How This Platform Boosted User Engagement 4x Using Social Cues
For solo travelers, meeting like-minded adventurers adds a new layer of excitement to every trip. This was exactly what our client wanted to implement in their platform. They wanted to help travelers connect before and during their hostel stays. The ambitious 'See Who’s Going' feature required real-time data from a slow, incompatible legacy API, something their internal teams couldn’t implement on time alone.
With DAC.digital’s expert FullStack support, the feature was built on time and it was successfully adopted by over 80% active users.
With DAC.digital’s expert FullStack support, the feature was built on time and it was successfully adopted by over 80% active users.
Client
The company is a leading global online travel agency focused on the hostel market. It enables travelers to experience new places and people in a fun, memorable and safe way. Their goal with this project was to enhance solo travelers’ experiences by making it easy to connect with fellow guests, driving higher engagement and bookings through innovative social features.
Challenge
The client wanted to introduce a social cue feature that would show who will be staying at the same hostel a few days before arrival. Yet, it struggled to obtain accurate data on guest stays and schedules. The existing API was incompatible, making timely data delivery a major technical hurdle. With a tight product transformation schedule, the company needed expert supportto launch it on time.
Solution
DAC.digital solved the technical bottleneck and enabled the “See Who’s Going” feature to function in real time, integrate with other microservices, and launch on schedule. The team did that by developing a small microservice, proxy, and caching system using NodeJS, Fastify, and Redis.
The new feature resulted in a more vibrant, social experience on the platform
By enhancing functionality, we unlocked significant value, driving higher engagement, increased bookings, and a stronger connection between users and the App. Here’s how these changes made a measurable impact.
Half of bookings now come from engaged social members
50% of their bookings were made by customers who had opted into the social network (social members).
Social Cues Successful Adoption
More than 80% of their social members used social cues while traveling.
Boost Engagement
In the first six weeks post-acquisition (new customers acquired April – September 2022), social members were 4x more likely to be recruited via the App.
Increased App Bookings
Travelers make 1.6x the number of bookings and are twice as likely to make these bookings via the App
Those results wouldn’t be possible without DAC.digital’s technical expertise and project coordination skills
Thanks to this fast and precise implementation, the client was able to deliver its vision on schedule, creating a platform that truly connects solo travelers and drives measurable business growth.
The project kicked off after a single meeting with Product Owners and developers, where the requirements were clarified. A dedicated FullStack Developer led the work on our side, coordinating closely with the client’s internal developer to ensure seamless collaboration.
While the client had multiple teams and Product Owners involved, most of the work was carried out independently, with regular progress updates presented to the client’s Product Owner during demos.
The technologies used to deliver the solution
How The Process of Implementaton Looked Like
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Streamlining API Access and Optimization
Our part of the project was used to simplify access to the client’s API, transform responses, and cleverly cache them.
Building a Data Proxy for Efficient Endpoint Access
The client requested the development of a proxy that functions as an overlay capable of retrieving statistics from an endpoint. The proxy converts the data and returns it in the requested form.
Enabling Microservices to Display Guest Information
Later, other microservices used it to display information about who else stays in the hostel you just ordered.
Client Highlights Success of Social Cues Implementation
The client expressed great satisfaction with our work on Social Cues and our contribution to this phase of the project. The overall project was a success, highlighted by the client on their website and in a detailed report. They specifically praised the “See Who’s Going” feature, noting its significant impact and effectiveness in their preliminary results announcement.
