CourseKey is a cutting-edge student success platform tailored for vocational education, adopting a student-driven, mobile-first approach to enhance the student journey from enrollment to graduation. By visualizing timely, accurate data into accessible dashboards, CourseKey proactively supports students by addressing at-risk behaviours and celebrating achievements.

Founded by entrepreneurs who champion career education over traditional college routes, CourseKey embodies a commitment to advancing vocational programs with state-of-the-art technology.

Our project involved integrating a seamless payment feature into CourseKey’s web and mobile applications, using React and Flutter, and the Cardknox payment gateway. Built on AWS serverless architecture, this enhancement ensures scalable, cost-effective performance.

This solution enriches CourseKey’s platform, reinforcing its mission to empower students with superior technological resources in vocational education.

Integrating payment functionality into CourseKey's platform involved several challenges. Ensuring seamless integration without disrupting existing student success features was crucial. Multi-platform consistency had to be maintained to provide a uniform payment experience on both web and mobile apps. Designing a scalable system capable of efficiently handling various payment transactions posed its own set of challenges. Implementing a robust notification system was necessary to provide timely updates and reminders within student communication contexts. Resource management required careful balancing of resource-intensive operations like report generation with the platform's existing data processing needs. Additionally, adherence to the stringent PCI DSS requirements for payment processing, data storage, and transmission had to be secured. Throughout the project, Tech Holding had to navigate these complexities to ensure a successful implementation.

To address CourseKey's integration challenges, Tech Holding implemented a comprehensive solution leveraging AWS Lambda functions to efficiently manage distinct tasks. The API Service Lambda handles payment requests while aligning with existing application logic, and the Notification Service dispatches payment-related emails, push notifications, and SMS. Report Generation Lambda produces financial reports without affecting core performance, and the Automation Service manages payment reminders and scheduled tasks. Payment processing is handled through a Payment Processor Lambda, utilizing the Cardknox payment gateway for secure transactions.

To ensure reliable transaction processing and retry capabilities, SQS (Simple Queue Service) queues payment transactions. The system employs EventBridge to schedule and trigger Lambda functions for automated and periodic tasks, ensuring seamless operations.

The solution also involves enhancing CourseKey’s React Web App and Flutter Mobile App with new payment functionality interfaces. Students can choose from multiple payment options, such as direct payments (ACH or Credit Card), sending payment links, adding payment methods, configuring autopayments, or paying offline through school administration.

For online payments, the API Lambda processes requests, with transactions being managed through SQS and Cardknox. Offline payments are entered by the school admin and recorded in the system.

Post-payment, the Notification Lambda updates students on transaction statuses, while the Report Generation Lambda keeps financial records current. Automation processes through EventBridge and Automation Lambda facilitate autopayments, reminders, report generation, and synchronization of payment data with student success systems, enabling students to view payment histories and manage methods within the app. This solution effectively integrates new capabilities while maintaining the integrity of CourseKey's core functions.