Offshore Outsourcing Helps PDA Development Company Better Meet Its Client’s Needs.
The Client
The Client is a UK-based company that provides a broad portfolio of business and technology solutions enabling clients to improve their business performance. The Client specializes in Resource Development, Application Development and Consultancy.
The Challenge
One of The Client’s clients (further referred to as End Client) is one of the UK's largest handlers of fresh produce that sources over 100 products from more than 40 countries, and also works closely with British growers to offer local produce when in season. While participating in the governmental Food for Schools Program, the End Client was driven by the government agency to deliver electronic proof of delivery (POD). The company used to deliver fruit to schools from its 5 Depots utilizing around 90 drivers, each potentially covering 50 deliveries per day. To make the collection of proof of delivery intuitive for the drivers’ use, End Client needed to have a specific Driver PDA Application. For this purpose it hired The Client.
The Solution
The Client chose to partner with TEAM International to better meet End Client’s business needs.
The Scope of the Project
In initial discussions with TEAM, it was determined that the application for tracking POD will contain three separate parts:
• Management Interface Solution - The application needed to communicate with a back office system and dataset to correctly define the schedule for the delivery of fruit to schools.
This element of the system also needed to account for missed PODs that could be collected the next time the driver returned on location.
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This application maintains constant communication with the PDA application for both provision of data and ensuring “completed” deliveries are processed to the secure website.
• Driver PDA Application – Driver-intuitive application for collecting PODs.
• Secure Website – the secure website whereby Clients are able to log on and check for PODs as well as able to download data for import into their own systems.
The Approach
TEAM International chose a service-oriented architecture as the major project methodology. In addition to that, Agile methodology was utilized in regards to Project Management.
Platform / Technology Used:
NET Framework 2.0 MS SQL 2005
NET Compact
Framework 2.0 Oracle
ASP.NET 2.0 Windows Mobile
C#.Net 2.0 Internet Explorer 6.0/7.0, Firefox 3.0
Dilemmas and Creative Solutions
TEAM’s project team had to work under significant time constraints and with minimum initial requirements from the Client. To meet tight project deadlines, TEAM’s developers had to create and submit PDA application prototypes in a very quick manner, all the while ensuring a high level of quality and commitment. As a result, nearly 80% of functionality shown in prototypes remained unchanged in the actual application development. Due to limited requirements specification from the customer, TEAM’s project team had to be insightful and inventive to deliver a high-quality end product.
For detailed project overview, dilemmas and solutions please read the full case study.
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