Case Study for Application Developer and Business Analyst

Case Study for Business Application Development

This case study summarizes the business analysis and refactoring of line of business processes and systems for a customer.

The Customer and The Challenge

Fresno Truck Wash (FTW) is a progressive, quality focused business that has thrived since 1996. Compliance with regulations and safety rules are an integral part of the trucking services industry and they only add to the challenge of maintaining profitable operations at FTW.

FTW had recently been at a stage where process improvement and cost reductions were stifled by a dated, completely paper based office management system.

While simplicity had served FTW well over the years, day to day operations by 2008 were painful and unnecessarily costly due to manual procedures and paperwork. Sometimes critical information was even recorded on Post-It ™ notes stuck to computer monitors.

Something had to change.

The Proposal

Enter Cogeian Systems. We proposed a web-based, internal business management application for FTW that would eliminate the need for handling paper and which would free staff members to serve their customers better and to create more profit.

FTW trusted our recommendation, so we proceeded.

The Solution

Cogeian consultants spent several days with FTW staff, studying and analyzing the current business processes. We used this knowledge to design a new workflow for FTW, this time based upon the business management application. We designed web-based forms that replace the existing paper forms. We then developed the core part of the solution: a custom-written web based application using ASP.NET and SQL Server 2000.

After extensive testing and QA, we supported FTW's complete and speedy adoption of this new system. We trained employees in the use of the system, we integrated Quickbooks bookkeeping with the management application, and we even integrated the application with a truck scale. We cleaned up the paper mess of the office with an electronic records retention plan to eliminate the need to store or mail paper. We gave the owner new ways to create more profit by providing immediate business intelligence. And we tailored the system to comply fully with the regulatory guidelines of the industry.

Results and Benefits

Numbers tell much of the story. Fresno Truck Wash has enjoyed $10,000 per month in savings on labor costs and $1000/month just on postage savings by using email for receipts and invoices.