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Hexagonal Architecture and Microservices: A Winning Duo for Scalable Software

Hexagonal Architecture and Microservices: A Winning Duo for Scalable Software

Auteur n°14 – Guillaume

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 Yet, too many companies still cling to outdated monolithic architectures, leading to high maintenance costs, rigidity that stifles innovation, and increased vulnerability to failures.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 If your software is too tightly integrated with an aging database or an outdated interface, you risk being stuck when it’s time to modernize your system.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.

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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

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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.

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PUBLISHED BY

Guillaume Girard

Avatar de Guillaume Girard

Guillaume Girard 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.

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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 – Mariami

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. 

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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

Mariami Minadze

Mariami is an expert in digital strategy and project management. She audits the digital ecosystems 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.

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

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

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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.

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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!