Case Study: Enhancing Performance and Cost Efficiency for Elucidat’s E-Learning Platform
Client: Elucidat
Project: Maintenance, Optimisation, and Feature Expansion for E-Learning Platform Microservices
Technologies Used: PHP, Laravel, Docker, MySQL
Overview
Elucidat, a leading provider of e-learning solutions, needed ongoing maintenance, optimisation, and new feature development for the microservices that power their platform. Built on Laravel, these microservices facilitate seamless e-learning content creation and delivery for companies training their staff. The project focused on ensuring platform stability, enhancing performance, and reducing operational costs.
Challenges
- High Costs from Legacy Message Queue: The existing system relied on AMQ (ActiveMQ) for message queuing, which was expensive to maintain.
- Performance Bottlenecks: Elucidat’s platform required faster data handling and optimised database operations to manage the high volume of content generated by client companies.
Solutions Implemented
- Feature Enhancements and Maintenance of Microservices:
Continuous maintenance and the addition of new features enhanced platform functionality, allowing the system to scale as client needs evolved. Each update adhered to best practices in code structure and security. - Code and PR Review Process:
To maintain quality and consistency across all updates, a rigorous code and pull request (PR) review process was established. This improved code integrity and reduced potential for errors, enabling smoother deployments and reliable performance. - Migration from AMQ to MySQL for Message Queuing:
By replacing AMQ with a custom-built message queuing solution using MySQL tables, the team eliminated substantial monthly expenses associated with AMQ licensing and maintenance. The new solution provided robust message handling at a fraction of the cost, saving the business thousands of pounds monthly without sacrificing reliability. - Performance Tuning for MySQL and Codebase:
Database and code optimisation efforts focused on improving response times and system performance. These enhancements were essential for companies generating e-learning courses, ensuring the platform could handle increased data loads efficiently.
Results
- Cost Savings: Transitioning to MySQL as a message queue solution resulted in significant cost reductions, saving the business thousands of pounds each month.
- Improved Performance: The optimised MySQL database and refined codebase allowed for faster course generation and a more responsive platform experience for users.
- Enhanced Scalability and Reliability: Feature additions and rigorous code reviews ensured the platform could scale with client needs while maintaining a high standard of reliability and user satisfaction.
Conclusion
This project demonstrates how thoughtful, strategic enhancements can drive substantial cost savings and performance improvements.