Introduction
This case study showcases AIM Consulting’s work with a major retail company that sought to modernize its merchandising organization’s development processes by transitioning from .NET technologies to a microservices architecture on AWS.
The project aimed to streamline operations, reduce manual workloads and enhance overall efficiency. AIM Consulting was brought in to provide the expertise and resources needed to accomplish this transformation.
Case Study Contents:
- Business Challenge: Overcoming Siloed and Labor-Intensive Processes
- Approach: Implementing a Modern Microservices Architecture
- Results: Achieving Seamless Automation and Enhanced Efficiency
What AIM Consulting did:
- Developed microservices on top of an AWS cloud architecture.
- Established a new CI/CD pipeline and automated testing pattern, setting a standard for other teams.
- Facilitated rapid cooperation, achieved stakeholder buy-in, demonstrated added value, and provided ongoing mentorship, training, and support.
- Conducted comprehensive training sessions for other teams on CI/CD, test automation, and microservices.
- Revamped the shopping cart using Vue.js and Vuex and enhanced checkout processes with Riot.js and Spring Boot.
- Enabled multiple fulfillment types in a single order, including selection of ship or pick-up options and pick-up from multiple stores.
Business Challenge: Overcoming Siloed and Labor-Intensive Processes
A major retail company’s merchandising organization faced significant challenges due to siloed development processes that required labor-intensive nightly batch updates and trigger updates of spreadsheets and other tabular data.
The company aimed to transition from .NET technologies to a modern microservices architecture on AWS but lacked the necessary resources and expertise to implement the solution effectively.
Approach: Implementing a Modern Microservices Architecture
AIM Consulting assembled a project team consisting of a Product Owner, Lead Architect, three Software Development Engineers (SDEs), and two Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) to spearhead the transition. The team employed Scrum methodology and a customized DevOps model to achieve the following:
- Microservices Implementation: Developed microservices on top of an AWS cloud architecture.
- CI/CD Pipeline: Established a new CI/CD pipeline and an automated testing pattern, setting a standard for other teams.
- Change Management: Facilitated rapid cooperation, achieved stakeholder buy-in, demonstrated added value, and provided ongoing mentorship, training, and support.
- Training Programs: Conducted comprehensive training sessions for other teams on CI/CD, test automation, and microservices.
Results: Achieving Rapid Transition and Enhanced Efficiency
AIM’s expertise in implementing CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and comprehensive training ensured a seamless transition and set a new standard for the company’s development processes. The solution resulted in:
- Rapid Transition: Successfully transitioned to a modern Java-based microservices architecture in less than six months.
- Efficient Implementation: Reduced the implementation timeline significantly, achieving in six months what would have taken the internal team 1.5 years.
- Automated System: Implemented an event-driven microservices architecture with an automated system that listens for events and moves retail data from its source to the destination without human interaction or lengthy batch processes.
- Fast Deployments: Reduced deployment times significantly from days/weeks to under two hours, enhancing operational efficiency and agility.
By partnering with AIM Consulting, the retail company successfully transitioned from .NET to a modern Java-based microservices architecture on AWS, overcoming significant challenges and achieving impressive efficiency gains.
Modernize your Technology and Improve Efficiencies
If your organization is looking to modernize its technology stack, improve operational efficiency, and achieve rapid implementation, AIM can provide the expertise and resources you need.
Contact us today to learn how we can help transform your business.
