Case studies

Challenge

ExP needed a single platform to serve three completely distinct audiences - students, instructors, and administrators - each with separate workflows, permissions, and interfaces. The system also had to stay in real-time sync with a growing number of external services: payment gateways, video hosting providers, email automation tools, and a CRM. Downtime or data drift between integrations was not acceptable.

Solution & architecture

The platform was engineered with Laravel as the backbone, using the full TALL stack (Tailwind CSS, Alpine.js, Livewire, Laravel) to deliver a reactive, server-driven experience without the overhead of a separate JavaScript framework. Three isolated Filament panels were configured - one per audience - each with its own middleware stack, route prefix, and guard, ensuring users only ever see what is relevant to their role.

A dedicated API integration layer was built to connect the LMS to external services. Each integration uses a queue-backed job pipeline so that slow or intermittent third-party APIs never degrade the user experience. Webhook listeners were implemented for inbound events, and outbound sync is handled through idempotent jobs with retry logic and a dead-letter audit trail.

Outcome & metrics

All three panels went live on schedule. The queue-backed integration layer handled high-volume sync events without impacting page load times. The modular panel architecture allowed new role-specific features to ship independently. Ongoing work also covers infrastructure management and the companion Shopify storefront.

• 3 Filament panels - students, instructors, and admins in one codebase
• Worldwide access - learners and instructors using the platform across continents
• 4+ live integrations - payments, video, CRM, and email automation via queues
• Full-stack ownership - app, hosting infrastructure, and Shopify storefront

Challenge

Starcrewing needed a public-facing site where candidates can apply for ship crew roles, plus an internal HR application to review CVs, shortlist, and manage hiring. The two systems had to stay in sync without tight coupling - updates in the HR tool reflecting on the candidate-facing site, and new applications flowing into HR immediately, including during busy hiring periods.

Solution & architecture

Both applications were built independently using the Laravel TALL stack, each with its own database and deployment pipeline. A versioned REST API was designed as the communication bridge. The candidate-facing site exposes application submission endpoints; the HR platform consumes those events and pushes status updates back via API. Both directions are protected with signed tokens and rate limiting.

Laravel's job queues ensure that a slow response from the remote app never blocks the candidate from completing a submission. Retry policies and event logging give the HR team visibility into any sync delays. File uploads (CVs, cover letters) are stored in cloud object storage with signed URLs, so neither application ever serves binary files directly - keeping both systems lean and fast.

Outcome & metrics

HR gained a centralised dashboard for every application. Candidates received confirmation and status updates driven by the HR side. Either system can scale or update independently - valuable when hiring volume spikes.

• 2 Laravel apps - public careers site + internal HR tool
• Near-real-time sync - versioned REST API with signed tokens
• Queue-backed submissions - spikes never block candidate UX
• Secure file handling - CVs via signed cloud URLs, not app servers

Challenge

A mid-to-large enterprise needed an internal web application to manage structured employee onboarding checklists and track vacation day balances across departments. Two constraints shaped the entire architecture: the system had to pull its employee directory from the company's existing Active Directory via LDAP - so there would be no separate user database to maintain - and access had to be protected by Duo Security's two-factor authentication, aligning with the organisation's existing security policy.

Solution & architecture

The application was built with Laravel and integrated directly with the corporate LDAP directory using a custom authentication driver. On each login, user identity and group membership are resolved against LDAP in real time, so HR-side additions or departures in Active Directory propagate to the web app instantly - no manual provisioning required. Role assignments (manager, HR admin, employee) are derived from LDAP group membership.

Duo Security's Universal Prompt was integrated as a second authentication factor, appearing after successful LDAP credential validation. The integration follows Duo's recommended SDK approach: the Laravel session is only established once both factors are satisfied, so bypassing MFA at the application layer is not possible.

The onboarding module uses structured task templates that HR administrators configure per role or department. When a new employee is detected in LDAP, their onboarding checklist is generated automatically. The leave management module tracks entitlements, submissions, and approvals with an email notification chain, and managers see a calendar view of their team's approved and pending requests.

Outcome & metrics

Security approved the deployment without extra infrastructure changes - Duo and LDAP matched existing policy. HR cut manual onboarding coordination; leave balances moved from spreadsheets to an auditable system.

• 0 duplicate user DBs - identity and roles from LDAP / Active Directory
• Mandatory Duo MFA - session only after both factors pass
• Auto onboarding checklists - generated when a new hire appears in LDAP
• Spreadsheet leave replaced - balances, approvals, and manager calendar in-app

Challenge

Liceul "Luca", a private high school, needed a unified digital platform to replace fragmented paper-based and spreadsheet workflows across every stakeholder group - administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Teachers needed to record marks and absences quickly during lessons; parents needed a clear, real-time view of their children’s progress. On top of the web platform, parents and students also needed mobile access on iOS and Android, with data always in sync - plus reliable infrastructure to keep the system available.

Solution & architecture

The platform was built with Laravel and the full TALL stack, structured around four dedicated Filament panels - one per audience. Each panel has its own route prefix, authentication guard, and permission scope, so the interface and available actions are always appropriate to the user's role. Administrators manage users, class structures, academic calendars, and platform-wide news. Teachers record attendance and marks per lesson, build photo albums for class events, and send internal messages to parents or students. Parents and students see their own dashboard: grades, attendance summaries, averages, the school news feed, photo albums, and their message inbox.

A push notification system was built into the platform so that teachers and administrators can alert parents and students instantly - for absence confirmations, new marks, upcoming events, or urgent announcements - without relying on email open rates.

A versioned REST API was designed as the foundation for mobile access. The iOS and Android applications - built as native clients - authenticate against the same API and receive all the same data available on the web: attendance records, marks and averages, messages, news, and photo albums. Push notifications are delivered to mobile devices through the same notification pipeline as the web platform, keeping every channel consistent.

Outcome & metrics

Liceul "Luca" replaced paper registers and manual grade sheets with one platform used daily by every stakeholder group. Teachers record marks and absences in class; parents follow progress on web and mobile. Application and infrastructure are owned end-to-end.

• 4 Filament panels - admin, teacher, parent, and student
• iOS + Android apps - native clients on the same versioned API
• Marks & absences live - parents see progress as teachers enter it
• Full-stack ownership - Laravel platform, mobile apps, and hosting infrastructure