Applications are crucial for driving business expansion and building strong customer connections. Solutions offering seamless user experiences, customized engagement, and immediate access to services and information are essential for success. Developing custom software and applications is a fundamental component of a robust business strategy, catering to a wide range of digital platform requirements to fulfill varied customer demands.
Scalability, the capability to handle growing amounts of work or to be readily enlarged, is crucial in this context. It ensures that as the user base expands or as new functionalities are introduced, the application remains efficient, responsive, and capable of delivering consistent performance under varying loads.
Project Onset and Strategy
In 2021, our team was challenged with the task of not just rewriting an application for the company but transforming its digital infrastructure to meet future demands. This case study showcases our journey from initial engagement through overcoming budget constraints and technical challenges to ultimately forging a strategic partnership that exemplifies innovation, resilience, and forward-thinking in software development.
Our dedicated team, comprising developers, Quality Assurance (QA) representatives, and a delivery manager, embarked on this project in early 2022. We established clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) outlining application specifics and disaster recovery plans, setting a solid groundwork for the project’s success.
The Evolution of the Application
At the core of our project was the development of an application that meticulously manages scaffold utilization for our client, a global scaffolding supplier. The application analyzes scaffold usage to determine payments and maintain comprehensive records such as assembly, disassembly times, and operational hours. This sophisticated tracking mechanism gives clients a transparent and accurate estimation of scaffolding costs, revolutionizing how construction projects budget for and utilize scaffolding services.
A pivotal innovation in this application is introducing a ‘grid object’—a highly abstracted component that dynamically generates data. Developed using Angular, this feature creates a flexible structure capable of adapting to a wide range of applications. It signifies a move towards addressing our client’s immediate needs and laying a foundation for future-proof solutions.
The technology stack chosen for this project, Angular for the front end, .NET for backend operations, Azure for cloud storage, and SQL Server for database management, was selected with longevity and scalability in mind. Our aim was to create programs that would not only serve immediate operational needs but could also be easily adapted and expanded upon, ensuring they remain valuable and usable long after our direct involvement ends.
By focusing on building supportable, scalable, and adaptable software, we are setting a new standard in custom software and application development. This ensures our client, their partners, and their clientele benefit from a robust, reliable, and forward-thinking solution that stands the test of time, allowing anyone with basic skills in this tech stack to utilize and adapt the system as needed.
Strategic Partnership and Outcome
The project transitioned from a standard consultant-client engagement to a strategic partnership, especially after the company’s acquisition by a tech-focused enterprise. The app, crucial for managing scaffold operations, is an invaluable asset for our client, showcasing our ability to deliver lasting value through innovative software solutions. 3Ci was able to help them transition from a single tenant to a multi-tenant architecture, eliminate technical debt, and reduce support and development costs over time.
The talent and the actual developers that 3Ci is able to recruit are amazing! Every single developer I have worked with so far has been ‘cream of the crop,’ because I know that with at least our codebase, it’s not straightforward. In our UI, we have 3 codebases that they have to unravel, fix, and patch. It’s like a Frankenstein so it takes rockstar developers to even handle what we have […].” – Client Testimonial
The launch of the application’s version 2.0, slated for December 2024, represents a significant upgrade from the initial version, promising enhanced features and streamlined operations. This upgrade is crucial for our client who currently serves 22 prominent clients, making efficiency and scalability paramount.
Our team remains poised to take on new projects and partnerships, leveraging our expertise in custom software and application development to revolutionize industries. Continuing to stay ahead of the curve, we are constantly exploring emerging technologies, enhancing our skills, and expanding our capabilities to deliver cutting-edge solutions that drive business growth and digital transformation.