Xconnect

Introducing Xconnect: Empowering Citizenship and Collaboration Across BCG X

At BCG X, we know that great culture is built on recognizing contributions that go beyond everyday work. Xconnect is an internal platform designed to reward and celebrate these contributions across our global teams.

Why We Built Xconnect

Xconnect fills a gap that previously existed, ensuring that contributions to our culture are recognized and rewarded transparently and fairly.

What is Xconnect?

Xconnect is a platform for BCG X employees to:

• Discover Initiatives: Find and engage in citizenship activities.
• Celebrate Peers: Use Sparx to recognize the efforts of colleagues.
• Reward Top Contributors: The top 20% of Sparx recipients are eligible for a citizenship bonus at year-end.

Sparx: Recognizing Contributions Across BCG X

Sparx tokens allow employees to celebrate their peers for exceptional contributions. Every quarter, Xers receive Sparx to distribute, fostering a culture of appreciation. The top 20% of Sparx recipients across regions receive an additional bonus at the end of the year.

Backend Infrastructure of Xconnect

The technical foundation of Xconnect is built to handle global scale with high performance and security. Here’s a breakdown of the backend architecture:

• Tech Stack: Built using TypeScript and NestJS, leveraging PostgreSQL as the database with Prisma ORM. Hosted on Azure Web Services.
• Database Management: Developers use Docker to run PostgreSQL locally, with migration and seeding automated.
• CI/CD Pipeline: Automated deployments using GitHub Actions from development to production.
• Monitoring: Real-time error tracking and monitoring are handled through Sentry and Azure Application Insights.

Frontend Architecture

The frontend is built with React and Vite, offering a fast, responsive experience. Styled using Material-UI (MUI), it integrates seamlessly with the backend.

Slack Integration

Xconnect integrates with Slack via a custom Slack Bot built using Node.js and Express.js. The bot listens for specific phrases, encouraging recognition through the platform and promoting engagement.

User Management via Okta

Okta manages user provisioning and login authentication, ensuring secure access across environments. User updates, like name and email changes, are seamlessly synced through Okta.

People API Integration

Xconnect integrates with the People API v2 to enrich user data with accurate job levels and team affiliations. This integration is crucial for managing Sparx allocations and role-based permissions.

Email Notifications

Email notifications are generated using the MJML framework for responsive templates. Notifications are scheduled and triggered via PGBoss for key events like shout-out acknowledgments or initiative updates.

Security and Monitoring

Xconnect uses Veracode and Dependabot for regular security scans and updates. Monitoring is done through Azure Application Insights and Sentry for real-time issue detection.

VPN and Secure Access

Xconnect ensures secure access to sensitive data via a VPN setup using StrongSwan on MacOS, with authentication handled through certificates.

DevOps Pipeline

Deployments are fully automated using GitHub Actions, with stages for development, staging, and production. This ensures smooth and reliable releases with thorough testing before production deployment.

Conclusion

Xconnect is a robust platform that transforms how BCG X recognizes and rewards contributions, fostering a culture of appreciation and collaboration. Built with advanced security, a scalable infrastructure, and seamless integrations, Xconnect empowers employees to connect and celebrate each other.

Technologies

• TypeScript + NestJS
• Prisma ORM
• Slack Web Api
• PostgreSQL
• React + Vite
• MUI
• MJML + Handlebars
• Azure
• Okta