Smart Stock, Lean Warehouses: Optimizing Inventory with Run Rate Intelligence
Executive Summary
A leading wine and spirits supplier, managing 30+ global brands and serving over 1,700 distributors, sought to gain real-time visibility into its inventory run rate. Operating in a fragmented, forecast-heavy supply chain where sales may span years, the client needed smarter insights into what products were truly selling versus merely being shipped. By implementing an intelligent inventory run rate prediction solution, the client was able to optimize shipments, lower warehouse holding costs, and accurately forecast reorder levels—transforming planning from reactive to predictive.
Read this case study to know more about how to implement smart inventory management strategies for lean warehouse operations and intelligent supply chain management.
Problem Statement
The client, a wine and beverage supplier, imports and distributes premium alcohol brands across a wide distributor network. Inventory tracking traditionally stopped at the point of shipment—measured in cases of 6 or 12 bottles—without real visibility into sell-through rates at the distributor level. This disconnect created key challenges:
No clarity on inventory run rate post-shipment
Distributors’ forecasts did not always translate into real-time consumption
Overstocking or understocking led to warehouse congestion or lost sales
Delayed sales cycles (some SKUs taking years to move) made demand planning unreliable
Difficulty in identifying slow vs fast movers, impacting stock and cash flow
The business needed a way to predict inventory run rate more accurately by integrating distributor-level sell-through trends and historical sales patterns.
Our Approach
The client needed to optimize inventory using smart warehouse technologies. The solution was structured into five key steps:
1. Data Integration
Collated shipment data, distributor inventory reports, and sales data from multiple channels.
Connected past and current year sales patterns with SKU-wise warehouse stock levels.
2. Run Rate Model Development
Created a dynamic model calculating inventory run rate using:
Current stock on hand at distributor
Past and forecasted sales trends
Seasonal consumption patterns by region/SKU
Distributor-level throughput speed
3. Inventory Health Dashboard
Built a visualization layer showing:
SKU-wise run rate (high, moderate, stagnant)
Days of inventory left per SKU per distributor
Potential dead stock alerts
Suggested reorder points and safety stock thresholds
4. Scenario Planning Tools
Simulated reorder cycles based on multiple demand scenarios (e.g., festive seasons, new product launches).
Provided alerts on which SKUs were overstocked vs understocked.
5. Stakeholder Training & Adoption
Trained sales, supply chain, and distributor management teams on interpreting run rate insights.
Set up automated reports and alerts for weekly action planning.
Our Solution
Predicting run rates per SKU and region, by integrating real-time and historical data
Flagging slow-moving stock for reallocation or promo planning
Identifying reorder triggers based on predicted depletion rates
Supporting better shipment planning, tailored to actual consumption velocity
Enabling SKU prioritization—what to push, what to pause
Benefits
Reduced warehouse congestion by identifying low-velocity stock early
improvement in shipment planning accuracy, minimizing over-distribution
Faster reorder decisions, decreasing stockouts
Improved working capital efficiency by aligning inventory levels to true demand
Increased supply chain responsiveness, supporting dynamic business needs
Key Updates & Learnings
Distributor-level data granularity is critical—investing in digital reporting standards helped close visibility gaps.
The “sale” must be redefined—not just shipment, but actual movement from distributor to consumer.
AI models need continuous tuning—run rates shift with market seasonality, promotions, and macroeconomic factors.
Business teams now use run rate dashboards weekly instead of monthly, making supply decisions far more agile.
By leveraging run rate intelligence, the company shifted from reactive inventory replenishment to proactive, demand-driven planning—freeing up capital and reducing warehouse congestion.
About CI Global
CI Global provides solutions for optimizing wine and beverage inventory, with a focus on areas such as real-time tracking, automated reordering, and integration with other restaurant management systems. Our approach aims to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance decision-making for businesses in the hospitality and beverage industries. The solutions can be integrated with POS systems, accounting software, and other restaurant management tools to streamline operations.
Users can access inventory data on the go from any device, offering flexibility and remote management capabilities. CI Global’s smart inventory management solutions are designed to adapt to the needs of businesses of all sizes, from small restaurants to large chains.
CI Global’s Expertise:
CI Global is recognized as a “Transformation Catalyst for SMEs” by Nasscom Excellence Awards 2025.
We specialize in digital transformation across various systems, including ERP, CRM, PMS, and POS.
CI Global focuses on streamlining integrations, accelerating product compliance with automated testing, and reducing compliance-related errors.
Our solutions are designed to improve efficiency, enhance guest experiences, and drive business success.
Questions we Receive from our Customers Regarding Inventory Optimization Solutions
1. How does run rate forecasting directly improve our shipment planning accuracy?
By aligning inventory movement with actual depletion patterns at the distributor level, run rate forecasting minimizes the lag between shipment and sell-through. This enables smarter, demand-driven shipment decisions, reducing both stockouts and overstock scenarios.
2. What’s the strategic value of integrating distributor-level sales data into our planning systems?
Distributor-level visibility transforms forecasting from assumption-based to evidence-based. It allows us to anticipate market responsiveness per SKU, leading to more agile decision-making and tighter control over working capital.
3. How does this solution support our long-term inventory cost optimization goals?
It optimizes inventory holding by identifying stagnating SKUs early and reducing unnecessary stockpiling. Over time, this shrinks carrying costs, improves warehouse efficiency, and frees up capital for higher-yield products.
4. Can the model adapt to portfolio changes like new product introductions or brand expansions?
Yes, the model is built to incorporate dynamic inputs—including new SKUs—and rapidly learns from initial movement patterns. This ensures early-stage planning is not based on guesswork but on predictive insights.
5. What’s the expected ROI timeline from implementing run rate prediction analytics?
Organizations typically see measurable operational improvements—like reduced holding costs and improved shipment-to-sale ratios—within 1–2 quarters. The strategic value compounds as planning becomes more responsive and data-driven.
Closing Thought
Inventory isn’t just about stock—it’s about speed, relevance, and timing. By predicting run rate, the client transformed static inventory tracking into a living intelligence layer, guiding every shipment, shelf decision, and strategic move.
Baking Better Business with RuPOS
Industry: Bakery Chain
Sub-Title: From Chaos to Control: How a Bakery Chain Cut Checkout Time by 40% and Reduced Manual Work by 70%
In today’s fast-moving food industry, speed, accuracy, and consistency are key to success. This is especially true for bakeries, where peak-hour sales, freshness of products, and customer satisfaction are tightly linked to smooth backend operations.
One multi-location bakery chain was facing several operational roadblocks. From long queues at counters to managing stock transfers across branches and dealing with manual kitchen entries, the business was struggling to keep up. They needed a system that not only took care of billing but also connected the dots across their stores, kitchen, logistics, and import/export operations.
We recommended RuPOS, a modern Point of Sale (POS) solution integrated withRubiCube, our robust analytics and ERP-ready platform.
The Problem
The bakery chain had grown quickly and expanded into multiple stores across the city. However, this growth came with several challenges:
During peak hours, long queues and slow manual billing were baking up trouble for the bakery. With multiple locations, a central kitchen, and import/export needs, the business faced:
1. Long Queues and Slow Checkout
Manual billing systems meant long wait times during rush hours. As customers queued up, staff had to manually take orders, print bills, and process payments. This was not only time-consuming but also led to frequent billing errors.
2. Manual Kitchen and Inventory Processes
At the sample kitchen, everything was done manually—from labeling to tracking dispatches to stores. This made it difficult to monitor what was produced, what was sent, and what was left behind.
Across stores, inventory levels were not automatically updated, and stock transfers had to be tracked using spreadsheets or phone calls. 60% of the processes involved manual entries—wasting time and increasing the chances of errors.
3. Lack of Integration Across Units
The kitchen, store, and logistics teams worked in silos. Data was not shared in real time, which made planning and forecasting extremely difficult. Store managers couldn’t track how much of an item was available at another branch, and there was no central dashboard for management to review overall performance.
4. Import/Export Complexity
The bakery also dealt with imported ingredients and needed an efficient system to manage import/export documentation, track batches, and generate invoices. Without automation, this process took up to 3 hours of manual effort every day.
5. Rising Labor Costs
With so much dependency on manual processes, the bakery had to employ more staff just to handle routine administrative tasks. This led to rising labor costs, even though productivity didn’t improve significantly.
The Solution
RuPOS, integrated with RubiCube, helped to build a smart, connected ecosystem.
1. Fast, Integrated POS System
RuPOS replaced the old billing setup with a sleek, user-friendly interface that allowed staff to take orders, generate bills, and collect payments in seconds. The POS system was integrated with payment terminals, reducing the need for separate devices and improving the speed of checkout.
2. Centralized Inventory Tracking
Each store’s inventory was now connected to a central database. As items were sold, the system automatically updated stock levels. The bakery could now track ingredient usage, stock transfers, and wastage—all in real time.
3. ERP-Ready System with Kitchen Integration
The central kitchen operations were digitized. Products prepared in the kitchen were labeled and recorded in the system. These records were automatically shared with the stores. The ERP integration also helped generate import/export documentation and invoices in a few clicks.
What previously required 60% manual intervention was now reduced to just 20%, saving time and reducing errors.
4. Smart Logistics and Stock Transfer Management
RuPOS enabled easy stock transfers between branches. A store that was low on a particular item could now raise a request, and the system would alert the nearest branch or the central kitchen. Every transfer was tracked with time stamps and delivery confirmations.
5. Data-Driven Decision Making with RubiCube
By integrating RuPOS with RubiCube, the bakery gained access to powerful dashboards and analytics. Management could now see daily sales, best-selling items, low-performing products, peak-hour trends, and more. This helped with better demand planning, stock ordering, and promotional campaigns.
This digital upgrade reduced manual work and brought control to every layer of the business.
The Benefits
40% reduction in checkout time with faster billing and payments
70% reduction in manual efforts with streamlined inventory and kitchen processes
Tangible savings in labor costs, thanks to automation
Real-time insights into sales, stock, and operations for faster decisions
Smarter supply chain with stock transfers and usage monitoring
Why It Matters for Bakeries
For a bakery handling fresh items, timing and accuracy are everything. RuPOS helps maintain freshness, reduce waste, and deliver a better customer experience—every time. By cutting down manual processes and unifying operations, the bakery can now focus on what it does best: serving great food, faster.
About RuPOS
RuPOS is your all-in-one POS solution that unlocks hidden revenue streams and delivers the complete control you need to scale. Unify your sales, inventory, operations, and finances. Effortless navigation, user-friendly interface. Focus on what truly drives success: growth, customer delight, and seamless transactions.
Faster checkouts, total visibility, and RubiCube-integrated real-time insights—
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of international standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). These guidelines ensure that web content is accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities. Accessible application development ensures digital products can be used by people of all abilities.
WCAG is organized under four principles:
Perceivable – Information and UI must be presented in a way that users can perceive.
Operable – UI components and navigation must be operable.
Understandable – Content must be readable and predictable.
Robust – Content must be compatible with current and future technologies.
Adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) not only reflects a strong ethical commitment to inclusivity but also helps compliance with legal requirements in many regions, such as Colorado. Beyond ethics and compliance, WCAG adherence provides clear organizational benefits, including reaching a wider audience, enhancing user experience, and strengthening brand reputation by demonstrating a commitment to accessibility and equal access.
WCAG applies to all types of digital content—such as websites, apps, and documents—while ADA compliance covers public accommodations and employers, including their digital platforms.
This case study outlines he process of achieving WCAG compliant applications for our client’s web and mobile interfaces. The primary goal is to ensure universal accessibility, thereby making all web applications within their ecosystem accessible to individuals with disabilities. The client has specified a minimum compliance target of Level AA of WCAG 2.1, with a clear intention to progress towards achieving Level AA of the more recent WCAG 2.2.
About the Client
Our client, a robust provider of Human Resource Management Solutions, helps its customers manage the entire employee lifecycle. Based in Colorado, they needed to align their online assets with the state’s latest digital accessibility requirements. Our client sought to ensure universal compliance, ensuring their web and mobile applications are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Their goal was not just legal adherence but a firm commitment to inclusivity.
Problem Statement
Despite the strength of the existing system, the application had several accessibility gaps that hindered users with disabilities. These included:
Inaccessible and complex UI elements.
Absence of screen reader compatibility.
Missing semantic HTML tags and ARIA labels.
Low color contrast that impaired readability.
Non-standard use of icons and symbols without descriptive tags.
Multimedia elements (audio/video) lacking appropriate format, spacing, or captions.
These limitations impacted the user experience, particularly for individuals relying on assistive technologies, and exposed the application to compliance risks under the WCAG standards.
Solution
At CI Global, we proposed a comprehensive transformation plan to make the platform WCAG 2.1 compliant, with a vision to align with WCAG 2.2 shortly. The solution encompassed:
A detailed accessibility audit using compliance testing tools, browser extensions, and manual testing to identify non-compliant areas.
Refactoring the frontend to use semantic HTML and applying ARIA attributes to improve context awareness.
Improving keyboard operability and screen reader navigation.
Enhancing color contrast and visibility of focus indicators.
Adding language tags, ensuring descriptive icons, and enforcing proper use of multimedia and spacing.
Testing across web and mobile platforms using BrowserStack and licensed automation tools for comprehensive device coverage.
Ensuring icons are accompanied by descriptive text (e.g., “Next →” instead of just an arrow).
Making multimedia content accessible through audio descriptions and captions.
Defining specific iconography standards to avoid repeated use of generic visuals.
Approach
Our approach combined research, proposal drafting, and iterative implementation in collaboration with the client’s compliance and development teams. Key stages included:
Accessibility Audit & Tool Evaluation
Evaluated free and paid tools, including browser-based extensions, for real-time accessibility checks.
Compliance Mapping
Mapped current features against WCAG 2.1/2.2 guidelines to identify gaps in classes like navigation, iconography, multimedia, spacing, and color contrast.
Design Standardization
Standardized components like icons (e.g., replacing generic arrows with labeled “Next” and “Previous”), audio/video formats, and font size and usage.
Semantic Structuring
Implemented clear control names, titles, and tags compatible with assistive tools. Ensured that each icon served one specific purpose to avoid ambiguity.
Testing & Iteration
Automated and manual testing across devices, ensuring consistency and compatibility. Focused on real-time simulation using BrowserStack for mobile web and app versions.
Benefits
Compliance Assurance: Aligned the digital assets with WCAG 2.1 standards, reducing legal risks and preparing for future 2.2 support.
Inclusive Design: Enhanced user experience for those with disabilities through improved accessibility features.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensured accessibility across web and mobile applications without separate implementations.
Tool-Based Automation: Reduced manual testing efforts through smart integration with automation platforms and licensed tools.
Standardization: Built a consistent and scalable accessibility framework for future features and updates.
About CI Global
At CI Global, we specialize in creating inclusive, future-ready digital experiences. With a strong focus on enterprise applications and platform integration, we help clients meet compliance mandates and adopt emerging standards effortlessly. Our accessibility solutions are rooted in deep technical expertise, practical implementation, and a people-first mindset. From audits and development to testing and automation, CI Global ensures your applications are usable, accessible, and future-proof.
Building Chatbots with Microsoft CoPilot to Enhance Tech Support Efficiency
1. Introduction
About the Client
Our client, a Boba Tea Franchise, sought to enhance its technical support operations by leveraging AI-driven solutions. With an expanding customer base and increasing complexity in customer orders and queries, the company required a scalable support system that could streamline responses, improve resolution accuracy, and reduce operational costs.
A long-time customer of CI Global, they reached out for a scalable AI-driven chatbot solution to enhance its customer service efficiency and streamline interactions for faster response times.
Read this case study to know more about Microsoft CoPilot chatbot integration and AI customer support automation.
2. Problem Statement
The client’s existing support system faced multiple challenges:
High Volume of Customer Inquiries – The client’s staff was overwhelmed with repetitive customer queries about menu options, ingredients, promotions, and order status, leading to slower response times.
Inconsistent Service Quality – Different store locations provided varying responses to customer inquiries, affecting the brand’s service consistency.
Order Management Bottlenecks – Inefficiencies in processing and managing online and in-store orders resulted in delays and errors, impacting customer satisfaction.
Operational Costs – Hiring and training additional customer support staff significantly increased operational expenses, especially during peak hours.
Limited Availability – Customers faced delays in getting responses outside business hours, leading to lost sales opportunities.
Given these challenges, the company sought an AI-driven chatbot solution to automate query resolution, improve accuracy, and provide seamless support.
3. Approach
To address these issues, we implemented a chatbot powered by Microsoft CoPilot through a structured approach.
This is how it works.
The bot presents a comprehensive list of menu options and engages with the customer to understand their preferences and dietary needs. Based on the interaction, it suggests the most suitable menu items. If the customer indicates any allergies, the bot further refines the selection, ensuring that the recommended dishes are safe and allergen-free.
Our approach:
Assessment & Requirement Gathering
Analyzed historical support data to identify common issues and pain points.
Mapped recurring queries to streamline responses.
Design & Development
Developed a natural language processing (NLP)-enabled chatbot using Microsoft CoPilot’s AI capabilities.
Created a knowledge base from existing support documentation to train the chatbot.
Integration with Existing Systems
Ensured seamless integration with Microsoft Teams, ServiceNow, and the internal knowledge base.
Enabled data access for real-time support responses.
Training & Testing
Used real-world support cases to train the AI model.
Iteratively refined the chatbot based on feedback and accuracy improvements.
Deployment & Monitoring
Launched the chatbot in a phased manner, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs).
Analyzed chatbot interactions to continuously enhance personalization and accuracy.
4. Solution
The AI-powered chatbot, built using Microsoft CoPilot, offered the following capabilities:
Automated Query Resolution: Addressed common issues such as password resets, software troubleshooting, and connectivity problems without human intervention.
Intelligent Ticket Routing: Classified tickets based on severity and routed complex issues to human agents.
Contextual Responses: Used Microsoft AI models to provide personalized and context-aware answers.
Integration with Knowledge Base: Provided self-service recommendations by accessing internal documentation and FAQs.
Enhancing User Interactions
Scalable Support: The chatbot adapted to increasing support queries without compromising efficiency.
Real-Time Data Insights: Integrated with RubiCube to generate reports and answer customer queries like “What is the status?”
Industry-Specific Implementation
For client’s food ordering system:
The chatbot suggested menus based on user preferences.
Identified allergens and recommended suitable food options.
Enabled multi-channel ordering, allowing customers to place orders from home.
In the Pipeline
Speech Recognition: Planning voice-based interaction in the second stage, allowing users to communicate via chat or speech.
5. Benefits
The chatbot delivered measurable benefits across multiple dimensions:
Faster Response Time: Reduced initial response time from 10 minutes to under 1 minute.
Improved Resolution Rate: Successfully resolved most support queries without human intervention.
Reduced Operational Costs: Lowered dependency on additional support agents, saving substantial costs.
24/7 Availability: Offered continuous support across different time zones.
Consistent & Accurate Support: Ensured uniform responses, reducing inaccuracies.
Enhanced Employee Productivity: Freed up human agents to handle complex, high-priority tasks.
6. Results
The deployment of Microsoft CoPilot-powered chatbots yielded significant improvements:
Support Ticket Reduction: Automated handling of repetitive queries led to a decrease in ticket volume.
Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Increase: CSAT scores improved due to faster resolutions and 24/7 support availability.
Agent Efficiency Improvement: Human agents experienced a reduction in workload, enabling them to focus on high-value cases.
Reduction in Escalation Time: AI-driven ticket routing decreased escalation time, ensuring faster resolution of critical issues.
7. Conclusion
We successfully transformed the technical support operations through Microsoft CoPilot-powered chatbots. By automating routine queries, leveraging AI-driven knowledge bases, and integrating real-time insights, the company enhanced support efficiency, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction.
This case study highlights the potential of AI-powered chatbots in revolutionizing tech support. As AI technology continues to evolve, enterprises can leverage similar solutions to scale support operations, optimize resources, and deliver superior customer experiences.
Connect with us to understand how we can customize a Microsoft CoPilot-powered chatbot to suit your business requirements. Let’s talk about how to build chatbots with Microsoft CoPilot and enhance customer support with AI.
Reviving Legacy Systems: Cloud-Powered Transformation: A Case Study
Our client needed to modernize its 20-year-old FoxPro platform to a cloud-native solution. Facing challenges with scalability, security, and maintenance, they first transitioned to a WPF desktop application, preserving business logic. Simultaneously, they planned for a web-based future. Leveraging AWS, microservices, and React, we are now migrating to a cloud platform. This two-phased approach will minimize disruption.
The result of legacy system migration: enhanced performance, improved security, increased agility, reduced costs, and a better user experience. Thanks to cloud migration, the client is now positioned for future growth and innovation. This enabled us to scale seamlessly and improve operational efficiency.
The Challenge: From Desktop to Cloud
The client’s initial move was from FoxPro to a WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) desktop application. This was a significant step forward, preserving valuable business logic and rules while leveraging more modern desktop technology. However, the inherent limitations of a desktop-based system – restricted access, limited scalability, and higher maintenance overhead – remained. The client recognized the need to transition to a web-based, cloud-native architecture to unlock greater potential. Legacy system migration was critical.
Problem Statement
The client needed to modernize its software platform to:
Enhance Performance and Scalability: Improve system speed, responsiveness, and the ability to handle increasing data volumes and user traffic.
Improve Security: Strengthen defenses against evolving cyber threats and ensure data privacy and regulatory compliance.
Increase Agility: Enable faster development cycles, quicker time-to-market for new features, and easier adaptation to changing business needs.
Reduce Costs: Minimize maintenance costs, improve operational efficiency, and maximize return on investment.
Enhance User Experience: Provide a modern, intuitive, and user-friendly interface accessible across various devices for both internal users and customers.
Approach: A Two-Phased Modernization
The client adopted a strategic, two-phased approach to modernization:
Phase 1: Desktop to Desktop (FoxPro to WPF): This initial step allowed the client to quickly modernize the user interface and underlying technology while preserving core business logic. This minimized disruption to existing workflows and provided a stepping stone to the ultimate goal of a web-based platform.
Phase 2: Desktop to Web (WPF to Cloud): While developing the WPF solution, we simultaneously planned for the transition to a web application. This foresight allowed them to leverage the already modernized business logic and rules, accelerating the development process.
Moving from FoxPro to WPF is primarily due to FoxPro being a discontinued and outdated technology with limited features. WPF offers a modern, robust framework for building rich desktop applications with superior UI capabilities, better performance, and compatibility with newer Windows operating systems. It allows developers to create more advanced and visually appealing applications while maintaining a stable development environment.
Solution: CI Global’s Plan of Action
The transition to a cloud-native architecture involved several key steps:
Technology Selection: [List specific technologies chosen, e.g., AWS cloud services, a microservices architecture, a modern front-end framework like React, and a robust API layer].
Data Migration: A carefully planned data migration strategy ensured the seamless transfer of critical data from the WPF application to the new platform.
Phased Implementation: A phased rollout minimized disruption to business operations and allowed for continuous testing and feedback.
Testing & Quality Assurance: Rigorous testing and QA procedures were implemented throughout the project to guarantee system stability and reliability.
Training & Support: Comprehensive training programs were provided to internal teams to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.
Benefits: Reaping the Rewards
The product migration to the new platform was smooth and resulted in many benefits.
Enhanced Performance and Scalability: The cloud-based platform provides significantly improved performance, scalability, and responsiveness.
Improved Security: Enhanced security measures protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
Increased Agility: Faster development cycles and easier integration with new technologies enable the client to respond quickly to market demands.
Reduced Costs: Lower maintenance costs, improved operational efficiency, and reduced infrastructure expenses contribute to significant cost savings.
Enhanced User Experience: The modern, intuitive web interface provides a superior user experience, accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
Improved Customer Satisfaction: The enhanced platform translates to improved service delivery, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Future-Proofed Business: The modernized platform positions the client for future growth and innovation, enabling them to leverage emerging technologies and remain competitive.
The platform upgrade delivered significant performance improvements and a more modern user experience. The application migration was completed successfully, ensuring minimal disruption to the business operations.
Key Takeaways
Legacy system modernization is a crucial investment for businesses seeking long-term success.
A phased approach, combined with forward-thinking planning, can minimize disruption and maximize efficiency.
Choosing the right technology stack is paramount to achieving desired outcomes.
Continuous improvement and ongoing maintenance are essential for long-term success.
Customer Testimonial
The difference is night and day. Our old system was slow and cumbersome. This new platform is lightning-fast and handles everything we throw at it. This IT transformation has fundamentally changed how we operate, empowering us to be more agile and innovative.
Being able to access our data from anywhere has been a game-changer. It’s given us so much more flexibility and has really streamlined our operations. We couldn’t be happier.
This case study demonstrates how The client successfully modernized its legacy system, transforming it from a potential liability into a strategic asset. By embracing a cloud-native architecture and adopting a phased approach, The client has positioned itself for continued growth and innovation in the years to come. Their digital modernization initiative has positioned them as a leader in the industry.
About CI Global
Since 1998, CI Global has been empowering businesses by providing comprehensive technology solutions, including ERP systems, product development, cloud transformation, and mobile app development. Our experienced team is dedicated to driving innovation, ensuring smooth transitions, and delivering projects on time. Whether you’re modernizing your infrastructure or developing new software, we help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
25+ years of software product engineering
1500+ product releases
350+ customers across the world
How to Build Intuitive Software for Non-Tech Audiences
In today’s digital age, software isn’t just for tech-savvy individuals—it’s a necessity for everyone, including non-tech users like farmers, small business owners, and everyday consumers. For these users, intuitive software bridges the gap between traditional workflows and modern efficiency. It simplifies complex processes, enabling tasks like tracking livestock health, managing expenses, or making purchases with minimal effort. By tailoring technology to non-tech audiences, businesses empower them to save time, reduce errors, and make informed decisions. Ultimately, predictive UX in software designed for accessibility ensures inclusivity, drives adoption, and delivers value where it’s most needed.
This case study explores how a poultry business overcame the challenge of implementing technology by adopting a minimalist, user-centric approach, ensuring seamless adoption even among less tech-savvy users, with the assistance of CI Global.
About the Client
The client operates in the poultry industry, providing a platform for farmers, veterinarians, and general consumers to manage and interact within the ecosystem. Farmers are the primary administrators, using the software to track the growth, health, and expenses of their livestock. Consumers use the app to purchase poultry directly from farmers, with full visibility into the animals’ history, including age, food habits, and medical records. The client needed a solution that could cater to non-tech-savvy users while simplifying the complex workflows of the poultry business.
Problem Statement
The client faced several challenges in creating a seamless experience for non-technical audiences:
Complexity of Existing Solutions: The existing non-technical software needed to be enhanced for farmers or consumers with minimal technical expertise, leaving them overwhelmed.
Learning Curve: Users struggled to understand and navigate features due to jargon-heavy interfaces and lack of guidance.
Inefficient Workflows: Farmers found it challenging to track critical data like animal growth, weight, food intake, and medical expenses, leading to errors and inefficiencies.
Low Adoption Rates: Consumers hesitated to use the app due to its perceived complexity.
Support Dependency: A lack of intuitive design resulted in frequent support requests, increasing operational costs for the client.
The client required a minimalist UI/UX design that prioritized functionality and user experience over visual complexity.
Solution
To address these issues, CI Global implemented the following strategies:
User-Centered Design: Conducted in-depth research to understand the needs of farmers, veterinarians, and consumers. Designed the app’s user interface based on their workflows and pain points.
Simplified Interfaces: Created clean, visual layouts with intuitive icons, such as a printer image for “Connect to Printer.” Reduced clutter and used familiar metaphors for ease of use.
Guided Onboarding: Introduced a storyboard-style onboarding process with animated, three-slide tutorials to help users understand how to navigate the app step-by-step.
Tooltips and Icons: Added tooltips to explain icons and text, ensuring users quickly grasped the app’s functionality.
Step-by-Step Guidance: Designed workflows that broke complex processes into manageable steps, guiding users to accomplish tasks without confusion.
Localized Support: Customized language and content for the target user base, including farmers and general consumers in rural areas.
Workflow Representation: Created detailed diagrams and business flows to help users visualize data and understand the impact of their actions, such as tracking animal health and expenses.
Benefits
The intuitive software brought several advantages to the client and its users:
Improved User Experience: Farmers and consumers appreciated the simplified workflows and visual representations, reducing frustration.
Higher Adoption Rates: The app became widely accepted, especially among non-tech-savvy farmers, due to its straightforward design.
Reduced Support Costs: With self-explanatory features and tooltips, support requests decreased significantly.
Increased Productivity: Farmers could efficiently track each animal’s growth, expenses, and medical records, minimizing errors.
Broader Market Reach: The client expanded its customer base across rural and urban areas by catering to non-tech users.
Positive Brand Perception: The client’s commitment to usability strengthened trust among users, leading to better engagement.
Appreciation of Visuals: Diagrams and animations were especially praised, making complex concepts easy to understand.
About CI Global
CI Global specializes in creating innovative, user-centric software solutions that simplify complex workflows for non-tech audiences. With a strong focus on understanding client needs, CI Global ensures that every product delivers measurable business outcomes. Their expertise lies in developing intuitive interfaces, guided onboarding systems, and streamlined workflows that drive adoption and productivity.
“Working with CI Global has been a game-changer. Their intuitive designs and user-centric approach helped us make the app accessible to farmers and consumers alike. Our users love the simplicity and visual clarity of the platform, and we’ve seen a significant increase in engagement and adoption. We’re thrilled with the results!”
— [Testimonial from Client Representative]
Building Multi-Lingual Applications in the Poultry Industry
Industry Background
Farm7, a prominent poultry enterprise, sought to streamline its operations and expand its digital footprint. Their system required an overhaul to cater to diverse linguistic audiences in India, including Tamil. Farm7 recognized the need for a robust multi-lingual application solution that would ensure seamless communication with end-users while maintaining cultural relevance.
Problem Statements
Limited Market Reach
The existing application was only accessible to English-speaking users, limiting accessibility for employees and customers who preferred regional languages such as Tamil.
User Experience Challenges
Non-native users struggled with the English-only interface, leading to operational inefficiencies and frustration.
Complex Development Processes
Building multi-lingual support presented challenges like text rendering, proper localization, and handling cultural nuances.
Scalability Issues
The legacy system lacked the scalability to incorporate additional languages, requiring significant development effort for a new language.
Cultural Relevance
The application failed to account for idiomatic differences, cultural symbolism, and appropriate formatting, reducing its appeal and usability for target audiences.
Integration Challenges
Reliance on basic tools like Google Translate led to inaccuracies, as the exact English words had multiple interpretations in Tamil and other languages, making the translations unsuitable for professional use.
Our Approach
Dynamic Language Support
Labels and messages were decoupled from the codebase and stored in resource files.
The application dynamically fetched the required language assets during runtime, ensuring flexibility and easier updates.
Centralized Language Repository
We avoided third-party translation tools, opting to build an in-house solution that ensures accuracy, control, and seamless integration with our existing systems.
Translations were verified and stored in an in-house database, creating a scalable and reliable language repository.
Iterative Testing and Feedback
Regular feedback was gathered from regional users to refine translations and usability.
The system underwent rigorous testing to ensure consistency across languages and devices.
Future-Proof Architecture
Modular and scalable architecture allowed for easy addition of new languages without altering the core system.
Benefits
Increased Market Reach
The system expanded its usability to Tamil and Hindi speakers, paving the way for broader market penetration.
Enhanced User Engagement
Providing interfaces in native languages improved user satisfaction and reduced operational errors.
Cost Efficiency
Centralized localization significantly reduced manual translation and maintenance costs.
Faster Time-to-Market
Languages were added efficiently without rewriting existing code, enabling faster deployment in new regions.
Competitive Advantage
The multi-lingual support positioned Farm7 as an inclusive and customer-focused business, strengthening its market position.
Tailored Communication
Localized content helped convey critical messages effectively to less proficient English users.
Localization services adapt products, content, and services to suit the cultural, linguistic, and functional requirements of a specific target audience or market.
Other Results
Market Expansion
Achieved increased user acquisition in Tamil and Hindi-speaking regions within six months.
Improved Retention Rates
User retention improved due to enhanced usability and engagement.
Revenue Growth
An increase in revenue was recorded after the system was adopted in new markets.
Customer Feedback
Users praised the application for its inclusivity and cultural sensitivity.
Operational Efficiency
Time to add new languages was reduced, improving responsiveness to market demands.
Improved Reputation
Farm7 gained recognition for being a culturally inclusive organization.
Connect with us for Internationalization Solutions
CI Global leverages a combination of advanced technologies and expert linguists to develop high-quality, culturally sensitive multilingual applications that enhance user experience and drive global market expansion. Language translation integration allows users to seamlessly translate text within an application, enhancing communication and accessibility for a global audience. By employing best practices in internationalization and localization, CI Global helps businesses effectively communicate with diverse audiences, build brand loyalty, and achieve success in global markets.
Recognizing the limitations of generic translation tools like Google Translate, CI Global will prioritize accurate and culturally nuanced translations to ensure a seamless and personalized customer experience in these key markets. Mobile app development plays a crucial role in enabling multi-lingual application support by providing the platform and framework for implementing localization features and ensuring a seamless user experience across different languages and regions.
This is how we do it.
Leveraging technology: Utilizing advanced tools and technologies for efficient and effective localization.
Human expertise: Employing skilled linguists who understand cultural nuances and can deliver high-quality translations.
Focus on user experience: Prioritizing user experience by creating culturally-sensitive and user-friendly applications.
Achieving business goals: Helping businesses achieve their global market expansion goals through successful multilingual application development.
Using multilingual application development, businesses can effectively communicate with a global audience, expand their market reach, and build stronger customer relationships. Developing Cross-Platform Applications allows businesses to reach a wider audience by creating a single application that can function seamlessly across multiple operating systems, such as iOS and Android. By prioritizing user experience enhancement, businesses can build stronger customer relationships and achieve higher levels of customer loyalty.
About CI Global
Since 1998, CI Global has empowered businesses by providing comprehensive technology solutions, including ERP systems,product development,cloud transformation, and mobile app development. Our experienced team is dedicated to driving innovation, ensuring smooth transitions, and delivering projects on time. Whether you’re modernizing your infrastructure or developing new software, we help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
25+ years of software product engineering
1500+ product releases
350+ customers across the world
Future Plans: Expand to Arabic-speaking countries by implementing right-to-left text orientation and introducing support for additional languages like French to cater to a broader global audience.
Cloud Storage Implementation for a .NET Application in the Education Sector
Case Study Overview
Our client, an established education provider, sought a cloud storage solution for their .NET application to manage vast, complex data types—both structured and unstructured. Needing a solution that supported robust analytical and dashboard capabilities, we implemented a hybrid storage architecture combining a data lake for unstructured, NoSQL data storage and a data warehouse for structured data, optimized for report generation. Given .NET’s close integration with Microsoft technologies, Azure was selected as the primary cloud provider due to its compatibility and superior support for .NET applications compared to AWS. For structured data, Azure SQL Server provided a reliable, high-performance database solution with integration options across multiple data sources.
Cloud-based data storage solutions: Microsoft Azure is the preferred cloud platform for .NET developers, with over 70% adoption among enterprises using .NET. (Source: Microsoft Azure Reports)
Utilizing AWS S3 buckets optimized file handling, resulting in a 70% improvement in data retrieval performance. The database setup included clustered storage with no redundancy for secure, high-speed data access.
The customer was also struggling to manage and report on their massive on-premises data across multiple locations. To address this challenge, we migrated their data to the cloud using RubiCube, a user-friendly platform that consolidates data from various locations into a single, easily accessible view.
With RubiCube, we enabled a seamless cloud-based analytical solution, allowing consolidated visibility across locations, reducing maintenance costs by up to 40%, and offering pay-as-you-go flexibility. CIG provided continuous maintenance and team training to support the client in their digital transformation, creating a scalable and efficient foundation for future growth.
Read this case study to learn more about enterprise cloud storage services. Look for the best cloud storage providers to ensure seamless cloud storage.
Flexibility in payment models has led to increased adoption, with 65% of companies favoring pay-as-you-go over traditional models. (Source: IDC Cloud Market Reports 2023)
Client Background
Our client, a leading education provider, faced significant challenges managing and accessing data spread across multiple on-premises systems. These systems stored a mixture of structured and unstructured data related to student information, attendance records, academic progress, and administrative documents, creating inefficiencies in data handling, analysis, and report generation. Their existing solution was a desktop application developed in VB, limiting scalability, ease of updates, and integration options with other applications. With plans to transition to a more efficient, cloud-based .NET Core application, the client sought a comprehensive solution to streamline data storage, improve performance, and reduce costs.
Challenges
The legacy desktop application was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain due to the frequent functional updates required to support the growing chain. This led to performance degradation and operational challenges. By migrating the application to the cloud, we can ensure consistent performance, centralized control, and efficient updates, eliminating the need for tedious manual or automated updates across numerous desktop installations.
Data Complexity: The client handled both structured and unstructured data, requiring a storage solution that could support this diversity.
Data Accessibility & Report Creation: Consolidating data across multiple locations into a single source of truth was crucial to generating real-time reports, particularly for analytics and AI/ML applications.
Scalability Limitations: Maintaining data on-premises limited the scalability, flexibility, and integration of the application with new and evolving educational tools and technologies.
Maintenance Overhead: Updates and feature additions to the VB desktop application were time-consuming and required frequent, manual deployments across multiple systems.
Cost Implications: The on-premises setup incurred high maintenance and operational costs, making it difficult to sustain their growing data needs.
Leverage cloud storage solutions for businesses to securely store and access critical data from anywhere, enhancing collaboration and productivity.
Why Enterprise Cloud Storage Services for .Net applications?
a. Scalability
Easily scale storage resources up or down based on application demand without significant infrastructure changes.
b. Cost Efficiency
Pay-as-you-go pricing models reduce capital expenditure and allow for better budget management.
Eliminates the need for maintaining physical storage infrastructure.
c. Enhanced Performance
Optimized cloud storage solutions provide high-speed data access and low latency.
Use of CDNs and geo-redundant storage improves data delivery speed.
d. Reliability and Availability
Cloud providers offer high availability with SLA-backed uptime guarantees.
Data redundancy and automated backups ensure data durability and quick recovery in case of failures.
e. Security and Compliance
Advanced security features and compliance certifications help meet regulatory requirements.
Continuous updates and patches from cloud providers enhance security posture.
f. Flexibility and Integration
Wide range of services and tools that integrate seamlessly with .NET applications.
Support for various data formats and access protocols.
g. Cloud Storage Backup Solutions
Robust disaster recovery options ensure business continuity.
Automated backup solutions simplify data protection strategies.
h. Global Reach
Data centers located globally enable applications to serve users with low latency irrespective of their geographic location.
Key Considerations for Implementing Cloud Storage in .NET Applications
Cloud Provider Selection: Evaluate providers based on compatibility with .NET, available services, pricing, and support.
Integration with .NET Frameworks: Utilize SDKs and APIs provided by cloud services to integrate storage solutions effectively.
Security Measures: Implement encryption, access controls, and compliance with industry standards.
Scalability and Performance: Ensure the chosen solution can handle varying loads and provide low latency.
Cost Management: Monitor and optimize storage costs through appropriate service tiers and usage patterns.
Data Migration: Plan and execute the migration of existing data to the cloud with minimal downtime.
Backup and Disaster Recovery: Establish robust backup strategies and recovery plans.
Solution
Our .NET framework allows for flexible data integration, supporting a broad spectrum of data sources, including Microsoft SQL Server. To address these challenges, we recommended a cloud migration strategy with an Azure-based .NET Core application to leverage Microsoft’s optimized ecosystem for .NET applications. Key components of the solution included:
Data Storage Framework:
Data Lake: For unstructured data, we implemented Azure Data Lake, offering scalable storage and seamless integration with Azure-based AI/ML services.
Data Warehouse: For structured, query-optimized data, we used Azure SQL Data Warehouse, enabling faster analytics.
AWS S3 Buckets: For large file storage, particularly media files, we integrated AWS S3 buckets, improving data retrieval speed and providing a 70% performance boost in file handling.
Cloud Database and Clustering: Migrating the database to Azure SQL Server allowed for more efficient handling of transactional and analytical processes, achieving 100% performance improvements through clustering and enhanced VPN connections for secure data access between cloud environments.
Application Migration:
Migrated the VB desktop application to a .NET Core MVC framework, which simplified updates, improved integration capabilities, and enabled a centralized control of data and functionalities.
Transitioned to a web application model, reducing deployment complexity and facilitating quicker maintenance and feature enhancements.
Cost Optimization:
We implemented a flexible pay-as-you-go plan for cloud resources, allowing the client to pay only for actual usage. This included hourly and tier-based plans for predictable monthly expenses.
Training & Maintenance: Comprehensive training sessions and support were provided to the client’s team to ensure a smooth transition while CIG continued to provide ongoing maintenance and optimization.
Benefits
Scalability & Flexibility: The .NET Core application on Azure allowed the client to scale storage and computing power as required, adapting quickly to growing data needs.
Cost Savings: The transition to the cloud reduced maintenance and operational costs by up to 40%. Migration costs were optimized, resulting in a 30-50% expense reduction for the client.
Improved Performance: Cloud-based file handling and database clustering led to a 70% increase in data retrieval performance, enabling faster access to data and reports.
Enhanced Reports & Analytics: Real-time data consolidation from multiple locations into a centralized cloud platform facilitated detailed dashboards. This, combined with Azure’s AI/ML capabilities, positioned the client to leverage predictive analytics in future educational insights.
Tangible Results
Centralized Data Access: Data from all locations is now consolidated in the cloud, providing instant, centralized access for better decision-making.
Operational Efficiency: With a decrease in maintenance costs and centralized web application management, IT teams can focus more on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance.
Data Insights: The integration of a cloud-based data warehouse and data lake setup has allowed the client to generate AI-driven insights from unstructured and structured data, helping them tailor educational programs based on real-time student performance and feedback.
Enhanced User Experience: The web-based .NET Core application offered a faster and more seamless experience for educators and administrators, with a 100% improvement in data processing times, achieved through data clustering and dedicated cloud-based VPN connections.
5. Data and Trending Statistics
Growth in Cloud Adoption: The education sector has seen a steady increase in cloud adoption, with over 50% of institutions opting for cloud-based systems due to enhanced scalability and cost-efficiency.
Cost Savings with Cloud: According to industry reports, cloud migrations can yield 20-40% cost savings for educational institutions by minimizing on-premises hardware and maintenance costs.
Azure as Preferred .NET Partner: Azure’s seamless integration with .NET applications and enterprise-grade capabilities have made it the preferred choice for .NET migrations. Over 80% of .NET applications are deployed on Azure due to its optimized performance and extensive support for Microsoft technologies.
Conclusion
By implementing a tailored Azure-based cloud storage solution, we transformed the client’s .NET application to meet the demands of a dynamic education environment. The solution offered a robust data architecture for structured and unstructured data, optimized for real-time access, cost-efficiency, and scalability. This shift to a cloud-native, web-based application resulted in streamlined operations, lower costs, and valuable insights into student and administrative data, setting a foundation for future growth and innovation.
Connect with us to learn more about secure cloud storage solutions.
Building poultry ERP
The poultry industry, like many other agricultural sectors, faces unique challenges in managing its operations efficiently. With the growing demand for better farm management and streamlined processes, adopting technology that enhances visibility, productivity, and overall profitability has become essential. This case study focuses on how we built a tailored ERP solution for the poultry sector, addressing vital operational needs while leveraging our deep domain expertise. Read more about the importance of poultry management ERP solutions and how CI Global can help you build poultry farm management software that is suited for your business.
All About Poultry ERP
Poultry ERP is a specialized cloud-based solution designed to manage all facets of poultry farming, from feed management to disease control and product tracking. By integrating various farm management functions into a single platform, our SaaS-based ERP solution provides real-time insights into farm operations, making it easier for poultry farmers to track and manage the lifecycle of their livestock. A Poultry ERP software ensures a holistic view and enables smart data-driven decisions.
Problem Statement
Our client, who has a product focus in the poultry/farming sector, needed a holistic portal to track all aspects of their farm operations, including the lifecycle of their animals and resources.
Poultry farms often face the challenge of handling disconnected processes, leading to inefficiencies such as:
Poor inventory management of feed and medicine.
Inability to track bird health, feed consumption, and product growth in real time.
Limited visibility into farm outputs and operational performance.
Manual errors increase operational costs and reduce profitability.
We recommended building a Poultry ERP software.
Solution: Building a Cloud-Based ERP for Poultry
Leveraging our domain expertise, we developed a cloud-based Poultry ERP software solution tailored to meet the client’s specific requirements. The platform enabled features and modules such as:
Farm Management: Tracking farm registration details, including farm size, location, and contact information.
Batch Management: Managing livestock, crops, or trees in batches, with detailed tracking for each.
Product Management: Organizing farm products, breeds, or practice groups for better inventory control with poultry supply chain ERP.
User Management: Allowing the addition or editing of users with specific access privileges.
Feed Catalog and Daily Feed Entry: A comprehensive catalog of feeds, with daily entries tracking what was fed to each batch of livestock, crops, or trees.
Medicine and Vaccine Registry: Recording and monitoring any medicine, supplements, or vaccines administered to animals, with built-in reminders for follow-ups.
Disease and Treatment Registry: Reporting health issues and tracking prescribed treatments by veterinarians.
Farm Output and Progress Monitoring: Keeping track of the farm’s outputs, such as what is sold to customers or other farms, and monitoring key metrics like animal weight and height.
Farm Reports: Providing real-time, live tracking of the farm’s status, giving a clear overview of ongoing operations at any given moment.
Our Approach: Development and Testing
In developing this Poultry ERP, we focused on creating a solution that not only streamlined farm operations but also offered an intuitive, user-friendly experience. Here’s how we addressed key concerns to ensure the system met the specific needs of poultry farmers:
User Experience: We prioritized simplicity in design to make sure that even users with minimal technical skills, such as farmhands, could easily navigate and input data. The interface was designed to reduce complexity while still offering a full suite of features for farm management, ensuring that critical information could be accessed quickly and efficiently.
Multi-Language Capability: Understanding that farm staff may speak different languages, the ERP system was built with multi-language support. This enabled farmhands to enter data in their native language, making the system accessible to all users regardless of their linguistic background. This feature improved data accuracy and reduced training time.
Feed Catalog Integration: To make feed entry both easier and standardized, the ERP was connected with a comprehensive Feed Catalog. This integration allowed users to select the appropriate feed from a predefined list, ensuring consistency in feed tracking across the farm. By standardizing feed entries, farm managers could monitor feed usage more effectively and reduce wastage.
Veterinary Monitoring: The ERP provided a complete record of each animal’s health history, feeding patterns, medications, and treatments. This information was readily available to veterinarians, enabling them to monitor the health and well-being of the livestock with greater precision. The system allowed for proactive management of animal health, leading to improved treatment outcomes and reduced disease spread.
Produce Tracking to End Consumer: The ERP also included features for tracking the entire lifecycle of farm produce, from the farm to the end consumer. By keeping records of product origins, farm outputs, and sales data, the system enabled traceability, ensuring that consumers could have full visibility into where their products came from. This level of transparency added significant value to the client’s operations by boosting consumer trust.
Throughout the development phase of the Poultry ERP software, we focused on ensuring the solution was adaptable to different farm sizes and operational complexities. The ERP was tested extensively to guarantee that it met the unique demands of poultry farming, including real-time tracking and automated reporting.
We also ensured scalability and efficiency, optimizing the platform to handle vast amounts of data while maintaining speed and accuracy. Our team’s deep domain experience in both agriculture and software development was key to understanding the specific needs of poultry farmers and incorporating them into a robust, user-friendly system.
Benefits of the Poultry ERP Software
The implemented ERP system delivered a range of benefits to the client, including:
Improved Inventory Management: Centralized tracking of feed, medicine, and vaccines, reducing wastage and costs.
Enhanced Farm Productivity: Automated daily entries for feeding, health monitoring, and product outputs, streamlining operations.
Real-Time Insights: Live tracking and reporting capabilities that provided immediate visibility into farm performance.
Holistic Farm Management: A comprehensive portal that managed every aspect of the farm, from batch tracking to disease control and treatment monitoring.
Scalability and Flexibility: A cloud-based solution that allowed for easy scalability as the farm’s operations grew.
Localization and Multi-Language Support: The ERP’s multi-language capability enabled farm staff to enter data in their native language, enhancing accessibility, improving data accuracy, and supporting operational consistency across diverse teams.
Partner with CI Global for Custom ERP for the Poultry Industry
If you’re looking to streamline your poultry operations with a customized, cloud-based ERP solution, CI Global can help you achieve this with ease. Contact us to learn how our expertise can enhance your farm’s productivity and profitability.
The Evolution of Chatbots: From Traditional AI to Generative AI
Traditional AI: The Legacy Approach
Traditional AI-based chatbots require meticulous setup and training. The process begins with creating a knowledge base, defining prompts, and training the bot to recognize these prompts. The downside? The bot is only as good as its training. If it encounters a question or scenario outside of its pre-defined parameters, it can only say, “I don’t know.” This makes traditional AI-based chatbots rigid and limited in scope.
Moreover, traditional AI chatbots often require constant updates to remain relevant. If there’s a change in the knowledge base, a human operator needs to retrain the bot, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. While they serve a purpose, their application is largely limited to customer service and straightforward queries.
Generative AI: A New Era
Enter Generative AI (GenAI), which brings a revolutionary shift to the world of chatbots. Unlike traditional AI, GenAI doesn’t need to be trained in the same way. Instead, it can leverage existing knowledge bases, whether they are documents, private websites, blogs, or even public sources like Google Search. GenAI doesn’t just regurgitate information; it interprets, understands context, and generates human-like responses. Gen AI help systems leverage vast knowledge bases to provide dynamic, real-time solutions for complex user queries.
This makes GenAI-driven chatbots incredibly versatile. They can assist not only customers but also development and testing teams, providing real-time support and insights throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). For example, a developer unfamiliar with a specific component of a desktop application can simply ask the GenAI bot for guidance without needing to sift through pages of documentation. Gen AI in software development assists teams with real-time guidance, automates routine tasks, and accelerates project timelines.
AI chatbots for customer service deliver prompt, accurate, and context-aware responses, significantly improving customer satisfaction. It pulls the necessary information from the knowledge base and presents it in a coherent, understandable manner. Gen AI for software support streamlines troubleshooting and enhances user experience by delivering precise, context-aware responses.
How CIG Leverages GenAI for Enhanced Chatbot Solutions
CIG specializes in creating GenAI-powered chatbots that cater to a wide array of industries and domains. Unlike traditional bots, CIG’s solutions don’t require manual prompt definitions or extensive training. Instead, the bots tap into an existing knowledge base, which could be a help document, a private or public website, or even authenticated sites on the internet. This flexibility ensures that the chatbot remains up-to-date without requiring manual intervention.
Gen AI for desktop applications enhances user support by providing intelligent, real-time assistance without requiring extensive manual training. Generative AI applications are transforming various industries by delivering tailored, context-aware support and solutions. AI-based user support improves productivity and reduces downtime by offering instant, accurate responses tailored to user needs. AI help desks for businesses offer scalable and efficient support, handling diverse queries across departments with ease.
Two Types of Knowledge Bases
Desktop application assistance is revolutionized by Gen AI, offering users immediate and accurate help through advanced AI-driven support systems. CIG’s GenAI chatbots can leverage two main types of knowledge bases:
Document-Based Knowledge Base: The bot is programmed to go through help documents uploaded into the system. It fetches relevant information based on the query it receives. However, a potential drawback is that if the document isn’t updated, the bot could provide outdated information.
Web-Based Knowledge Base: The bot can be linked to websites—be they private, public, or internal systems—enabling it to fetch the most up-to-date information. This makes it particularly useful for dynamic environments where information is constantly evolving.
For instance, in a product like RubiCube, which CIG has helped enhance, the help option for the entire product can be managed by a GenAI chatbot. This solution not only assists end-users but also supports testers and new team members, providing them with a quick, reliable way to find information without needing to navigate through the product itself.
Universal and Product-Specific Bots
One of the key strengths of CIG’s GenAI bots is their adaptability. These bots can either be tuned to a specific product or designed to be universal. The universal bot can be integrated across various systems, such as development teams’ environments, private sites, or even individual email systems. This level of integration ensures that the bot can assist teams in real-time, improving efficiency and reducing time spent searching for information.
Moreover, the GenAI-powered bots can even be programmed to complete specific tasks, making them more than just information providers. For example, a customer service team using a CIG chatbot can update the bot’s knowledge base autonomously without requiring technical expertise or external help. This self-sufficiency not only reduces operational overhead but also empowers teams to maintain the bot themselves. AI help desks for businesses thus offer scalable and efficient support, handling diverse queries across departments with ease.
Case Study: Streamlining the Migration from Desktop to Web Applications
To illustrate the transformative power of CIG’s GenAI solutions, let’s explore a case study involving the migration of a desktop application to a web application.
The Challenge
The client, a tech company, was undergoing a significant transition, moving its primary desktop application to a web-based platform. The development and testing teams faced a substantial challenge: they were unfamiliar with certain components of the desktop application and needed to understand how the migration would impact them. The manual process of sifting through documentation, finding the relevant information, and applying it was time-consuming and prone to errors.
The Solution
CIG deployed a GenAI-powered chatbot explicitly designed for this migration project. The bot was integrated with the company’s knowledge base, which included technical documentation, historical project data, and migration guidelines. Unlike traditional AI solutions requiring extensive training, this GenAI chatbot was ready to assist from day one. Virtual assistants for desktop applications, powered by Gen AI, provided personalized and intuitive support to enhance user experience.
The Impact
The chatbot provided real-time assistance to both the development and testing teams. Developers could ask the bot specific questions, such as “Where has this data feed been used before?” or “How will this API change affect the user interface?” The bot would instantly retrieve the necessary information, ensuring the migration proceeded smoothly.
This approach not only saved time but also improved accuracy. The teams didn’t have to second-guess their actions or wait for clarifications. Everything they needed was available at their fingertips, thanks to the GenAI chatbot. The overall project saw a reduction of nearly 50 person-hours and tasks that would typically take days were completed in a fraction of the time. This not only reduced the turnaround time (TAT) but also significantly improved the efficiency of the migration process.
The Broader Applications of GenAI-Powered Chatbots
While the case study focuses on a specific scenario, the applications of GenAI-powered chatbots extend far beyond. In a generic enterprise setting, these bots can be used to enhance helpdesk support, provide conversational boosting, and even extend their capabilities to problem-solving scenarios. The flexibility of GenAI allows it to adapt to various industries and use cases, from finance to healthcare, making it a versatile tool for businesses looking to improve their operations.
CI Global: Your ChatBot Partner
In the evolving landscape of digital solutions, GenAI-powered chatbots represent a significant leap forward. By eliminating the need for extensive training and providing real-time contextual assistance, these chatbots transform how teams interact with their tools, knowledge bases, and each other. CIG stands at the forefront of this revolution, helping clients create chatbots that not only answer questions but also drive business efficiency and innovation.
Whether you’re in the process of migrating applications, supporting a customer service team, or looking to empower your development and testing teams, GenAI offers a robust solution that can adapt to your needs. With CIG’s expertise, creating a chatbot that’s both intelligent and intuitive is no longer a distant goal—it’s a reality that can significantly impact your bottom line.
Connect with us to know more.
Integrating GDPR Principles Throughout the Development Cycle
Key Takeaways
Holistic Privacy Integration: Embedding GDPR principles from the outset ensures comprehensive data protection and compliance, enhancing security and privacy in mobile app development.
Enhanced User Trust: Clear consent management and robust user rights features build user confidence and trust, demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding personal data.
Competitive Advantage: Continuous compliance monitoring and advanced security measures not only fulfill legal requirements but also position the organization as a reliable and trustworthy entity in the market.
Overview of GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a legal framework designed to protect personal data within the EU. It regulates the collection, processing, storage, and erasure of personal data to ensure individuals’ privacy and rights.
Importance of GDPR-Compliant Mobile Apps
Compliance with GDPR is crucial for mobile app developers to avoid fines, maintain their reputation, and enhance user trust by ensuring robust data protection.
Holistic Approach to GDPR Compliance
Integrating GDPR principles throughout the development cycle is crucial for IT service providers, particularly those involved in mobile app development. This approach ensures that privacy and data protection are not just afterthoughts but are embedded into the very architecture of the application. By adopting GDPR principles from the planning stages through to deployment and maintenance, service providers can deliver products that meet stringent data protection standards, thus safeguarding user information and enhancing overall security.
From the outset, CI Global adopts a holistic approach to GDPR compliance in SDLC, embedding data protection principles into every phase.
Building Trust through Data Protection
Implementing GDPR principles helps organizations build and maintain trust with their users by demonstrating a commitment to protecting personal data. This is achieved through several key practices:
Privacy by Design and Default: Embedding data protection features from the outset ensures that user privacy is maintained at all times.
Clear Consent Management: Providing transparent mechanisms for obtaining and managing user consent allows users to feel more in control of their data.
Robust Security Measures: Employing advanced encryption and secure data handling practices protects against data breaches and unauthorized access.
User Rights Facilitation: Enabling users to easily access, modify, and delete their data fosters a sense of trust and reliability.
Continuous Compliance Monitoring: Regular audits and updates ensure that the app remains compliant with evolving GDPR requirements, demonstrating a proactive stance on data protection.
By integrating these principles, organizations not only comply with legal requirements but also enhance user engagement and loyalty, ultimately leading to a stronger market position.
Read this case study to know more about GDPR compliance into every phase of the mobile app development cycle.
Client Background
Description of the Client
Our client is a leading platform in the sports industry, specifically focusing on ice hockey. Their mobile app provides real-time updates, player statistics, and game highlights.
Industry and Specific Challenges Related to GDPR Compliance
Given the nature of their service, our client collects and manages a significant amount of personal data from its users, including player profiles, fan interactions, and user-generated content. Ensuring GDPR compliance was particularly challenging due to handling large volumes of personal data while maintaining high user engagement and data accuracy.
Challenges Faced by the Client and Solved by CI Global
Identifying Personal Data and Its Usage in the App
Determining which user data qualifies as personal data under GDPR involved identifying all data points, including direct identifiers (e.g., names, email addresses) and indirect identifiers (e.g., IP addresses, device IDs) along with location data and user behavior patterns. Mapping out how this data was used, shared, and stored within the app ensured comprehensive coverage of GDPR requirements.
Ensuring Data Protection by Design and by Default
Integrating data protection measures into the app’s architecture from the beginning was crucial. This included embedding privacy features, implementing robust security protocols, and minimizing data collection to only what was necessary.
User Consent Management
Developing mechanisms to obtain and manage explicit user consent for data collection and processing was a significant challenge. Ensuring users were fully informed about how their data would be used and providing them with easy-to-understand consent forms was key to compliance.
Data Access, Portability, and Deletion Requests
Creating processes for users to access their data, request data portability, and delete their data upon request required developing user-friendly features and efficient backend systems to handle these requests promptly.
Solutions Implemented by CI Global
Data Mapping and Auditing
CI Global conducted a thorough audit to identify all personal data processed by the app and mapped out data flows to ensure comprehensive coverage of GDPR requirements.
Privacy by Design and Default
Privacy features were embedded into the app’s design, ensuring data minimization and pseudonymization. Strict access controls and encryption were applied to safeguard personal data.
Consent Management Mechanisms
Clear and accessible consent forms with granular consent options were developed, and consent management tools were implemented to manage and record user consent efficiently.
Secure Data Storage and Transfer
Advanced encryption methods such as Base64 and RSA-certified formats were used to protect data, and secure data transfer protocols were established to prevent unauthorized access.
User Rights Management
Features were built to allow users to easily access, modify, and delete their personal data. Integrated systems handled user data requests promptly and efficiently.
Privacy Policy Content
The app’s privacy policy informs users about:
The types of personal data collected (e.g., names, email addresses).
How the data is used (e.g., for real-time updates and player statistics).
Data storage and security measures (e.g., encryption and access controls).
User rights regarding data access, rectification, and deletion.
Methods for obtaining user consent and managing preferences
Technologies and Tools Used
Encoding Scheme: Base64 encoding to convert data into a text format using a base-64 representation. Encryption Methods: AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and RSA (Rivest-Shamir- Adleman). System Integration: Ensured compliance with app store standards and incorporated APIs for data integrity.
Implementation Process
1. Step-by-Step Process Followed
Initial Assessment: Conducted a thorough assessment to identify compliance gaps.
Data Mapping: Mapped out all personal data processing activities.
Design and Development: Integrated privacy by design principles into the app.
Testing: Conducted rigorous testing to ensure all features met GDPR standards
Deployment: Rolled out the GDPR-compliant app to users.
2. Key Milestones and Deliverables
Data Audit Report
GDPR Compliance Framework
Consent Management System
User Rights Management Features
Secure Data Handling Protocols
Results Achieved
1. Achieved Compliance with GDPR
Successfully met all GDPR requirements, ensuring the app’s compliance with EU regulations.
2. Enhanced User Trust and Engagement
Increased user confidence through transparent data practices and robust security measures.
3. Improved Data Security and Privacy Measures
Implemented state-of-the-art security protocols, leading to better protection of user data.
The app now complies with ISO 27001 and 27701 standards, providing an additional layer of assurance to users.
CI Global: For GDPR Compliance throughout the Development Cycle
CI Global’s approach to integrating GDPR principles throughout the development cycle proved to be a success for the client. By embedding data protection measures from the outset and continuously monitoring compliance, the app maintained a high level of trust and security. This case study demonstrates the importance of a holistic approach to GDPR compliance in mobile app development, highlighting the benefits of user trust, enhanced security, competitive advantage, and regulatory compliance.
Case Study: Legacy Modernization: VB6 to .NET
Explanation:
This case study will explore a real-world example of legacy system modernization, focusing on transitioning from VB6 to .NET. It will cover the challenges faced during the migration process, the solutions implemented to overcome them, and the benefits realized post-migration.
The case study will provide insights into how Legacy VB6 Migration can improve performance, security, and scalability.
Overview
Visual Basic (VB), created by Microsoft in 1991, was widely used for enterprise applications. However, Microsoft abandoned VB in favor of the modern .NET Framework, with the final VB release being version 6 in 1998. Although Windows still supports core VB6 functionality, the VB6 IDE is no longer supported, making migration to .NET essential for many businesses.
The Imperative for Modernization
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, modernizing legacy frameworks is not just beneficial—it’s essential for business survival and growth. Moving away from VB6 to .NET offers numerous advantages:
Future-Proofing: Stay relevant in a competitive market by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and frameworks.
Enhanced Security: Modern frameworks provide robust security features to protect against evolving cyber threats.
Talent Acquisition: Attract and retain top development talent who prefer working with modern technologies.
Ecosystem Integration: Seamlessly integrate with a vast ecosystem of modern tools, libraries, and cloud services.
Why .NET?
Rich Set of Classes: .NET offers comprehensive APIs for various business solutions, reducing the amount of code developers need to write.
Device Compatibility: .NET applications can run on various devices, from mobile phones to 64-bit servers.
Internet Integration: .NET provides robust support for Internet-aware technologies, crucial for modern business operations.
Developer Availability: It’s easier to find and retain .NET developers compared to VB6 specialists.
Ongoing Support: Microsoft continues to support .NET, ensuring ongoing updates and security patches.
Problem Statements:
Obsolete Technology:
Causes: VB6 is outdated, leading to compatibility issues with modern operating systems, lack of support, and limited integration capabilities with new technologies.
Solution: Transitioning to .NET, which is actively supported and offers better integration and compatibility with current systems.
Data/Trends: According to a 2023 Gartner report, 60% of businesses are moving away from legacy systems due to increasing operational risks and costs associated with maintaining obsolete technologies.
Security Vulnerabilities:
Causes:Legacy systems often have outdated security protocols, making them susceptible to modern cyber threats and attacks.
Solution: Migrating to .NET provides updated security features and regular patches, enhancing overall system security.
Data/Trends:A study by Cybersecurity Ventures in 2022 noted that companies with legacy systems are 40% more likely to experience a data breach compared to those using updated technology.
Performance Bottlenecks:
Causes: Legacy systems like VB6 may not efficiently handle modern data loads or provide optimal performance, leading to slower processing times and decreased productivity.
Solution: Implementing .NET can significantly improve system performance through enhanced processing capabilities and better resource management.
Data/Trends:Performance benchmarking by TechRepublic in 2023 showed that .NET applications perform up to 50% faster than their VB6 counterparts.
Limited Scalability:
Causes: VB6 systems are often rigid and not designed to scale with the growing needs of a business, hindering expansion and adaptation to new requirements.
Solution: .NET offers scalable architecture that can grow with the business, accommodating increasing user demands and data volumes.
Data/Trends:IDC’s 2022 report highlighted that businesses adopting scalable .NET solutions experienced a 35% increase in operational efficiency within the first year.
High Maintenance Costs:
Causes:Maintaining legacy systems like VB6 can be costly due to the scarcity of skilled developers and the need for frequent fixes and patches.
Solution:Modernizing to .NET reduces maintenance costs by leveraging a larger pool of skilled developers and benefiting from ongoing updates and community support.
Data/Trends: According to a 2021 Forrester study, companies that modernized their legacy systems reported a 25% reduction in maintenance costs within two years.
How to Migrate to .Net?
Migrate to Microsoft .NET:
Use automated tools like the Visual Basic Upgrade Wizard to move code to .NET, retaining functionality while adding new capabilities.
Extend with Microsoft .NET:
Enhance the application with .NET while keeping the core VB6 application intact.
Rewrite in Microsoft .NET:
Develop a new application in .NET, retaining domain knowledge but not the original code.
Replace:
Find an alternative solution from an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) or outsource the development.
Do Nothing:
If the application is stable and doesn’t require changes, no immediate action is necessary.
Case Study: ERP Migration from Legacy System to .NET
Requirement
A complete ERP system implemented in a legacy VB6 framework needed to be migrated to a current framework to enhance scalability and usability. The objective was to ensure Visual Basic 6 Modernization.
Problem Statement with Legacy Code Migration
The existing ERP system faced several limitations:
Scalability: The application could not efficiently scale to meet growing business needs.
Database Flexibility: It lacked the capability to use multiple databases.
Cloud Integration: The system was not cloud-ready, limiting accessibility and modern functionality.
Solution
The solution was to migrate the ERP system to the .NET framework, resulting in a cloud-ready system. This VB6 to .NET Transformation enabled:
Cloud Availability: The new system is fully integrated with cloud services, providing better accessibility and scalability.
Web and Desktop Compatibility: Unlike VB6, .NET supports both web-based and desktop applications, offering greater flexibility.
Benefits
The migration to the .NET framework provided significant tangible benefits, including:
Improved Performance
The new system achieved an average of 30-40% increase in processing speed, enhancing overall efficiency.
Note: Performance gains may vary depending on the complexity of the original application and optimization efforts during migration.
Enhanced Scalability
The system’s capacity to handle concurrent users increased by up to 50%, supporting business growth. This improvement was particularly noticeable in applications that were re-architected to take full advantage of .NET’s multithreading capabilities.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
Maintenance and support costs were reduced by approximately 25-30% due to the streamlined .NET environment and better resource utilization. Factors contributing to this reduction include improved tooling, a larger pool of skilled .NET developers, and more efficient debugging processes.
Cloud Integration
By leveraging cloud services in conjunction with the .NET migration, the company reduced infrastructure costs by an average of 20-25%. This provided greater flexibility and remote accessibility, with the extent of savings varying based on the specific cloud services adopted and the previous on-premises infrastructure costs.
The CIG Advantage
Choosing the right partner for your modernization journey is crucial. CI Global stands out by offering:
Proven Expertise: Years of experience in successfully migrating VB6 applications to .NET and other modern frameworks.
Tailored Strategies: Custom migration approaches designed to meet your specific business needs and goals.
Minimal Disruption: Carefully planned and executed migrations to ensure business continuity.
Comprehensive Support: End-to-end assistance, from initial assessment to post-migration optimization.
Innovation Focus: Not just migration, but transformation—reimagining your applications for the digital age.
CI Global: Your VB6 to .NET Migration Services Partner
It is vital to modernize the frameworks and step away from VB6. Stay relevant by migrating to .NET, and leverage modern technologies to stay ahead of the curve.
With the right strategy and approach, the VB6 migration process can be efficient and seamless. By partnering with CI Global, enterprises can:
Effectively overcome associated challenges
Transition smoothly to modern frameworks
Realize significant long-term benefits in performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency
CI Global specializes in creating digital transformation experiences for our clients. To start migrating your VB6 applications to .NET Core and other modern frameworks, contact us today!
Hospitality Analytics to Boost Sales Team Performance
Introduction
Property management system analytics is the strategic approach that involves measuring and monitoring supply and demand through data and analytics to predict consumer behavior. Hospitality data analysis allows hotels to make informed decisions on promotions, pricing, and distribution channels to optimize revenue.
Integrating property management systems with hospitality analytics can revolutionize hotel revenue management. By visualizing performance across multiple locations, hotels can create unified dashboards that compare variables, understand strengths and weaknesses, and track performance metrics.
For instance, when looking at multiple properties, hotel management typically first examines revenue, which is categorized into room revenue (from rooms), food and beverage revenue (from restaurants and room service outlets), and Minor Operating Division revenue (from laundry, spa, gym). Creating a holistic view enables the sales and marketing team to craft targeted pitches and personalized campaigns, boosting sales and enhancing guest experiences. Industry-standard reports can also include business source contribution analysis, night audit reports, manager’s reports, room occupancy statistics, and market segment breakdown.
Benefits of an Integrated Hospitality Analytics Solutions
Hotel bookings can come through various channels such as central reservation systems (direct booking), online travel agencies, regular travel agencies, and walk-in registrations. Understanding the source of your business (known as the business source) is crucial, along with the segment it comes from. This can help renegotiate contracts and optimize revenue, a key aspect of contribution analysis.
Also, banquet halls are often booked for company events like annual gatherings, team outings, and employee engagement programs, all of which are recorded in the system. For example, if a company typically holds an annual event in March but has not inquired by February, the sales and marketing team can be alerted. This proactive approach enables them to create a targeted lead generation strategy, improving the sales funnel and potentially boosting revenue generation.
It’s unrealistic to expect salespeople to remember these details, which is where automated, consolidated reports come in. These reports can be used to target sales plans for each quarter, plan ahead, and improve the chances of making a conversion.
Moreover, customer feedback, such as preferences for certain types of food, can be used to create customized marketing campaigns, enhancing guest experiences and driving revenue. The integration of property management and analytics provides a comprehensive solution for hotels to optimize revenue generation and streamline operations.
Read this case study to know more about how CI Global assists hotels in leveraging this integration to achieve their revenue goals and improve operational efficiency. By combining property management data with advanced automated analytics, CI Global helps hotels gain deeper insights into their business performance, identify revenue opportunities, and make informed decisions.
Learn how CI Global’s expertise and support enable hotels to enhance their revenue generation strategies and deliver exceptional guest experiences.
Client Background:
A group of hotels with multiple locations sought to improve revenue generation and streamline their sales team’s performance. They also wanted to create customized marketing campaigns focussing on customer preferences to boost engagement and profits. The hotel management team faced challenges in consolidating reports from various properties, leading to increased manual efforts, incorrect data, and delayed decision-making.
With each property using its own on-premise property management system (PMS), the management team struggled to understand the performance of each property in one go. The process involved employees at each property downloading reports and sending them to the corporate office, where the finance team consolidated the data. As the number of properties increased, the manual efforts and chances of errors also rose. Delays in report preparation were common, especially if the right personnel were unavailable, leading to further inefficiencies in decision-making and analysis.
Challenges:
Manual consolidation of reports from different properties.
Lack of real-time data accessibility for management.
Limited insights into business sources and market segments.
Inefficient sales performance analytics and marketing efforts.
Solution:
CI Global’s team proposed implementing hospitality analytics to address these challenges. By leveraging analytics tools, the client could automate report consolidation, gain deeper insights into revenue sources, and enhance the sales team’s performance.
Implementation:
CI Global’s team assisted in setting up the analytics system.
Provided user support ( 6 weeks) for a smooth transition.
Collaborated with the client to understand their specific requirements.
Key Features and Benefits:
Automated Report Consolidation: Instead of manual efforts, the system automatically consolidated reports from different properties, saving time and reducing errors.
Contribution Analysis: Analyzing revenue contribution from room revenue, food and beverage, and minor operating divisions helped in better decision-making.
Business Source Identification: The system identified booking sources, such as online travel agencies, regular travel agencies, and walk-ins, enabling targeted marketing efforts.
Segment Analysis: Understanding market segments allowed for tailored marketing campaigns and strategic planning.
Improved Sales Targeting: By providing the sales team with a targeted lead list based on past revenue sources and potential opportunities, sales efforts became more focused and effective.
Customized Marketing Campaigns: Feedback from customers, including likes and dislikes, was used to create unique marketing campaigns.
Results:
Effective revenue management practices can lead to a 10% increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) for hotels. This statistic demonstrates the tangible benefits that data-driven insight have brought to hotel revenue improvement efforts.
Improved revenue generation through targeted sales efforts.
Enhanced efficiency in report consolidation and decision-making.
Better understanding of market segments and business sources.
Increased user adoption and satisfaction with the analytics system.
Leveraging Hospitality Analytics for Enhanced Revenue and Operational Efficiency
By implementing hospitality analytics, the group of hotels improved revenue generation, streamlined operations, and enhanced the sales team’s performance. CI Global’s support and expertise were instrumental in achieving these outcomes, demonstrating the value of data-driven insights in the hospitality industry.
Decoding QSR Menu Item Performance Using Analytics
Executive Summary:
This case study explores how analytics can be used to decode Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) menu item performance. By identifying zero or slow sales items within specific categories and subcategories across stores over a defined time period, QSRs can make informed decisions about menu optimization, including adding new items or removing underperforming ones. This analysis is crucial for understanding how certain menu items affect sales and what alternatives can be considered to enhance revenue.
Introduction:
The QSR industry is highly competitive, and menu optimization is essential for driving sales and profitability. Read this case study to examine how analytics can provide valuable insights into menu item performance, helping QSRs make strategic decisions to improve their offerings and customer satisfaction.
Methodology:
Data collection from Point of Sale (POS) systems integrated with store data.
Analysis of sales data over a 3 to 6-month period.
Identification of zero or slow sales items within categories and subcategories.
Comparison of the presence or absence of specific items and their impact on sales.
Data Analysis:
Analysis of sales trends for specific menu items.
Identification of high-performing and underperforming items.
Evaluation of the impact of menu item presence on overall sales.
Linga POS Integration:
The integration of Linga POS adds significant value to this analysis. Linga POS provides real-time data on sales, inventory, and customer preferences, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of menu item performance. Its reporting features enable QSRs to easily identify trends and make data-driven decisions to optimize their menus. By leveraging data from Linga POS, QSRs can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall customer experience.
Analyzing QSR Menu Performance with RubiCube
CIG’s team used RubiCube to analyze data from Linga POS and decode the menu item performance. This involved extracting real-time sales data of multiple stores and utilizing RubiCube’s advanced reporting features to identify trends and make data-driven decisions for menu optimization. With RubiCube, we were able to download and analyze sales data by category or monthly, apply sorting and filtering options, and utilize pivot functionalities to gain deeper insights into menu item performance.
The following are the results of a case study of a client after implementing the above.
Key Findings:
Certain menu items positively influence sales.
Zero or slow sales items may need to be removed or replaced.
Strategic additions to the menu can drive sales.
Recommendations:
Consider adding new menu items based on analysis.
Remove or replace underperforming items.
Regularly analyze menu item performance to stay competitive.
Implementation Plan:
Develop a process for regularly analyzing menu item performance.
Implement changes to the menu based on analysis.
Results and Benefits:
Identify sales laggards and decide on promotions accordingly
Identify top performers
Improved sales and profitability.
Enhanced customer satisfaction through optimized menu offerings.
Analytics play a crucial role in decoding menu item performance. By analyzing sales data and understanding the impact of specific menu items, QSRs can make informed decisions to optimize their menus and drive business growth. Integration with POS helps automate data collection process, reducing the need for manual data entry and spreadsheet management. This streamlining not only saves time and effort but also minimizes the risk of human error, ensuring more accurate and efficient menu item performance evaluation.
Contact Information:
Please contact CI Global for further inquiries or to learn more about our analytics solutions for the QSR industry.
Building Automation Framework Using WinApp Driver and Maestro
Introduction
Desktop and mobile applications pose unique challenges in software testing due to limited automation tools. Identifying objects, actions, and user interactions can be particularly challenging. However, leveraging WinApp Driver and Maestro can overcome these challenges, leading to more efficient and effective testing processes.
Pain Points to be Solved
Limited technology for testing desktop applications.
Difficulty in identifying objects and associated actions.
Complexities in identifying user interactions.
Solution Overview
WinApp Driver:
Windows Application Driver (WinAppDriver) is a service to support Selenium-like UI Test Automation on Windows Applications, offering a programmatic method to interact with the user interface of Windows desktop applications, thus simplifying the process of automating testing.
It provides a programmatic way to interact with a user interface implemented in a Windows desktop application, making it easier to automate testing. WinAppDriver functions as a Selenium-like automation framework, combining the strengths of two different technologies. It encapsulates much of the technology of the now deprecated CodedUI while incorporating the flexibility, ease of use, and adoption of Selenium.
Like Selenium, WinAppDriver consists of libraries that can be integrated into any Test Runner supporting Cucumber. For example, Selenium scripts can be developed and executed using Selenium Java.
Requirements:
WinAppDriver is compatible only with Windows 10 and 11.
A test runner, such as IntelliJ, is required.
Steps Involved:
Identify Application Elements: Identify the elements of the Windows application that need to be tested.
Design Test Scenarios: Create test scenarios based on the identified elements and their functionalities.
Write Test Scripts: Use Selenium Scripts and Cucumber Framework to write test scripts that interact with the application’s elements.
Execute Test Scripts: Run the test scripts against the Windows application to simulate user interactions.
Capture and Analyze Results: Capture the results of the test execution and analyze them to identify any issues or failures.
Debug and Refine: Debug any issues found during the test execution and refine the test scripts as needed.
Maintain Test Scripts: Regularly update and maintain the test scripts to keep them in sync with any changes to the application’s functionality or user interface.
Maestro:
Maestro is a mobile UI testing framework that allows users to create, manage, and execute automated tests for mobile apps. It provides a user-friendly interface for designing test scenarios, generating test scripts, and capturing test results. The solution offers a balanced approach with features catering to both novice and experienced testers. It supports multiple programming languages and integrates seamlessly with various CI/CD tools.
Requirements:
A compatible operating system (OS)
Sufficient hardware resources for optimal performance.
Steps Involved:
Identify Test Scenarios: Determine the key scenarios that must be tested in the application.
Design Test Cases: Create test cases based on the identified scenarios.
Use Maestro to Generate Test Scripts: Utilize Maestro to convert test cases into automated test scripts.
Execute Test Scripts: Run the automated test scripts against the application.
Capture Results: Maestro captures and presents the results of the test execution.
Maintain the Test Scripts/Framework: Regularly update and maintain the test scripts and automation framework to ensure they remain effective.
Benefits of Test Automation
Efficiency: Automation reduces the time and effort required for testing.
Reliability: Automated tests ensure consistency in testing procedures.
Scalability: Tests can be easily scaled to accommodate changes in the application.
Consistency: Automated tests can be run repeatedly with the same results.
Cucumber Framework
Description:
Cucumber, an open-source software tool written in Ruby, is a testing framework that supports behaviour-driven development (BDD). It allows you to write test scenarios in simple, human-readable language. The framework executes automated acceptance tests written in the “Gherkin” language. Gherkin is a domain-specific language for behaviour descriptions. Gherkin is business-readable.
Cucumber test automation involves two key components:
Feature file: Written in Gherkin, a plain English text format.
Step definition file: Contains the actual code implemented by developers.
Cucumber serves as a connector between various teams, including:
Business Analysts and Software Engineers
Manual and Automation Testers
Manual Testers and Developers
Integration with WinApp Driver
Cucumber can be integrated with WinAppDriver to write feature files describing the application’s behaviour in plain language.
Features:
Locator Finder: Helps identify elements in the application for testing.
Simple Language: Allows writing tests in plain English without the need for complex programming languages.
Data-Driven Testing: Supports data-driven testing using external data files such as CSV files.
Organizations can overcome the challenges of testing desktop applications by utilizing WinApp Driver, along with tools like Cucumber, leading to more efficient, reliable, and scalable testing processes.
Use Case Scenario
To explain how the Cucumber framework executes scenarios related to an inventory dashboard, we can use a hypothetical scenario to test various features of an inventory management system’s dashboard. Here’s how it would work:
Feature File Creation: A feature file is created with a descriptive name like inventory_dashboard.feature. This file contains scenarios written in Gherkin syntax, describing different aspects of the inventory dashboard, such as viewing items, filtering data, or managing inventory.
Scenario Definition: Each scenario in the feature file describes a specific feature or aspect of the inventory dashboard. For example, one scenario might be about checking the availability of items in different warehouse locations.
Step Definitions: Each step in the scenario has a corresponding step definition in a step definition file. These step definitions contain the actual code that interacts with the inventory management system to perform the actions described in the scenario.
Running the Tests: The Cucumber framework reads the feature file and matches each step to a step definition. It then executes the steps in sequence, interacting with the inventory management system as specified.
Generating Reports: After the tests are run, Cucumber creates detailed reports showing each scenario’s results and each step within the scenario. These reports can be used to identify any issues or failures in the inventory dashboard’s functionality.
Following this process, the Cucumber framework can effectively test the inventory dashboard’s features and ensure it meets the requirements specified in the feature files.
Case Study: Enhancing Inventory Management with Sage 100 Integration
Introduction:
ABC Distributors, a leading distributor of Japanese sake in the US, relies on Sage 100 Standard ERP for their business operations. To improve their inventory management and sales forecasting, they sought a solution to integrate Sage 100 with SQL Server and leverage predictive analytics.
Problem Statement:
ABC Distributors needed help understanding their inventory run rate and forecasting sales accurately. Their existing ERP system, Sage 100, did not provide advanced analytics capabilities, making it difficult to make data-driven decisions.
Challenges Specific to the Wine and Beverage Industry:
The wine and beverage industry presents unique challenges businesses must solve to succeed. These challenges include:
Complying with Complex Regulations: The wine and beverage industry is subject to many local, national, and international regulations. These regulations cover production methods, labeling requirements, and distribution practices. Ensuring compliance with these regulations is essential but can be complex and time-consuming.
Navigating Consumer Preferences: Consumer preferences in the wine and beverage industry can be highly nuanced and vary widely—factors such as taste, price, brand reputation, and packaging influence purchasing decisions. Understanding and adapting to these preferences is crucial for success in the industry.
Managing Seasonal Variations: Sales of wine and beverages often fluctuate seasonally, with demand spiking during certain times of the year, such as holidays and special events. Managing inventory levels to meet these seasonal variations while minimizing excess inventory can be challenging.
Maintaining Product Quality: Quality control is paramount in the wine and beverage industry, where a single subpar product can quickly tarnish a brand’s reputation. Ensuring consistent quality across all products requires meticulous attention to detail and rigorous quality control processes.
Competing in a Crowded Market: The wine and beverage industry is highly competitive, with a multitude of brands vying for consumer attention. Standing out in such a crowded market requires innovative marketing strategies, strong branding, and a deep understanding of consumer trends.
Managing Perishable Products: Wine is temperature-sensitive and can spoil if the humidity or temperature changes. It can also age prematurely, oxidize, and spoil if not stored properly. Unlike many other industries, the wine and beverage industry deals with perishable products that have a limited shelf life. This requires careful inventory management to ensure products are sold on time before expiring, minimizing waste and maximizing profitability.
By addressing these challenges and leveraging technology and data-driven insights, businesses in the wine and beverage industry can position themselves for success in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Solution:
To address these challenges, ABC Distributors decided to build a connector between ProvideX and RubiCube, enabling data integration. The SQL Server’s based connector allowed them to leverage advanced analytics capabilities for inventory management and sales forecasting.
Critical for the Wine and Beverage Industry:
Understanding sales in the wine and beverage industry is significant. The industry can be very unpredictable with sales affected by many factors, such as changing consumer preferences, seasonal variations, and the impact of festivals and events. For ABC Distributors, having accurate sales forecasting and inventory management is not just about staying competitive—it’s about survival.
By connecting Sage 100 with advanced analytics, ABC Distributors was able to identify patterns, anticipate changes in consumer preferences, and maintain optimal stock levels for high-demand products. This proactive approach helped them stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on opportunities to enhance their profits.
Benefits:
Improved Inventory Management: The integration and predictive analytics capabilities enabled ABC Distributors to understand their inventory run rate better, leading to more efficient inventory management practices.
Enhanced Sales Forecasting: By leveraging the advanced analytics capabilities of SQL Server, ABC Distributors can now forecast sales more accurately, helping them optimize their stock levels and reduce inventory costs.
Identification of Key Influencers: The integrated solution helps ABC Distributors identify key influencers impacting their sales and inventory, enabling them to make informed decisions and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Streamlined Reporting Process: The integration of Sage 100 with SQL Server has streamlined ABC Distributors’ reporting process, making it easier to access and analyze data for informed decision-making.
Results:
ABC Distributors has significantly enhanced their inventory management and sales forecasting processes by integrating Sage 100 with advanced analytics capabilities. The solution has empowered them to make data-driven decisions, leading to improved efficiency and business performance.
Technology Adoption Trends in the Industry:
The wine and beverage industry increasingly embraces technology to drive efficiency and competitiveness. Businesses are turning to ERP systems to streamline operations, improve inventory management, and enhance customer service. Advanced analytics tools are used to gain deeper insights into consumer preferences, optimize pricing strategies, and accurately forecast demand. Data integration solutions are also becoming more prevalent, enabling businesses to centralize their data and improve collaboration across departments.
Connect with us to learn more about building analytics with data from Sage 100 for your business.
Integrating Apps with Garmin Watch
Concerning fitness and health tracking, integrating wearables with web applications has become crucial for providing users with a comprehensive experience. This case study explores integrating a popular fitness wearable, the Garmin Watch, with an existing web application. The focus is on enabling users to sync their Garmin wearable with a sports analytics app to retrieve and display activity data.
About the Client:
A leading sports analytics platform focused on Ice Hockey, helps users track and analyze their fitness activities. With a strong user community, Sports Central aims to boost user satisfaction by adding a new feature: ‘Integration with Garmin.’ Users would need to download the Garmin Connect app, syncing their wearables regularly with the Sports Central app. Using push notifications, the web app effortlessly fetches data, offering a smooth experience for ice hockey enthusiasts and enhancing their fitness tracking capabilities.
Problem Statement:
The existing web application needed to have the capability to sync with Garmin Watches, limiting users who rely on these wearables for tracking their fitness activities. To address this, the client sought a solution to integrate Garmin Watches into the web application, allowing users to access and analyze their activity data effortlessly.
Solution Suggested:
To address the integration challenge, the proposed solution involved the following key steps:
Obtain consumer key and secret from Garmin by leveraging the Garmin developer account.
Develop a user-friendly interface within the web application to facilitate the connection between the user’s Garmin Connect account and the sports analytics app.
Implement OAuth for secure authentication, utilizing a series of API calls to retrieve request tokens, authorization tokens, and access tokens.
Utilize push notifications to regularly retrieve activity data from the user’s Garmin wearable and display it within the web application.
Implement robust security measures, including signing requests to access Garmin API, ensuring data integrity and user privacy.
Pain Point
Before Integration
After Integration
Limited Data Access
Users were unable to access Garmin Watch activity data within the web application.
The integration resolved this limitation, allowing users to retrieve and analyze their Garmin Watch data seamlessly within the sports analytics app
User Engagement Enhancement
The absence of Garmin Watch integration might have eventually led to decreased user engagement
With the new feature, users can actively engage with the web application by syncing and analyzing their Garmin Watch data, potentially increasing overall user engagement.
Comprehensive Fitness Tracking
Users needed to use multiple platforms or apps to gather a complete overview of their fitness activities.
The integration provides a unified platform within the web application, streamlining the process of tracking and analyzing fitness activities with Garmin Watches.
Users can download the Garmin Connect app on their devices and regularly synchronize their Garmin wearables with the sports analytics app. The web application will retrieve data using push notifications, facilitating real-time integration between the two platforms.
CI Global: Smart Integration for Enhanced User Engagement
The successful integration of Garmin Watches with the existing web application not only addresses the limitations of the current platform but also opens up new opportunities for user engagement and satisfaction. By seamlessly connecting the two platforms, CI Global assisted the customer in staying poised to offer a more comprehensive and feature-rich experience to its user base, ensuring their sports analytics application’s continued success and relevance in the competitive market. Secure OAuth authentication and a well-defined integration approach ensured a smooth and reliable connection between the web application and Garmin wearables.
Applying Logistics Regression to Find Key Influencers in Inventory Run Rate
Logistic Regression assists industries like wine and beverage in determining the factors that impact the speed of inventory movement. This case study discusses the methodology to discern key influencers affecting the wine and beverage category’s inventory run rate.
Client Background
The client, a leading supplier, faced the challenge of enhancing efficiency within the distributor-retailer network. The primary objective was to increase the inventory run rate and demand for products while navigating multiple distributor warehouses. The challenge lay in discerning the pivotal factors influencing inventory run rate.
Client’s Objectives
The client sought a comprehensive understanding of the intricate facets affecting inventory run rates. They sought to mitigate stagnant inventory by emphasizing high-performing items and to refine stocking strategies across diverse locations. By leveraging this detailed analysis, they aimed to optimize inventory turnover, reduce overstocking, identify factors to improve demand forecasting accuracy , and customize strategies to bolster overall effectiveness within the competitive wine and beverage domain.
Solution Provided
CI Global leveraged its expertise in analytics & logistics and utilized logistic regression techniques to analyze the wine and beverage sales and logistics domain. Using ML.NET, (a framework for building machine learning models) the team crafted a strategic approach to uncover the key influencers impacting inventory run rates.
Methodology
The methodology used for the solution involves a strategic application of logistic regression for:
Identifying Influential Factors: CI Global collaborated closely with the client to outline the factors influencing inventory run rates. This involved analysis of brands, product categories, bottle sizes, and geographic locations.
Domain-Centric Analysis: Recognizing the nuances of the wine and beverage industry, CI Global fine-tuned the regression models, considering varietals’ impact on warehouse space and the geographic segments (e.g., state-wise sales dynamics).
AI-Driven Insights: Harnessing the power of ML.NET, CI Global automated the formulation of regression models, efficiently processing vast datasets to identify critical influencers affecting inventory run rates.
Key Factors Analyzed
Brand and Item: CI Global scrutinized the impact of diverse brands and specific items on inventory run rates. This involved assessing the movement pace of distinct brands and individual items within warehouse stocks.
Varietal and Bottle Size: Examining varietal variations (e.g., red, white) and bottle sizes provided invaluable insights into their influence on warehouse movement. CI Global’s analysis elucidated how these variations affected turnover rates, which helps in inventory management.
Warehouse Location: CI Global meticulously evaluated the role of geographic locations in influencing inventory turnover and sales patterns. This scrutiny allowed the client to discern regional preferences and demand variations, optimizing inventory distribution across diverse locations.
Insights and Impact
Optimized Inventory Management:
CI Global’s logistic regression analysis precisely identified slow-moving inventory items, enabling the client to streamline warehouse stocks. This strategic insight allowed them to prioritize high-performing items, reducing overstocking and creating space for faster-moving, high-profit products. By optimizing stock levels, the client improved warehouse efficiency and maximized product potential.
Strategic Decision-Making:
Leveraging insights from regression models, the client made informed, data-driven decisions on product categories, brands, and geographic segments. This strategic approach empowered them to tailor strategies and inventory management, especially during peak seasons, optimizing stock allocation and enhancing product performance in the market. The ability to target specific segments and categories led to more effective marketing initiatives and resource allocation, ultimately driving increased revenue.
Understanding Product Demand:
The client understood the demand for certain products by pinpointing influential factors impacting inventory run rates. This involved timely restocking of high-demand products and minimizing slow-moving inventory, directly impacting profitability. The ability to swiftly adapt inventory levels to demand fluctuations optimized the stocking of certain products, resulting in increased revenue and improved bottom-line performance.
CI Global – Analytics Precision for Efficient Inventory
Applying logistic regression in the wine and beverage industry unlocks profound insights into the factors influencing inventory run rate. The case study illustrates how strategic analysis of brand, item, varietal, bottle size, and geographic location aids in identifying key influencers and driving informed decision-making to meet product demand and operational efficiency.
For personalized analytics solutions to propel your business forward in the competitive market, be it retail, healthcare, entertainment, etc, connect with CI Global today and unlock the potential within your domain.
Automating Creation of ACH Reports by POS Systems
In the franchise business, Royalty/ACH reports are essential to ensure smooth financial operations. However, manually generating ACH reports can be daunting and tedious, especially when there are a large number of stores. In this case study, we will show you how CI Global helped a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) automate the creation of ACH reports by integrating a cloud-based POS system. We will also highlight the solution’s benefits, the challenges it addressed, and how it improved the ACH report submission process’s efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
The Customer
The customer is in the QSR industry with 20+ stores across multiple locations spread across multiple states. Each store has a point-of-sale (POS) system that records the sales transactions and generates reports. A crucial aspect of their financial obligations involves submitting a weekly Automated Clearing House (ACH) report to the corporate office. This mandatory report is essential for franchise royalty compliance. The ACH report involves calculation of royalty for each store by including not only the sales but the marketing and operational cost also. The parameters are set by the corporate office and vary from store to store.
What are ACH Reports and Why are they Important for Franchise Businesses?
ACH reports play a pivotal role in franchise business operations. These royalty reports outline the fees owed by franchisees to the franchisor for utilizing the brand, system, and support provided.
Key points:
Calculation basis: ACH royalty reports are derived from the franchise’s sales data, factoring in the percentage-based charges for royalty, operational cost, and marketing fees determined by the franchisor.
Financial obligations: A crucial tool for both franchisees and franchisors, ACH franchise reports ensure the accuracy of franchise payments.
Performance monitoring: Beyond financial transactions, ACH franchise reports contribute to monitoring and evaluating the overall performance of the franchise business.
Challenges Faced by the Customer
These are some of the challenges that were faced by the customer.
Downloading the sales report from the POS system
The customer had to log in to the POS system of each store and download the sales report for the desired period. This process was tedious and time-consuming, as the customer had to repeat the same steps for 20+ stores. They also needed to securely store and organize the downloaded royalty reports, necessitating extra effort and space management.
Applying the franchise cost formula to each sales report
The customer had to apply the franchise cost formula to each sales report, which involved calculating the royalty, operational cost, and marketing fee based on a percentage of sales. They had to manually enter each store’s sales data and percentage values, which was prone to errors and inconsistencies. They also had to ensure the franchise cost formula was updated and accurate.
Consolidating the ACH report for all 23 stores
The customer had to consolidate the ACH report for all 23 stores, which involved adding up the franchise cost for each store and creating a summary report. The customer had to format and present the report clearly and professionally. The manual process took about three days to complete every week, posing a notable drain on resources and productivity.
Solution Provided by CI Global
CI Global implemented a transformative solution by integrating Linga POS, a cloud-based Point of Sale system with RubiCube, to automate ACH report generation for the client. Linga POS is a comprehensive POS system that provides features such as inventory management, loyalty programs, online ordering, and analytics. Microsoft Fabric’s Data Lakehouse, a platform combining the best of data warehouses and data lakes was used to provide reliable and scalable data storage and processing
The devised solution capitalized on the synergies of Linga POS and RubiCube to automate ACH report generation. The solution involved the following steps:
A customized ACH report template was crafted in RubiCube, encompassing the franchise cost formula and parameters specific to each store as set by the corporate office.
RubiCube was empowered to automatically calculate the ACH report for each store based on sales data. The aggregation of these royalty reports for all 20+ stores was seamlessly handled by integrating multiple POS systems.
Results and Benefits
The solution provided by CI Global resulted in several benefits for the client, such as:
Time and effort saving
The solution eliminated the need to manually download and process the sales reports, which saved much time and effort. The client estimated that the solution reduced the time required to generate the ACH report from three days to a few minutes, significantly improving productivity and performance. The reduced efforts also increased profits as the automation saved almost a week of effort in resources every month.
Increased accuracy
The solution ensured the accuracy and consistency of the ACH report, which reduced the risk of manual errors. It also verified that the ACH report was consistent with the sales data and the franchise cost formula, avoiding discrepancies. The solution increased the quality and reliability of the royalty report, which enhanced its reputation and credibility.
Meeting standards and visibility
The report fulfilled the statutory obligations that required the client to pay a certain percentage of their sales to the corporate office as franchise fees. It also gave the client a clear and detailed insight into how each store and the entire chain performed regarding sales, revenue, and profitability. The report helped the client to monitor and evaluate their business operations and customer satisfaction.
CI Global – Empowering Projects of Future
The solution reduced the manual effort, increased the accuracy, enhanced the visibility, and improved the compliance of the franchise payments. The client was satisfied with the solution and appreciated the value of the royalty reports delivered. CI Global’s expertise and professionalism are evident in this case study. If you want to learn more about our services or how we can help you achieve your goals for your Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) or retail hubs, visit our website and get in touch with us today.
Building MVP for Sports Team Management
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the agile methodology, combined with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) concept and a dynamic product backlog, has become the gold standard for product development. Agile’s iterative and customer-centric approach allows companies to respond swiftly to changing market needs, while the MVP and backlog framework ensures efficient prioritization and continuous improvement.
Let’s delve deeper into the case study on how this strategic combination was implemented for a customer.
The Customer
Our customer, a youth sports management company founded by passionate ice hockey enthusiasts, aimed to streamline team league and match management. The customer sought an application to simplify scheduling, player coordination, and game tracking. This case study explores how we at CI Global understood their vision, leading to the creation of an efficient and user-friendly sports management application.
What Was The Customer’s Requirement?
The customer sought a comprehensive solution comprising two key components serving registered and non-registered stakeholders, ultimately enhancing the management of sports events.
With featured user-friendly functionalities, including sign-up and sign-in.
The ability to sync with the data provided by the arena software
Primarily targeted registered users, coaches, parents, and team owners.
Requirement Two: Arena Software Requirement:
An arena software solution was sought.
It was intended to oversee various aspects of sports events.
These included scoreboard management and player positioning.
Non-registered users could access a critical timekeeper application.
What Were The Overall Challenges Faced?
Customer’s Non-Technical Background:
The customer’s limited technical expertise posed an initial challenge. Addressing their inherently technical sports management needs necessitates clear communication and translating complex concepts into user-friendly terms.
Scalability For Future Growth:
To ensure the MVP’s architecture is functional and ready for future growth, meticulous planning and precise execution were essential. Neglecting scalability in the initial design would lead to costly and time-consuming rework.
Re-Prioritizing Features for MVP:
Throughout the project, the customer continuously uncovered and recognized additional requirements beyond the initial scope, posing a challenge for aligning expectations and project planning. This shift in priorities within the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) required a recalibration of sprint planning.
MVP Development Process
CI Global planned the MVP development process by embracing the agile methodology, with a continuously evolving product backlog, allowing seamless adaptation to changing requirements and priorities. The designated product owner controlled the backlog, strategically prioritizing features in alignment with project goals and expectations.
To ensure the seamless execution of this comprehensive strategy, the project manager/scrum master played a pivotal role in setting up the sprint planning sprint execution while facilitating effective communication within the development team. Scrum master’s expertise was essential in maintaining the project’s dynamic nature and customer-centric approach. The planning extended across multiple quarters. A well-defined roadmap, exemplified by dividing the project into 12 sprints, was created as per the customer’s prioritized requirements.
Why Was Agile The Way To Go?
Agile was chosen as the way forward due to its flexible and iterative project management approach that promotes adaptability, regular collaboration with the customer, and incremental development, allowing teams to respond effectively to changing requirements.
Here is why agile methodology proved effective for this project over waterfall methodology:
Agile
Aspect
Waterfall
Agile offers flexibility to adapt to changes.
Flexibility
Waterfall follows a rigid structure, making changes challenging once the project begins.
Agile emphasizes iterative progress, allowing stakeholders to review work regularly.
Iterative Progress
Waterfall proceeds in linear phases with no room for intermediate validation.
Agile promotes continuous customer involvement, creating the product aligns better with customer expectations.
Customer Collaboration
Waterfall typically involves minimal customer interaction until project completion.
Agile adapts to evolving requirements, ensuring the project remains relevant.
Adaptability
Waterfall’s fixed scope can lead to a product that may not meet current market needs if requirements change during development.
Results and Benefits
CI Global successfully alleviated the following challenges for the customer by implementing agile methodology and best practices:
Challenge 1:
Understanding Customer Requirements From The Eyes of Sports Coach:
CI Global excelled in bridging the gap between customer needs fostering effective communication between the development team and stakeholders. We meticulously assessed the feasibility and priority of the customer’s requirements.
Benefits:
Enhanced collaboration and trust between CI Global and the customer.
Improved clarity in project goals and requirements, reducing misunderstandings.
Customer-centric MVP with features aligned closely with the founder’s vision.
Challenge 2:
Scalability For Future Growth:
Successfully integrating scalability into the MVP’s architecture involved careful planning during the initial design phase. The scrum master ensured that the architecture could accommodate future growth by implementing flexible, modular components and optimizing system resources for efficient scaling as needed. This foresight minimized the risk of costly redesign and reengineering, assuring the customer of a cost-effective and agile solution.
Benefits:
Eliminated the necessity for expensive rework and late-stage adjustments.
Facilitated smooth integration of future expansions and enhancements.
Satisfied immediate requirements while positioning the customer for sustained success.
Challenge 3:
Prioritizing Requirements Within The MVP, Leading To Adjustments In Sprint Planning:
The customer identified additional requirements as the project progressed, prompting CI Global to adapt sprint planning. The scrum master analyzed available resources, engaged in discussions with the customer, and prioritized the backlog items for the next sprint to ensure timely accommodation. This adjustment prioritized incorporating these evolving requirements, particularly emphasizing compliance within the MVP.
Benefits:
Minimum Viable Product flexible to the customer’s growing needs.
Customer satisfaction and trust in CI Global’s ability to prioritize critical aspects of the project.
CI Global – Excellence Through Innovation
By adopting the agile methodology, maintaining a dynamic product backlog, and adapting to changing requirements, CI Global delivered an effective MVP, meeting expectations. This approach addressed the customer’s evolving needs while keeping the development process within budget.
CI Global’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions shines through in this case study. If you’re interested in similar services or exploring how we can elevate your projects, visit our website and contact us today.
