Synopsis
- Client’s existing workflow solution lacked performance and scalability.
- Implemented a Camunda workflow engine, enabling customizable interactions with customers.
- The revamped platform is reliable, scalable, and high-performing.
- The system now consistently processes high throughputs in record time.
Article
BP3 engaged with a real estate agency to address multifaceted challenges and enhance their operations in several key areas. Prior to our involvement, the client faced technical hurdles with an existing solution. The system lacked performance and scalability, had few guardrails, and experienced excessive data generation and system crashes. BP3 addressed these issues by replacing the workflow engine with Camunda, creating both static workflows for universal use and a dynamic workflow pattern for estate agents to create custom workflows in line with their marketing strategies.
Our engagement focused on delivering a tech solution, SmartPlans, empowering estate agents to automate and personalize communication with real estate contacts (both buyers and sellers). This encompassed tailored messaging via email or SMS on special occasions like birthdays, home anniversaries, sharing periodic market data, and general marketing outreach.
Beyond technical hurdles, non-technical challenges were addressed systematically. This included ambiguity in product ownership, no enterprise architecture oversight, tenuous management support, limited DevOps support, lack of software best practices, interaction difficulties due to limited technical understanding among team members, poor user stories and extensive and unmanageable backlog items.
To tackle these challenges, BP3 implemented robust agile practices:
- Conducting daily stand-ups focused on project-related feedback rather than mere status updates.
- Regular story time/grooming sessions to prioritize and manage the backlog effectively.
- Active involvement of engineering and QA teams in sprint planning.
- Emphasizing clear user acceptance criteria and estimates for user stories.
- Organizing playbacks with the team and ultimately end-users.
The result of these efforts has been transformative:
- Platform Stability: The revamped platform is now stable, scalable, and high-performing for Tasks and SmartPlans.
- Increased Efficiency: Post-implementation, the system has consistently processed high throughputs in record time.
- Reduced Dependency: Originally planned as a backup, a secondary Camunda instance is now deemed unnecessary due to the system's enhanced performance and reliability.
- Cost Savings: Optimal implementation allowed the organization to downgrade to the Community Edition of Camunda, saving significantly on licensing fees as the current SmartPlans platform requires fewer enterprise features.
This comprehensive overhaul has not only addressed technical inefficiencies but also streamlined processes and fostered a more collaborative, agile, and cost-efficient approach for real estate operations.