In 2020, I was involved in one of the more interesting projects at TravelPerk—integrating Trainline UK into our platform. It was one of those projects that looked straightforward at first glance: allow users to book trains alongside flights and hotels. But as always, it turned into a multi-layered challenge that stretched across both backend and frontend development.
From a technical standpoint, this project revolved around establishing robust API communication between TravelPerk and Trainline. Our goal was to handle large volumes of real-time data without affecting system performance. This involved designing systems that could accommodate high traffic while maintaining reliability in data transfers between both platforms.
The backend development required significant effort in making the systems talk to each other efficiently. We implemented error-handling mechanisms to ensure that even in case of failures, the user experience would remain intact. It was also critical to handle edge cases like cancellations, which meant the system needed to be flexible enough to adapt in real-time.
Another key aspect of the work was ensuring that the new functionality meshed well with the existing TravelPerk user interface. This required close collaboration with the product team to ensure that the booking process for trains felt just as intuitive as it did for flights and hotels.
Scalability was also a concern as we anticipated significant traffic growth. We designed systems to not only handle current traffic but to scale efficiently with the increasing demand. Testing and performance optimization were critical to ensure that the system would continue running smoothly as usage increased.
This integration was more than just adding a new feature; it involved deep technical collaboration and a focus on creating a solution that could adapt to real-world travel needs, such as delays, changes, and cancellations. The result is a robust system that expands TravelPerk’s offering, making it easier for businesses to manage all their travel needs in one place.