Software Architect

Requirements Specification and ERP Interface

Industry: Industry and Mechanical Engineering Client: Semcoglas Holding GmbH

At the start of the project, electronic data exchange covering the various business transactions relevant to Semcoglas Holding GmbH was not satisfactorily solved. Although there were different types of interfaces that at least partially supported the exchange between the customers of the Semcoglas Group and the ERP systems at Semco branches, there was no unified, powerful, and flexible solution for a standard data exchange between the involved companies. Open Knowledge GmbH is supporting Semcoglas Holding GmbH in creating a requirements specification for such an interface. As part of the project, beyond the more abstractly described requirements, the core of a modern, powerful interface specification is to be defined. The work includes analysing technical and business requirements, designing a RESTful API according to the OpenAPI 3 standard, and presenting the identified requirements in a requirements document. Semcoglas Holding GmbH is primarily involved in flat glass production and refinement. The headquarters is in Westerstede (Lower Saxony). At over 20 sites, mostly in Germany, the company manufactures and/or markets glazing products. Semco is also involved in a float glass plant that produces a large part of the raw materials needed at the various sites.

Functional Focus:

• Requirements analysis for a modern ordering interface in the glass industry
• Sketching the interface via OpenAPI

Technical Focus:

• OpenAPI

ETS Cloud

Industry: Internet, Information Technology and Multimedia Client: KNX Association cvba

Migration of the ETS desktop software into a web application and creation of a cloud platform to extend the KNX ecosystem. KNX is a standard for building automation. KNX Association cvba is an association of companies (mainly building technology manufacturers) that promotes and markets the standard and its specification.

Functional Focus:

• Web-based platform for configuring commercial home automation systems
• Designing the architecture of the microservices application
• Planning the migration of the existing software to the cloud platform
• Consulting and implementing Continuous Deployment (CD) and Continuous Integration (CI) using GitOps (Flux)
• Implementing the solution and further development

Technical Focus:

• Cloud platform, AWS, Kotlin, DevOps, Kubernetes, GitOps (Flux), Microservices

Connect2Terminal

Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Schenker AG

Connect2Terminal is an app built to support land transport operations, allowing users at terminals to register and handle goods. The easy-to-use application (web and mobile) supports terminals in multiple countries. Connect2Terminal not only has a modern look in the new DB Schenker style but is also functional, practical, and smart. The app was developed closely with business stakeholders throughout the process – from solution design to implementation. Connect2Terminal includes features for event logging by terminal staff, allowing logs at both package and shipment levels. DB Schenker AG is an integrated logistics provider with global supply chains. It supports industry and trade with land transport, global air and sea freight, as well as contract logistics and supply chain management.

Key Focus Areas:

• Digitizing logistics processes in warehouses.
• Consulting and designing architecture for efficient, cloud-native microservice applications.
• Implementing the solution.

Technical Focus Areas:

• Cloud technologies, Kotlin, Spring, TypeScript, Angular, CSS, HTML, Kafka, microservices

Conducting Various Client Workshops

Industry: Various Client: Various

Workshops were held for various clients focusing on cloud architectures and migrating applications to a cloud infrastructure. This role also included architecture reviews and sketching possible architectures for each client's environment. Topics also covered project automation using Infrastructure as Code, designing CI/CD pipelines in the cloud, evaluating potential technologies, and teaching necessary technologies during the workshops (training).

Key Focus Areas:

• Advising on cloud technologies and cloud architectures.
• Evaluating technologies in the client's context.
• Designing and planning CI/CD pipelines / automation with IaC.
• Consulting and designing cloud-native applications.
• Knowledge transfer and training.

Technical Focus Areas:

• Various cloud technologies with a focus on AWS, IaC, DevOps, cloud architectures, cloud-native development

Next Generation eServices

Industry: Transport and Logistics Client: Schenker AG

The eSchenker web portal combines established eSchenker online features with new eServices on one platform. This lets users manage logistics processes efficiently, quickly, and with ease using a single access point. The web application connects all transport modes in an eBusiness portal – from land transport to air and sea freight to contract logistics. It has all the tools needed to manage every step of the transport chain, such as scheduling, pricing, booking, tracking, invoicing, and reporting. The international development team works in parallel on new features and helps migrate the different IT systems of subsidiaries in other countries to the eSchenker web portal. A flexible permissions model allows adaptation to regional requirements. DB Schenker AG is an integrated logistics provider with global supply chains. It supports industry and trade with land transport, global air and sea freight, as well as contract logistics and supply chain management.

Key Focus Areas:

• Improving architecture and code quality.
• Refactoring from Angular.js to Angular.
• Implementing analytics.

Technical Focus Areas:

• Java, Spring, Angular.js, Angular

IZAR@Mobile 5" GUI development

Industry: Other services Client: Diehl Metering

As a supplement to the IZAR@NET V2 software, a 5" GUI was developed for mobile use. IZAR@Mobile V2 had to be specially adapted for a rugged mobile device that meets the needs of field staff reading thermal energy meters. The application also had to provide a core functionality to simplify the meter reading process for the user. Diehl Metering is part of the Diehl Group, headquartered in Nuremberg. The metering division produces Diehl measuring devices and offers transmission and evaluation systems for consumption data of all types of energy.

Professional focus:

• Data transfer between browser and mobile device via USB link cable for use in warehouses.

Technical highlights:

• JavaScript, USB, Chrome extensions, Linux

IAV AMeDA measurement data platform

Industry: Automotive and vehicle manufacturing Client: IAV GmbH

The AMeDA measurement data platform, developed by IAV, is used by well-known car manufacturers to manage all information around measurement data. As part of the AMeDA project, the platform and the related AMeDA Analysis application should be raised to a new functional and technical level. In addition to new features, the new AMeDA version is to be developed based on the current JEE standard. As one of the world’s leading engineering partners, IAV develops the mobility of the future. Their engineering is proven across brands in vehicles worldwide. With more than 35 years of experience and a broad range of expertise, IAV brings together diverse worlds: the automotive and IT world, the hardware and software world, the product and service world.

Professional focus:

• Implementation of a job engine based on Docker containers

Technical highlights:

• Java, Docker