Case study - Sameday PLC
Brief
Sameday PLC is a cutting-edge same-day courier and logistics firm that required a secure, all-encompassing, industry-leading product. Naturally, after the initial meeting with representatives of Focus Systems detailing the level of skill and accomplishments of Focus Systems, Sameday PLC handed the project to our skilled design and development team.
The initial system needed to handle two aspects, driver routing and job information and the backend management system. The driver software needed to be based on a portable device that could connect, using a secure mechanism, back to a data server and push job information out to the driver in the field as well as relay driver status, positional and job information back to the office. The backend system needed to be a multi-user system that could allow different types of user access to client information, quote for and book jobs as well as invoices and reports.
Sameday PLC were keen to stress the system had to employ the most strict security measures, ensuring that no unencrypted data could be accessed by any third party and that all data be as secure as possible against attack.
The solution
Firstly, Focus Systems developed a multi-threaded .NET compact framework application for Windows Mobile devices that interacted with a popular commercial navigation system. This system allowed drivers to get information about jobs sent directly to their handset and they could update this information in real time. They could also use this system to report their own status, such as ‘On a break’ etc as well as using the GPS information from the device to report position and to derive the driver’s route automatically. This system used a myriad of programming and technical achievements to create a truly remarkable piece of software. It managed to reduce the network load to the absolute minimum, created its own compression scheme for the signature images that again minimised network load and also the complex multi-threaded design approach that made the software stable and secure.
The second phase was to introduce a back-end system that could incorporate mapping functionality, CRM and reporting functions. The system was written as a Web 2.0 project that could be hosted internally to restrict access but open it up later for external clients that required the service, with access always being tightly controlled. The biggest obstacle to overcome was to get mapping controls whilst maintaining security. As no third party web-based mapping applications at the time offered secure connections, it was decided to build a system that could access locally-based software from the web application.
Focus Systems then developed a unique JavaScript wrapper for use with Microsoft ActiveX controls to ensure that both the security and high programming standards could be met.
The result is a seamless integration between web-based and locally-hosted tools to create a truly ground breaking system.
t: 01925 412818
f: 01925 418234
e: info@focus-systems.co.uk
a: focus systems ltd, mayfield house, 84 sankey street, warrington, wa1 1sg