Category: Featured-Post-Software-EN

Categories
Featured-Post-Software-EN Software Engineering (EN)

Comparison of iPaaS Connectors: Zapier, Make, Mulesoft, n8n and Alternatives

Comparison of iPaaS Connectors: Zapier, Make, Mulesoft, n8n and Alternatives

Auteur n°14 – Daniel

The iPaaS connectors, or Integration-Platform-as-a-Service, orchestrate and automate the flow and transformation of data between heterogeneous applications (CRM, ERP, business tools) without requiring complex development or specialized resources. In other words, they allow you to link separate solutions into a cohesive ecosystem. Unlike traditional APIs, they provide a low-code or even no-code interface to design, test and monitor sophisticated workflows while simplifying the integration of new systems. They do have certain limitations, and licensing fees can sometimes become a significant expense, but their advantages are considerable.

This guide is aimed at decision-makers and technology leaders who want to accelerate the deployment of digital services, reduce time spent on manual tasks, ensure data consistency and quality across the ecosystem, and control costs, dependencies, security and compliance requirements through a centralized, flexible and scalable integration solution. We will compare the available platforms and give you the keys to make an informed choice.

1. Strengths and Limitations of Leading iPaaS Connectors

Each platform strikes its own balance between deployment speed, functional richness, scalability and control. None is the “universal” solution: the balance of these criteria will guide your choice.

Zapier – Extreme Simplicity and Time-to-Value

Strengths of Zapier

  • Immediate onboarding: create a workflow in a few clicks, 100% visual interface.
  • Extensive catalog: over 5,000 ready-to-use integrations (CRM, messaging, e-commerce…).
  • Rapid ROI: implementation in hours, no advanced technical skills required.

Limitations of Zapier

  • Step limits: max. 250 actions per Zap – challenging for very long or deeply nested processes.
  • Short timeouts: ~30 s per action, unsuitable for heavy operations or slow API calls.
  • Sequential execution: no native parallelism or “fan-in/fan-out”—everything runs end-to-end.
  • Closed connectors: can’t code or deploy a custom connector for an internal API.
  • Exponential cost: beyond 10,000 tasks/month, higher-tier plans become expensive.

Who does it better? Make and n8n handle long or parallel scenarios; Mulesoft or n8n allow custom connectors; Make supports timeouts up to 1 hour.

Make (formerly Integromat) – Granularity and Flexibility

Strengths of Make

  • Advanced modules: loops, conditional filters, fine-grained error handling (retries, alerts).
  • Complex scenarios: chaining hundreds of modules, multiple branching logics.
  • Open transformations: JavaScript scripts and native JSON instead of proprietary syntax.

Limitations of Make

  • Maintainability: a map with hundreds of modules quickly becomes hard to understand and version.
  • Max execution time: 1 hour per scenario—insufficient for very long-running processes.
  • Cloud only: no on-premise or VPC option, which can be problematic for sensitive data.
  • API throughput: ~5 requests/sec per HTTP module, limiting certain loads.

Who does it better? n8n self-hosted or Mulesoft for on-premise deployment; n8n for unlimited runtime; Mulesoft for adjustable throughput.

MuleSoft Anypoint – Enterprise-Grade, On-Demand Integration

Strengths of MuleSoft

  • Scale & SLA: CloudHub/RTF or on-premise infrastructure, linear scaling and availability guarantees.
  • API management: portal, security (OAuth 2.0, SSO, encryption), granular policies and quotas.
  • DataWeave: powerful language for XML/JSON transformation, complex mappings with continuous validation.
  • Monitoring & observability: built-in metrics, alerting and end-to-end transaction tracing.

Limitations of MuleSoft

  • Deployment complexity: requires Java/deployment expertise and a multi-week/month implementation schedule.
  • High cost: runtime licenses per instance, total cost often disproportionate for mid-market companies.
  • Technology lock-in: proprietary DataWeave syntax and a Java-centric ecosystem.

Who does it better? Zapier/Make for rapid deployments without Java expertise; n8n for zero software cost; custom development (covered below) for greater flexibility and lower TCO.

n8n – Open Source and Total Control

Strengths of n8n

  • Open source: create custom nodes, JavaScript extensions, containerized CI/CD.
  • No license fees: only your server resources limit capacity.
  • Horizontal scalability: self-host anywhere (bare-metal, Kubernetes…), no imposed software timeout.
  • DevOps integration: manage workflows in Git, automated deployments.

Limitations of n8n

  • Infrastructure responsibility: you must handle security, backups, high availability and patching.
  • Variable node quality: some community connectors are less maintained, requiring validation before production.
  • Limited monitoring: basic UI for error retries, no enterprise dashboard or SLAs.
  • No native commercial support: relies on external service providers for guidance and compliance.

Who does it better? MuleSoft or custom development for enterprise monitoring and certifications; Zapier/Make for an out-of-the-box managed service.

At this point, your choice will come down to the speed and simplicity of SaaS (Zapier), the rich visual modularity of Make, the enterprise robustness and support of MuleSoft, or the total control of open source (n8n). Next, we’ll explore alternatives that can fill the gaps left by these connectors, lower your total cost of ownership (TCO) and strengthen your ecosystem’s resilience.

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

2. Open Source Alternatives and Custom Development

These solutions provide full control over data flows and help reduce total cost of ownership by eliminating SaaS licensing fees.

Beyond standard iPaaS platforms, two families of alternatives stand out: open source integration frameworks and bespoke connector development. Frameworks like Apache Camel or Talend Open Studio offer a foundation for building integration pipelines. Apache Camel uses a Java DSL, ideal for Java/TypeScript teams orchestrating microservices or connecting SAP, databases and message queues. Talend Open Studio provides a powerful ETL graphical studio, suited to high-volume batch processes and complex data transformations.

The other approach is to develop custom connectors perfectly aligned with business needs. Whether synchronizing a proprietary customer database or interfacing an IoT system, this method ensures minimal technical overhead and native integration into your stack (Node.js, Java, Go, Python, .NET, etc.). However, it requires a mature DevOps foundation and a CI/CD pipeline for versioning, automated tests and deployments. This can be entirely outsourced to a digital services provider like Edana. Indeed, it’s often one of the smartest options for securing a stable, reliable, scalable and secure ecosystem with a relatively low total cost of ownership.

Concrete example
Our team supported a mid-sized Swiss insurance company in building an internal data lake. We chose Talend Open Studio to automate daily extraction and transformation of claims data, then deployed Node.js microservices to feed a real-time data visualization tool. The result was a 50% reduction in processing time and a 30% decrease in software costs within one year.

3. Selection Criteria for Choosing the Best Option

Choosing between an iPaaS connector or a custom solution hinges on five key criteria: volume, complexity, security, cost and flexibility.

Volume and Performance

SaaS solutions (Zapier, Make) suit light to intermediate volumes.
Open source or enterprise platforms (n8n, MuleSoft) handle hundreds of thousands to millions of transactions.

Workflow Complexity

Linear automations: Zapier is sufficient.
Conditional logic and loops: Make or Talend.
Multi-branch orchestrations and advanced transformations: MuleSoft, Apache Camel or custom development.

Security and Compliance

Enterprise offerings come with ISO/SOC certifications.
Open source options require internal audits, TLS encryption and fine-grained access control.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

SaaS: monthly subscription tied to task/operation counts.
Open source/custom: upfront engineering investment, followed by operating costs (hosting, maintenance). Such investment often yields a more favorable CAPEX over a three-year horizon compared to proprietary SaaS.

Flexibility and Sovereignty

SaaS: rapid time-to-market but potential vendor lock-in.
Open source/custom: full control, extensibility and personalization, at the expense of stronger governance requirements. Outsourced to a trusted provider, however, these solutions can be turnkey and free of complexity.

Concrete example
For a retail group in Romandy, our team assessed these five criteria to select a platform for daily order flows exceeding 200,000 records. Choosing Apache Camel hosted in a private cloud combined performance with data sovereignty requirements, while optimizing TCO. After eight months, the initial setup costs were amortized, and license savings compared to a proprietary SaaS exceeded 180%.

4. Hybrid Architecture for an Evolving Ecosystem

Build a hybrid architecture to leverage the strengths of SaaS, open source and custom microservices.

A hybrid design comprises several bricks:
iPaaS SaaS (Zapier, Make) for rapid, low-criticality automations deployed in days.
Open source platforms (n8n, Apache Camel) for sensitive, high-volume workflows, self-hosted under DevOps supervision.
Custom microservices (Node.js, Nest.JS, Go, etc.) for specific business requirements and complex logic.

An event bus (Kafka, MQTT) or a lightweight ESB can serve as the backbone to decouple bricks, ensure resilience and absorb load spikes.

Concrete example
At a Swiss banking institution, our team implemented this mixed architecture: Make for customer alerts, n8n for regulatory data flows and Nest.JS microservices for real-time transaction processing. This modular organization reduced time-to-production by 65% and improved overall exchange reliability between systems.

Conclusion: Tailored Solutions for Every Use Case

You now have an in-depth view of iPaaS connectors and their open source or custom alternatives, the selection criteria, and a hybrid architecture blueprint for an agile, high-performance IT ecosystem. Depending on your volumes, workflow complexity, strategic financial considerations and security or sovereignty requirements, you can assemble the combination that best fits your context.

If you need help choosing the right technologies or executing a technical implementation to create a reliable, flexible and scalable digital ecosystem, get in touch to discuss your challenges.

Discuss about your challenges with an Edana expert

PUBLISHED BY

Daniel Favre

Avatar de Daniel Favre

Daniel Favre is a Senior Software Engineer. He designs and builds bespoke business solutions (SaaS, mobile apps, websites) and full digital ecosystems. With deep expertise in architecture and performance, he turns your requirements into robust, scalable platforms that drive your digital transformation.

Categories
Featured-Post-Software-EN Software Engineering (EN)

Microservices vs. Modular Monolith: Choosing the Right Architecture for Your Information System

Microservices vs. Modular Monolith: Choosing the Right Architecture for Your Information System

Auteur n°2 – Jonathan

Microservices vs. modular monolith: behind these two architectures lies the same ambition — making your information system more reliable, scalable and profitable. Technology leaders still have to determine which model best reflects their business challenges, organisation and budget. Microservices consist of a set of independent services, whereas a modular monolith packs all features into a single, carefully compartmentalised deployment. Choosing well therefore means balancing autonomy, complexity, time‑to‑market and governance. Below are the key points for an informed decision.

Microservices: agility and frictionless scalability

Decouple to accelerate, but never neglect governance.

Popular with cloud giants, the microservices architecture breaks the application into autonomous services, each responsible for a specific business domain. Exposed via lightweight APIs, orchestrated by a mesh of containers, and routed through API gateways, these services can be deployed independently. Your team can release a new feature without freezing the entire product, test business hypotheses rapidly and tune capacity precisely to demand. Decoupling boosts velocity, lowers the risk of global regression and underpins a ROI‑driven “fail fast” strategy.

Beyond speed, microservices leverage a vast open‑source ecosystem — Kubernetes for orchestration, gRPC for high‑performance communication, and Keycloak or Ory for identity federation. This freedom reduces vendor lock‑in and optimises infrastructure costs by maximising the pay‑per‑use model of cloud providers. Another benefit is resilience: an incident affecting a payment service no longer brings the whole e‑commerce platform down. That said, multiplying services erodes visibility unless observability practices (tracing, correlated logging, metrics) are rigorously woven in from the very first sprint.

Operational complexity is the flip side. Version management, Zero‑Trust policies between services, FinOps budgets, recruiting SRE profiles — each dimension becomes a project in its own right. This is why Edana favours a gradual approach: first stabilise a reproducible DevSecOps foundation, then extract the most volatile microservices step by step, often written in Go or Node.js for execution speed. You keep control of dependencies while capitalising on bespoke development. The result: a modular IS able to handle traffic peaks without sacrificing gross margin or energy performance.

Modular Monolith: operational coherence and cost control

Centralise intelligently to ship faster and simplify maintenance.

The modular monolith follows the opposite logic: gather the application in a single executable, but organise it into explicitly decoupled modules within the same codebase. It is sometimes called a “guided monolith” because each module exposes clear interfaces and forbids circular dependencies. In production, a single artefact is deployed, reducing the error surface and simplifying monitoring. For a financial or industrial service that values stability, this approach limits network‑related mishaps while remaining fully compatible with CI/CD pipelines and containers.

Budget‑wise, a single deployment simplifies cloud billing: one shared database, less inter‑service traffic and shorter build times. Teams stay focused on business needs rather than plumbing. Open‑source frameworks like Spring Boot or .NET 8 now enable strict modularisation (hexagonal architecture, Gradle modules, plug‑ins) while delivering near‑C++ performance. The paradigm is far from obsolete: it even adapts to serverless architectures thanks to faster cold starts than a constellation of scattered microservices.

However, codebase size can become prohibitive if the organisation scales too quickly. Test cycles grow heavier, technical debt may accumulate unchecked, and a major outage can immobilise the entire system. Our team therefore recommends moving toward internal domain‑driven decomposition or planning a gradual shift to microservices as the company strengthens its DevOps governance. Through architecture audits, we pinpoint “hotspots” to extract first, while ensuring critical business logic remains under a single pipeline’s control to guarantee service quality.

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Business and technical criteria for choosing

Your architecture must serve your business goals first – never the other way around.

Before choosing, list the outcomes you expect: reduced time‑to‑market, regulatory compliance, international performance or a controlled carbon footprint. An elastic microservice can absorb peaks during a global marketing campaign, whereas a modular monolith often fits better with a stable roadmap where functional coherence is paramount. Clarifying these priorities helps weigh orchestration costs, high‑availability needs and risk tolerance.

Organisational maturity is another filter. Microservices assume autonomous teams, an advanced DevSecOps culture and industrial‑grade CI/CD processes. Without these prerequisites, theoretical benefits evaporate quickly. Conversely, a modular monolith can be managed efficiently by a central team of up to twenty developers, provided code reviews and layering are rigorous. Security also plays a role: if you handle sensitive data (healthcare, finance), microservice segmentation isolates risks but expands the network attack surface.

Finally, the budget trajectory must remain visible. Microservices imply rising OPEX — per‑call billing, distributed monitoring, service‑mesh licences — whereas the modular monolith concentrates costs into CAPEX spikes (major upgrades, non‑regression tests). At Edana, we build three‑year comparative scenarios covering not only hosting but also HR costs, training and carbon footprint. This global view provides a tangible ROI aligned with CSR priorities and external‑growth ambitions.

Edana’s view: hybrid ecosystems and long‑term support

Leverage the existing, add bespoke elements and stay free for tomorrow.

Because no single solution is universal, Edana often designs hybrid architectures: a modular‑monolith backbone for core logic, surrounded by “satellite” microservices for high‑variability functions (data analytics, AI, payments). This strategy relies on open source — for example PostgreSQL, Keycloak, Node.js, Istio and Quarkus — to cut licence costs, avoid proprietary lock‑in and stimulate internal innovation. Our architects favour evolutionary designs (event‑driven, CQRS, API contract‑first) and living documentation to guarantee maintainability.

Consider the case of a Swiss healthcare group with about a hundred employees we assisted. Their legacy PHP monolith slowed product teams and caused 2 % monthly downtime. Our team progressively migrated the most volatile modules — patient scheduling and connected‑device catalogue — to containerised Node.js microservices, while refactoring the remaining code into a modular Laravel core. The outcome: continuous deployment every two weeks, a 35 % drop in critical incidents and stable infrastructure costs thanks to auto‑scaling.

Beyond technology, our support translates into co‑design workshops, transparent governance and jointly defined success metrics. This proximity avoids the tunnel effect typical of off‑shore approaches and strengthens internal ownership. It also embraces CSR: optimised CPU cycles, responsibly powered data centres with a low‑carbon footprint and documentation accessible to all. You gain a living software architecture aligned with your growth objectives and societal commitments.

Decide with confidence and plan for the future

Behind the “microservices vs. modular monolith” debate, the real issue is your ability to create value faster than your competitors while safeguarding margins and reputation. The right model is the one that matches your objectives, talent and financial horizon instead of constraining them. A clear‑eyed analysis of your DevSecOps maturity, regulatory constraints and scale‑up ambitions naturally guides the decision. Whether reinforcing an existing monolith or planning a shift to a constellation of microservices, the essential point is to secure each step so it remains reversible, measurable and aligned with your organisation’s broader strategy.

Discuss your challenges with an Edana expert

PUBLISHED BY

Jonathan Massa

As a specialist in digital consulting, strategy and execution, Jonathan advises organizations on strategic and operational issues related to value creation and digitalization programs focusing on innovation and organic growth. Furthermore, he advises our clients on software engineering and digital development issues to enable them to mobilize the right solutions for their goals.

Categories
Digital Consultancy & Business (EN) Featured-Post-Software-EN Software Engineering (EN)

Software Reengineering – When and Why to Resort to It

Software Reengineering – When and Why to Resort to It

Auteur n°3 – Benjamin

Software reengineering has become an essential element in the modern technological landscape. With the rapid evolution of user needs, technological advancements, and market requirements, many custom software systems are faced with challenges of obsolescence, inadequate performance, and incompatibility with new technologies. In this context, software reengineering emerges as an essential strategy to revitalize and modernize existing systems.

This article delves deep into the domain of software reengineering, examining the motivations, methods, and best practices associated with this crucial process. We will delve into the nuances of software reengineering, highlighting the telltale signs indicating the need for such an approach, the tangible benefits it can bring, as well as the challenges and strategies to overcome them.

Through concrete examples and case studies, we will illustrate how software reengineering can transform outdated systems into robust solutions tailored to contemporary requirements. Whether you are an IT professional, a business decision-maker, or simply curious, this article will provide valuable insights into software reengineering and its crucial role in maintaining the relevance and competitiveness of computer systems in an ever-changing world.

Understanding Software Reengineering

Software reengineering is a strategic approach aimed at revitalizing existing computer systems to improve their performance, efficiency, and maintainability. Unlike traditional software development, which involves creating new systems from scratch, software reengineering focuses on transforming existing systems to meet evolving needs and changing technological requirements. This approach is often motivated by factors such as technological obsolescence, the accumulation of defects and bugs, and the inability of systems to adapt to new business requirements.

Software reengineering encompasses a wide range of activities, from thorough analysis of existing systems to redesigning and reconstructing essential software components. This approach may also involve migrating to new technological platforms, integrating modern features, and optimizing performance. By understanding the ins and outs of software reengineering, organizations can make informed decisions regarding the allocation of resources and the planning of their computer system modernization initiatives.

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Indicators of the Need for Software Reengineering

When custom software begins to show signs of fatigue or inefficiency, several revealing indicators may emerge, thus indicating the need for reengineering.

  1. Impact on system performance and productivity

A stock management application might experience increased loading times, resulting in delays in order processing and customer dissatisfaction. Similarly, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system might suffer from an increased frequency of failures, leading to reduced productivity for sales and customer service teams.

2. Increasing complexity and maintenance difficulties

The increasing complexity of the software structure can make system maintenance and scalability difficult, as in the case of a project management software where adding new features becomes cumbersome due to outdated and poorly documented code.

3. Technological obsolescence and vulnerabilities

Technological obsolescence may manifest itself through the use of outdated programming languages or obsolete software libraries, making the software vulnerable to security breaches and limiting its ability to integrate new features and technologies. These examples illustrate the critical importance of carefully monitoring the health and performance of custom software and proactively engaging in reengineering initiatives when necessary to maintain their long-term competitiveness and usefulness.

Advantages and Outcomes of Software Reengineering

Software reengineering offers a multitude of advantages and significant outcomes for organizations engaging in this modernization process.

  1. Optimization of performance and responsiveness

Software reengineering improves the overall performance of computer systems by identifying and eliminating bottlenecks, code redundancies, and inefficient processes. For example, by optimizing data processing algorithms or migrating to more powerful cloud infrastructures, organizations can significantly reduce processing times and improve the responsiveness of their applications.

2. Long-term maintenance cost reduction

Software reengineering also reduces long-term maintenance costs by streamlining development processes, simplifying software architecture, and eliminating costly dependencies on obsolete technologies. For example, by replacing aging software components with modern and scalable solutions, organizations can reduce expenses related to bug resolution and corrective maintenance.

3. Fostering innovation and competitiveness

Furthermore, software reengineering fosters innovation by enabling organizations to quickly adopt new technologies and respond to market developments in an agile manner. For example, by modernizing user interfaces and integrating innovative features such as artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things (IoT), organizations can offer differentiated user experiences and remain competitive in the market.

In summary, software reengineering offers considerable potential to strengthen the competitiveness, efficiency, and agility of organizations in an ever-evolving technological environment.

Challenges and Strategies of Software Reengineering

While promising in terms of improving existing systems, software reengineering is not without its challenges and complexities. One of the main challenges is change management, as reengineering often involves substantial modifications to software processes, architecture, and operation, which can provoke resistance among teams and stakeholders. Additionally, reengineering may face budgetary and time constraints, especially in organizations where resources are limited and justifying necessary investments is challenging.

To address these challenges, organizations must adopt effective and pragmatic reengineering strategies. This includes establishing strong governance to oversee the reengineering process, clearly defining objectives, priorities, and necessary resources. Moreover, transparent communication and effective stakeholder management are essential to minimize resistance to change and ensure the buy-in of affected teams.

Furthermore, it is crucial to adopt an iterative and incremental approach in the reengineering process, identifying and prioritizing improvements in stages. This helps mitigate the risks associated with reengineering by limiting the impact of changes on ongoing operations and enabling gradual adaptation to new architectures and technologies. Finally, training and developing team skills are essential to ensure the long-term success of software reengineering, facilitating effective adoption of new practices, tools, and technologies. By adopting these strategies and overcoming these challenges, organizations can maximize the benefits of software reengineering and maintain their competitiveness in a digitally evolving environment.

Case Studies and Best Practices in Software Reengineering

Case studies and best practices in software reengineering provide concrete insights into how organizations can successfully modernize their existing systems to meet contemporary challenges and changing business requirements. For example, a case study of a large e-commerce company facing slow loading times and poor user experience revealed that reengineering their software platform by adopting a cloud-based architecture and optimizing database queries significantly reduced loading times and improved user satisfaction.

Similarly, applying best practices such as using agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, can facilitate effective project management in reengineering projects by enabling close collaboration between development teams and stakeholders, as well as flexibility in managing priorities and changes. Additionally, adopting emerging technologies such as test automation and continuous deployment can accelerate the reengineering process by reducing development lead times and improving code quality.

By analyzing these case studies and leveraging these best practices, organizations can develop effective strategies to successfully carry out their own software reengineering initiatives, maximizing benefits while minimizing risks and potential obstacles. Ultimately, case studies and best practices in software reengineering offer valuable guidance for organizations seeking to modernize their computer systems and maintain their competitiveness in an ever-evolving digital world.

Conclusion

By examining these inspiring case studies and exploring recommended best practices, organizations can gain valuable insights for their own software reengineering projects. For tailored support and solutions to your specific needs, do not hesitate to contact our digital agency, Edana, specialized in software reengineering. With our proven expertise in the field, we are here to help you realize your digital transformation ambitions and ensure the success of your software modernization projects.

Categories
Featured-Post-Software-EN Non classé Software Engineering (EN)

ACID Transactions: Ensuring the Integrity of Your Critical Data

ACID Transactions: Ensuring the Integrity of Your Critical Data

Auteur n°2 – Jonathan

ACID transactions (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) are the cement that guarantees the integrity of critical data within modern enterprises. Financial institutions and e-commerce companies have relied on them for a long time because they cannot afford inconsistencies in their datasets. Today, they are the cornerstone that ensures the security and integrity of operations across a variety of industries.

This mechanism protects your information systems against critical data errors because, unlike a simple isolated operation, an ACID transaction treats multiple actions as an indivisible unit: everything succeeds, or nothing is applied. In plain terms, it’s the guarantee that a sequence of operations (for example, a debit followed by a credit in banking) leaves the database in a coherent and reliable state, without any incoherent intermediate state that could cause downtime for the user or, worse, trigger irreversible actions leading to disputes.

For decision-makers and CIOs, this means reduced risk of data corruption, fewer costly errors, and enhanced confidence in their systems. They therefore build these guarantees into their IT strategy, fully aware that transactional robustness directly influences performance, compliance, risk management, and the organization’s reputation.

ROI and Business Benefits: The Concrete Impact of an ACID Transactional Architecture on the Enterprise

In the digital age, ensuring data integrity via ACID transactions is an investment in the sustainability and performance of your company.

Beyond the technology itself, decision-makers seek tangible benefits. A reliable information system delivers multiple ROIs: fewer business interruptions (failures or unplanned stops) due to anomalies; lower costs related to data recovery or correction of corrupted data; less time wasted fixing errors; and increased trust from both customers and employees.

Concrete Advantages

  • Reduction in processing times: automation of workflows and elimination of manual interventions.
  • Decrease in errors and inconsistencies: systematic validation of business rules with each transaction.
  • Optimization of operational costs: fewer resources dedicated to correcting and reconciling data.
  • Improvement in service reliability: increased availability and resilience against failures.
  • Gain in customer and employee trust: smooth communication and coherent data foster satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Support for innovation: stable foundations to deploy new features without risk.

Insurance Use Case

Context

An insurance company we advise receives approximately 5,000 claim submissions each month via its online portal. Until recently, claims were first recorded in several distinct subsystems (document management, expert tracking, billing) because the IS was not yet fully integrated.

During peak periods, the various processing teams would see duplicate claim files spread across multiple systems. They then had to manually consolidate these files—identify duplicates, merge partial information, validate the complete history—to obtain a single coherent record.

This manual procedure was lengthy: for each duplicated claim, teams had to navigate up to three different interfaces, compare supporting documents, and reconstruct the full status of the file. On average, 15 % of claims had at least one duplicate, and each consolidation took several hours per file, with a high risk of human error and extended processing times.

ACID Solution

By adopting a fully ACID-compliant transactional database, HelvetiaCare was able to automate each step of the claims process:

  1. Atomicity: each change (creation, update, closure of a file) is treated as an indivisible unit.
  2. Consistency: business rules (e.g., no file without validated documentation) are guaranteed on every transaction.
  3. Isolation: records are locked at the necessary level, preventing any conflicts during traffic peaks.
  4. Durability: once committed, every transaction remains reliable and recoverable, even in the event of a system failure.

Results

  • Processing time per file dropped from 72 hours to 2 hours.
  • Duplicates were almost eliminated (from 15 % to less than 0.5 %) thanks to strict write isolation.
  • Customer satisfaction (NPS) rose from +24 to +58 in six months.
  • Operational costs related to manual follow-ups and corrections were reduced by 50 %, saving approximately CHF 400 000 annually.

Strategic Impact

This ACID automation goes beyond a performance gain: it strengthens data reliability, frees teams to focus on product innovation, and significantly improves the customer experience by ensuring fast, error-free service.

Solid Foundations for Growth and Transformation

Strategically, equipping your system with a robust, tailor-made ACID foundation provides additional agility. Rather than hindering innovation—as a system generating data inconsistencies would—such a foundation secures it: every new feature or module can rely on existing, reliable transactions without risking a collapse like a house of cards. It’s the assurance that the company’s digital growth will not come at the expense of data quality.

How ACID Transactions Work Technically

An ACID transaction ensures that no critical data is lost or corrupted in transit, a risk that inevitably arises in non-ACID systems.

Behavior Without ACID

Before discussing ACID transactions, it’s necessary to explain concretely how, in the absence of these properties, several risks can lead to data loss or corruption:

  • Absence of atomicity: if a series of operations is interrupted (failure, timeout, crash), only some of them are applied, leaving the database in a partially updated state.
    Example: during a two-step bank transfer (debit from account A, credit to account B), a crash after the debit but before the credit can make the money vanish from the system.
  • Absence of isolation: concurrent transactions can interfere (lost updates, dirty reads), causing inconsistencies or overwriting legitimate modifications.
    Example: on a high-traffic e-commerce site, only five units of an item remain in stock. Two order servers process purchases in parallel: each reads “5,” sells one unit, and writes “4.” The second overwrite leaves the stock at 4 instead of 3, causing one sale to disappear.
  • Absence of durability: without reliable logging, a sudden restart can permanently erase recently committed changes.
    Example: an order recorded just before a power cut disappears after the server restarts.
  • Absence of consistency: no mechanism ensures that all constraints (referential integrity, business rules) remain respected in case of error.
    Example: deleting a customer without deleting their associated orders, leaving orphaned records in the “orders” table.

These shortcomings can lead to scenarios where valid updates are simply forgotten, intermediate states are exposed to users, or critical data ends up in an incoherent state.

Behavior With ACID

An ACID transaction, on the other hand, guarantees that every operation composing the process is either fully committed or rolled back as a whole in case of a problem, thus preserving overall consistency in each of the above scenarios.

To achieve this, an ACID transaction relies on four fundamental guarantees, each implemented by mechanisms applicable in any system handling data operations:

Atomicity

  • Principle: treat all operations of a transaction as one indivisible whole: either all succeed, or none takes effect.
  • Mechanisms:
    • Operation log (write-ahead log): record the list of actions to be performed before execution, enabling rollback if needed.
    • Coordinated rollback: in case of failure at any step, traverse the log to undo each applied operation.

Consistency

  • Principle: allow only valid data states that respect all business rules and global constraints before and after the transaction.
  • Mechanisms:
    • Batch validation: check all constraints (uniqueness, relationships, invariants) in one pass when the transaction requests commit.
    • Validation hooks: extension points (in application or middleware) that reject modifications violating business rules.

Isolation

  • Principle: concurrent transactions must appear as if executed sequentially, without visible interference.
  • Mechanisms:
    • Logical locking: lock resources (data items, files, objects) during modification to prevent conflicts.
    • Version control (MVCC): each transaction works on its own copy of data (or its changes), then merges results at commit, detecting and handling conflicts.

Durability

  • Principle: once a transaction is committed, its effects must survive any crash or restart.
  • Mechanisms:
    • Persistent writes: ensure all modifications are replicated or written to non-volatile storage before confirming transaction completion.
    • Crash recovery: on system restart, automatically replay committed operations not yet applied to the final state.

By combining these four guarantees through operation logs, batch validations, synchronization or versioning strategies, and reinforced persistence procedures, any system—whether a dedicated database, a distributed queue service, or a transactional middleware layer—can offer reliable and robust transactions that protect critical data integrity.

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Transactional Databases: Leverage the DBMS Rather Than Reinvent the Wheel

In your projects, you have two approaches to ensure Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability:

  1. Manual implementation of the necessary mechanisms (logging, rollback, locking, crash recovery) directly in application code, orchestrating each step yourself.
  2. Relying on a transactional DBMS that natively integrates these functions, optimized and battle-tested for decades to safeguard critical data.

Advantages of Entrusting ACID to the DBMS

  • Optimized, proven mechanisms: native logging (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL/InnoDB, Oracle, SQL Server) uses tuned write-ahead logs for performance and data safety.
  • Locking and MVCC: sophisticated shared/exclusive locks or multi-version concurrency control ensure high concurrency without excessive blocking—a complexity hard to reproduce manually.
  • Certified compliance and reliability: transactional DBMSs undergo ACID compliance tests and receive regular updates; you avoid “home-grown” errors and benefit from active community support.
  • Reduced application complexity: delegating atomicity, rollback, validation, and durability to the DBMS keeps your business code concise and maintainable; tuning the DBMS (buffer sizes, checkpoint frequency, replication) becomes your main lever for scaling performance.
  • Advanced observability and operability: integrated tools (pg_stat_activity, Performance Schema, Oracle Enterprise Manager) provide precise metrics for diagnosing locks, transaction latency, or log rates; execution plans and audit reports facilitate profiling and optimization.
  • High availability and disaster recovery: replication, clustering, and automatic failover (PostgreSQL Streaming Replication/Patroni, MySQL Group Replication, Oracle Data Guard, SQL Server Always On) protect committed data from loss; crash recovery routines based on the log ensure coherent state restoration.

Major Transactional Engines

  • PostgreSQL: strict SQL standards compliance, advanced MVCC, partitioning and replication options.
  • MySQL/MariaDB (InnoDB): ubiquitous on the web, full ACID support with native replication.
  • Oracle Database: rich enterprise features and high-availability options.
  • Microsoft SQL Server: deep integration with Windows/.NET ecosystem, robust administration tools.
  • IBM Db2: proven reliability in large-scale critical environments.
  • CockroachDB, YugabyteDB: NewSQL distributed systems guaranteeing global ACID for cloud-native architectures.

By entrusting your transactions to a suitable DBMS, you benefit from a robust, high-performance, and secure technical foundation—validated by the community and data-reliability experts—whereas a custom implementation would expose you to high development and maintenance costs and increased error risk.

Reconciling ACID Systems with Modular Architectures

Integrating ACID principles in a modular architecture is also a compelling approach that ensures maximum reliability while preserving technological agility.

Many companies are adopting microservices or decoupled modules for greater flexibility. The challenge then is to maintain data integrity across these multiple components. Fortunately, ACID is not exclusive to monolithic systems: with modern tools, you can combine strict consistency and modularity.

For example, an industrial client we work with migrated its production-management software to independently deployed services. Each step (order intake, stock adjustment, machine scheduling) was handled by a separate module. However, without ACID coordination, discrepancies arose: an order could be confirmed without the stock decrement happening in real time, because the transaction did not encompass both actions.

The solution was to introduce a global transaction layer orchestrating key modules. Concretely, the IT teams built a custom orchestrator ensuring atomicity of critical action sequences: if one fails, everything is rolled back. This modular ACID approach immediately paid off: the production line became more resilient, eliminating synchronization errors between services. The company saw a direct performance gain: production stoppages due to data inconsistencies dropped by 60 %, improving ROI through better continuity.

Moreover, this modernization did not compromise future adaptability: by using a modular approach, the architecture remains evolutive. Critical data integrity is upheld without locking the company into a rigid solution; instead, the tech stack stays open (APIs, open-source standards) and adaptable—proof that you can reconcile ACID rigor with ongoing innovation.

Putting ACID Transactions at the Heart of Your Business Strategy

As you’ve seen, ACID transactions are not just another technical concept but a strategic imperative for any organization handling critical data. They act as the invisible guardian of consistency and reliability, enabling leaders to make decisions based on solid information and keeping IT systems functional and stable to serve customers without interruption or error.

From finance to industry and services, we’ve shown how a personalized, open, and modular ACID approach brings concrete gains: risk reduction, cost optimization, and unleashed innovation. Adopting ACID transactions is thus an investment in your company’s digital sustainability. By investing in these solid foundations, decision-makers equip themselves to grow confidently in an increasingly demanding digital environment.

Discuss about your challenges with an Edana expert

PUBLISHED BY

Jonathan Massa

As a specialist in digital consulting, strategy and execution, Jonathan advises organizations on strategic and operational issues related to value creation and digitalization programs focusing on innovation and organic growth. Furthermore, he advises our clients on software engineering and digital development issues to enable them to mobilize the right solutions for their goals.

Categories
Featured-Post-HomePage-EN Featured-Post-Software-EN Software Engineering (EN)

Custom Business Application: Pricing, Timeline, and Steps to Create Your Enterprise Software

Comment créer une application métier en Suisse

Custom Business Application: Pricing, Timeline, and Steps to Create Your Enterprise Software

Auteur n°2 – Jonathan

  • Tags Business application, Business software, digitalization, tailored software

Digital transformation has reshaped how Swiss businesses operate, compelling them to rethink their processes and adopt innovative solutions to remain competitive. Among these solutions, custom business applications stand out as essential tools to meet the specific needs of each company or organization. In this article, we will explore what a business application is, why it is crucial for the growth and survival of your business in the Swiss and international markets, how much it can cost, and how a custom software development provider like our agency, Edana, can help you create a business application tailored to your needs.

What is a business application (or business software)?

A business application, also known as business software, is a software solution specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of a company or organization. It can be a comprehensive suite for managing all of its business operations or a solution dedicated to a single or multiple tasks (CRM, invoicing, warehouse management, time-sheeting, accounting, etc.). Unlike generic software that can be sold on the market (so-called “off-the-shelf” solutions), a custom business application is developed taking into account the internal processes, workflows, and specific needs of the company or organization. It has no limits in terms of possibilities, and its functions and user interface are perfectly tailored to the precise needs of the business activity.

Examples of business applications designed by us

You can see examples of business applications that we have custom designed for Swiss companies such as Filinea (intervention management software, emails, calendars, human resources, and other custom functions) and Goteck (customer management, project management, and invoicing). These two enterprise applications constitute real digitized ecosystems since everything the employees need is centralized there, all in an ergonomic and secure manner.

Digital transformation of a mittelstand
Filinea
Business software for an electrical company
Goteck


Develop my own business application

Business applications can be developed using web, native, or a combination of both languages. Often hosted on a secure and dedicated server, they offer significant flexibility, allowing employees to connect from various locations (office, home, field) and devices (mobile phones, tablets, computers) or facilitating data backups or updates to their features and deployment.

Why opt for a custom business application?

A business application tailored to a company’s needs can lead to various benefits such as task automation, reduced payroll costs, increased employee happiness (often measured through the Net Promoter Score), increased customer satisfaction (also measured via NPS), as well as increased productivity, etc.

Here are the main advantages of custom business software:

Maximum customization

Custom business applications offer unparalleled customization, allowing companies to easily adapt to changes and evolutions in their industry. Indeed, each company or organization has different specificities (employee profile, management or project management method adopted, products and services sold, customer typology, etc.). So many parameters make a company unique and turn preconceived solutions into inadequate burdens and often unnecessary expenses for a company believing to do well by digitizing itself but paying for an inadequate solution that will not be adopted by its employees.

Process optimization

Delving into the heart of operational mechanisms is the promise of a custom business application developed by Edana. Understanding every nuance, every interaction within your company enables us to tailor solutions that transcend the ordinary. From streamlining workflows to automating repetitive tasks, a meticulous approach ensures maximum operational efficiency. With a well-designed custom business software, process optimization becomes more than an aspiration; it becomes the reality that propels your company towards operational excellence.

Enhanced security

Customized solutions offer a higher level of security tailored to the specific needs of the company, ensuring the protection of sensitive data. They take into account the types of data stored and the working mechanisms, thus being developed accordingly to protect your data against threats related to your activity.

Centralization & ecosystem

In general, digitizing through business software simplifies many processes and centralizes key tools (having emails, contacts, and business tools centralized in one place ergonomically changes the game and simplifies many things). This avoids, for example, opening several different programs and juggling with them to perform a task.

Unmatched scalability of a custom-built enterprise application

A well-designed business application is scalable, capable of adapting to the company’s growth without compromising performance. It can be gradually improved and become everything you need to achieve and maintain operational excellence, without any limits!

Let’s talk about your digitization

How long does it take to develop a business application?

The time required to create a business application can vary considerably depending on several factors. These factors include the complexity of the application, the required features, customization requirements, the size of the development team, the development methodologies used, and many others.

It is essential to note that each project is unique. Some projects can be completed more quickly using frameworks and pre-existing tools, while others require more customized and in-depth development. In general, the creation of custom business software involves several stages, from needs analysis to design, development, testing, and finally deployment.

As an indication, the complete cycle can last from 2 to 3 months for an MVP (minimum viable product), 6 to 8 months for a complete software, and over a year for a complex complete software. Some very important and highly complex projects may even see their development last for several years.

To obtain a more precise estimate, it is recommended to consult a custom software development agency in Switzerland, such as ours, which can assess your specific needs and provide you with an estimate based on the scope of your project.

Get an estimate of the timeline tailored to your company

Budget for developing custom business software in Switzerland

Budget for developing custom business software in Switzerland The cost of a custom business application in Switzerland can vary considerably depending on several factors. Like the development time, some of the main elements that influence the cost are also the complexity of the application, the number of features, the level of customization required, the technology used, the degree of security required, the size of the development team, and other specific project requirements.

In general, developing a custom application in Switzerland can cost from tens of thousands to several hundreds of thousands of Swiss francs, or even more for very complex projects.

It is recommended to have a thorough discussion with a custom software development agency in Switzerland to obtain an accurate estimate based on the specific needs of your company. A detailed analysis of your requirements will determine the costs associated with each phase of the development of the custom business application.

Get a cost estimate tailored to your company

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Steps to create a business application for your company

1. Needs assessment

Before starting the development process, it is essential to understand the specific needs of the company. At Edana, our experts work closely with clients to identify essential features and goals. Our enterprise architects, software engineers, UX designers, product owners, and digital strategists accompany you from this first step in your strategic thinking and advise you on the best solutions for your company or organization.

2. Design and planning

Once the needs are identified, the development team at Edana creates a detailed plan and architecture for the application. This includes designing the user interface, planning features, and identifying necessary technologies.

3. Development

The development process begins, with particular attention to code quality, security, and scalability. Clients are regularly updated on progress, and adjustments are made based on feedback.

4. Testing and validation

Before deployment in production, the application undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its proper functioning, security, and compliance with client requirements. Our project management and QA engineering teams conduct a battery of tests and adjustments necessary to meet our very high quality standards.

5. Deployment and maintenance

Once testing is successful, the application is deployed. Edana also ensures continuous maintenance, ensuring that the application remains up-to-date and functions smoothly. Our cybersecurity specialists also ensure that your system remains protected against threats and cyber-attacks (firewall management, anti-virus, software security patches, source code fixes, 24/7 monitoring, as well as backups and restorations).

What technologies to use to design custom software?

It is possible to build a business application with various technologies, which can also vary depending on the unique requirements of each project. Nevertheless, web technologies are increasingly used as they allow applications to be deployed in server environments without any limits and to be easily and quickly maintained and improved (these technologies are widespread, widely mastered, and their community is strong). It would be too long to list all the languages and technologies that can be mobilized to build a business application. So, we will talk about our approach. At Edana, we embrace technological diversity to create custom business applications that perfectly meet your specific needs. Our flexible approach includes the following technologies:

Powerful backend with Laravel, Symfony, or pure PHP for robust business applications

Laravel, the most powerful PHP framework, ensures a solid structure and easy maintenance. It also shortens development times thanks to its php artisan which makes life easier for backend developers or thanks to its packages.

Interactive frontend with React, Angular, or pure markup

We use React for dynamic components and Angular for business applications requiring a solid architecture. Our front-end developers also code in pure JS and HTML when necessary, depending on the project.

High-performance database with MySQL (or PostgreSQL) and Node.js

MySQL or PostgreSQL, recognized relational databases for their performance, are used, as well as Node.js for server-side operations. We carefully select the best technologies to handle and manipulate your data according to your needs. To learn more, you can read our article on different database systems for Swiss companies.

Hosting in Swiss territory with Infomaniak and other Swiss data centers

Swiss hosting guarantees stability and security, in compliance with Swiss data protection standards. This is notably a prerequisite for organizations and companies processing sensitive data such as patient (medical) or financial data (banks, insurance companies, investment funds, family offices, etc.).

Agile deployment with Docker, Kubernetes, and others

When necessary, Docker ensures smooth containerization, while Kubernetes orchestrates deployment, offering exceptional flexibility and scalability necessary for robust and responsive business applications.

Source control with GitLab

We use GitLab but also other collaboration and repository systems for efficient source code management, ensuring precise tracking of changes and fostering transparent collaboration.

Flexibility and specialization in multiple languages and technologies

At Edana, we are aware that each project is unique. That is why we specialize in a multitude of technologies including Python, C++, PHP, Kotlin, JSON, Rubis, Node.js, etc. We are open to all technologies and adapt our choices according to the specific needs of each client.

Contact us for a robust business application

Conclusion : a business application makes all the difference

Investing in a custom business application is a strategic step towards operational efficiency and sustainable growth. Edana, as a Swiss custom software development agency, offers its expertise to design solutions tailored to your specific needs and allows you to adapt to the constantly evolving digital world while automating and improving your internal processes.

A custom business application can have a very significant impact on your company (increased employee happiness, reduced lead times, increased yield rate, automation of tasks and positions, increased operational transparency, improved customer experience, protection against cyber threats, etc.). Contact us today to start your journey towards digital transformation and maximize the potential of your business.

PUBLISHED BY

Jonathan Massa

As a specialist in digital consulting, strategy and execution, Jonathan advises organizations on strategic and operational issues related to value creation and digitalization programs focusing on innovation and organic growth. Furthermore, he advises our clients on software engineering and digital development issues to enable them to mobilize the right solutions for their goals.

Categories
Featured-Post-About (EN) Featured-Post-Software-EN Featured-Post-Transformation-EN Software Engineering (EN)

How an Intranet or Digital Work Space Can Transform Your Business

How an Intranet or Digital Work Space Can Transform Your Business

Auteur n°2 – Jonathan

  • Tags application d'entreprise, digital workspace, espace de travail numérique, ETN, intranet, outil de collaboration

In today’s dynamic business world, digital transformation has become imperative to remain competitive. Swiss companies and organizations are constantly seeking innovative ways to optimize their operations, improve collaboration, and enhance their agility. It is in this context that intranets and digital workspaces emerge as essential tools to transform how businesses operate and interact.

At Edana, we specialize in digital transformation and the development of intranets, business tools, and digital workspaces. In this article, we will explain how such a tool can radically transform your way of working, improve your competitive advantage, enhance employee happiness, and increase your company’s valuation.

Before we begin, here are two intranets we have designed for Swiss companies:

Digital transformation of a mittelstand
Filinea
Business software for an electrical company
Goteck


Find out more about customized business applications

Create my own intranet or digital workspace

Seamless connectivity and effective collaboration

A well-designed intranet or digital workspace provides a centralized platform that promotes seamless connectivity among team members, regardless of their geographical location. This eliminates traditional barriers related to distance and enables employees to work together efficiently, whether for specific projects, virtual meetings, or real-time updates.

Document sharing functionality facilitates collaboration on complex projects. Teams can access relevant information, collaborate on documents in real-time, and track progress, thereby promoting seamless collaboration and increased productivity.

Centralized information management

One of the major advantages of a well-established intranet is the centralization of information. Companies generate vast amounts of data and information on a daily basis. An intranet acts as a central hub where this information is stored, organized, and made available to team members in a structured manner. This reduces the time wasted searching for scattered information and enables faster and informed decision-making.

Tell us about your needs and let’s develop your intranet

Improvement of internal communication

Effective internal communication is key to organizational success. Digital workspaces provide integrated communication tools such as forums, company blogs, and discussion threads, facilitating the rapid and efficient dissemination of important information. Employees stay informed about the latest news, company updates, and policy changes, thereby reinforcing a sense of transparency and belonging within the company.

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Enhancement of corporate culture

Intranets are not just functional tools but also catalysts for corporate culture. They provide a platform to share company values, celebrate successes, and recognize individual contributions. Digital workspaces contribute to creating a virtual environment where employees feel connected to the company’s mission and vision, thereby strengthening cohesion and engagement.

Customized intranet adaptability and scalability

Flexibility is a key feature of modern intranets. They can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each company, whether it’s diverse business sectors, different team sizes, or unique organizational structures. Furthermore, with the constant evolution of technologies, digital workspaces can be updated and improved to remain relevant and competitive.

Increase in company valuation

Integrating a custom intranet or digital workspace is a powerful catalyst for increasing a company’s attractiveness to investors, especially in anticipation of a potential exit. These technological tools offer increased visibility into operational performance, allowing investors to make informed decisions based on accurate and real-time data. The centralization of information and ease of access to strategic data reduce risks and increase investor confidence.

Moreover, optimized collaboration and transparent communication within the company strengthen cohesion and efficiency, key aspects for investors looking to maximize their return on investment. By establishing a solid digital infrastructure, the company enhances its perceived value, thus strengthening its position for successful exits or strategic partnerships. By investing in these innovative technologies, companies demonstrate their commitment to operational efficiency and profitability, factors that do not go unnoticed by potential investors.

Develop your own internal tool now

Benefits of an intranet / Digital workspace for HR

Centralized management simplifies administrative tasks for the human resources department. Administratively, many activities are streamlined, including account creation, password generation, access rights assignment, information consultation and modification, as well as management of various types of documents.

This centralized approach also extends to the organization of internal events, encouraging content sharing among employees via the intranet. This practice promotes employee upskilling by facilitating access to training resources. Additionally, the intranet provides a platform conducive to knowledge sharing, best practices, and the provision of internal guides and procedures within the organization.

Why microsoft SharePoint and pre-packaged solutions are a bad investment

While SharePoint is a popular platform for creating intranets, opting for a custom-built intranet offers significant advantages that may better meet a company’s specific needs, particularly from a user experience, task optimization, as well as investor and potential exit standpoint.

Rigid and ill-suited to company processes

Firstly, a custom intranet is designed to align precisely with the company’s processes and goals, offering a more suitable and flexible solution than SharePoint, which inevitably requires compromises due to its predefined features. This increased customization allows for a more intuitive and efficient user experience, which is crucial for maintaining employee productivity and engagement, factors that directly impact company performance and valuation.

Non-scalable and non-agile

Secondly, a custom-built intranet can be scalable according to the changing needs of the company. As the company grows and evolves, a custom intranet can be adapted and updated without the constraints often associated with prepackaged solutions. This agility is particularly appealing to managers, employees, and investors who all appreciate companies capable of quickly adapting to a constantly changing business environment.

Proprietary and non-free

On the other hand, the intellectual property associated with a custom intranet can also be a significant asset in merger and acquisition negotiations, capital exits, and company resale. Owning a unique solution, perfectly integrated with the company’s processes and culture, can strengthen the company’s position in strategic discussions, thereby helping to maximize the potential exit value.

Lackluster return on investment

Finally, the cost of a SharePoint solution can be prohibitive for many companies and organizations, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, and makes little sense for larger companies capable of developing their own software without any limitations and having ownership and associated freedom. Indeed, licensing, installation, and customization fees can quickly add up, making SharePoint unaffordable for businesses. In comparison, developing a custom intranet often offers a more cost-effective solution for smaller companies, allowing them to benefit from a platform tailored to their specific needs without incurring the high costs associated with prepackaged solutions like SharePoint. This personalized approach can also offer a better return on investment, as it avoids unnecessary expenses related to features that a company may not need.

I want to leave SharePoint for my own custom solution

Conclusion: Create your own intranet / digital workspace now to reap its multiple benefits in the future

In summary, investing in a well-designed intranet or digital workspace can radically transform how your company operates. By fostering collaboration, centralizing information, improving internal communication, and strengthening corporate culture, these tools become essential elements of any organization’s digital transformation strategy.

At Edana, our custom software development agency in Switzerland, we understand the importance of leveraging digital technologies to propel your business into the future. Contact us today to explore how we can customize an intranet or digital workspace that meets your specific needs and significantly transforms your company.

Let’s discuss your needs and specifics.

PUBLISHED BY

Jonathan Massa

As a specialist in digital consulting, strategy and execution, Jonathan advises organizations on strategic and operational issues related to value creation and digitalization programs focusing on innovation and organic growth. Furthermore, he advises our clients on software engineering and digital development issues to enable them to mobilize the right solutions for their goals.

Categories
Featured-Post-HomePage-EN Featured-Post-Software-EN Software Engineering (EN)

Hexagonal Architecture and Microservices: A Winning Duo for Scalable Software

Hexagonal Architecture and Microservices: A Winning Duo for Scalable Software

Auteur n°14 – Daniel

Software development is constantly evolving to meet the growing demands of businesses for flexibility, scalability, and performance. Yet, too many companies still cling to outdated monolithic architectures, leading to high maintenance costs, rigidity that stifles innovation, and increased vulnerability to failures.

At Edana, we frequently leverage hexagonal architecture and microservices to avoid these pitfalls and provide our clients with sustainable and competitive solutions. These architectures are not just technological choices; they are strategic levers to ensure the success and longevity of IT systems.

If your company continues to use a rigid architecture, you risk operational inefficiencies, difficulties in adapting to market changes, and, most importantly, increased dependency on obsolete technologies. In this article, we explore these modern architectures in detail and what they can bring to your business.

Hexagonal architecture: a modern design pattern

Definition and principles

Hexagonal architecture, also known as “Ports & Adapters,” was introduced by Alistair Cockburn to solve a major issue in traditional software: excessive dependency on underlying technologies. By decoupling the business core from external infrastructures (databases, third-party APIs, user interfaces), it allows companies to adapt more quickly to market changes.

Hexagonal architecture schema

Why is this crucial? Because technologies evolve. If your software is too tightly integrated with an aging database or an outdated interface, you risk being stuck when it’s time to modernize your system. With hexagonal architecture, you can change a technology without disrupting your operations.

Use case: the risks of a rigid architecture

One of our clients, a financial services company, was struggling with a monolithic system that slowed down its integration with new banking partners. Each new connection required weeks of development, significantly increasing delays and costs. By applying hexagonal architecture, we separated the business core from external interfaces, reducing the time needed to integrate new payment solutions from several weeks to just a few days.

If you don’t structure your software in this way, every future improvement will become a challenge, hindering your competitiveness against more agile players.

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Microservices: the key to a distributed and flexible system

The dangers of an aging monolith

Companies that persist with monolithic architectures eventually face a major problem: rigidity. Every update becomes a risk as it can impact the entire system. This slows down development cycles and prevents the company from innovating quickly.

Concrete benefits of microservices

Microservices help avoid these pitfalls by breaking an application into several independent services, each of which can be updated or improved without disrupting the entire system. This ensures:

  • Better resilience: A failure in one service does not affect the entire application.
  • Increased adaptability: You can add new features without risking damage to existing ones.
  • Effective scalability: Instead of over-provisioning an entire system, you can allocate resources only to the services that need them.

A successful transformation case

One of our retail clients was using a monolithic system to manage online orders. During peak traffic periods, a simple error in the inventory management module rendered the entire platform unavailable for several hours.

We restructured the system into microservices, decoupling inventory management from the rest of the system. The result: in case of a problem with one microservice, the entire platform remains operational. This transformation also allowed the company to launch new features more quickly, enhancing its competitive advantage.

Failing to adopt microservices means accepting a permanent risk of downtime and slow feature development, which is unacceptable in a world where agility is a key success factor.

Why combine hexagonal architecture and microservices?

The future of enterprise software

Hexagonal architecture ensures the longevity of your developments by decoupling your business core from the technologies used. Microservices, on the other hand, guarantee the rapid and flexible evolution of each component. Together, these two approaches provide the ideal model for any company looking to:

  • Protect against technological obsolescence.
  • Reduce maintenance costs.
  • Accelerate innovation and time-to-market.
  • Improve service resilience and availability.

In other words, these architectures are not just trends; they are necessities for any company that wants to remain competitive in the coming years.

What we did for Filinea

With diverse needs and the necessity of implementing an intelligent, sustainable enterprise ecosystem that evolves seamlessly without constraints, Filinea reached out to us.

We implemented a comprehensive solution, including an email client, intelligent intervention reporting systems, private and shared calendars, as well as other business logic tools revolving around human resource management and daily operational processes. An AI model has also be integrated in order to ease the life of the field teams.

To ensure this ecosystem was performant, flexible, and scalable while integrating seamlessly with the company’s existing tools, we opted for a microservices architecture. Each service is independent and can evolve without constraints. It is also easy to add new customized features and connect new tools.

Scalable Business Software
Filinea

Discover the Filinea case study

Talk with an expert

Mistakes to avoid when implementing these architectures

Many companies hesitate to adopt these architectures due to fear of initial complexity. However, by following a methodical approach, the transition is smooth, and the benefits are immediate. The key is to understand that migration should not be seen as an isolated project but as a progressive and strategic transformation of the information system.

Some common mistakes can slow down or compromise this transition. Here are the most frequent ones and how to avoid them:

1. Trying to migrate everything at once

Transitioning from a monolithic architecture to hexagonal architecture and microservices doesn’t happen overnight. A massive, abrupt migration exposes the company to technical and organizational risks.

Solution: Adopt a gradual approach. Identify critical modules and migrate them one by one, starting with those that provide an immediate gain in performance and flexibility.

2. Underestimating the importance of testing

A more modular system requires rigorous test coverage. Without robust tests, maintenance becomes complex, and regression risks increase.

Solution: Implement automated testing, including unit, integration, and load tests, to ensure system stability throughout the transition.

3. Failing to structure CI/CD from the start

Many companies implement microservices without adapting their delivery processes. Without a proper continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipeline, updates become cumbersome and conflict-prone.

Solution: Structure your CI/CD pipeline from the beginning with tools like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, or ArgoCD. Automate builds, tests, and deployments to ensure fast and safe updates.

4. Ignoring monitoring and observability

In a distributed architecture, tracking the state of services becomes more complex. Without proper visibility, incident resolution can become a nightmare.

Solution: Set up an observability stack with tools like Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry, and Loki. Ensure that each microservice generates logs and actionable metrics.

5. Neglecting API and interservice communication management

Poorly managed communication between services can introduce latency or security risks.

Solution: Use an API Gateway like Kong or Apigee for centralized API management. Implement asynchronous messaging with Kafka or RabbitMQ to avoid direct dependencies between services.

Not involving business teams

Often, IT teams lead the transition without consulting business stakeholders, resulting in solutions that don’t meet real needs.

Solution: Involve business managers from the design phase to ensure the new architecture meets business needs, not just technical requirements.

Lacking a strategic vision

Some companies adopt these architectures just because “everyone is doing it.” Without clear long-term benefits, the project may stall.

Solution: Define clear business objectives before starting: reduced maintenance costs, faster time-to-market, improved scalability, etc.

Edana, your partner for a successful transition

At Edana, we support our clients at every step of their digital transformation by integrating these architectures pragmatically. We have helped companies avoid millions in maintenance costs and cut their service launch times in half.

Hexagonal architecture and microservices are not just technical choices; they are the foundation of an agile, high-performing, and resilient company. If you want to ensure the longevity of your IT system and accelerate your growth, adopting these architectures is imperative.

Contact us today to discover how we can transform your software architecture and propel your business into the future.

Talk with an expert

PUBLISHED BY

Daniel Favre

Avatar de Daniel Favre

Daniel Favre is a Senior Software Engineer. He designs and builds bespoke business solutions (SaaS, mobile apps, websites) and full digital ecosystems. With deep expertise in architecture and performance, he turns your requirements into robust, scalable platforms that drive your digital transformation.

Categories
Featured-Post-Software-EN Featured-Posts-Vitrine (EN) Software Engineering (EN)

Connecting with customers – The Importance of Client Portals

Connecting with customers – The Importance of Client Portals

Auteur n°4 – Marie

Definition of Client Portal

A customer portal is a website that gives us the ability to connect with our organization or company. We use different services there, have access to important information about the company, and usually have our own accounts which are secure and private.

We might have access to payment information, support mechanism and etc. but at the end of the day, we actively communicate with the company, use the services that we require, and get the desired results. And we can do it from any location, anytime.

The Most Important Attribute to Customer Experience

All customers need a fast response and problem-solving solutions. They need you to be accessible from different channels which are associated with your company. They need to know about the new services and the products that you can provide them with.

Of course, they will need to communicate with the company representatives as well, but the most important thing for all the customers is to know how to use the company tools.

That’s why self-service helps. If we can provide our customers with online support and guidance we would get maximum results in a short period of time. 

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Customer Portal Benefits

Customer portals are well received by customers and gives the brand an opportunity to be informative and active in customers’ life.

Nowadays, customers have the ability to self-serve, and many of them are more than happy to do it, but they need information and comfort from our side to do so.

For example, McDonald’s Self Ordering Kiosks are part of their digital revolution, you see every available product there, you choose, you pay and then you just wait. All the customers use it, it’s simple, quick, easy, informative, and gives them control.

You can make the customers work on their issues themselves with simple guidelines and get involved directly only if they seem to struggle or ask for your help.

Customer Satisfaction Rate improves because the customers don’t have to wait for company service agents, they sort out everything based on our portal and guidelines. 

Security Should be the Top Priority of Customer Portals

Customer-centric digital transformation strategies increase our connection with them. We need to create well-designed and well-managed portals, that store their information and protect them from any risk.

Secure client portals increase user experience and client loyalty. So we can create the kind of portal where security initiatives will be embedded in the design, this way we can ensure that the design will still be attractive for our customers and most importantly secure.

Elements that all the Customer Portals Should Have

Since our customers would want to manage their accounts and products independently, they’ll require information to navigate between our webpage and mobile app, so we need to be simple. They shouldn’t spend too much time on research. To solve this issue, we can provide them with chatbots, virtual assistants, and FAQs.

Customer portals can include communities as well where the customers will be able to help each other and share their experiences. Again it’s going to increase loyalty and make problem-solving less time-consuming for them.

Getting feedback from your customers would always help you to improve yourself and see what’s important to them. You could even discover what’s the most demanded product or frequently used service from your company.

When customers are in control and involved in the ongoings of their chosen company, they are more inclined to continue working with them.

Your Portal is the Face of your Company

Most shops always use attractive window displays to gain more customers. It’s a common trick that works all the time. Because our eyes pay more attention to bright colors and we immediately notice the contrast between them, we see the style, if several parts of the text are in the same color they have our attention again.

So when we’ll know the purpose of the portal we can start working on making it memorable from the first glance. The first step is the visuals and graphics; after that, we have to work on functional design.

We have to provide customers with simple but important options. Because customers get confused with lots of information and it’s better to use straight to a point approach.

Use more simple terms, like contact us, about us, etc. Use the colors that are associated with your brand. While sharing important information use bold colors since they are more eye-catching. All in all, design is truly the silent ambassador of your brand.

What We Offer

For more similar articles, make sure to scroll through our Publications on Edana. Your Swiss Digital Agency is ready to provide you with Expert-Level assistance which is built on customer loyalty, progressive ideas, and dedication. Our expertise includes Software Engineering and many more.

PUBLISHED BY

Marie

Marie is an expert in digital strategy and project management. She audits the digital presences of companies and organizations of all sizes and in all sectors, and orchestrates strategies and plans that generate value for our customers. Highlighting and piloting solutions tailored to your objectives for measurable results and maximum ROI is her specialty.

Categories
Digital Consultancy & Business (EN) Featured-Post-Software-EN Software Engineering (EN)

Design Tips for Your Software to Increase the Profits of Your Organization

Appear in Google SERP when searched Software Design

Design Tips for Your Software to Increase the Profits of Your Organization

Auteur n°3 – Benjamin

Software Design Basics

Basically, for functional software design creation you need a specialist who creates a specific of a software archetype focused on accomplishing the assigned goals. Using a combination of primary components and subject of constraint gives you the final product. So, based on your intentions you will let the agent choose the software model best fitted to your current mission.

Make Your Goals Clear

When working on a software design, you better have a well-planned brief for the developer to follow up with. The point is, that if you don’t have a clear goal of what you want to reach through this design, your software will not do anything as a matter of result. The success of your software design is almost like a chain reaction. Have at least one thing in mind that you want to progress.

Customer Behavior Research

This specific research is like beginning of all operations conducted on your software including its design. We are speaking both-User Interface and User Experience design here. In quite short timing you’ll be able to notice certain behavior patterns of your customers regarding purchases and content engagement. If you notice for example, that a certain “check out” button is referred more to that another-try to investigate why and if making that button universal will actually benefit your sales. Seems like a funny and small detail, but can be game-changing for your online commerce.

{CTA_BANNER_BLOG_POST}

Develop A Functional Design

Functionality is the key to your software design. Of course elements like color design and aesthetics are important as well, but if it doesn’t work towards assessing the customer’s needs, then it’s regretfully useless. Make sure your design creates a comfortable navigation process for your customers. You might have seen popular apps and websites which don’t seem to have great and beautiful interface, but customers prefer them due to functionality and simplicity.

List Of Design Patterns

Now, that we’ve spoken of several design aspects of functional software designs, let’s review the list of design patterns, which generally work for upgrading your organization’s productivity online:

Creational Patterns

  • Factory Method
  • Abstract factory
  • Builder
  • Prototype
  • Singleton

Structural Patterns

  • Adapter
  • Bridge
  • Composite
  • Decoration
  • Façade
  • Flyweight
  • Proxy

Behavioral Patterns

  • Chain Of Responsibility
  • Command
  • Interpreter
  • Iterator
  • Mediator
  • Memento
  • Observer
  • State
  • Strategy
  • Visitor
  • Template Method

Follow The Patterns

All of the patterns with the following elements are basic keys to one big door of software design. Simultaneously processed they create the environment in your digital space which don’t just navigate existing customers, but also create additional leads which are later likely to turn into regular customers, users or visitors of your website.

Modern Trends

Among many trends we decided to pick some of the most important ones and review how they benefit your organization. One of them is remote work, which turns out to give increases in cloud computing process. Cloud usage has become a necessary attribute, especially now, that almost all work is done online.

Another very important trend you should not sleep on is AI adoption in your software. It’s become quite trendy to at least have a chat-bot as a communications service provider. It’s also gaining popularity among customers certainly. AI implementation reduces errors on your software and serves as a time-saving tool for your customers as well.

Interconnections, automated task management and cloud computing are most likely to continue rapid development. Yet, given developments come with challenges still to be overcome.

What We Offer

For more similar articles make sure to scroll through our Publications on Edana. And, don’t forget to check our services for Expert-Level assistance from your Swiss Digital Agency. Our expertise includes Software Model Engineering and many more. Feel free to contact us anytime!