Puppeteer

Puppeteer replaces fragmented ticketing workflows with a single, real-time system that handles ticket distribution, sales tracking, fraud prevention, and on-site validation, all from a mobile device.

Highlights

• Real-time ticket sales and revenue visibility
• One-time QR code validation to prevent fraud
• Faster, smoother event-day entry
• Centralized reporting without manual reconciliation

Quick Facts

• Industry: Event Management / Ticketing
• Platform: Mobile (iOS & Android) + Web Admin
• Architecture: Multi-tenant, real-time system
• Services: Product design, mobile development, backend systems, admin dashboards

Background

Event organizers managing multi-day events often rely on a patchwork of tools: spreadsheets for ticket allocation, separate apps for scanning, and manual processes for reconciliation. As events scale, these systems quickly break down, leading to overselling, fraud, slow entry, and poor visibility into revenue.

Puppeteer was built as an internal product to solve these problems at scale. The goal was ambitious but clear: put the entire ticketing operation—sales, allocation, validation, and reporting—into one reliable, mobile-first platform.

The Challenge

Business Challenges

• No real-time visibility into ticket sales or revenue
• Manual reconciliation using Excel and Google Sheets
• Revenue leakage from overselling and duplicate tickets
• High stress and uncertainty on event days
• Limited post-event insights to inform future decisions

Operational Challenges

• Poor communication between organizers, sellers, and entry staff
• Difficulty reallocating ticket inventory in real time
• No centralized system for reporting or performance tracking

Event-Day Challenges

• Paper tickets or unreliable scanners
• No offline resilience when connectivity dropped
• Duplicate or fraudulent tickets hard to detect
• Slow entry causing queues, tension, and poor attendee experience

The Solution

Stackup Solutions designed and built Puppeteer, a mobile-first, multi-tenant ticketing platform that centralizes the entire event lifecycle, from ticket creation to final reporting.

Core Principles

• Mobile as the primary interface for organizers and sellers
• Real-time data everywhere — no refresh, no guesswork
• Fraud-resistant validation at entry points
• Operational simplicity under live event pressure

Architecture & Technology

• Mobile App: React Native (iOS & Android)
• Backend: Laravel + MySQL
• Admin Panel: VueJS + VueX
• Real-Time Layer: WebSockets
• Notifications: OneSignal
• Validation: One-time QR codes with server-side invalidation

Key Features & Workflows

1. Ticket Creation & Allocation

• Organizers create events and ticket inventories
• Tickets are allocated to individual sellers (Members)
• Inventory can be monitored and adjusted in real time

2. Distributed Sales with Full Visibility

• Members sell tickets across multiple events
• Organizers see live charts showing:
• Tickets sold
• Sales velocity
• Revenue by channel
• No waiting for end-of-day reports

3. Real-Time Requests & Notifications

• Members request additional ticket inventory directly in-app
• Organizers receive instant push notifications
• Faster decisions, no manual coordination

4. Secure Entry Validation

• One-time QR codes prevent reuse and duplication
• Real-time validation blocks fraudulent attempts instantly
• Faster scanning improves throughput at entry gates

5. Reporting & Analytics

• Daily sales reports available without manual reconciliation
• Organizers can download structured data for finance and post-event analysis
• Clear visibility into sell-through rate, entry performance, and fraud attempts

Implementation Process

Phase 1: Discovery & System Design

• Mapped real-world event workflows
• Identified failure points in spreadsheet-based systems
• Designed role-based access for organizers and sellers

Phase 2: Mobile-First Execution

• Built organizer and member flows directly for mobile usage
• Optimized scanning and validation for speed and reliability
• Implemented WebSocket-based real-time updates

Phase 3: Live Event Hardening

• Focused on reliability under peak load
• Prevented duplicate scans through real-time server checks
• Ensured clear UX for high-pressure entry staff environments

Results & Impact

While exact figures remain internal, Puppeteer delivered clear operational improvements:

• Faster entry times due to real-time QR validation
• Eliminated duplicate ticket usage through one-time scans
• Real-time revenue visibility, replacing delayed manual reconciliation
• Reduced event-day stress for organizers and staff
• Actionable post-event insights for future planning