Trusted Guide in Upgrading, Modifying & Replacing Applications

Utilities facing application upgrades, modifications and/or possible replacements turn to BRIDGE as the trusted advisor in showing clients how to do IT right. When replacing a legacy system, clients call on BRIDGE to use a methodical approach to ensure selection of the right replacement product. When upgrades or modifications are needed, BRIDGE applies a unique combination of core expertise in the most popular Utility Application products on the market, and our prescriptive Enterprise methodology. This combination allows BRIDGE to leverage specific application expertise, best practices, industry standards and a repeatable approach that avoids the common pitfalls inherent in upgrading or modifying highly customized applications.

 

BRIDGE experts have extensive experience with tools and applications like Oracle CC&B and Lodestar, PSERM, Sungard HTE, Harris, eMeter, Aclara, Eka, Elster, Itron, Ecologic, SAP, Banner, ABB, Areva, GE, Siemens, IBM Maximo and Datapower, Websphere, Weblogic, Sonic, Tibco, JBOSS, FUSE, Biztalk, OSIsoft, EDNA, OSII Monarch and many, many others. And while we have deep experience, we are not tied to any one particular product, tool or company.

 

One of the major pitfalls, is simply not fully understanding the ramifications or ‘ripple effect’ application transformation will have on the systems up and downstream. For example, did you know that most CIS and WMS applications have over thirty-five (35) integration points to other systems like MDM, OMS, DMS, GIS, EAM, IVR etc., that are often extremely brittle point-to-point (P2P) interfaces? Most companies don’t have a full handle on the scope and complexity of these interfaces and how to structure the new application, change or upgrade integration in a way that will support their business needs well into the future. This is where BRIDGE can help.

 

The enterprise-level integration of applications and islands of data is key to improving the flow of information across business units and processes. A well planned IT strategy must effectively leverage existing functionalities from numerous distribution, transmission, asset management and other enterprise systems including advanced metering infrastructures, meter data management systems, CIS, billing systems, OMS, GIS, WMS, energy and distribution automation management systems, SCADA, MWS, supply chain management systems and other enterprise applications.

 

Real-time integration with single and consistent view of information and data throughout the organization provides for the development of new processes and capabilities such as Load Curtailment, Self Healing, Fault location detection and restoration, remote connect and disconnect, advance billing, time of usage and variable rate billing and other such demand management programs.

 

The Evolution to a Strategic Integration Architecture

 

Up until now, the industry has had minimal real-time integration capabilities built into IT systems because applications and data integration needs have been met tactically through a one-off and project-based approach based upon any available technology or middleware offered by the application or system vendor. Available resources have had to develop quick point-to-point (P2P) interfaces between applications to achieve near-term objectives.

 

The popular approach of connecting systems in a P2P manner may have worked in the past,but as systems require necessary upgrades in order to meet rapidly increasing demands, a P2P integration approach is not scalable, precludes future upgrades, and increases risk to the organization. This is not simply because of performance, but because any change to the application would have a Ripple Effect on other downstream applications.

 

Avoid Application Upgrade and Replacement Pitfalls

Before you consider upgrading or replacing a system, contact BRIDGE. We're vendor neutral and can help you assess your current systems, develop a roadmap that is based on your business objectives, assist with vendor RFPs and guide you in upgrading applications so that your data does not become locked in silos.