Client's Testimonial

"The thought of replacing our core operational software was terrifying. Developers.dev managed the entire process with incredible precision and professionalism. Their phased migration strategy using Ruby on Rails was brilliant. Our new platform is faster, more flexible, and has already saved us over 30% in annual maintenance costs. They de-risked what could have been a company-ending project."

Michael Thompson, VP of Technology, Global Logistics Corp.

Client Overview

Our client is a 30-year-old global logistics company with operations across North America and Europe. Their core operations were managed by a monolithic legacy application built over 15 years ago using an outdated version of Java. The system was slow, incredibly difficult to update, and could not integrate with modern third-party services like real-time tracking APIs or cloud-based warehousing systems. The application's instability was causing operational inefficiencies and putting them at a competitive disadvantage. They needed to modernize their core platform to improve performance, enable new digital features, and reduce their exorbitant maintenance costs, all while ensuring 100% business continuity for their 24/7 operations.

Problem

The client was trapped by their legacy technology. The system was a "black box" with little documentation, and the original developers were long gone. Any small change required months of development and testing, and the risk of breaking a critical function was extremely high. They could not innovate or respond to market changes.

Key Challenges

Extreme Risk of Disruption

The system managed live shipments and warehouse inventory; any downtime would mean immediate financial loss.

Complex Business Logic

Decades of business rules were deeply embedded and poorly documented within the legacy code.

Data Migration

Migrating millions of records of historical and in-flight shipment data without corruption or loss.

User Adoption

Training hundreds of employees on a new system they had been using for over a decade.

Our Solution

We proposed a "Strangler Fig" pattern for the migration. Instead of a high-risk "big bang" replacement, we would incrementally build new services in Ruby on Rails that would "strangle" and replace pieces of the old monolith one by one. This approach minimized risk and allowed for a gradual, controlled transition.

🔍 Reverse Engineering

Our team of business analysts and architects worked with the client's subject matter experts to document the critical business logic of the old system.

🏗️ Modular RoR Services

We identified key domains (e.g., Booking, Tracking, Invoicing) and started by building a new, independent RoR service for the "Tracking" module, as it was the most self-contained.

🔗 API Gateway

We introduced an API gateway that would sit in front of the old and new systems. Initially, all traffic would pass through to the old system. As new RoR services came online, the gateway would route traffic for that specific function to the new service.

↔️ Phased Data Synchronization

We established a robust data synchronization mechanism between the legacy database and the new PostgreSQL database to ensure data consistency throughout the multi-year transition.

Implementation and Execution

Year 1, Q1-Q2

Deep discovery and reverse engineering phase.

Year 1, Q3-Q4

Built and launched the first RoR microservice for "Tracking," routing all tracking requests to the new service.

Year 2, Q1-Q3

Developed and replaced the "Booking" and "Quoting" modules.

Year 2, Q4

Migrated the complex "Invoicing and Billing" module.

Year 3, Q1-Q2

Replaced the final remaining modules and decommissioned the legacy Java application.

Training & Handoff

We worked closely with the client to develop training materials and conduct user training sessions for each new module as it was released.

Positive Outcome

✅ Zero Business Disruption

The phased migration was completed with no unplanned downtime or interruption to their 24/7 operations.

📉 35% Reduction in TCO

The new RoR platform reduced total cost of ownership by over 35% due to lower infrastructure and maintenance costs.

🚀 Accelerated Innovation

The new modular architecture allows the client to develop and deploy new features in weeks instead of months.

✨ Successful Digital Transformation

The client was able to integrate with modern logistics APIs, offering new value-added services to their customers.

Positive Outcome of Logistics Modernization

Why Choose Us

💼 Enterprise Migration Experts

We have a proven methodology for de-risking complex legacy modernization projects.

🌟 CMMI Level 5 Maturity

Our process discipline was essential for managing a project of this scale and complexity.

🧠 Business Acumen

We invested the time to understand their complex logistics domain.

🎯 Strategic, Not Just Technical

We proposed the "Strangler Fig" pattern, a strategic approach that was key to the project's success.

🤝 Long-Term Commitment

We demonstrated our ability to be a reliable partner over a multi-year engagement.

👨‍💻 Full-Stack PODs

Our teams had the diverse skills (Java, RoR, DevOps, BA) needed for the project.

🔒 Data Integrity Focus

Our meticulous data migration plan ensured no data was lost.

🔄 Change Management Support

We helped manage the human side of the transition, not just the technical.

📊 Measurable ROI

The project delivered clear, quantifiable financial benefits.

Conclusion

This case study highlights our unique ability to handle the most complex, high-stakes enterprise projects. We combine deep technical expertise in Ruby on Rails with the strategic vision and process maturity required to successfully navigate large-scale digital transformation.

Modernizing a Mission-Critical Logistics Platform

Industry Logistics & Supply Chain