Digital Transformation of Supply Chain Management

Client: Wanko is a leading logistics company providing a comprehensive, system-based integrated solution for logistics control and fleet forwarding. Their platform includes features for warehouse management, route planning, and telematics, enabling end-to-end planning, control, and monitoring of the entire logistics process.

Challenge: Wanko recognized the need to modernize their decades-old legacy software to remain competitive and meet the growing demands of the logistics industry. The company aimed to upgrade its core product to achieve greater flexibility, scalability, and connectivity. Wanko partnered with Strategic Systems International (SSI) to overhaul the system architecture, incorporate advanced features, and implement a customized Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) model for the back-end. Additionally, they needed to improve front-end connectivity and develop highly customizable GUI controls to complement the new ORM system.

Solution: SSI assembled a dedicated team of architects, business analysts, and support specialists to tackle Wanko’s modernization challenge. The team’s approach included the following key solutions:

• Custom GUI Controls: SSI developed complex, highly customizable controls that were not readily available in standard GUI libraries. These included a Relationship Designer, Tab Panel, Combo Box, Gantt charts, and Consumption Charts, all optimized for high performance and flexibility.
• Web-based Platform Architecture: The team introduced a new web-based platform that significantly improved the overall stability and scalability of the system while adding valuable new features.
• Back-end Improvements: The system architecture was enhanced with a completely customized ORM model and robust back-end changes, including new transaction handling, SQL parameter management, and a cascade delete system. These improvements provided greater control over data integrity and operational efficiency.
• Git Integration & Branching: New repositories and branching systems were established on Git to streamline version control and improve collaboration among development teams.
• Memory Leak Prevention: The team identified potential memory leaks and implemented strategies to avoid them. Additionally, features like LINQ and dynamic project loading were incorporated, improving the platform’s overall performance and ease of development.

Result:
The successful modernization of Wanko’s platform has received positive feedback from both existing and new customers. Demonstrations of the upgraded system have highlighted its enhanced stability, scalability, and innovative new features, positioning Wanko for continued success and growth in the competitive logistics industry.