Head of IT Services
Integral Vision delivered the product against a tight timeline without sacrificing quality, leading to high user satisfaction rates and a pleased client. The team conducted a smooth, agile workflow to meet deadlines and measure progress. Their dedication stood out.
Integral Vision built an online application that presents capacity products on behalf of a railway IT support company. The system needed a CMS, an online chart to display the products, and data visualization.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
RailNetEurope provides project management and IT support to the European railway infrastructure managers, allocation bodies, rail freight corridors, and applicants. I work there as Head of PCS (Path Coordination System); I'm the product owner of the tool.
What challenge were you trying to address with Integral Vision?
To develop an online application for publication of different capacity products on an international level. The presentation of capacity bands in such a tool was brand new. We are working right now to implement the new object as part of European standards (TAF/TAP TSI)
What was the scope of their involvement?
The main part of the application was the online chart (space-time diagram) that can present the capacity products. We needed a version control enabled content management system with unique data visualization.
Team composition/dynamic team?
I have already been working with an agile team; I had a similar experience. The team had UX designer, infrastructure engineer, product owner proxy who helped me to work with the backlog. There was a technical lead and leading senior developer who did the majority of the development. Also, a frontend developer responsible for the theming of the sites.
Of course, other developers joined and left the project whenever it was necessary from the work and functions point of view.
Of course, other developers joined and left the project whenever it was necessary from the work and functions point of view.
How did you come to work with Integral Vision?
My colleague found them for one of our previous projects with our Drupal system. Finally, they didn't take that one. However, it was already clear to us that they are ready for challenges. I remembered this, and when we had to make a tender for this application, I invited them too. None of the bids were perfect, but the decision committee selected their offer.
Describe the project and services they provided in detail.
They prepared a Drupal-based content management system for our capacity products (catalog path, path, temporary capacity restrictions, and capacity bands) with their attributes. They enabled us to prepare infrastructure data in the system (lines and locations). The characteristics of the places have already been ready to connect to the central European master database in the future. Connections and distances among the areas are also stored that helps the user experience in the tool.
They created a chart, the main page of the application, where the system can present the different products graphically (lines, rectangles, and other shapes). Users can apply a different kind of search criteria, e.g., lines, timetable periods, statuses of the objects, etc.
The calendar handling of the different objects was solved in a very innovative way. Compared to other applications in the railway sector, the calendar days are stored separately (not in a bitfield), enabling us to add additional information to the days. It's especially crucial for the capacity bands, where the number of available capacity slots has to be stored separately.
They created a chart, the main page of the application, where the system can present the different products graphically (lines, rectangles, and other shapes). Users can apply a different kind of search criteria, e.g., lines, timetable periods, statuses of the objects, etc.
The calendar handling of the different objects was solved in a very innovative way. Compared to other applications in the railway sector, the calendar days are stored separately (not in a bitfield), enabling us to add additional information to the days. It's especially crucial for the capacity bands, where the number of available capacity slots has to be stored separately.
How much have you invested in them?
40 000 EUR
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We received requests from our users quite late that they need an online application for this task. That is why we had a tight timeline. Luckily, we found the perfect company for the job, and they finished the development with an abridged timeline, but also with really high quality. The user satisfaction so far is the best among all my company's applications.
How did Integral Vision perform from a project management standpoint?
We finished the development in time and the planned budget, even if the scope was extended during the project. That explains everything. The two weeks sprints helped us a lot to control the work and the deliveries, also measuring the development's speed.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The team was motivated; they didn't say we can't do it—they were ready to face the challenges. I had the pleasure of working with them in an innovative environment.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Industry-specific (railway) knowledge should be improved for the future.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Amiable and bright people. They managed to deliver a high-quality product in a business area where they didn't have experience before.
Related project
European Railway Capacity Management
Increasing Railway Capacity With Application Development Instead of Infrastructural Investment