Software AG Case Studies Fortis modernizes application at 1/10th the cost of replacement

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	Fortis modernizes application at 1/10th the cost of replacement Software AG

Fortis modernizes application at 1/10th the cost of replacement

Software AG

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Applicable Industries	Utilities
Applicable Functions	Business Operation
Use Cases	Process Control & Optimization Remote Asset Management
Services	Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services Software Design & Engineering Services
Challenge	FortisBC, a fully integrated electric utility in southeastern British Columbia, was facing challenges with its decade-old customer information system. The system, which was used daily by customer service, was out of warranty and needed a language, interface, and database update. The system had proven functionality worth preserving, but replacing it could have cost tens of millions of dollars. The company wanted to modernize the system at a fraction of the cost of replacing it. Other goals included adding a Web front-end, creating a single sign-on environment, improving security and eliminating manual password changes, assuring easy mobile and remote access, building a platform for a next generation of business services, and improving the ability to deliver more self-services to the customer. Read More
About Customer	FortisBC Inc. is a fully integrated electric utility in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The company serves approximately 120,000 customers and is part of the Fortis group of companies, which includes six other electric utilities and one gas utility in Canada. FortisBC is committed to energizing British Columbia and is dedicated to the future, ensuring that its business-critical systems are ready to support new business initiatives, from automated metering to B2B integration. Read More
Solution	To modernize the application, FortisBC collaborated with Software AG Global Consulting Services and Techlogix, a global consulting and IT services company. The consultants proposed a modernization solution that used webMethods EntireX to replace the outdated middleware and to create Web services. webMethods CAF was used to recreate 155 Smalltalk screens “like-for-like.” Software AG partner Techlogix provided offshore development, lowering project costs by 30 percent. The modernization, based on webMethods technology, has “reenergized” the application, making it more reliable, easier to support, more secure and accessible to mobile users. For the first time in a long time, IT has a system it can more easily enhance—for example, by streamlining processes—to deliver greater value to the business. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

Utilities

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Process Control & Optimization

Remote Asset Management

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

Challenge

FortisBC, a fully integrated electric utility in southeastern British Columbia, was facing challenges with its decade-old customer information system. The system, which was used daily by customer service, was out of warranty and needed a language, interface, and database update. The system had proven functionality worth preserving, but replacing it could have cost tens of millions of dollars. The company wanted to modernize the system at a fraction of the cost of replacing it. Other goals included adding a Web front-end, creating a single sign-on environment, improving security and eliminating manual password changes, assuring easy mobile and remote access, building a platform for a next generation of business services, and improving the ability to deliver more self-services to the customer.

About Customer

FortisBC Inc. is a fully integrated electric utility in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The company serves approximately 120,000 customers and is part of the Fortis group of companies, which includes six other electric utilities and one gas utility in Canada. FortisBC is committed to energizing British Columbia and is dedicated to the future, ensuring that its business-critical systems are ready to support new business initiatives, from automated metering to B2B integration.

Solution

To modernize the application, FortisBC collaborated with Software AG Global Consulting Services and Techlogix, a global consulting and IT services company. The consultants proposed a modernization solution that used webMethods EntireX to replace the outdated middleware and to create Web services. webMethods CAF was used to recreate 155 Smalltalk screens “like-for-like.” Software AG partner Techlogix provided offshore development, lowering project costs by 30 percent. The modernization, based on webMethods technology, has “reenergized” the application, making it more reliable, easier to support, more secure and accessible to mobile users. For the first time in a long time, IT has a system it can more easily enhance—for example, by streamlining processes—to deliver greater value to the business.

Impact #1	New Web front-end is easy to develop, deploy and use
Impact #2	System enhancements can be rolled out in days
Impact #3	Greatly improved user experience for customer service representatives

Impact #1

New Web front-end is easy to develop, deploy and use

Impact #2

System enhancements can be rolled out in days

Impact #3

Greatly improved user experience for customer service representatives

Benefit #1	Development costs reduced by 30 percent by using offshore resources
Benefit #2	Millions of dollars saved by avoiding a system replacement
Benefit #3	ROI achieved in three years or faster

Benefit #1

Development costs reduced by 30 percent by using offshore resources

Benefit #2

Millions of dollars saved by avoiding a system replacement

Benefit #3

ROI achieved in three years or faster

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Overview

Fortis modernizes application at 1/10th the cost of replacement

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit