ASP.NET CORE Development

Overview

This case study shares our experience of creating a minimum viable product (MVP) for a company that wanted to shift its commercial activities from offline to online by launching an interactive web app. Find out about the technology stack and methodologies that helped us cope with this laborious project on short notice, and learn how it impacted the client’s bottom line.

About the Client

Our client is a well-established furniture brand whose primary promotional tool was a traditional information website. The platform provided product descriptions, blog articles and contact data for the client’s brick-and-mortar store. Most products were distributed offline, with the online platform serving as a business card for local customers who shopped at the physical store. 

When the company decided to expand its reach to target audiences in other cities and countries, their website had to be transformed from a basic platform to a primary sales channel. They required a customized web app with e-commerce functionality that enabled online shopping, electronic payments, customer control over shipping, notifications on the status and location of purchases, and support via live chat. 

The client turned to Clever Solution for MVP development. Their plan was to evaluate the app’s basic functionality before deciding on its further enhancement. 

The Challenge

Prior to Clever Solution’s involvement, another software development company had worked on the project. They wrote a large portion of the code, but their architecture was not viable and had to be replaced. Given more time, we would have rewritten the code from scratch, but the client required an MVP in 7 weeks. We needed to establish a fast-paced workflow with no delays. We decided to fix the existing infrastructure without rewriting all the code.

Our predecessors made a number of mistakes that triggered the client’s concerns:

• Complex deployment
• Missed deadlines
• Unexpected expenses that exceeded the project budget
• Technical complexity of the app’s infrastructure
• Failure to thoroughly test and document product development

The client expected Clever Solution to provide higher quality software development services. We took on the project with the following objectives:

• Deliver maximum value on short notice
• Keep expenses within the planned budget
• Establish a straightforward workflow and keep the client updated on important steps;
• Refactor the existing architecture to ensure smooth function of all requested features; 
• Deploy the web app automatically, without customer involvement;
• Create a familiar-looking and user-friendly layout and an appealing design to reflect the brand’s identity;
• Thoroughly test all elements to quickly detect and correct mistakes;
• Establish ongoing support and maintenance (back-ups and bug fixing).

Our Toolkit

We used the following technology stack and methodologies:

1. 1. ASP.NET Core 2.2 is an open-source, community-focused modular cross-platform framework for creating web and mobile apps. It is an advanced variation of the ASP.NET platform, which is familiar to most app developers. It is easily testable and has a configuration system designed to work in a cloud. ASP.NET Core integrates client-side and development workflows and provides a unified story for user and application programming interfaces. It allows JavaScript and C# to be combined in the browser, and enables apps to run on Windows, macOS and Linux.
   2. Angular 6 is a framework for building web apps with JavaScript, TypeScript, and HTML. It provides built-in animation features, HTTP services and the option to use additional customization features. 
   3. MS SQL is a relational web hosting database by Microsoft. We used it to store product descriptions, blog articles, and other content published on the client’s current site, along with user data. MS SQL is the most popular database for Windows servers, with a wide choice of advanced customizable features for businesses.

• Microservices were used to structure the web app as a set of services, assign tasks to different teams, and organize their simultaneous work to deliver an MVP on short notice. We tested and deployed each service as it became ready, saving time by eliminating the need for later testing. 

• Docker was used to address the client’s concerns about complex deployment. Docker creates containers on top of an operating app, automates deployment on the container, and uses a copy-on-write union file system for backend storage.

• Agile project management fosters close interaction with the customer. Our development team was fully dedicated to the project, providing intermediate results to the client for feedback to ensure the MVP’s compliance with client requirements. 

• Wireframes were used to visualize the client’s layout instructions and select optimal locations for all the functional elements. 

• Automated tests were conducted to speed up the testing process and eliminate human error. 

The Solution

We took the following steps:

1. Performed a code review to detect mistakes that were preventing the infrastructure from running smoothly.
2. Verified the system’s compliance with client specifications. 
3. Analyzed the client’s general requirements and divided them into tasks and subtasks to facilitate workflow. 
4. Presented the client with wireframes developed by our web designers and received approval for their implementation. 
5. Set up automated builds and deployment. 
6. Began coding. The timeframe from the receipt of new requirements to their implementation was reduced from 10 days to 3. 
7. Conducted automated tests and fixed minor bugs. 
8. Created detailed documentation. 

Results/Achievements

Outcomes of the project:

• Thanks to optimized workflow and the use of automated tools, it took us only 7 weeks to release the MVP, with key functionality that met the client’s requirements for international trade. The web app provides good user experience, has a convenient layout and stores information in a large database. 
• We simplified registration at the online store, and  enabled interactive features to capture and analyze user behaviors and display related products based on earlier shopping behaviors. 
• The MVP increased the client’s sales by 20%.
• Three months after the MVP’s release, the number of online customers exceeded the furniture brand’s number of offline customers. 

The commercial success realized from the web application inspired the client to continue working with Clever Solution, to implement additional functionality and provide ongoing support and maintenance services.

This case study demonstrates how introducing enterprise software and automating manual processes can improve the business performance and user engagement on a corporate website, providing better customer service and growing sales. 

About the Client

Our client is a factory that produces and sells suspended ceilings. The company offers its clients an assortment of ready-made models, and also customizes orders to buyers’ specifications for size, shape, texture, accessories, spotlights and paintings. 

At our initial consultation, we learned that when a custom ceiling was ordered, a sales manager would meet with the client to collect product specifications and calculate cost. This approach worked well when the factory had a moderate clientele, but as demand grew, it became increasingly difficult to promptly process all orders. The business would need to either hire more sales managers or automate the order and price calculation processes. 

Noting that competitors were introducing automated solutions into their workflow, the client decided that a technological solution was a better choice in today’s business environment. 

The Challenge

The factory turned to Clever Solution to develop software that would support their daily operations, reduce work hours, improve their website’s user experience and increase sales. 

The following deliverables were identified at the planning stage: 

• The software had to provide a visual mock-up of a ceiling with the selected parameters to online customers
• It had to be able to collect product specifications without involving a sales manager
• The estimated timeframe and cost needed to be calculated
• Rich reports that evaluated profitability had to be provided to the company management 
• The software had to quickly and accurately calculate production costs, employee salaries and factory profits per item, and for different periods of time 
• Customer data had to be retained and stored for analytical purposes and repeat sales 
• The software needed to simplify payments and automate accounting

Our Stack

Creating a comprehensive software solution and implementing it into automated workflow required a strong technology stack. The following technologies and methodologies were used for this project:

• • ASP.NET Core 2.2 is an open-source cross-platform framework for web and mobile app development. It enables work in a cloud, allows for easy testing, integrates client-side and development processes, and unifies a story for user and application programming interfaces. Apps developed with this framework can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • The Angular 6 framework was used to build the user interface. We took advantage of its built-in animation features and HTTP services, and used additional customization features. 
  • MS SQL was used as a database. We implemented it to store user data,  information about the factory’s products, and content published on the website. 
  • We had a large scope of work, so microservices were used to split it into segments. To speed up delivery of the end product, we distributed work among multiple departments who worked simultaneously and independently, each team submitting tasks as they were completed.  

• Docker was used to automate the app’s deployment and management in an environment that supports containerization. A copy-on-write union file system was used for backend storage.

• We stuck to flexible software development that allowed the development teams to change approaches when necessary. We used industry best practices and time-tested methodologies while remaining open to new approaches to speed up development and increase product quality. We carefully analyzed the customer’s requirements to develop optimal workflow. Between development phases, we shared intermediate results, got feedback, and adjusted our strategy as needed. 

• Wireframes were used to visualize customer requirements on a schematic mockup, and to choose locations for website elements. 
• Automated tests were run after each development phase to catch and fix any bugs. 

The Solution

Work on the project proceeded as follows:

1. We interviewed the factory’s administrators, accountants, sales managers, logistics specialists, production workers and other staff who would use the app. We got an idea of the employees’ daily tasks to create software that would simplify their work. Also, we solicited employees’ input on which reports, metrics and indicators they would need to gauge business performance. 
2. We found ways to automate existing business processes without replacing them, so the factory would not need to change its workflow to adapt to upgrades. 
3. We developed technical specifications based on collected requirements.
4. We set up automated builds and deployment. 
5. We wrote the code for the app, and tested it for accuracy and seamless operation. 
6. We fully documented the development process. 
7. We created system support services. 

Results/Achievements

Outcomes of the project:

• Ninety-five percent of the factory’s order placement process, price calculation, evaluation of production costs, analytics, and reporting were automated. 
• The corporate software made the company’s workflow more transparent and manageable.  
• Orders were fulfilled more quickly by eliminating manual processes and improving communication among departments. 
• Customer engagement increased. Website users can now select a ceiling in 60 seconds or less by using an interactive online program that filters product parameters, visualizes the ceiling with the selected texture, color and print, calculates prices, and provides directions for placing and pre-paying orders. 
• Sales managers are no longer required to consult with each client, since most buyers prefer to select a ceiling on the website. 
• After an order is placed and prepaid, a task is created in the electronic production schedule. Employees regularly update the status of tasks so that sales managers can access the database and advise customers on the readiness of their ceilings. 
• Stock keepers and handlers gained better control over the products and inventory available in the warehouse and during the shipping process. 
• User data is utilized in email marketing campaigns. 

We continue to provide support for this project.