Cross-Platform Data Management and Synchronization App
App to steamline Safety, Compliance, and Field Operations
LaPrairie needed a modern and reliable update to the Safety, Compliance, and Field Operations system for their fleet of cranes. The previous platform was a MS-Access application installed Windows Tablet which connected to a SQL Server instance. It was prone to slow processing, as well as data loss when working in remote areas. The new app needed to be fast, scalable, reliable, and have offline-support for their operators.
creating a progressive web application which could run on any web browser as opposed to being locked into Microsoft tablets. The entire VB codebase was rewritten using .NET Core and the existing SQL Server is in the process of being migrated to an AWS Aurora database which provides secure, scalable, and lightning-fast data retrieval. Xerris also took advantage of AWS AppSync, which allowed operators to enter data while offline in low-service areas and sync with the database when connected. The stack was deployed using a modern CI/CD pipeline using CircleCI and Terraform.
Xerris first met with LaPrairie and identified the key deliverables. Important documents such as JSA's, Field Orders, and Field Documents were designed to be created, edited and uploaded in record time. A user-based authentication model was added to the app so that operators could use their own devices and get work done when they needed to, while remaining secure.
Xerris was able to integrate the new application without change to the existing database, resulting in cost savings for LaPrairie. Offline-first and application-speed improvements were met with enthusiasm from Field staff as forms and documents could be completed fast, while knowing that their work would be safe from network outages.
The result - By taking advantage of cloud-based tools such as AWS AppSync, Aurora, S3, SQS and Lambda functions, Xerris was able to build a modern, fast and reliable solution on top of existing infrastructure.