"We have found Softjourn to be an excellent development partner. They have been consistent on deliverables and timelines, have workshopped solutions with our team, and made insightful suggestions."
Building a Custom Ticket Synchronization Service for an Access Control App
How Softjourn helped a ticketing company gain full control of their access control app with a custom-built synchronization service, ensuring reliability, scalability, and long-term business value.
ABOUT THE CLIENT:
SERVICES USED:
SERVICES USED:
Challenge
Our client's Access Control App relied on an external synchronization component that was being deprecated. They needed a new solution that would protect business continuity, eliminate vendor dependency, and give them full ownership of this critical part of their platform.
Solution
Softjourn developed a custom synchronization service for the client's Go Scan mobile app. Using React Native, NestJS, and AWS Fargate/ECS, we replaced the deprecated component with a modern, scalable, and offline-first solution that the client tested, accepted, and praised for its smooth performance.
The Results
- Full ownership & control of the sync service
- Lower long-term costs by removing vendor fees
- Scalable, AWS-powered infrastructure
- Reliable offline-first performance
- Increased platform value for future growth or acquisition
Introduction
This client is a leading event ticketing and management platform in their region, serving organizers across multiple countries.
Their platform supports a wide range of events, from concerts and festivals to conferences and community gatherings, providing powerful tools for ticketing, access control, and event management.
We have a strong history of collaboration with this client: we previously worked together on developing a custom multi-event POS system, integrating third-party payments, ticket printing, and event management capabilities.
We also partnered on redesigning their Access Control App UI/UX, improving usability, and creating designs aligned with the client's branding.
Building on this trusted relationship, the client returned to Softjourn to develop a custom synchronization service for their Access Control mobile app, ensuring continued reliability and scalability for high-volume events.
Client's Technical Director
The Challenge
Our client's Access Control App relied on an external synchronization component that handled ticket scanning and real-time updates. When the provider announced that this component would be deprecated, our client needed a new solution to ensure uninterrupted functionality.
The client had two options:
-
Replace the component with another third-party synchronization tool.
-
Build a custom synchronization service that they would fully own and control.
They chose to invest in a custom-built solution to:
-
Eliminate dependency on external vendors
-
Reduce recurring licensing costs
-
Gain flexibility to adapt the synchronization process to their evolving business needs
In just a few months, this approach would give our client full control over their platform, ensuring they owned every critical piece of its ticketing infrastructure —a strategic decision that not only protected business continuity but also increased its long-term market value.
While straightforward in scope, the project required solving several complex technical challenges, including ensuring seamless offline-first functionality and aligning expectations on synchronization performance.
Softjourn collaborated closely with the client throughout the process to ensure the final solution met – and exceeded – their requirements.
The Solution
Softjourn developed a custom ticket synchronization service for the client's Go Scan mobile application, replacing the deprecated third-party component with a robust, scalable, and modern solution.
After extensive testing, the client accepted the solution, expressing satisfaction with how well the application performed and how smoothly the integration worked.
Key Highlights
-
Custom Synchronization Service
Built a new REST API to fetch events, download ticket data, and handle batch updates. -
Mobile App Enhancements
Updated the existing React Native app to integrate with the new synchronization API, replacing legacy code. -
Offline-First Capabilities
Implemented background synchronization that automatically processes ticket scans, even without an active network connection. -
DevOps & Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Provisioned infrastructure using Terraform and leveraged AWS Fargate and Elastic Container Service (ECS) for scalable, containerized deployments. -
CI/CD Pipelines
Built automated pipelines to streamline builds, testing, and deployments. -
Authentication & Access Control
Integrated JWT authentication to validate user permissions and enforce secure access to event data.
The Benefits
The new synchronization service provided our client with both immediate and long-term advantages:
-
Full Ownership & Control: Owning the synchronization service enables the client to manage future updates independently.
-
Cost Efficiency: Eliminates recurring third-party licensing costs, lowering operational expenses over time.
-
Scalability & Reliability: Modern architecture built on AWS ensures smooth performance, even during peak demand.
-
Future Flexibility: Designed to accommodate additional features and synchronization needs without major architectural changes.
-
Increased Business Value: Owning all core components of the platform makes their solution more attractive to potential investors or acquisition partners.
Conclusion
Softjourn successfully delivered and deployed the custom synchronization service, and the project was officially accepted by our client.
By implementing a robust, scalable solution and removing dependencies on external vendors, we helped strengthen their platform and position them for future growth.
That growth culminated in a strategic acquisition by a major industry player, marking a key milestone in the client’s journey.
At Softjourn, we’re proud to have supported our client's vision by providing scalable, innovative solutions that strengthened their platform and contributed to their business value — helping enable this exciting new chapter.
Looking to enhance your ticketing platform? Partner with Softjourn’s experienced ticketing software developers to build innovative, scalable solutions that help your business grow.
Partnership & Recognition
