Project outline: building the bespoke software

Our client previously white-labelled an integrated retirement community (IRC) system, using supplier-provided tablets mounted on residents' walls to provide features such as wellbeing monitoring, calling, alarms, etc. After two iterations of the system, which had faced numerous issues, our client approached us to build a bespoke system to give them full control.

The project started out with a period of consultancy where we produced a detailed software specification, as our client's requirements were high in complexity.

We identified the core project goals:

• Strengthen our client's competitive advantage
  • Our client faced the risks associated with vendor lock-in, where they did not have a choice of hardware or control over the software.
  • Building a bespoke system would build value in the company, as well as reduce risks.
• Capitalise on opportunities for operational efficiencies
  • We identified that a significant amount of time was being spent on device setup and management. To improve this, we proposed a system to streamline this process with remote management.
  • Previously, devices could not be set up until a site had power and internet. With our solution, devices could be configured prior to this, improving lead times.
• Allow our client to gain control over software development
  • By being in control of their own software, our client would no longer be constrained by their previous supplier.
  • This would allow our client to rapidly innovate by responding to customer and market needs.
• Improve code quality, cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure
  • There were often issues with the previous supplier, such as new updates containing bugs and breaking unrelated functionality.
  • Our high quality engineering and QA process would help to reduce client-facing issues, where our client was taking reputation hits.

Our solution

As set out in our software specification, we developed an Android tablet app for residents, and a supporting cloud portal backed by an AWS infrastructure.

Our proposed cascading device configuration system now allows devices to be configured at the company, site, build, zone, room, or even device level. This solution greatly reduced the amount of time that engineers need to spend setting up and managing devices. It also helps to reduce the amount of human error that occurred from manually duplicating configurations across multiple devices.

Our QR code-based device onboarding now allows devices to be configured before a site has power and/or internet. This can significantly reduce lead time, as devices can be ready to go within minutes of a site coming online.

Delivering the new software

The new TIS Sentinel SmartLINK V3 system has successfully been rolled out to multiple live client sites, with the app being deployed across a large number of devices.

Our client now has full control over the direction of the software and has already made several updates in order to meet the needs of prospective clients - work they could not have won before our bespoke solution. Through improved operational efficiencies, they are now able to set up and manage sites in a fraction of the time.