Case Studies
United Pet Group
United Pet Group (UPG) is a leading global marketer and manufacturer of pet supplies. UPG has prominent brands within multiple segments in the Aquatics and Companion Animal markets (e.g., Tetra, Marineland, Instant Ocean).
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| Client: |
United Pet Group |
| Technology: |
IW_Technology Ektron CMS
MS .Net Web Services
MS Enterprise Library
MS Web Service Software Factory
MS Data Access Guidance Package
Windows Server
MS SQL Server
MS IIS Server
NUnit |
| Industry: |
Manufacturing
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| Service: |
Service-Oriented Architecture
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The Challenge
Case Challenge UPG recently expanded its Aquatics Division through the acquisition of a number of additional brands. As part of a multi-media coordinated brand awareness strategy, UPG Aquatics desired the ability to launch new web sites for each of its brands within the confines of a limited budget while maintaining a distinctly separate creative concept for each brand’s web property. In addition, UPG Aquatics wanted to reduce its reliance on outsourced technical skills for basic content contribution and other content management activities.
The Solution
Case Solution Understanding the priorities around budget, coordinated schedules, distinct creative concepts and increased capabilities for internal UPG content management, Ironworks architected and delivered a solution based on a Content Management System (CMS) and shared service oriented architecture (SOA) layer that met UPG’s priority business needs. Specifically Ironworks:
- Architected an SOA layer that provided core functionality to each individual web site from a single, shared code base. This solution avoided unnecessary redundancy by leveraging a single development effort across multiple sites. This model also facilitates maintenance efficiencies creating a single point of maintenance for future functional enhancements.
- Developed the appropriate SOA based services (e.g., product catalog, dealer locator, FAQ). Ironworks utilized test driven development as part of its approach.
- Architected an Ektron CMS design to support multiple web applications from a single Ektron platform. This approach enabled the re-use of core templates, workflows, and metadata structure across multiple brand sites, thereby maximizing development efficiencies and again, eliminating redundant code supporting common requirements.
- Exposed the web services and integrated them with the Ektron CMS platform.
- Developed an SOA-based ETL utility that enables UPG administrators to map, scrub, and load the catalog related business content. As part of this effort, Ironworks provided exception reporting that facilitated the data scrubbing process.
- Worked with UPG administrators to deploy the Ektron CMS and shared SOA layer to production per the desired rollout schedule and approach.
The Results
Case Results Ironworks developed and implemented the shared infrastructure, and launched the first brand awareness site (www.tetra-fish.com) on schedule. The launch of the additional UPG Aquatic brand awareness sites is on track to be completed through the summer and fall of 2007 in coordination with the business timelines requested by UPG.
The solution designed and implemented by Ironworks has reduced the technical development costs of rolling out a single brand awareness web application by approximately 60 percent and shortened the timeline for launching new web sites significantly. In addition, the new solution architecture has increased UPG Aquatic’s ability to manage their own content and, through the nature of the shared infrastructure, will streamline future maintenance efforts.
This engagement also demonstrates Ironworks’ ability and commitment to “right size” the solution to meet the business, funding, and technology needs of each individual client.
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