Case Studies

Migration of windows based solution to VB.net from legacy code using Visual Studio 2005

• Client is the leading supplier of Internet browser and webserver based life science desktop software, enterprise solutions, chemical databases and consulting services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.
• Client’s partnerships with recognized scientific information providers make a rich array of databases and sources available to customers. Information publishers include Merck, Wolters Kluwer, Organic Syntheses, Derwent and ISI (Thomson), and InfoChem (Springer Verlag/Candover & Cinven).

Client decided to redesign the systems that supported two of its mission-critical business processes. This decision stemmed from its 2001-2006 IT investment plan, which clearly ranked this overhaul as a top priority. In other words, this major project was considered highly strategic for the agency.

The client had very specific business goals for the redesign of these systems:

• Elimination of any risks associated with the obsolete technology of these systems
• Modernization of its business practices and processes by leveraging new technology
• Simpler implementation of regulatory and administrative streamlining measures
• Improvements in customer service
• Improvements in operational process efficiency by providing its staff with effective tools that are suited to the task at hand

• Q3 set up a dedicated team consisting of a team lead and software developers with internal program managers to monitor and guide the client-vendor partnership. The team decided using Microsoft® Visual Studio® .NET 2005 as the consolidated tool set, created a core set of components that supply the support for the whole architecture. Also, they developed an application that facilitates automated management of database connection and performance issues.
• Semi-detailed specifications were provided by the client management and Q3’s system architects worked extensively with peers both at Q3 and at client site for building a state of the art data base structure and detailed functional and design specifications which could improve user friendliness by providing list of database links which store information on user search criteria, eliminating the need to specify a particular database for search each time.
• Complete operational transparency was maintained by keeping communication of status updates and progress as a regular process. People at client would hear from the team lead, the program manager and the developers on a regular basis, with more detailed weekly status reports indicating progress against milestones.
• Automated testing tools like Test Advantage were used by experienced QA professionals to ensure bug free, application milestones delivery within deadlines.
• The overall business domain encompasses thousands of quite complex business rules. The dynamic context in which theses rules are executed inevitably makes the architecture highly configurable. Hence, not only must rigorous performance standards be maintained, but the systems also need to be very flexible to ensure that annual integration and re-factoring of business needs is straightforward.

• Shorter time to market for the client products by exploiting the benefits of a fully functional Offshore Development Center (ODC) in India, particularly the development process being continuous due to different time zones.
• Extension of client’s development teams globally by taking advantage of Q3’s highly flexible Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology.
• Business model and culture at Q3 entails ownership of the product development process. It is not only the team members who are dedicated to a client; it is the whole company management which works in complete tandem and efficiency to ensure that the relationship is seamless and successful.
• Migration to newer technology was achieved in a very cost effective solution on account of being able to cut down resource costs from average $90,000 to approximately $30,000 per resource.