Case Studies

This client engaged Ironworks Consulting to deploy and configure a business portal and business process automation solution to replace and enhance an existing Intranet site and solutions that were used for managing and filing customer tax records. They needed their Intranet to serve as a collaborative tool for the corporation and over 2000 franchisees.  Additionally, the client wanted their end users to be able to conduct financial transactions through the portal which meant the information had to be accurate and refreshed frequently.

While there were several technical challenges involved with this initiative, the largest issue was assisting the client with developing a deployment and transition model.  Each of the franchise locations would be required to convert their operations to the new model.

Ironworks Consulting provided the following solutions and deliverables:

• Conducted a pilot to confirm that BizTalk Server would support Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) of our client’s systems
• Implemented and configured BizTalk Server; it will be used as the primary messaging and orchestration platform for processing tax returns through their system
• Deployed and configured SharePoint Portal Server
• Recommended and implemented an information architecture that greatly simplified information access and streamlined office and franchise management tasks
• Designed a web services based messaging implementation to replace an ftp and email based franchise based office system
• Implemented BAM to provide real time monitoring of tax return processing
• Developed a managed workflow for content approval
• Implemented a content management system that enables “editors” to update the site’s content via a web interface
• Developed a new Site Map based on information architecture design sessions conducted with corporate and franchise business users to ensure easy access to information
• Created home page synopsis of financial & performance data with custom views by login
• Created robust reporting capabilities
• Helped enhance development processes; improve deployment stability; reduce deployment time; enhance testing tools & environments; and conduct a 1500 site pilot

As a result of this engagement:

• Our client has obtained a reliable, scalable business portal and process automation solution that supports the current business base and projected business growth.  The environment scales to handle more the 10 M e-File tax returns from January to April 15
• Resources have been freed up from many of the content management tasks
• National support personnel receive fewer requests for assistance from franchisees
• Our client can dynamically communicate information to franchisees via announcements, message boards, document libraries, and downloads
• More accurate information is being delivered to and utilized by the franchisees
• Corporate can centrally review content publication submissions from the franchisee as well as search archives of documents and published information
• The franchisee paper-based approval process was reduced from average of 30 to 3 days