Restaurant Technology, POS & Payment Processing Solutions Engagement
Client: Up ‘n go
Industry: Restaurant Technology, POS & Payment Processing Solutions
Engagement Duration: Multi-year, ongoing partnership
overview
Background + Objectives
Up ‘n go is all about making dining out easier and more enjoyable with their “pay at the table” solution, which allows customers to settle their bill quickly and get on their way—helping restaurants speed up table turnover and provide a modern experience. While their product is consumer-focused, behind the scenes, Up ‘n go has developed a powerful platform that integrates with various Point-of-Sale (POS) systems and payment processors.
Over the years, Up ‘n go has collaborated with Art+Logic on several of their projects.
Here’s how we worked with Up ‘n go
POS Integrations
Payment Processor Integrations
Testing Infrastructure Overhaul
challenges
Challenges
Handling Complex POS Systems
Restaurant tech can be tricky, especially when it involves legacy systems like Micros 3700. Each POS had its quirks, and Up ‘n go’s challenge was to create a unified experience for their clients, regardless of which system they were using.
Diverse Payment Processors
Each payment processor Up ‘n go worked with had its own unique requirements which, nevertheless, had to integrate into a single, smooth experience. Up ‘n go had to normalize these differences and make everything work seamlessly from the diner’s perspective. The process had to be easy, intuitive, and reliable for every customer.
Balancing Innovation with Stability
As Up ‘n go grew, they needed to keep their platform nimble enough to support new features while ensuring it stayed reliable and scalable. This meant refactoring and rethinking parts of the architecture, helping their platform adapt as new challenges emerged.
Ensuring Data Integrity with Improved Testing
With so many transactions flowing through the system, the platform needed to be secure and consistent. We helped improve the testing setup, making it faster and more reliable to catch issues before they could affect Up ‘n go’s clients—or their customers.
solution
Our approach focused on working with Up n’ go to keep things flexible and future-proof while addressing immediate needs:
Scalable and Future-Ready Architecture
Up ‘n go’s platform had to be modular so it could easily adapt to new POS systems and features as their business grew and it could grow smoothly down the road.
Solving Legacy POS Challenges
For older systems like Micros 3700, Up ‘n go needed to create a secure, PCI-compliant connection that bridged the gap between their modern cloud-based services and the legacy systems on the restaurant floor. This ensured that restaurants using older tech could still provide a modern, seamless experience for their diners.
Unified Payment Processing
We collaborated with Up ‘n go to create an abstraction layer to manage the differences between various payment processors. This allowed Up ‘n go to integrate new processors quickly, all while ensuring a consistent experience for their clients and their customers.
Revamping the Testing Framework
Knowing how critical transaction integrity was, we worked with them to overhaul the testing infrastructure. This made debugging faster, improved test coverage, and allowed Up ‘n go to confidently roll out new features without fear of breaking core functionality. They have a solid foundation that ensures everything works as expected.
results
Results + Benefits
A Platform that Grows with Them
What started with one POS integration has grown into a platform that supports multiple systems, including Micros 3700, Oracle Simphony Gen 1, and Gen 2. On the payment side, Up ‘n go now supports FreedomPay and other processors, helping them win more business and accommodate different client needs.
Flexible Infrastructure for Easy Scaling
Thanks to the modular design, Up ‘n go’s platform can scale to meet the demands of thousands of restaurants without skipping a beat.
Stronger, Faster Testing
A robust testing infrastructure has given Up ‘n go a high degree of confidence in their platform. It’s now easier to catch and fix issues, and new features can be rolled out without fear of unexpected breakages—something crucial when financial data is at stake.
A Long-Lasting Partnership
Over the years, we’ve become more than just another vendor to Up ‘n go. We’ve built a partnership based on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect, helping their team grow alongside their business. Whether it’s tackling bug fixes, adding new features, or brainstorming future improvements, we’re proud to be part of their journey.
Lessons Learned and Key Insights
Focus on the End User
While there’s a lot of technical complexity behind the scenes, the real goal is to deliver a smooth, modern experience to diners. Up ‘n go’s goal has always kept the consumer experience in mind, even when solving deep technical challenges.
Building for Flexibility
Refactoring and rethinking architecture isn’t just about cleaning up code—it’s about ensuring the platform can evolve without getting bogged down. By keeping things flexible, Up ‘n go stays nimble as they grow.
Testing is Everything
With financial transactions involved, testing isn’t just important—it’s critical. Every part of Up ‘n go’s platform, from payments to POS systems, works smoothly as their business expands.
team
Team Building Support:
Helping Up ‘n go Grow from the Inside Out
In 2021, Up ‘n go was expanding and needed to grow their internal software development team to keep pace with their business. They partnered with an external recruiting firm that provided them with a shortlist of candidates based on initial resume screenings, but they wanted additional help to ensure the candidates were the right fit.
That’s where Art+Logic stepped in.
We used the same methodology that we use internally to vet candidates who apply for jobs at Art+Logic to vet the candidates they were considering hiring.
Our Approach to Vetting Candidates
We understand how challenging it can be to find developers who are not only technically skilled but also a great fit for a company’s culture. To help Up ‘n go make confident hiring decisions, we took them through the following process:
Collaborating with Up 'n go's Recruiting Firm
The recruiting firm presented Up ‘n go with a selection of candidates. Once Up ‘n go identified a few they were interested in, they asked us to vet those candidates more deeply.
Customized Art+Logic Programming Challenge (ALPC)
We sent a tailored version of our Art+Logic Programming Challenge (ALPC) to the candidates. This challenge is an important part of our own hiring process and allows us to see how developers solve real-world problems. For Up ‘n go, we customized the challenge to fit their needs and clearly communicated that we were vetting candidates on their behalf.
Peer-Reviewed Evaluation
After the candidates completed the challenge, we applied our peer-review process. At Art+Logic, peer reviews are key—our developers take turns evaluating candidates to ensure that anyone coming on board is someone they’d be happy to work with. This approach helped Up ‘n go get an unbiased, in-depth evaluation of each candidate’s technical capabilities.
Interviews and Recommendations
For the candidates who passed the challenge and continued to spark Up ‘n go’s interest, we conducted interviews. After each interview, we provided clear recommendations—thumbs up or down—along with detailed reasons for our recommendations. This gave Up ‘n go the information they needed to confidently move forward with the hiring process.
result
Using this process, Up ‘n go was able to successfully add developers to their internal team multiple times. They felt assured that the candidates we recommended were technically sound and aligned with their company culture and goals.
Why This Matters for Other Companies
Tailored to Your Needs
We adapt our vetting process to match the specific needs of each client. Whether you need us to focus on technical skills, cultural fit, or both, we’re able to customize the process to ensure you’re hiring the right people.
Peer-Reviewed Evaluations
At Art+Logic, we rely on peer reviews because they give us the best sense of how candidates will fit into the team. We apply the same rigorous standards to our clients’ candidates, ensuring that anyone we recommend has been carefully evaluated by experienced developers.
Save Time and Reduce Hiring Risks
By outsourcing the technical vetting to us, you can streamline your hiring process and reduce the risk of making a bad hire. Our thorough approach ensures that you’re bringing on developers who have both the technical expertise and the collaborative mindset to help your company thrive.
art+logic
Art+Logic’s partnership with Up ‘n go extended beyond technical solutions—we also helped them grow their internal team with confidence. By using our tried-and-true vetting process, Up ‘n go was able to find and hire developers who were not only highly skilled but also aligned with their company’s culture and values.
For any company looking to build a strong internal team, Art+Logic can provide the expertise needed to find and evaluate top talent. Whether you need help with technical assessments, interviews, or hiring strategies, we’re here to support you. With our approach, you’ll not only fill open positions but find the right people to drive your business forward.
Our ongoing collaboration with Up ‘n go highlights how Art+Logic excels at building lasting partnerships with clients. We didn’t just help them build their platform—we helped them build their internal team. We’re proud to be part of their story, and we’re excited to see where we’ll go next together.
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