VinLab integrates digital platform from Croc Code to automate IT processes

2021: Implementation of a digital platform to automate the development process

IT developer Croc Code on October 25, 2021 announced the introduction of a digital platform to automate the development process in the retail chain of VinLab stores, which is part of the BELUGA GROUP, an alcohol company in Russia. A multi-component solution developed by Croc Code experts is designed to increase the level of automation and adaptability of the business by simplifying and accelerating IT development.

The need for an in-house division capable of creating and developing applications was the logical result of the active development of the VinLab business. In the absence of uniform rules and architecture, contractors and their own IT resources could not provide the necessary speed to develop new and refine existing business applications. The company conducted a needs analysis and decided to create its own platform for working with IT products.

The digital platform developed by Croc Code is a versatile solution that allows you to integrate with business information systems. Its use frees VinLab IT professionals from many routine tasks, which reduces the time to make decisions and bring new products to market. The platform will allow the retail network to independently develop a mobile application, which is an important tool for the customer's business, as well as develop any required software.

The need for a rapid response to market change in view of the active growth of the network, the need to minimize the cost of integration with partner solutions have become one of the most important factors for the implementation of the Digital Platform project in the VinLab infrastructure. Our expected result from the implementation of the solution is a 30% reduction in the time to implement the change. Together with Croc Code, in the minimum time frame, we implemented not only the software and hardware part of the solution, but also carried out work on the unification of development processes, creating a single Development Methodology, "commented Evgeny Shingarev, Director of Information Technology at VinLab.

In just 3 months, Croc Code specialists have prepared a base for significantly accelerating the development of a mobile application and related software, as well as a base for expanding the VinLab team of specialists with internal and external resources. The IT team prepared a complete package of documents for the client, including the software development methodology, the digital platform architecture, the integration layer architecture and the composition of the digital platform itself (software and hardware). In addition, Croc Code introduced an orchestration platform based on Red Hat OpenShift, integrated it with GetLab, Jira and a number of information security tools, monitoring tools.

On the basis of the system operating at the customer, a model of the integration layer was developed - a demo application, which is integrated with the existing internal information system. The layout demonstrates how the application is deployed and working, and how any application that the customer will create in the future should work.

The creation of a digital platform provides the customer with complete freedom of action in the development of business applications by obtaining ready-made methods, the required software and the recommended technology stack. We offered the client already proven advanced solutions and algorithms that will help solve their problems efficiently. The platform reduces decision-making time to a few hours and even tens of minutes, and its high adaptability means that the IT system can scale and transform if necessary without the risk of relying on a "ceiling" of capabilities. Special attention was paid to the specifics of the retail industry, based on the many years of experience of Croc Code with various digital solutions in this area, "says Viktor Smirnov, director of the Croc Code digital technology business group.