Building a Scalable Learning Platform with Next.js

Introduction

Developing an educational platform that could scale to serve thousands of students across Africa presented unique technical challenges. Our team at Bridge Labs needed to create a solution that would perform reliably even in regions with inconsistent internet connectivity while providing a rich, interactive learning experience.

The Challenge

When we began working with Ahead Learning Initiative, their existing platform struggled with:

• Slow load times during peak usage periods
• High video streaming costs
• Difficulty tracking student progress offline
• Complex certificate generation process

Our Technical Solution

Architecture

We implemented a hybrid architecture using:

• Next.js for the frontend with static generation
• Azure Media Services for adaptive video streaming
• Service Workers for offline functionality
• Azure Functions for certificate generation

Key Results

After implementation, the platform achieved:

• 95+ Lighthouse performance scores
• 80% course completion rate (industry average: 30%)
• Support for 12,000+ concurrent users during exams