Enterprise Application Modernization for Proposal Generation and Document Management

The client relies on an outdated Windows Desktop application for proposal generation, which is installed on limited office computers, leading to poor remote accessibility, frequent crashes, high storage consumption, and manual backup processes. The absence of modern integration and search capabilities impairs productivity and data management, necessitating a comprehensive modernization solution to improve reliability, accessibility, and operational workflows.

A mid-sized family-owned retailer and installer of building materials, including windows and doors, seeking to upgrade its legacy proposal and project management systems for better accessibility and efficiency.

• Develop a cloud-based, web-accessible application to replace the legacy desktop solution, enabling remote access for staff from any location.
• Implement automated, self-updating backups to ensure data integrity and eliminate manual backup procedures.
• Design an organized, searchable project repository to facilitate easy retrieval and management of past proposals and project files.
• Create customizable proposal functionalities supporting detailed configurations for products, labor, and costs.
• Integrate document generation features for creating work orders, purchase orders, and reports directly from proposal data.
• Incorporate image upload capabilities for visual documentation within proposals.
• Establish a secure authentication system leveraging existing organizational credentials, such as Active Directory or equivalent.

• Cloud-based hosting on a scalable platform (e.g., Azure or equivalent cloud provider).
• User authentication integrated with organizational directory services.
• Secure storage for proposals, images, and project files with automatic backup routines.
• An organized, searchable list of previous projects and proposals for quick access.
• A proposal builder supporting configurations for windows, doors, labor, and costs, with customizable options.
• Real-time document generation for proposals, work orders, purchase orders, using PDF rendering.
• Image upload functionality for proposal visuals, stored in cloud blob storage.
• Automated, continuous data backup to cloud storage and database systems.
• Version control and deployment pipelines supporting development, staging, and production environments.

• Organizational identity management system (e.g., Active Directory or Azure AD) for user authentication.
• Cloud storage services for media and document storage.
• Reporting tools or APIs (e.g., QuestPDF) for document generation.
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for streamlined updates.

• System availability aimed at 99.9% uptime with minimal downtime during deployments.
• Automated backup procedures ensuring data durability and disaster recovery readiness.
• Responsive web design compatible across devices and browsers.
• Secure authentication and authorization protocols conforming to organizational security policies.
• Scalable architecture to accommodate future growth without performance degradation.
• Fast load times and efficient data retrieval to support seamless user experience.

The new cloud-based application is expected to significantly improve operational efficiency by reducing manual work and system downtime, enabling remote and mobile access for staff. Search and project retrieval will become faster and more reliable, leading to enhanced productivity. Automated backups and real-time data synchronization will ensure data integrity and security. Overall, these improvements aim to increase proposal accuracy, reduce project turnaround times, and support scalable growth for the organization.