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

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:
Steps Involved:
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:
Steps Involved:

Benefits of Test Automation

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:
Cucumber serves as a connector between various teams, including:

Integration with WinApp Driver

Cucumber can be integrated with WinAppDriver to write feature files describing the application’s behaviour in plain language.

Features:

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:

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:

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:

Build

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.

Connect to know more.

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:

Key Factors Analyzed

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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:

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:

Results and Benefits

The solution provided by CI Global resulted in several benefits for the client, such as:

  1. Time and effort saving

    2. 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.

  2. Increased accuracy

    3. 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.

  3. Meeting standards and visibility

    4. 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.

Requirement One: Scheduling Application Requirement:

Requirement Two: Arena Software Requirement:

What Were The Overall Challenges Faced?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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:
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:
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:

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.

Improving Customer Experience In Hotels/Resorts By Analyzing Customer Feedback

Summary

Integrating Property Management Systems (PMS) and sentiment analysis for customer feedback represents a groundbreaking approach that harnesses technology to enhance the hospitality industry’s ability to understand and respond to guest experiences.

Background

The front office in a hotel serves as the nerve center of a hotel’s operations, collecting vast amounts of data on reservations, check-ins, check-outs, and more. Property management systems (PMS) collect vast amounts of data. Sentiment analysis leverages natural language processing and machine learning to decipher the PMS data, such as customer feedback from online reviews, surveys, or direct communication.

This fusion of PMS and sentiment analysis empowers hotels to transform raw data into actionable insights.

Problem statement

The hospitality industry, particularly hotels, faces a pressing challenge: gathering and analyzing customer feedback effectively. While customer input offers invaluable insights into guest experiences and preferences, managing feedback from diverse sources, including online reviews, surveys, and direct interactions, is the real challenge. This data influx presents significant hurdles, such as data collection, organization, and analysis.

Many hospitality establishments struggle with the time-consuming manual process of traditional feedback management, leading to delays in response and missed opportunities to enhance guest satisfaction. Our clients, representing a broad spectrum of hospitality establishments, seek an automated solution to streamline feedback management, allowing personalized and prompt responses, ultimately enhancing guest experiences and fostering loyalty.

Data Collection And Integration Process

Sentiment Analysis Algorithms

In our project, we employed a range of sentiment analysis algorithms to gauge the emotional tone of customer feedback data. Three prominent algorithms were implemented in Python: textBLOB, Vader, and NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit).

Sentiment Analysis Implementation

The implementation of sentiment analysis in our project involved a systematic process to extract valuable insights from customer feedback data.

  1. Data Preprocessing: The first step involved data cleaning and preparation, where noise and irrelevant information were removed from customer feedback data to ensure that the sentiment analysis algorithm worked with high-quality data.
  2. Tokenization: The feedback text was divided into individual words or tokens, making it easier for the sentiment analysis algorithm to process the text.
  3. Sentiment Scoring: Using the selected sentiment analysis algorithm (NLTK in our case), each token or sentence in the feedback was assigned a sentiment score, indicating whether it was negative, neutral, or positive.
  4. Aggregation: Sentiment scores for individual tokens or sentences were aggregated to determine the overall sentiment of the entire feedback. This step provided an overall sentiment classification for the feedback.
  5. Example Categorization: A review containing “The room was clean and comfortable” was categorized as positive, while “The service was slow and disappointing” was classified as negative.
  6. Automation: Automation played a key role in streamlining this process. The sentiment analysis was applied automatically to each feedback item, allowing for swift and consistent feedback categorization.
  7. Response Generation: Once the sentiment was determined, an automated response mechanism generated tailored responses based on the sentiment category, enabling hotels to respond promptly and effectively to guest feedback, whether it was to address concerns or express gratitude for positive experiences.

Industry Benefits

Large hotel chains face many challenges when managing customer feedback efficiently. Collating and analyzing feedback from numerous sources across various locations can be daunting.

This is where the integrated system, combining Property Management Systems (PMS) with sentiment analysis, emerges as a game-changer. Its advantages are manifold, with the ability to provide tailored responses and targeted actions as a crucial benefit. Hotels can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty by swiftly identifying and addressing guest concerns.

The system has the potential to streamline operations, enabling hotels to allocate resources more effectively, make data-driven decisions, and ultimately, deliver exceptional guest experiences consistently.

CI Global – Improving Customer Experience, One Feedback at a Time

Integrating Property Management Systems (PMS) with sentiment analysis represents an advancement in the hospitality industry. Our commitment to helping our clients realize their goal of enhancing customer feedback management and improving guest satisfaction has led to the development of a sophisticated system that empowers hotels to navigate the challenges of data collection and analysis efficiently. With the ability to provide tailored responses and targeted actions, our integrated solution promises to elevate the guest experience and streamline hotel operations.

Unlock the potential for innovation and transformation in your industry with our state-of-the-art offerings. Visit CI Global today and revolutionize your business’s approach to data-driven decision-making.

Microservices Implementation in a Ticket Resolution Platform

What is Microservices Architecture?

Microservices Architecture is a modern way to design software where an application is split into small, separate parts called “services.” Each service handles a specific task or feature, working like building blocks that fit together. Unlike traditional big programs, these services can be developed and updated independently. This setup brings benefits such as faster development, as different teams can work on different services simultaneously. It also makes the application more flexible because each service can use the best tools. If one service fails, the whole application doesn’t break, which increases reliability. This approach is popular because it matches the fast-paced needs of today’s software world, where quick changes and efficient teamwork are key.

Why are Microservices most sought after?

Microservices architecture is gaining traction, and more companies are adopting it due to its innovative way of creating software. Imagine a puzzle where each piece is a separate part of the program – that’s how microservices work. People like it because it helps with making big software projects more manageable. Teams can work on different pieces at the same time, which speeds up development. It also makes the software flexible because each piece can be built using the best tools. If one piece has a problem, the whole software doesn’t break, making it more stable. This approach is like having a toolbox full of tools for different jobs instead of just one tool. In a fast-changing world where technology moves quickly, microservices help teams work better together and create adaptable and reliable software.

How CIG Implemented Microservices for a Project?

infographic

  1. CI Global aimed to enhance efficiency in the electronics company’s CRM software through microservices architecture.
  2. Challenges stemming from a complex monolithic application’s intricacy and agility limitations prompted CI Global to adopt a more modern approach.
  3. The transformation began by meticulously identifying distinct business functions of the electronics company and dismantling them into independent microservices.
  4. Each microservice operated autonomously with its own technology stack, whether for customer management, financial analytics, or reporting.
  5. This architectural shift allowed seamless scalability, enabling targeted resource allocation where needed.
  6. The change expedited development velocity, empowering teams to tackle separate microservices simultaneously.
  7. The outcome was heightened adaptability to market shifts, efficient resource utilization, and improved fault tolerance.
  8. This accomplishment laid the groundwork for future organizational projects, significantly reducing the need for comprehensive regression testing through the ability to build only the relevant changed parts.

Service Identification and Decomposition

During the transition of the legacy CRM solution to a microservices architecture, CI Global undertook a pivotal phase known as service identification and decomposition. In this critical stage, CI Global thoroughly examined the electronics company’s existing monolithic application. The primary goal was to identify discrete business functionalities and components that could be effectively isolated into individual microservices. This breakdown involved the creation of specialized microservices catering to various tasks, including user authentication, order processing, inventory management, and customer data management. Each microservice was crafted to encapsulate a distinct business function, fostering a sense of modularity and self-sufficiency. Adopting this approach streamlined the development process, empowering development teams to concentrate on specific microservices without inadvertently affecting others.

Deployment and Scalability

The adoption of microservices architecture by CI Global extended to the critical domains of deployment and scalability.. Each microservice was encapsulated by harnessing the capabilities of Docker containers, guaranteeing a uniform and dependable deployment experience across diverse environments. This containerized approach streamlined the deployment process and effectively mitigated potential inconsistencies that could arise.

Consequently, this methodology enabled CI Global to allocate resources prudently, a dynamic feature that resulted in optimized performance during heightened demand and efficient resource utilization during more subdued phases. The strategic incorporation of Docker into their framework facilitated a smooth deployment mechanism. This architectural shift rendered their CRM solution highly adaptable, resilient, and well-equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of market dynamics.

CI Global – Empowering Your Future with Agile Microservice

The transformation led by CI Global from a legacy CRM solution to a microservices architecture stands as a remarkable testament to their commitment to innovation and efficiency. Through careful service identification, decomposition, and strategic deployment, CI Global revitalized the electronics company’s CRM system and revolutionized its entire approach to software development. Installing microservices facilitated faster development cycles, enhanced scalability, and improved fault tolerance. This transition empowered CI Global to respond swiftly to market dynamics and customer needs, ultimately delivering a more agile, adaptable, and customer-centric CRM solution. To discover more about CI Global’s transformative services and how they can redefine your technological landscape, we invite you to contact our team today. Embrace the future of software solutions with CI Global.

Building An Automation Test Framework For Windows-Based ERP

In the versatile domain of software development, maintaining the integrity and functionality of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is a paramount concern. However, the task becomes increasingly complex for companies relying on ERPs, facing the constant challenge of testing with frequent product updates and multiple versions. Interestingly, recent statistics reveal that the tide is shifting as companies recognize the transformative power of automation testing. More than 24% of businesses have already embraced automation, automating 50% or more of their test cases, witnessing unprecedented efficiency gains. An additional 33% aspire to automate between 50% to 75% of their test cases, while 21% aim to take automation to even greater heights, covering more than 75% of their test cases.

This case study delves into the world of automation testing as a transformative solution to tackle these challenges head-on. We spotlight a mobile warehouse and manufacturing automation solutions provider leveraging Sage 100 —the backbone of their operations.

Problem Statement: Meeting Regression Testing Challenges With Limited Time

The mobile warehouse and manufacturing solutions provider faced a formidable testing challenge. With each Sage product update or Windows update that rolls out periodically, the need for thorough regression testing became critical to ensure product compliance and functionality. Furthermore, the solutions provider grappled with the burden of testing not just one but 32 different versions of their ERP with limited resources—all within a tight 45-day deadline for the 100+ features they offered. Developed in legacy technologies, there wasn’t any readymade framework available for testing.

The sheer volume of testing required for each update and version posed a significant strain on their testing resources and time. The traditional manual testing approach proved inadequate and time-consuming, making it imperative to seek an innovative solution that would enhance testing efficiency and enable them to meet their demanding testing timelines.

Solution: Custom Proprietary Automation Framework

In response to the arduous testing challenges, our experts introduced a groundbreaking solution—the development of a custom proprietary automation framework using Maestro. This innovative framework was meticulously designed to cater specifically to the complexities of the Windows-based ERP integrated with Sage 100, leveraging the ProvideX technology.

Given Sage 100’s longstanding presence in the industry, the products were deeply entrenched in a legacy technology environment. Our custom proprietary framework proved to be the perfect antidote to address the intricacies and challenges posed by this legacy system. Embracing the capabilities of Maestro and WinDriver, our solution transformed the testing landscape, delivering a robust and scalable approach to tackle their unique Windows-based product testing challenges and keeping up with the regular product updates.

Benefits Of Our Solution

The implementation of the custom proprietary automation framework using Maestro resulted in a series of significant benefits, revolutionizing their testing processes.

A Paradigm Shift In Testing Efficiency

Prior to the implementation of automation testing, the testing process for each of the 32 versions of their similar products was an arduous 7-day endeavor, leaving them with a daunting challenge to complete all testing within a strict 45-day cutoff. The manual testing approach demanded significant time and resources, making it an uphill battle to meet the tight deadline.

With the advent of the custom automation framework, the scenario underwent a remarkable transformation. The testing time for the entire product regression cycle was astonishingly reduced from 7 days to a mere 7 hours. This extraordinary time-saving enabled testing to be completed for all 32 products within the allocated timeframe and achieve resource optimization—reallocating valuable human resources to other vital development activities. Embracing automation paved the way for a new era of efficiency, productivity, and unparalleled success, propelling Scanco to the forefront of its industry.

CI Global – Embrace Automation, Embrace Excellence!

With their custom automation framework powered by Maestro, the customer conquered update challenges, achieving unmatched efficiency and meeting strict testing deadlines. As automation experts, CI Global offers exceptional testing capabilities akin to customer’s success. With a proven track record in optimizing software development lifecycles, CI Global tailors services to your needs. Elevate testing efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance product quality. Take the first step towards transforming your testing process—visit CI Global’s website or contact them today.

Embrace automation’s power for unparalleled success.

Revolutionizing Sales Commission Management: A Case Study of CI Global’s Product Development

Commission management is crucial for incentivizing and rewarding performance. But there are several challenges organizations face in managing commissions. Some common challenges include

One of the leading quick service chains based out of New York with over 23 retail locations was facing the challenge of tracking and managing sales commissions. They reached out to CI Global for a solution for automating their commission payout process. This case study demonstrates how we achieved this by evolving the solution into a software product.

Calculating and controlling sales commissions was a daunting task in front of the quick service chain.

As the requirement analysis was done, the key factors for commission calculation were identified. The following commission aspects presented issues for the business::

Integration to the Sage 300 ERP was critical for this customer as they wanted a solution that would service their commission management workflows end-to-end.
Intensive user testing and market research activities were carried out to pinpoint the problems and difficulties the sales team experienced. The solution was built upon software that was developed after several rounds of discussion with the customer. The focus was on building an automated solution with integrations to accounting software. What started as building a solution for solving the challenges for a single customer turned out to be a potential for the development of a full-fledged product.

CI Global created Commission Manager, a software product to expedite and simplify the commission management process after realizing the need for an all-encompassing solution in the market. Commission Manager improved the commission management workflow by automating multiple commission criteria calculations.Commission Manager needed to be adaptable and scalable while still having the capability to integrate with accounting software to provide an end-to-end commission management experience.

Manual errors were removed with automated data entry through Sage 300 ERP integration. The solution enabled a fair and transparent commission payout process for the sales staff. This increased the team satisfaction score within the organization and enabled the sales staff to perform much better.

Upon implementing Commission Manager, the quick-service chain’s complex and time-consuming commission calculations were more straightforward and accurate.

The quick-service chain’s sales commission management procedure underwent a dramatic shift following its adoption. The introduction of the Commission Manager changed the game by making complex and time-consuming commission calculations more straightforward and accurate.

Commission Manager improved the commission management workflow by:

Manual errors were greatly minimized, and the solution made sure that the sales staff would get fair and transparent commission payments. The quick service chain’s problems were remedied by adopting a Commission Manager, allowing them to concentrate on their primary duties and stimulate sales growth.

The automation and user-configurable capabilities made the commission administration process simple and painless, freeing the sales staff to focus on driving sales. The customer acknowledged the following benefits:

CIG: Identifying problems, building solutions

As organizations grow, manual processes can become increasingly challenging to manage. Building a software product offers numerous advantages and opportunities for organizations. The case study highlights how software products can be built to address specific needs or provide a solution to a customer’s pain point. While building a software product involves investment in time, resources, and expertise, its benefits in terms of customization, competitive advantage, revenue generation, efficiency, and improved customer experience can make it a worthwhile endeavor for many organizations.

With 25+ years of experience in ERP, CI Global has been developing products in integration with ERP. Reach out to us today to get your product development started.