Client overview
Platter is a comprehensive restaurant management platform designed to simplify operations for restaurant staff, including servers, chefs, and administrators. Platter's goal was to build a point-of-sale (POS) system that not only handled orders and billing but also provided an intuitive workflow tailored to the pace and complexity of modern dining environments.
🎯 The challenge
Platter initially attempted to develop the product internally, building a web application and a mobile app intended for use in their own restaurants. However, after over a year of development and internal testing, they encountered several major roadblocks:
- The product lacked critical day-to-day operational features.
- Performance issues arose as complexity increased.
- The in-house team lacked the deep technical expertise to scale the product further.
- Internal velocity was low, delaying time to market.
These challenges made it clear: to move forward, Platter needed a team with both product sensibility and technical execution strength.
💡 The solution
Platter brought in SixPatterns to lead the rebuild of the product with a focus on reliability, scalability, and user experience. SixPatterns deployed a dedicated team of 4 full-time engineers, who:
- Rewrote the entire codebase from scratch for both the web and mobile platforms.
- Delivered a cross-platform mobile app for iOS and Android using React Native.
- Built a modern and robust admin panel for managing menus, staff, and order flows.
- Created a well-structured, testable, and scalable architecture for future growth.
The team launched the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in just 8 months and continued to deliver incremental updates. The complete production version was fully operational within 1.5 years, and is now used in 50+ restaurants daily.
✅ Key features implemented
- Order Management: Intuitive table-based ordering and real-time kitchen communication.
- KDS (Kitchen Display System): Live updates from servers to kitchen staff with status tracking.
- Offline Mode: Ensures uninterrupted service even during internet outages.
- Customizable Menu Builder: Easy interface to update menu items, pricing, and modifiers.
- User Roles & Permissions: Secure access control for managers, servers, and kitchen staff.
- Analytics Dashboard: Real-time insights into orders, revenue, and operational efficiency.
- Cross-platform Mobile Apps: Built with React Native for seamless access on iOS and Android.
📈 Results & benefits
- 🚀 73% faster page load times compared to the original PHP version.
- ⚙️ Higher development velocity with clean, modular codebase.
- 🔁 Faster feature rollout, helping Platter respond quickly to customer feedback.
- 📦 Reduced bugs and significantly improved stability in high-volume environments.
💬 Testimonial
The project was hugely successful in that it was released in a short amount of time. Four full-time engineers from SixPatterns helped us eliminate technical debt, resolve performance bottlenecks, and accomplish all of our core goals.
🛠️ Tech stack
- Frontend: React, React Native
- Backend: Ruby on Rails (rewritten to modern practices)
- DevOps: Docker, Github CI/CD, AWS
- Database: PostgreSQL