Elite Control Systems Limited, is a systems integrator for industrial automation and process control systems. Elite designs, builds, develops software, tests, installs and commissions systems that control industrial applications such as production lines, power stations, oil refineries and offshore platforms. Asset Guardian is a unique software management solution designed to control and protect software assets.
Download the Servoy Elite Control Systems Success Story in PDF format.
The Challenge: Customer Control
We discovered that many end users did not properly control the software that runs in the control systems. Usually, the IT departments did not take responsibility for these front line systems -- despite these systems being critical in terms of both production and safety. Inadequately managed software can both cause and exacerbate any unplanned outage.
Without proper control, the process critical software was not backed up, not version controlled and changes to the systems were not managed properly, resulting in increased downtime, wasted resources when carrying out changes and safety issues.
Previous versions of Asset Guardian were developed in Visual Studio, but were thick client architecture connecting directly to the SQL Server database. Our technical director carried out an exhaustive evaluation of all the major systems on the market and tested many including AwareIM, Filemaker and Visual Studio before deciding on Servoy.
The Solution: Hybrid SaaS with Servoy
We solved these problems by developing Asset Guardian 4.0 using Servoy and utilizing all its advanced features like AJAX, Smart Client and Web Client. We can offer Asset Guardian to an end user to run on their own server and also offer SaaS (Software as a Service) to customers with any SQL back-end database.
For the customer, this means that -- other than the Java application -- there is nothing installed on their machines. This brings huge benefits in that it can be accessed from different locations -- anywhere in the world. This also offers better security, plus the ability to run it on Windows, Linux, Unix -- or any mix 'n' match combination. Being web-based, no matter how many "out stations" there might be, each can access the solution as though it is one big system.
By developing and deploying with Servoy, the result was the next generation of Asset Guardian that is a fully hybrid solution -- web enabled, using thin client/server architecture. All existing functionality has been reproduced along with many new features. Existing customers are planning to upgrade and many new customers have already purchased the new version.
Key Benefits
- Provides a flexible, scalable hybrid SaaS solution.
- Gives automation improved security with proper control.
- Eliminates downtime, wasted resources and safety issues.
"By developing and deploying with Servoy, the result was the next generation of Asset Guardian that is a fully hybrid solution - web enabled, using SaaS architecture."
-- Iain Rennie, Product Manager Asset Guardian