case study: Energy Services
Energy Services - gas nomination platform for the energy market
Energy Services is a SaaS platform that streamlines natural gas nomination handling. It simplifies message exchange process between customers and relevant system operators and coordinators.
Platform is designed to be user-friendly, giving users a clear overview of their status and the ability to automate processes. If any action is required, tool actively notifies users via email, SMS or other communication channels. Additionally, Energy Services can be integrated with existing systems via a REST-API.
Solution has been developed fully inhouse by our Development Team. Our goal was to help companies to manage and communicate gas flow in an automated, secure and reliable way. Energy Services communicates the right information to dedicated market partners in an appropriate format and through encrypted channels, becoming one of the chains in gas distribution process.
how it started
We were introduced to the project at the initial phase, helping to build the concept, define goals and requirements. We analyzed business processes, discussed technical challenges and opportunities. Once there was a common ground, we gathered a development team capable of delivering reliable prototype.
Our approach was flexible and agile, allowing us to adjust direction, try new ideas. Soon Team grew with experts in fields of UX and process definition, we started designing our own UI. End-user tests, consulting our solution with market experts and strong focus on user's perspective helped us to deliver great and promising prototype.
post MVP
After successful delivery of MVP we moved on to develop next features and establish production ready solution. Team grew with energy market experts, software and database architects. At this point we put more focus on designing and implementing proper architecture, enabling DispoGas to become SAAS product. We introduced cloud environment, deployments and multitenancy on Azure. Platform has been connected with Active Directory and security protocols (AS2 and AS4).
We also had to consider multi-level master data, history records, user accesses, etc. Platform was enhanced with custom dashboard to alert users and provide key information. Our solution had to be exceedingly reliable, to achieve this we introduced profound testing, debugging and monitoring tools, we also focused on cyber security and data protection. DispoGas was successful on the market and soon we could integrate it for first clients.
challenges
Timeline
Energy markets are strictly regulated, run under detailed timeframes and rigorous deadlines. DispoGas had to be delivered before a defined date - it couldn't be postponed under no circumstances. We did carefully plan development, define realistic milestones, monitor closely our progress and frequently catch-up.
Security
Gas distribution is vital to run global markets and our daily life. SaaS platform could become a target of cyber-attacks and misuse of data which can lead to disturbances in gas distribution. We had to secure DispoGas from external threats, internal leaks, consider different roles and access levels. One of the technical challenges was to implement security protocols for time series communication (AS2 and AS4).
Reliability
DispoGas is an important part in the chain of gas distribution process - if it fails, the whole process stops - it must be reliable. We analyzed risks and critical scenarios, went through all testing stages (unit, integration, system, acceptance) and prepared contingency plans. From the perspective of system architecture we put a lot of attention to capabilities and efficiency, but also clients multitenancy. We implemented monitoring and logging. Now we continue to provide support, maintain platform and run system updates to minimize bugs.
scope of work
We took part in this journey at its very beginning. We went through whole software development cycle - starting from concept, followed by designing UX and UI, software and architecture engineering and testing, ending with integration of external protocols and implementation for first customers. Now we continue development of new features, keep our software maintained and provide support whenever needed.
- Ideation & Consulting
- Software development
- Cloud architecture
- Data engineering
- UX & UI Design
technology stack
milestones
about system.
Messaging
DispoGas was built to manage and distribute time series. Nominations view provides core functionalities to do so, here user can send, receive or edit messages, upload & export data, monitor statuses or plan future distributions
Master Data
DispoGas maintains different levels of master data; some information on energy market is common and shared, other is individual. Also, each client has his own set of data, that can be modified in the Tool.
Architecture
Carefully planned architecture was a key to deliver reliable and secure solution. DispoGas is a cloud-based product built on Azure with use of latest standards and security measures.
Automation
Managing and distributing messages is a repeating process, which gives us an opportunity to work on automations, scheduling job upfront, multiplying time periods or patterns.
Timeseries
Solution provides a set of useful tools to make work with time series more pleasant. Users get most valuable information at glance, they can respond to errors immediately, correct values or check details.
Dashboard
Tool provides users with a welcome screen designed to notify them about major events, here current state is visible at glance and in real time.
History
Communication on energy markets can generate a lot of records to maintain. Our solution provides user friendly experience when exploring history records and detailed views.
User Settings
Each user has his own configurable space, allowing to manage account details and - if allowed - company profile. Here users can personalize their UI, turn on dark mode, etc.
Message Definition
Processing time series messages on energy market is complex and requires a lot of configuration. We were able to connect complex backend with friendly frontend, allowing users with configure their messages.
cloud based architecture.
DispoGas is a SaaS platform built on cloud to serve different clients, connect to multiple databases and outside world via appropriate security protocols. Joining various components and databases was a significant challenge, our architecture had to be carefully designed.
We had to consider multitenancy, individual and shared databases, security protocols, monitoring, firewalls, alerting features and many others. Architecture had to be reliant, effective and secure.
Thoughtful user experience and friendly interface are a key to deliver enjoyable software. From the very beginning we put a lot of attention to design and workflow.
Our UX and UI designers worked closely with developers, testers and analysts - we did consider all inputs, suggestions from the outside, best practices, end-user tests. This resulted in pretty UI and easy to understand workflow.
goals.
We shared common goals with our client - that's the way we try to approach all our engagements, to find similar benefits of our cooperation. Our mission was to build a team of experts dedicated to what they do, able to take responsibility and deliver stable solution.
sufficiency
We aimed to build a self-sufficient team, able to take care of full development cycle and to deliver inhouse solution without 3rd party support
Lightning fast
Become technology experts. Organize our work to be most effective, create friendly work culture, build strong relationship with our business partners and customers.
Dependable
Due to strictly regulated timeframes on energy markets, our deadlines were well defined and fixed. Not only regulators set deadlines for us, we also had to deliver stable solution before first client launch.
“We needed technical expertise and no downtime, which is exactly what Hakkie delivered.”
Philipp Sackl- DispoGasnext steps.
DispoGas has been introduced to first customers, but project is still ongoing. We maintain the application and cloud infrastructure, provide support if needed. We also continue development of new features and custom tools.
mobile app
simple custom application designed to alert user about major events and deliver key information at glance
custom and new features
development of new and ad hoc functionalities, also custom features requested by end-users
maintenance
we continue to maintain DispoGas, monitor its stability and provide immediate support
digitalization is not an option, it is the future.
Embrace digital innovation with our top experts and get to the front of change.