Technology Modernization for an HVAC Industry Leader

Client is a US based commercial refrigeration and HVAC service provider with operations spread across 50 states more 450+ customers (which includes retail chains, supermarkets and more). Thoughtline worked collaboratively with client’s existing IT team to design, and upgrade stand alone legacy systems to more integrated business systems.

The Challenge

Legacy Systems

The company was growing aggressively across the USA. Existing legacy system was a road block in their fast-growing business. The existing systems were incapable of handling this sudden growth and the 5-times increase in on-the-field personne

Islands of Information

Key operational areas were not communicating optimally with each other due to limitations in existing systems, resulting in a general lack of data transparency.

Tracking and Monitoring

Outdated approval management in the old system left a huge void in monitoring.

The Solution

Client switched to an efficient solution offered by Thoughtline, which connected Field Executives, Managers, Vendors.

• Every credit purchase made by field executives while on job was tracked and sent for approval to the management, with ability to upload the receipts for each purchase.
• Push notifications were sent to respective users if mismatch in data found and then approved by managers with validation.
• Once the transaction was approved, payment initiated to the Vendor (Financial Institution).
• Off-time approvals were automated with appropriate hierarchical structure.
• Customized forms specific to each customer were built and were made available to field executives via mobile application to be used while servicing equipment at client’s place.

Business Benefits

• Smoother approval processes.
• Data transparency across the organization

Enterprise Dealer Portal

Enhancing collaboration for one of the world’s leading automotive leasing and management companies

BACKSTORY

As part of business operations, our customer has to work collaboratively with various entities. The absence of a centralized application was adversely affecting the day-today operations of our client and their strategic partners who played an important role in the supply chain.

CHALLENGES

The absence of a common platform to collaborate meant that tracking and collecting payments had to depend on discrete information and manual processes. The manual processes also resulted in data disparity which adversely affected finances.

HOW WE SOLVED IT

Working closely with the customer, Thoughtline Technologies developed an enterprise web application built in OutSystems 11 traditional web technology. The application is a portal for Delivering Dealers to access vehicles that are slated for Courtesy Delivery. The Delivering Dealer can input Delivery Dates, Title and Registration, and turn in vehicle information. This also helped to completely eliminate this application eliminates the manual intervention in payment process.

• A single repository of all associated partners was created
• Processes were automated and thus erroneous manual data entry was removed
• Dedicated access to track daily activities was provided
• Real-time information on vehicle status was available
• Eliminated discrepancy in Data
• Transparency in communication
• Faster payment receipts
• Streamlined communications resulted in faster approvals

HOW THE CUSTOMER BENEFITED

Streamlined communications and stronger collaboration resulted in faster and more transparent financial transactions (can we quantify it somehow and put in YoY savings/growth chart, for instance?)

• Bidirectional communication between customer and auto dealer
• Solution eliminated manual procedures, documentation
• Information was made available at customers’ fingertips for better decision making and streamlining day to day operations
• Solution ensured capturing of mandatory data and that the data was accurate

THE TECHNOLOGY

The application was developed using the hybrid Agile methodology. The design is based on a 4-layer architecture and the end user module has 5 web screens and 5 web blocks. A common theme library is used for styling and UX. Consuming REST services in core service layers

VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER

Thoughtline team has helped us to reimagine our application platform in such a way it has made our day-to-day operations simpler, intuitive and definitely more effective. Thanks, team.

Enterprise Resource Planning & Billing System for a Dutch Fleet Rental Company

The client is a leading fleet rental provider based in Netherlands, with over 20 years of experience in the industry, with a fleet of more than 800 vehicles

Traditional workflow

The client relied on a traditional method of data management, using a physical ledger to record and track their vehicles, orders, and billing processes. Orders were manually recorded and processed. Billing was also based on manual generation with complications involving rates, taxes, discounts, and penalties.

The Challenge

The current process was inefficient,time-consuming & error-prone, as it required manual searching and sorting of the forms. This held back the business from scaling up, resulting in lost business opportunities.

The solution

ThoughtLine provided a comprehensive solution for the client’s fleet management needs. Our solution covered the entire process of order placement, vehicle management, availability planning, invoice generation, and billing. Our solution enabled the client to:

• Create an order that will automatically update the fleet availability accordingly.
• Manage their vehicles efficiently through a cloud-based dashboard.
• Plan the availability of the vehicle
• Generate invoices automatically based on the rental rates, taxes, applicable to each order.
• Bill their customers securely and conveniently through an automated mail system

Student portfolio app for a leading group of educational institutions in Netherlands

The client is a renowned education group in the Netherlands, with more than 50 years of experience in the field,specializing in practice-oriented education programs in the areas of cooking, hotel management and hospitality.

Challenge

A digital solution for the students to build their careers and portfolio. Teachers to manage their student’s progress and a solution for the parents to keep track of their child’s progress

Solution

Thoughtline team built an app-based solution for students enabling them to manage their portfolios, network with their peers, and build their careers. Our app offers the following features:

• Portfolio management: Students can create and update their portfolio by adding their achievements, such as academic records, awards, certificates, projects, publications, and extracurricular activities.
• Peer networking: Students can connect and communicate with their fellow students using chat (Microsoft Teams). They can share their portfolio, exchange feedback, collaborate on projects, and support each other in their academic and career goals.
• Career development: Students can find and apply for new internships that match their interests and preferences. They can browse through a variety of internships offered by different companies and organizations. They can also mark like/dislike internships and contact them individually. Additionally, internship companies can search for students based on their portfolio and invite them for interviews or assessments.
• Parental monitoring: Parents can also access and monitor their child’s portfolio using this app. They can view their child’s achievements, progress, and feedback.
• Admin control: Admins can use this app to impersonate students or internship companies and monitor their activities/profiles. They can also manage the app’s settings.