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Future Platform Expansion

Epic Overview

EPIC: Future Platform Expansion

DESCRIPTION: Design the platform with future expansion capabilities to support additional credential types beyond past employment records, enhanced customization options, and payment processing functionality. While these features are not part of the initial MVP, the architecture must be designed to easily incorporate and deploy them in future releases without significant rework.

BUSINESS VALUE: Ensures the platform can evolve to meet changing market needs and expand its functionality over time, protecting the initial investment and extending the platform's lifespan. The ability to add new credential types and features will increase the platform's value proposition and market appeal as the digital credentialing ecosystem matures.

STAKEHOLDERS: - REC (Platform Owner) - Staffing Companies - Candidates - Velocity Career Labs (VCL) - Velocity Network Foundation (VNF)

SIZE: Medium - This epic focuses on architectural decisions and design patterns rather than immediate implementation.

USER STORIES: - As a platform architect, I want to design the system to support additional Velocity Network credential types so that we can expand beyond past employment credentials in the future. - As a platform architect, I want to implement flexible data models so that new credential types can be added without significant rework. - As a platform architect, I want to design a payment processing framework so that we can monetize the platform in the future. - As a staffing company administrator, I want the ability to use additional credential types in the future so that we can expand our use of the platform. - As a staffing company administrator, I want enhanced customization options for emails and landing pages in future releases so that we can better align with our brand. - As a platform administrator, I want to be able to add new features and functionality without disrupting existing operations so that the platform can evolve smoothly. - As a candidate, I want to be able to receive and manage different types of credentials in the future so that I can build a comprehensive digital credential portfolio.

Implementation Details

The Future Platform Expansion framework includes:

  1. Extensible Credential Architecture
  2. Support for all Velocity Network certified credential types
  3. Flexible data models for credential information
  4. Abstraction layers for credential processing
  5. Pluggable credential type handlers

  6. Documentation of credential type extension points

  7. Enhanced Customization Framework

  8. Advanced template system for emails and landing pages
  9. Expanded branding options
  10. Custom workflow capabilities
  11. User interface customization options

  12. White-labeling capabilities

  13. Payment Processing Framework

  14. Integration points for payment gateways
  15. Subscription management capabilities
  16. Usage-based billing options
  17. Invoice generation

  18. Payment reporting

  19. Platform Extension Mechanisms

  20. API versioning strategy
  21. Plugin architecture for new features
  22. Feature flag system for controlled rollout
  23. Backward compatibility mechanisms
  24. Upgrade paths for existing data

Current Velocity Network Credential Types

For reference, the current Velocity Network Certified Credential Types include:

  1. Past Employment
  2. Current Employment
  3. Education
  4. Skills and Competencies
  5. Certifications and Licenses
  6. Assessment Results
  7. Job Application
  8. Job Offer
  9. Job Posting
  10. Recommendation

While the MVP will focus only on past employment credentials, the architecture must be designed to incorporate these additional types in future releases.

Dependencies

  • Velocity Network credential type specifications
  • Payment gateway APIs
  • Template engine for enhanced customization
  • Feature flag system

Implementation Strategy

The implementation strategy for future expansion is to:

  1. Design the core architecture with extension points for new credential types
  2. Implement abstraction layers that hide credential-specific details
  3. Use dependency injection and factory patterns for credential processing
  4. Document all extension points and integration interfaces
  5. Create a roadmap for adding new credential types and features
  6. Develop a testing framework that can validate new credential types
  7. Implement feature flags to control the rollout of new functionality

While these features are not part of the initial MVP, the architectural decisions made during development will significantly impact the ease of adding them in the future.