SITUATION
SOLUTION
TECH STACK
IMPACT
Studies

WorkCast

Scaling digital events by 900% with cloud-native technology

Technology & software

Scale expansion

The new auditoriums have propelled WorkCast's capacity from hosting events with 25,000 concurrent users to an exceptional capability of accommodating over 250,000 concurrent users. This dramatic expansion in scale ensures WorkCast's ability to effortlessly handle large-scale events, empowering the platform to cater to global audiences with unprecedented reach and impact.

Cost effectiveness

Leveraging elastic scaling capabilities has resulted in significant cost savings for WorkCast. By automatically adjusting resources based on demand, the platform has been able to reduce running costs during periods of low demand, without requiring manual intervention. This management-free elasticity has also minimised overheads for the IT team, further optimising operational efficiency.

Seamless integration

Integration with the existing platform has been seamlessly executed, ensuring that the new auditoriums effectively address key metrics while maintaining accessibility to familiar features for users. This integration enhances continuity and user experience, fostering user adoption and satisfaction.

SITUATION

Overview

‍

WorkCast is a virtual events platform that allows users to deliver live or pre-recorded webinars, webcasts and virtual events to end users through a web interface.

Established in 2008, WorkCast is now one of the best enterprise-level online events companies in the US and UK, servicing some of the word’s biggest brands and fastest-growing companies.

In the run-up to 2020, WorkCast had grown year-on-year, but as events went online at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business saw unprecedented growth. With higher numbers of events and a higher number of attendees mixed with events being delivered on-demand, it needed to look at a more scalable solution, one that could be elastic with the demand and reduce the growing day-to-day running costs.

WorkCast's existing platform could not scale beyond 25,000 concurrent users, but with the growth in demand, the platform needed to reach 250,000 concurrent users at a minimum and be able to scale with the unpredictable demand for its services without incurring high server costs.

Solution

Cloud-native to exceed requirements

In close collaboration with WorkCast, we meticulously analysed the platform's non-functional requirements (NFR) to craft a target architecture that not only met but exceeded these expectations. Leveraging cloud-native technology, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), we engineered an elastic scaling solution capable of seamlessly integrating with WorkCast's existing software. This architecture empowered WorkCast to deliver on-demand content without the need for cumbersome server provisioning, ensuring optimal performance and scalability.

A pivotal aspect of our solution was seamless integration with WorkCast's existing platform. By adopting an event-driven architecture, we developed a new auditorium that seamlessly complemented the current platform, gradually phasing out redundant functionality without necessitating extensive rewrites. This strategic approach ensured a smooth transition to cloud-native technology while preserving the integrity of the existing system.

Proof of concept and scalability testing

To validate the feasibility and scalability of our solution, we conducted a cloud-native proof of concept (POC) that culminated in a large-scale virtual event. Through rigorous load testing, we demonstrated the platform's capability to support up to 250,000 concurrent users over a 5-minute window without any degradation in performance. This robust testing process reassured WorkCast of the platform's reliability and scalability under real-world conditions.

The migration of the event auditorium to cloud-native technology marked a significant milestone, enabling WorkCast to not only meet but exceed their requirements. Through targeted strategies to migrate high-demand areas of the platform, we delivered enhanced functionality that elevated the user experience and facilitated seamless event management.

Throughout the project lifecycle, we worked hand in hand with the WorkCast team, providing guidance and support to enhance their skill set and accelerate project delivery. Our collaborative approach fostered knowledge transfer and empowered the WorkCast team to navigate the complexities of cloud-native technology with confidence.

Seamless user experience (UX) and real-time communication

Users were empowered to leverage the existing content management system (CMS) to effortlessly set-up and publish webinars, with content seamlessly accessible in both the current and cloud-native webinar auditoriums. Real-time communication capabilities, including live video streaming and interactive chat functionality, enriched the user experience, fostering increased engagement and interaction during virtual events.

Tech stack

To address WorkCast's growth and scalability challenges, we selected a tech stack that prioritises cloud-native solutions. By leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) offerings, we ensured that the platform could dynamically scale to meet the unpredictable demand while maintaining cost efficiency. Our approach focused on integrating seamlessly with WorkCast's existing infrastructure, optimising performance, and enhancing the overall user experience. This selection of technologies empowers WorkCast to deliver high-quality virtual events at scale, fostering greater engagement and interaction for their clients.

Amazon Route53

Amazon API Gateway

AWS AppSync (GraphQL)

AWS Lambda

Amazon EventBridge

AWS DynamoDB

Amazon Cognito

Amazon CloudFront

Amazon s3

React.js

Node.js

IMPACT

Empowering global scalability and cost efficiency

‍

The implementation of the new auditoriums has been instrumental in enabling WorkCast to adapt swiftly to the dynamic market landscape, delivering impressive results across key metrics.

Scale expansion
The new auditoriums have propelled WorkCast's capacity from hosting events with 25,000 concurrent users to an exceptional capability of accommodating over 250,000 concurrent users. This dramatic expansion in scale ensures WorkCast's ability to effortlessly handle large-scale events, empowering the platform to cater to global audiences with unprecedented reach and impact.
Cost effectiveness
Leveraging elastic scaling capabilities has resulted in significant cost savings for WorkCast. By automatically adjusting resources based on demand, the platform has been able to reduce running costs during periods of low demand, without requiring manual intervention. This management-free elasticity has also minimised overheads for the IT team, further optimising operational efficiency.
Seamless integration
Integration with the existing platform has been seamlessly executed, ensuring that the new auditoriums effectively address key metrics while maintaining accessibility to familiar features for users. This integration enhances continuity and user experience, fostering user adoption and satisfaction.
Scope for continuous development
WorkCast continues to build upon the success of this solution, further enhancing its capabilities and delivering additional features to meet the evolving needs of its users.

Technology & software

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