CIBO - Restaurant Ordering Platform

CIBO is a comprehensive restaurant technology platform addressing the disconnect between customer ordering and restaurant operations. The project originated from identifying inefficiencies at Eataly (Eaton Center) and evolved into a full-featured ordering and management system.

The platform serves dual purposes: customer-facing mobile app for browsing menus and placing orders, and restaurant-facing web dashboard for order management and analytics. Real-time synchronization ensures seamless communication between customers and kitchen staff.

The architecture follows a microservices approach with three main components: (1) React Native mobile app built with Expo for cross-platform deployment, (2) Node.js/Express backend API handling business logic and database operations, and (3) React web dashboard for restaurant staff.

The backend uses PostgreSQL for relational data (menus, orders, users) hosted on Supabase, providing real-time subscriptions for live order updates. Authentication uses JWT tokens with refresh token rotation. The API implements RESTful endpoints with comprehensive error handling and validation.

The mobile app features Redux state management, optimistic updates for responsiveness, and offline-first architecture for menu browsing. Push notifications alert customers of order status changes.

Successfully deployed to test pilot at a local restaurant with positive feedback on ease of use. The system handles concurrent orders efficiently, with real-time updates appearing within 500ms. Average order placement time reduced from 3 minutes (traditional) to under 60 seconds.

The platform demonstrates scalability potential for multi-restaurant deployment. Future enhancements include payment integration, delivery tracking, and customer loyalty programs.