Strategy
to reuse
existing
IT investments
cuts costs
and improves
dealer performance.
Background
Beesd Automotive &
Automatisering BV, provides a Car Dealer Management
System to more than 100 outlets in the Netherlands.
BeesdA2 was recently awarded best DMS supplier
in the Netherlands.
Challenge
Approximately
100 Volvo
dealers,
running
the Volvo
DAS applications,
had used
a combination
of legacy
S/36 and
AS/400
applications
running
on 50 AS/400’s
to support
established
business
processes.
Volvo evaluated replacement options and found
the alternatives all required extensive modification
to meet the evolving needs of their dealers. Volvo
decided the best solution was to reuse the existing
systems that supported the proven dealer business
processes. The evaluation concluded that a modernisation
strategy presented the least risk and lowest cost
and could deliver a modern solution that the dealers
could continue to rely on for the foreseeable
future
Solution
The
steps involved
in the upgrade
process were:
first to
convert and
upgrade the
S/36 code
to native
mode and
ILE, followed
by refacing
the green
screens and
integrating
the business
systems
with external
applications
such as Microsoft
Office. Finally,
the rejuvenated
application
would be
relaunched
as IDAS!
This approach
resulted
in extending
the functionality
of the original
applications
and importantly,
allowed Volvo
to be more
readily able
to meet any
subsequent
development
needs that
might arise
from their
dealer channel
in the future.
The TARGET/400
tool automated
the conversion
of database
and business
logic from
its original
S/36 format
to the native
iSeries format.
Around 300
database
files and
over 500
programs
were converted
to complete
the first
phase of
the project.
Benefits
looksoftware’s
modernisation
tools were
selected
for webfacing
and application
integration.
The dynamic
rules-based
architecture
generated
customised,
web-based
smart client
UIs for the
400 screens,
with no changes
to the underlying
code.
Additional
functionality
provided
a platform
for long
term enhancements
and included
support for
web services,
direct database
integration
and when
required,
support for
thin clients
and wireless
devices.
The browser-based
UI included
simpler navigation
and a unified
interface.
For example,
related screens
were combined
together
on tabs providing
instant access
to key information
without the
need for
function
keys and
codes.
The rules-based
architecture
allowed a
consistent
look and
feel to be
generated
for both
S/36 and
AS/400 screens.
The dealers
rely on Microsoft
Office applications
including
Word and
Excel, so
providing
transparent
integration
between the
core DAS
application
with the
desktop was
important.
The dealers
are now able
to generate
and send
MS Word proposals
from within
the DAS application.
The application was also extended to use web
services for postal code validation, eliminating
the need for Volvo to maintain its own postal
code database. A planned enhancement is to generate
SMS messages from the IDAS application directly
to the customers to notify them that their car
is ready!
Tjeu Bollen,
IT Manager
for Dealer
Systems said,
"The
enhanced
dealer applications
have improved
our dealers’ service
levels. The
new IDAS
platform
supports
web services
and easy
integration
and extension
with other
desktop and
server applications
- we have
extended
the useful
life of these
applications
by at least
5 years.
Importantly,
this reuse
strategy
has enabled
our dealers
to continue
to benefit
from the
business
processes
that have
evolved with
their input.
Changing
our processes
to fit a
particular
package would
have eliminated
or reduced
this competitive
advantage."
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