Introduction: Tackling Legacy Software and Data Security for Canyon Steel
Canyon Steel, a leading provider of steel frame fabrication and erection for buildings such as offices, schools, homes, libraries, and hospitals, faced a critical challenge with its core legacy software, FabTrol. The software, integral to their operations, required migration to a faster, more reliable server. However, lack of support and outdated infrastructure meant that everything had to be manually maintained and repaired. Alongside this, Canyon Steel wanted to modernize their business processes, allowing managers to access blueprints remotely from iPads, and enabling their teams to work from job sites
Furthermore, data security and ensuring accessibility of their business documents were major concerns. Without a robust solution, Canyon Steel risked operational inefficiencies, especially as their employees increasingly needed access to documents and blueprints while working remotely.
This case study outlines how we successfully addressed these issues by migrating their systems to a secure cloud environment, integrating SharePoint for collaborative access to documents, and implementing custom solutions to ensure legacy devices could continue to function.
Body: Problem Analysis and Solution Implementation
Problem Analysis
Canyon Steel’s problems were multifaceted:
- Outdated Legacy Software: FabTrol, while central to Canyon Steel’s workflow, was running on older hardware and lacked vendor support.
- Remote Access: The client needed a solution where managers could view in-depth blueprints remotely on iPads, but the existing systems were not designed for modern, mobile access.
- Data Security: With sensitive project blueprints and operational data at stake, protecting data while allowing secure access to employees in the field was a priority.
- Collaboration Inefficiencies: Traditional paper-based workflows and slow information exchanges were hindering effective collaboration between teams on job sites.
- Legacy Hardware Integration: Devices like scanners still needed to function seamlessly, even after modernization.
Decision-Making Process
Our approach to solving Canyon Steel’s issues focused on the following goals:
- Migrate Legacy Software: While FabTrol was critical to their workflow, we recommended virtualizing the server and moving it to a secure cloud environment to ensure faster, more reliable access. This allowed select employees to access the software remotely without compromising security.
- Enable Remote Workflows for Managers: For managers needing to access detailed blueprints via iPads, we identified SharePoint as a key solution for hosting and managing documents. With SharePoint, blueprints and project plans could be accessed, edited, and shared remotely, making collaboration in the field faster and more effective.
- Data Security and Business Modernization: To modernize the business and keep sensitive data secure, we also migrated business documents to SharePoint. This allowed secure access from job sites using laptops and iPads. SharePoint’s collaborative features enabled real-time updates and annotations, improving response times and efficiency for teams working on-site.
- Addressing Software Constraints: Canyon Steel also utilized Tekla PowerFab, another important software solution. However, due to limitations from the software developers, it couldn’t be distributed fully to the cloud. Our solution involved enabling secure remote access for this software,while maintaining itsfunctionality.
- Custom Solutions for Legacy Devices: Canyon Steel’s scanners, which were integral for digitizing project documents, were not compatible with a full cloud setup. To bridge this gap, we implemented a custom on-premises solution that allowed these devices to still scan directly to SharePoint, maintaining their operational role without requiring costly hardware upgrades.
Implementation and Execution
Our process for implementing the solution involved the following steps:
- Virtualization of FabTrol: We deployed the FabTrol software on a virtualized server, housed securely in a cloud environment. This eliminated hardware concerns and enabled faster, more reliable performance.
- SharePoint Integration: We migrated all essential business documents to SharePoint, ensuring remote access for employees and managers. With SharePoint’s powerful collaborative tools, teams could now easily update plans in real time, even while on-site.
- iPad Access for Blueprints: We configured iPads for secure, remote access to SharePoint and FabTrol, ensuring that managers could view and edit blueprints remotely without compromising security.
- Custom Scanning Solutions: To maintain compatibility with legacy scanning devices, we built a custom on-premises bridge that allowed these scanners to continue sending documents directly to SharePoint.
Conclusion: Modernization, Efficiency, and Secure Remote Access
By migrating Canyon Steel’s legacy FabTrol software to the cloud, integrating SharePoint for document collaboration, and implementing custom on-premises solutions for legacy devices, we helped modernize their business operations.
“Our company is more efficient than ever!” – Blake Bagget, COO
The company now enjoys:
- Faster and more reliable access to their core FabTrol system.
- Secure, remote access to blueprints and business documents, allowing managers and teams to work more efficiently from any location.
- Improved collaboration through SharePoint, enabling real-time updates and annotations on project plans while on-site.
- A custom solution for legacy scanners, ensuring that critical hardware remains functional without requiring costly upgrades.
Key Results:
- 30% reduction in document retrieval time for teams on job sites.
- Increased productivity through faster access to blueprints and project plans.
- Enhanced data security, with all business documents now stored securely in the cloud.
- Improved collaboration, resulting in fewer errors and faster project completion times.
By focusing on seamless integration and secure access, Canyon Steel is now positioned for continued growth, with modern tools to enhance their day-to-day operations.