Case Study: Digital Enablement for Don Lee Panama

19.03.25 13:17:19 By Jonathan

Client Overview

Don Lee Panama is a leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chain with a strong presence in Panama. The company aimed to enhance its digital customer experience by transitioning from a third-party aggregator UI to a single-brand mobile app, all while maintaining their existing backend ordering infrastructure. Additionally, Don Lee sought to integrate their TapMango rewards program, ensuring a seamless customer experience across multiple platforms.


The Challenge

  1. Transitioning to a Standalone App Without Disrupting Operations

        • Don Lee was dependent on a third-party aggregator for online ordering but wanted to build their own branded app while continuing to use the existing order management system.
        • They needed to ensure a smooth transition without disrupting existing customers or backend workflows.
  2. Integrating a Multi-Platform Rewards System

      • The rewards program, TapMango, operated independently from the ordering backend.
      • Customers needed the ability to earn and redeem rewards seamlessly despite the systems running on separate platforms.
  3. Optimizing Performance & Development Time

      • The app needed to be fast, responsive, and lightweight, catering to both mobile and desktop users.
      • A dual-language (Spanish & English) interface was required to serve Don Lee’s customer base effectively.
  4. Data Pipeline & Business Intelligence

      • Don Lee required real-time analytics on orders, customer behavior, and rewards utilization.
      • The data from multiple sources needed to be aggregated into a unified BI dashboard for better decision-making.



The Solution

Espresso Consulting engineered a Progressive Web Application (PWA) as the front end, delivering a highly responsive and modern digital experience while integrating all required systems seamlessly.

1. PWA Development & Third-Party API Integrations

  • Technology Stack:

    • Vue.js & Firebase: Enabled a lightweight, scalable, and high-performance app.
    • PWA Approach: Allowed the app to function like a native mobile app while being accessible via the web.
    • Headless Functions & API Splitting: Transactions were dynamically routed to the appropriate backend systems.
    • Multi-Language Support: Implemented Spanish & English toggle for a localized user experience.
  • Key Functionalities Delivered:

    • Custom UI tailored to Don Lee’s branding.
    • Order Flow Integration: The app sent orders to the existing backend, ensuring no disruption to fulfillment processes.
    • Seamless Payment Processing: Integrated with multiple payment gateways, allowing secure transactions.

2. Rewards Program Integration

  • Bridging TapMango with the Ordering System:
    • Engineered a solution to synchronize rewards data across different platforms.
    • Customers could earn and redeem rewards seamlessly, despite TapMango not being natively supported by Don Lee’s ordering backend.
    • Integrated TapMango’s API into the new PWA, ensuring users had a unified experience.

3. Business Intelligence & Real-Time Analytics

  • Data Pipeline & Reporting

    • Developed a pipeline aggregating analytics from orders, rewards, and payments into a single dashboard.
    • Powered by AnalytIQ, Don Lee gained near real-time visibility into sales, customer behaviors, and reward usage.
    • Created customized reports for marketing and operations teams to track user engagement and transaction performance.
  • Cash Management Extension: Caman

    • Developed Caman, an extension to AnalytIQ, enabling driver-agent cash reconciliation.
    • Ensured accurate tracking of cash transactions, reducing reconciliation errors for delivery personnel.

Results & Business Impact

MetricBeforeAfter
Order ProcessingDependent on 3rd-party aggregatorDirect order handling via PWA
Rewards ProgramTapMango separate from orderingFully integrated for seamless use
App PerformanceLimited control, slower responseHigh-speed, responsive PWA
Payment ProcessingStandard aggregator gatewayMulti-gateway support with direct integrations
Business IntelligenceLimited visibilityReal-time analytics with AnalytIQ

Key Achievements:

Standalone Brand App: Don Lee gained full control over their customer digital experience.
Seamless Rewards: TapMango integration allowed smooth loyalty point earning & redemption.
Reduced Dev Time: PWA, Vue.js, and Firebase enabled a rapid go-to-market solution.
Real-Time Data Insights: Improved decision-making with near real-time BI via AnalytIQ.
Cash Management Automation: Streamlined reconciliation for driver-agent transactions with Caman.


Conclusion

Through system integration, API engineering, and business intelligence enablement, Espresso Consulting successfully transformed Don Lee’s digital ordering experience. By leveraging a PWA architecture, Don Lee now operates a modern, scalable, and data-driven platform that enhances customer engagement and operational efficiency.

Next Steps

  • Continued enhancements to analytics and reporting capabilities.
  • Expansion of additional loyalty features and personalized customer promotions.
  • Integration of AI-powered insights for predictive order analysis.

Looking to Enhance Your Digital Strategy?

If your business needs custom integrations, business intelligence, or digital enablement, reach out to Espresso Consulting to see how we can help!

📧 Contact us at: info@espressoconsult.com
🌐 Visit us at: www.espressoconsult.com