Case Study
Modernizing Service Tracking ApplicationA global manufacturer of press brakes, faced challenges with their outdated Windows-based tracking application.
Intro
Adapting Ever
Expanding Needs
As their business grew, they needed the ability to share data contained in the software, but the old system was difficult to upgrade and lacked support. To adapt to their expanding needs, the customer resorted to tracking processes and products in Excel spreadsheets. Seeking a comprehensive solution, they approached Letter B with a list of upgrades required to improve their tracking capabilities.
Challenges
Outdated and unsupported software
The existing Windows-based tracking application was no longer compatible with modern technologies and lacked support for necessary upgrades.
Inability to share data
The customer needed a solution that would allow them to share data across multiple locations globally.
Dependency on Excel Spreadsheets
The customer’s workaround of using Excel spreadsheets for tracking resulted in data fragmentation, limited functionality, and increased manual effort.
Risk of data loss
The old system was prone to crashes and presented a risk of data loss, jeopardizing the customer’s service history and parts information.
Inflexible Infrastructure
The existing intranet-based system restricted access to data, hindering collaboration and productivity.
Solution
Design and development
Letter B designed and developed an intranet application using ASP.NET C# technologies with an SQL Server backend. The new system would address the customer’s upgrades and provide a modernized, scalable platform for tracking service history and parts.
Customer-based approach
Following Letter B’s typical methodology, the project was executed in an intentional manner, which allows for incremental updates and continuous feedback from the customer.
Data Consolidation
The existing data from the old application and Excel spreadsheets was converted and combined into the new system, ensuring a unified and comprehensive database.
Backup and Testing
Prior to the migration, a robust backup strategy was implemented, and the team performed rigorous double-entry testing for two months to ensure data integrity and minimize the risk of data loss.
Intranet to cloud migration
As an ongoing improvement, the application was further upgraded to a cloud-based tool, enabling global accessibility to product data from anywhere in the world.
Results
Data Integrity
The successful migration ensured the preservation of all existing data, mitigating the risk of data loss from the old system’s crash.
Enhanced Collaboration
The intranet application enabled data sharing and collaboration among teams across different locations, improving communication and productivity.
Cloud-based accessibility
The migration to a cloud-based tool expanded data accessibility, allowing users to access product information from anywhere in the world.
Streamlined Processes
The new system provided a unified platform to track service history and parts, eliminating the reliance on Excel spreadsheets and improving efficiency.
Scalable Solution
The modernized system provided a flexible and scalable foundation for future growth. (Built on ASP.NET C# technologies with an SQL Server backend)