, our client was determined to make their offers more attractive and diverse for vacation-goers.
The software at the core of the tour reservation platform was no longer able to ensure the level of performance and scalability required to meet ever-increasing customer service standards. Together with upgrading legacy code, the tour business set a number of additional goals focused on improving the customer experience:
- Supporting integrations with multiple third-party service providers
- Automating the release process to improve platform performance
- Implementing an intuitive provider integration interface
Solution
To achieve the client’s goals, Intellias engineers put together an effective technology stack supporting all features required to improve performance of the tour booking platform and enhance its functionality. We upgraded the product’s core technology from Java 11 to Java 17, allowing the client to benefit from the extended capabilities of the more recent software version.
To facilitate connections with third-party service providers, Intellias experts implemented multiple API integrations using a wide range of connectors. We migrated existing integrations to the new technology and enabled support of new ones through a transparent onboarding algorithm enhanced with intuitive UI forms and fields.
Focused on improving the platform’s performance and facilitating its maintenance, we chose a microservices architecture to boost scalability and reliability while streamlining deployment and maintenance. Our team supplemented the client’s delivery process with a CI/CD pipeline, automating deployment and raising product quality.
The upgraded tour booking platform leverages the potential of AWS S3 data storage, meeting industry standards for scalability, data availability, and security. AWS S3 ensures high website performance while allowing the business to comply with data protection requirements.
To ensure performance of the upgraded platform, the Intellias team conducted thorough tests and code review sessions, verifying the quality and integrity of the delivered solution. The project was accompanied by detailed technical documentation supporting the client in regular operations and maintenance.
Business outcomes
Upgrading the tour selection and booking platform has had a transformative effect on the marketplace business, increasing its appeal among customers and strengthening its presence on the travel and tourism market.
Benefits include:
- Refined functionality, improving the website’s performance and responsiveness and creating smooth experiences for vacation-goers
- Increased security and data availability as a result of scalable AWS S3 storage
- Expanded offerings for marketplace customers through integrations with multiple service providers, including:
- Tour bus operators
- City guide companies
- Resorts and accommodation
- Sightseeing locations and attractions
- Amusement parks and other entertainment facilities
- Accelerated deployment of changes in an automated delivery pipeline
- Effective platform maintenance supported by comprehensive documentation
30+
new integrations
50%
tour config efficiency increase
40%
operational efficiency boost