DRINKING WATER ANALYSIS

Task
ip-connect GmbH was commissioned by a large service company to create an IT solution for planning and managing drinking water analyses in accordance with Section 14 of the Drinking Water Ordinance, as well as for electronically recording their execution on mobile devices.

Process
Initially, the individual process steps were identified in order to organize and carry out proper and accredited sampling. Together with the company’s specialist department, the required data, workflows, and dependencies were determined and visualized using clickable mockups. After approval by the specialist department, the implementation was carried out.

Benefits
The developed solution is integrated, audit-proof, and covers the following processes:
– Quotation creation
– Creation and management of orders
– Creation, management, and dispatch of documents and correspondence
– Scheduling
– Transfer to mobile devices
– Sampling
– Transmission to laboratory, headquarters, and logistics
– Processing of test results
– Remuneration of sampling personnel
– Invoice items for billing
– Test reports and/or notifications to the public health authority

Approach
Together with our customer, we analyzed existing documents, workflows, tools, processes, and requirements. There were no formal specifications provided by the customer for the new solution, and we were challenged to translate the processes into a user-friendly yet consistently guided interface. Existing devices and software environments were to be used in order to keep the effort efficient. We developed a system concept that was refined together with the customer. Due to significant time pressure, an agile approach was chosen for implementation. The individual process steps were developed chronologically and put directly into productive use.

Result
The new IT solution was developed using an architecture appropriate to the task and makes use of existing resources. It is modular, supports internal interfaces to the existing SAP system, and securely exchanges encrypted data with a government-approved laboratory for the actual analysis of the collected samples.

Technical Details
– MS .NET C#
– Database: MS SQL Server
– Interfaces: LDAP, SAP
– Protocols: TCP/IP, SFTP, HTTPS, SMTP

Rounded Figures
– 18,000 orders
– 60 locations (nationwide in Germany)
– 100 sampling personnel (nationwide in Germany)
– 120,000 samples