SoftMediaLab LLC

The client’s goal is to replace all their existing metering devices (meters) with remotely controlled and interrogated devices. 

The high-level goal of the client is to meet the requirements of the regulatory authorities (all power supply organizations are required to completely switch to remote-controlled metering devices). Therefore, the project has no explicit business goals as such, measured in additional profits or eliminated costs.

The tasks set by the client were:

- To organize the possibility of remote polling and management in principle, i.e., to create a technical platform to start such management and polling;

- to provide scaling of this platform - for the current subscriber base (20 million) and taking into account the potential increase in the number of subscribers and, possibly, the regions of the customer's presence.

Target metric - to provide the ability to remotely poll at least 1 million devices within 1 hour.

How we improved it: what we did, what we used, how it works

We have integrated into the IT infrastructure of the customer a system for remote polling and management of metering devices (we are talking primarily about electric meters, but potentially it can be metering devices of something else, such as water). The system polls meters on a configurable schedule and saves current readings in the database; in addition, the system allows you to send commands to devices to limit or resume electric power consumption. Interaction with meters is based on queues (Apache Kafka), this allows you to effectively scale up to millions of devices.

Indicators that should be improved:

• to increase the users of the personal account (the percentage of subscribers) from 22% to aim for 100%;
• to increase the number of active users of the personal account from 40% to 80%.

Customer's goals: 

• Transfer customer calls to service centers online
• transformation of a personal account in the main and preferred way of interaction between customers and utility service provider, "single window" of customer service provider;
• expanding the range of services (providing the system as a SaaS-service to third parties).

How we improved it: what we did, what we used, how it works

• Implemented authorization through social networks and State Services
• Adapted pages for people with disabilities have been developed
• Implemented a service of appeals to specialists
• Added information about debts
• Integration with the IoT-meters to get receipts

Business Nedvizhimost is one of the largest owners of commercial real estate in Moscow, the company provides professional and efficient property management services, including - services for the lease of premises.

Client's pain: 
Data on all areas of the company's activities were collected and stored in several accounting databases, and then processed manually by specialists. In order to promptly collect key metrics, generate analytical reports and transmit the indicators to the parent company, we needed to develop an automation solution that would consolidate disparate information into a single dashboard.
In addition, one of the company's flagship projects, the flexible workspace network officeless, has announced up to 20 locations by the end of 2025. In the near future, the company will have an additional need to track a large amount of analytical data in real time.

How we improved it: what we did, what we used, how it works

There were no typical solutions on the market, so SoftMediaLab professionals were involved in the development of the product. The development team created a single database with integration with 1C BIT and the "Sber.Navigator" service to analyze and display the financial and economic indicators of Business Nedvizhimost. The data is automatically structured, distributed by type of information and quickly transmitted to the server for further processing and visualization.

• Goals and objectives of the dashboard developed by SML:
  Reports are built automatically from the data coming into the system;
• Visualization and reduction of indicators into a single structured system allows you to identify critical points, which slow down the business processes;
• Operational transfer of indicators to the parent company allows you to analyze the existing business strategy and develop a new one, as well as to identify problems that lead to losses of the company. 

The company engaged in the development of high-tech devices for the energy, petroleum and other industries needed to refine their website.

Business task: It is necessary to send many critical incidents on the client's current site, and then develop and refine the site.

Stack: yii, yii2, PHP

Solution: In the course of work, all errors were corrected and the tasks set by the client for revision were completed. A Careers section has been added.

Outsourcing bookkeeping "Knopka" is one of our regular clients. For the first time, a customer turned to us for a business process at the stage of communication between the client and the operator.

Later, we created a landing page for Button customers.

Stack: Node.js, React, Typescript

Solution: SML put together a team of developers with PM and started developing a custom form for clients and a landing page.

Result: In the first example, we created a special form and integrated it with the backend and added an admin panel to display the status of requests.

And next time, a page was created for onboarding clients, where they can fill in information about the company and get data on the next tax reports. Also, a function was laid that allows you to generate a unique URL and use it as a business card with company information

Country: Canada

Technologies: .NET Core, Web API, Ethereum blockchain, NEtherium, Entity Framework, PostgreSQL, Solidity, smart contracts

Development Time: 2 months

Initial Coins Offerings (ICO) are great crowdfunding tool but technical infrastructure could be complex and expensive. One who wants to launch an ICO has to hire programmers, create the coins, deploy it to the blockchain, develop smart contracts, and create token sales site. It takes a lot of time and efforts and distracts a manager from the main things - business and marketing. A Canadian startup decided to build a platform to provide ICO managers with comprehensive technical infrastructure. The platform should help its customers to start the coin selling literally in 10 minutes without involving developers. SoftMediaLab programmers joined the startup team as dedicated team members. In 2 months they have developed the backend for the platform that allows ICO managers to: create Ethereum-based coins from scratch create wallets for new coins and Ethereum define the coin price and campaign goal generate token sales page for the campaign control and manage ICO projects with inbuilt tools use API for token sales deposit and withdraw Ethereum sell tokens for any digital currency through the integration with an external cryptocurrency exchange Rapid and flexible development allowed the startup to launch the product quickly, test the ideas, and find the first customers.

SoftMediaLab developed a mobile application for fitness trainers (on iOS and Android), in which trainers track progress and keep the history of their wards. 

SmartCoach allows you to maintain a client base, weekly workout plans (for different muscle groups), a nutrition plan for clients (you can create it yourself or use ready-made ones). The client noted that he was completely satisfied with the speed and quality of development. Now the project is at the MVP stage.

Business Challenge

The Cable Alliance Holding had a need to refine their existing tender site. The existing system was designed to conduct a variety of tenders, and as often happens, it was not suitable for solving a client’s specific task - to conduct tenders for transportation. At the same time, holding tenders in manual mode did not provide optimal transportation prices, and the logistics department was tasked with reducing costs.

Contractor Selection

At first, Cable Alliance signed a contract with another contractor, but after a while he abandoned the project due to the high complexity of the development.

SML specialists carefully studied the processes and analyzed the existing site. Then we agreed on the scope of improvements, deadlines, and allocated a team. For our part, the team consisted of one analyst and one developer. As a result, the customer was able to hold the first tender for transportation in 5 months.

Solution Description

• With our improvements, the customer began to conduct tenders for transportation, as well as register and verify transport companies in accordance with their internal business processes.

• Due to the integration with 1C, logisticians no longer need to work in several systems at once, they launch a tender from the familiar interface of an ERP system. All data and documents exchanged between systems is performed automatically.

• The contractual documents for each cargo transportation are now compiled automatically by the system based on data from 1C and data from the tender site. Logisticians only need to choose a winner, and transport companies just print out documents.

• All notifications that the system exchanges with bidders and organizers are sent automatically, which greatly saves time on communication.

• The logistician can cancel or change the tender conditions at any time by launching a rebidding. Everything else - the selection and invitation of the relevant participants, as well as a new collection of applications - the system will perform itself.

• The new solution was able to reduce freight costs by 6% compared to the previous year in the first 6 months of use.

Solution Structure

• Public website for transport companies with a carrier’s personal account https://tender.holdcable.com/ 

• On the customer side, logistic and security specialists personal accounts  

• Integration with ERP 1C and SMTP server for sending notifications

• Content management system

Technologies

PHP 5.6, Apache 2.4, MySQL 5.0, Linux, Ajax, JavaScript

Prices pulse is a trading platform where more than 1 million companies sell their goods and services. The application allows users to:

• Find and order goods and services: from industrial equipment, metal, construction equipment and materials to simple household goods.

• Create and edit products, post photos.

• Get statistics on your company’s views.

• Manage customer orders: change work statuses, attach files, send comments.

• Receive instant notifications on your smartphone about new orders or comments.

The SML team has developed native mobile apps for iOS and Android.

The ProAbility.me project is developing an accessibility map for people with reduced mobility: parents with children, people with disabilities, elderly people, and pet owners. The accessibility map shows social and entertainment facilities: shops, banks, pharmacies, theaters and other institutions. The author of the accessibility map and the ProAbility.me project is the laboratory named after Stephen Hawking.

The SML team have developed a website and native mobile apps using iOS and Android for ProAbility.me. Using the platform, people with special accessibility requirements can find information about establishments, as well as assess their availability.

Technologies: React+Redux, Typescript, bootstrap, material, scss, Webpack, Swift, Kotlin

KitaGaruda is the official application of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI). In this app, fans of the Indonesian National Team, or more commonly known as Timnas Garuda, will get up-to-date news on the National Team across every level, including exclusive news and videos, match schedules, player profiles, the Official Garuda Store and more. 

From scratch, the SML team developed a cross-platform mobile application for fans and a web application for representatives of the Football Federation, where they can manage content and competitions for a mobile application.

Technologies: Typescript, React+MobX, ReactNative, graphQL, SQRS, MS SQL, MS .NET