Digital Transformation Case Study: 3 Successful Examples

Digital transformation isn’t just having the latest, cutting-edge technology solutions in your IT infrastructure arsenal. If these tools and technology don’t free up human resources, save time and costs, and innovate ‌traditional processes, then we can't call it digital transformation.

Here's an example. Requesting a credit or debit card via the bank application is a digital transformation as it fundamentally changed the process of requesting a card. It’s completely automated and free of human interaction. All you need to do is press a few buttons on the application, and the bank will start working on your request.

Similarly, digital boarding passes and scanners at every stage of the airport journey are also examples of digital transformation. It saves trees by saving paper. It's a faster way to move the queues, and the airport can get away with employing less staff as they simply don’t need it.

These processes, when digitized, save human efforts, resources and time. They simplify things for the end user, resulting in a better user experience. Examples like these are digital transformation.

With expanding domains and exponentially advancing technologies every day, executing digital transformation for an internal IT team is daunting. Here's where outsourcing your digital partner can help.

Digital transformation experts like Netcon Technologies, who’ve been transforming enterprises for the last 17 years, can help you uncover your digital transformation potential.

In this article, we’ll explore how Netcon helped three companies achieve their digital transformation goals.

At Netcon Technologies, we’ve successfully led monumental digital transformation projects for airports, educational institutions, government agencies, manufacturing companies, and more. We don’t push predefined solutions and our experts bring decades of hands-on experience fueling transformation through technology, empathy, and diligence. If you’d like to know how we can help you in your projects,  schedule a free consultation today to get started.

One of the Largest Automotive Parts Manufacturers in India

Let’s call this client Gears for the sake of this case study.

For manufacturing facilities, digital is the way forward right now. And this is particularly true when it comes to tracking assets - be they small or big - within the factory. It's difficult to track small assets as they are more likely to get lost or stolen.

We're sure you ‌have faced it at your facility.

We were excited when we got on board with Gears to solve their pains. That excitement was for two  reasons.

1. They are a prominent player in aluminum die-casting and automotive parts manufacturing. The sheer scale of execution was a challenge.

2. They had to keep the facility running 24/7 to meet the demands of its clients. We were keen to see how our solution would impact their efficiency, leanness, and ability to deliver to their clients.

Their Challenge? Asset Tracking

To track assets ranging from small spanners to huge machines on such a scale manually is a task that can never have 100% accuracy. Even if you staff enough people to specifically do asset management, there is a possibility of error. And these seemingly small errors can cause long downtimes at the facility, resulting in huge losses.

Gears used archaic asset tracking methods — pen, paper, and registers. Their employees would update things manually in the registers about their tools, assignees, the status of their machines, maintenance schedules, and so on, basically all of their assets.

This system/solution couldn't keep up with the increased load, new staff members, and the rising output of the facility caused by the increasing demand for their services. So, Gears wanted to implement something reliable, modern, and efficient to replace this.

The Solution? RFID Tags

We used a combination of passive and active RFID tags to track specific assets. Different kinds of tags suit specific applications.

We used passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) tags to monitor assets like tools, containers, industrial equipment, and so on - the tools that move about the place and are assigned to workers frequently. UHF tags can effectively communicate over a long range. They're reliable and cost-effective as well. So, they're ideal for this use case.

We used active RFID tags to track the more expensive assets, such as die-casting machines, trim presses, shot-blasting machines, and so on. They are expensive but offer more functionality. Since these are high-value assets, active tags come with additional sensor capabilities - humidity, temperature, vibration, pressure, power consumption, and proximity of certain parts. With these functionalities, we can have a real-time status of these machines, their operational efficiency, predictive maintenance alerts, and other parameters.

We placed the RFID readers in strategic locations within the factory. They can then read the signals from the tags of different assets and update their status in real-time.

Why we specifically choose RFID tags

There are alternative technologies to achieve the same result. Barcodes, QR codes, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), GPS and Geolocation, and Real-time Location Systems (RTLS) are a few examples. But each one has its own set of advantages and drawbacks. After carefully assessing Gears’ facility, we found RFID tags to be the best technology suited for the job.

How we Managed Tags in Real-Time

A combination of different RFID tags helped us get data about the status and location of various assets. But how to visualize this data and manage the assets?

After tagging all the assets with tags, we set up a centralized database in our asset management system. The RFID readers will communicate the information they receive with the database. The database will then store all the information it receives about the asset - serial number, location, group, description, maintenance history, and other relevant information.

The asset management system records the transactions of every asset. Every time an asset is managed, it's recorded as a transaction.

We made auditing the assets easy and flexible by enabling the audit using handheld computers. When an executive audits an asset, the system updates the parameters about it in the database in real-time. Any discrepancies in location, status, or other factors will immediately show up. It makes rectifying those discrepancies much quicker and easier for the auditor.

How Cloud Computing Helped

Because we have deployed this solution using cloud infrastructure, we credit most of the benefits you read above to the cloud.

There are many benefits of implementing cloud infrastructure:

• Real-time updating of the database with the data from the RFID tags with no need for manual intervention

• Remote access to the database

• Scalability

• Transparency

• Analytics

• Integration with their current management software

• Backup and disaster recovery

Outcome?

With this solution in place, Gears now has 3250 tagged assets throughout the facility. They can view the status, history, condition, maintenance alerts, utilization metrics, and customized reports about their assets.

We grouped certain assets, and they can view the status of the group or individual assets. They can conduct easy audits with real-time updates to the database. They'll get to know immediately about the missing or misplaced assets.

Gears’ maintenance schedule is on point, especially for the high-value machines. It's resulted in reduced downtime and increased efficiency. They are getting more value out of their investment. Moreover, their clients are pleased with their increased robustness and reliability in production.

Because the entire asset management is digital, they utilize virtually zero paper during this process. Because of the better management and efficiency of the facility, they are using less energy than before. And because they are leaner and a better-organized system, they're more sustainable and energy-efficient than before.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL)

For digital natives of the current generation, the internet is their lifeline. Bangalore International Airport (BIAL), with more than 32 million annual passengers, knows how crucial airport Wi-Fi services are. Airports these days aren't just travel hubs but experiences. BIAL wanted to provide travelers with an experience like no other.

BIAL aimed to do so by providing top-notch internet connectivity within their airport campus.

The BLR Airport App

BIAL had developed an app called BLR Airport. It served the basic needs of the users - flight status and information, gate updates, schedules, connecting to airport facilities, travel options, shopping and food options, and so on.

The app is valuable for passengers because of its functionalities. It has more than 100,000+ downloads on Google Play Store.

BIAL wanted to take it to the next level by integrating airport Wi-Fi services with the app and building on it. BIAL aimed to provide personalized services to the users, increasing the profitability of their airport and the tenants.

Here’s where Netcon came into the picture to aid BIAL in achieving its unique goals.

We Deployed Cutting-Edge Airport Wi-Fi Onboarding Solution

We integrated Aeropass - our homegrown Wi-Fi onboarding platform - with the BLR Airport app. It helped BIAL in two ways : Rapid Wi-Fi onboarding and personalized services.

Wi-Fi Onboarding

Aeropass provides seamless, quick, and hassle-free Wi-Fi onboarding to users. When integrated with the app, it recognizes the airport network when inside the airport and automatically connects to it. You need not manually log in with your phone number and an OTP.

We achieved this through a combination of pre-configuration in the app, secure credential storage, and communication protocols between the app, the user's device, and the Wi-Fi infrastructure.

Once the user has created an account, the app will keep using location services and Wi-Fi to check if the device is in the proximity of Bangalore Airport. If yes, it'll seamlessly connect to it, reducing the hassle for the passenger.

When a new user who doesn't have the app installed tries to connect to the airport Wi-Fi, it'll prompt the user to download the app.

Personalized Services

What we did by integrating Aeropass with the BLR Airport app is enable BIAL and its tenants to push personalized services through the app. Based on your past interactions with the app, you can unveil prioritized, high-speed internet.

For example, a new user may only be able to browse the internet at 20 MBPS, but an existing user with a favorable record can surf at 50 MBPS. More avid users can also have a higher data limit.

The tenants can use the user data to push personalized notifications when in the vicinity to attract them. It's a win-win for both the tenants and the passengers. Passengers can have better offers, and‌ tenants can be more profitable by carefully catering to the right people in the right manner.

The Impact?

The integration of Aeropass with the BLR Airport app has created a transformative impact for BIAL in multiple dimensions.

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

The level of customer satisfaction has skyrocketed thanks to ‌added convenience. The smooth onboarding experience has led to ‌increased engagement with the BLR Airport app. The overall Net Promoter Score (NPS) for airport services has increased significantly since the integration.

Comprehensive Customer Insights

The most important impact that Aeropass had on the BIAL is that the passenger data that used to go to the internet service provider now resides with them.

It has opened new avenues for data-driven decision-making. They can analyze trends in user behavior to optimize various aspects of airport management such as crowd control, inventory planning for retail and food outlets, and even predicting Wi-Fi usage peaks to ensure sufficient bandwidth allocation.

Tenant Profitability

On the retail side, tenants can now more effectively target offers and promotions based on rich, data-driven insights. The data pulled from the app allows for hyper-personalized marketing, drastically increasing conversion rates and profitability for the tenants.

The result is a synergistic environment where everyone benefits — BIAL sees higher rental returns from more successful tenants, and the tenants enjoy increased revenue streams.

Textbook Corporation

The Textbook Corporation of Tamil Nadu is a government-owned organization responsible for producing and distributing educational material across schools. The corporation has developed mobile applications, granting students access to digital textbooks, curriculum outlines, and supplementary materials.

The Challenge

Digital infrastructure at most public schools in India is far from the average standards.

The primary challenge was to ensure that we set up the labs within the timeframe to minimize disruption to the school's daily operations. To install the necessary hardware and software, such as computers, servers, and networking equipment, we needed to carefully plan and coordinate to ensure that the labs were functional and ready for use by students and teachers.

Another challenge was to ensure the effective utilization of the Information and Communication Labs, generally called computer labs in the schools. We didn't want the infrastructure and the equipment to be underutilized by the students and the teachers. The challenge was also to make the entire setup transparent for ‌higher authorities.

Taking on Tamil Nadu's largest school project for Textbook Corporation, we were exhilarated.

1. The outreach was astounding, touching the lives of over 1 million students across 6029 schools.

2. The technical complexity was right up our alley — a broad array of technology solutions to knit together seamlessly.

3. Tamil Nadu has been at the forefront of educational innovation in India, and contributing to this legacy was a welcome challenge.

What Makes Our Approach to This Project Unique and Valuable?

The conventional approach would be to deliver the most basic solution prescribed — individual internet connectivity to each school, basic lab infrastructure, and computers. The Tamil Nadu state government authorities wanted to provide the best possible outcome to benefit the students and the authorities.

Netcon presented a solution that replaced ‌traditional computers with thin clients, a shift from a Windows operating system to a custom-built Linux operating system, and wired labs to Wi-Fi labs. This seemingly minor alteration in the approach resulted in substantial savings of around 70 million USD.

We utilized these savings to upgrade the broadband connectivity to a leased circuit and to establish a central command center, a dedicated help desk, and a data center. This integrated setup gives comprehensive oversight of 6029 schools, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the educational infrastructure.

Why a Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI) to Connect 6029 Schools

Simplified Scalability

One of the most compelling aspects of HCI is its ease of scalability. As each school's needs grow, the system can scale horizontally, allowing for seamless addition of resources without system downtime. It was a decisive factor considering the variability in the student population and the potential increase in digital educational tools.

Unified Management

HCI offers a single pane for system management. It made it possible for a central control center to oversee and tweak all the ICT labs across various schools. Each school gets its own server and thin clients at the ICT lab infrastructure. This centralization removed the need for separate IT staff at each school, significantly cutting operational costs.

With all its components tightly integrated, HCI minimizes the number of separate technologies the IT team needs to purchase and maintain, reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO).

A Smart Rack Data Center at the Centre

The smart rack data center at the central command center hosts all the applications and educational content for the entire ecosystem.

What Constitutes Our Central Data Center?

The central smart rack data center is more than just a repository; it's an intelligent, self-managing unit. With hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), we designed the data center to provide an optimal blend of computing power, storage, and networking. It enables Textbook Corporation to host the LMS, analytics, and network management, all from a single, centralized location.

The Security Measures

Combining the physical and digital security layers, the data center uses multi-factor authentication, firewalls, and constant surveillance to protect sensitive data.

Central Command Centre and Helpdesk

Real-time Monitoring

The Central Command Centre has a comprehensive and detailed dashboard where the authorities can see real-time eLearning content usage and student learning outcomes. This center is crucial for strategic decision-making, allowing educational authorities to adjust policies based on real-time data.

Centralized Help Desk

The centralized help desk serves as the first line of support for teachers and administrators, providing immediate solutions to operational challenges. They can raise a ticket for any fault or issue they face, and our representatives will fix it immediately. It not only minimizes downtime but also encourages a collaborative environment among educators.

ICT Labs with Thin Clients and Local Servers: Tailored Learning Spaces

Thin Clients: A Cost-Effective Solution

The labs have thin clients running on open-source-based VDI technology. Each secondary school has 10 thin clients. Each higher-secondary school has 20 thin clients. Thin clients significantly reduce upfront costs and power consumption, offering an eco-friendly, budget-conscious solution.

Local Servers: A Seamless User Experience

Each school gets a local server connected to the central server via a leased line. These local servers act as intermediaries, caching frequently accessed data and reducing load times. This localized approach ensures a seamless and lag-free user experience for students and faculty alike.

End-User Impact: Students, Teachers, and Administrators

Students

With access to an array of digital educational resources from their ICT labs, students are not only becoming more engaged in their learning but are also developing essential digital skills that are invaluable in the modern world.

Teachers

The reliability and ease of management of the hyper-converged environment mean that teachers can effortlessly integrate a diverse range of multimedia and interactive learning platforms into their teaching methods.

Administrators

Real-time monitoring of all ICT labs is possible from the central control center, providing a continuous assessment of resource utilization and performance. It allows administrators to make data-driven decisions concerning educational programs and future scalability.

The outcome is a robust, scalable, and easily managed system that has not only elevated the standard of education but has also made it more accessible. This state-wide transformation impacts over 100,000 students daily, marking a milestone in the quest to make quality education universally accessible.

Common Themes Across These Stories

All three stories of transformation showed how implementing the right technology helped streamline cumbersome manual processes. It benefited them in terms of productivity, costs and efficiency.

The solutions we provided made things easier for end-users, whether employees, travelers, or students. It improved satisfaction and engagement. And they prioritized centralized monitoring and management to aid data-driven decision-making.

One more commonality across these three success stories is scalability. We designed these solutions for flexibility and horizontal scalability to support future growth.

Let’s look at the reasons why these succeeded.

Factors Behind Their Success

We believe four main factors contributed to these success stories.

1. Understanding client needs: Netcon took the time to thoroughly understand the unique needs and challenges of each client. It led to tailored solutions.

2. Using the right technologies: Netcon used the most fitting technologies like RFID, Wi-Fi platforms, hyper-converged infrastructure, et cetera based on use cases.

3. Innovative approach: Instead of going for basic, conventional solutions, Netcon’s innovative approaches lead to better outcomes.

4. Focusing on outcomes: The solutions focused on driving business outcomes like efficiency, cost savings, profitability, and scalability beyond just technology implementation.

Lessons To Learn From These Success Stories

The most important lesson in our experience is clarity. Have clarity on needs and challenges first before looking for technology solutions. Technology, for the sake of it, will add no value to your business. Instead, it'll increase ‌complexity.

Always look out for innovative solutions. Don't settle for basic, status-quo solutions. Tailored, niche solutions will fit like a glove.

If you just look to achieve the tactical benefits of technology, it won’t serve you well in the long run. Instead, keep broader strategic goals in mind - scalability, efficiency, enhanced user and customer experience etc.

Begin Your Digital Transformation Journey With Netcon

Digital transformation is essential for organizations to stay competitive and meet evolving customer expectations in an increasingly digital world.

Digital transformation goes beyond just technology. It reimagines:

• Processes

• Workflows

• Business models

Many organizations know their current ways of working are inefficient but may not fully grasp the urgent need to transform digitally. Digital transformation is a must for survival amid disruption. There are huge costs of not transforming: falling behind competition, lack of agility, and missed growth opportunities.

With a team of more than 500 specialists across domains like cloud transformation, data centers, cybersecurity, networks, DevOps, data, AI and more, Netcon can understand and digitally transform some of the most complex business operations.

2,00,000+ consulting hours, 17+ years of experience in the technology services industry, and 300+ clients give us an edge. Our customer-first approach guarantees a tailor-made solution for your digital transformation use cases.

Want to uncover the processes you can digitally transform with the right technologies? We can help you get clear on your digital objectives, map out steps for organizational alignment, and create an actionable transformation roadmap. Get in touch with our experts to get started.