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Executive Summary
Company
Volvo Financial Services Insurance Group (VFSIG) is Volvo's worldwide insurance operation for trucks including Volvo, Renault, and Mack Trucks.
Project
Create a unified, Web-based user interface to third-party and internally-developed applications. Allow partners and customers Web-based access to documentation and information.
Legacy
Third-party applications. Internally-developed applications and interface used Active Server Pages (ASP), Visual Basic, COM+, and SQL Server stored procedures.
Solution
Transition to .NET technologies, as appropriate. Retain stored procedures and some JavaScript.
Tools
• Windows 2000
• SQL Server 2000
• ASP.NET
• Visual Basic .NET
• Macromedia Dreamweaver
Challenges
• Handle development with only two developers.
• Integrate third-party applications within system.
• Minimize impact to system. |
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From Development Cost to Profit Center
Selective .NET technology use helps
VFS Insurance Group developers make
their department profitable.
by Edmund X. DeJesus
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Eric F. Vincent,
director of information technology, chose to move to .NET when he realized VFSIG stood to reap significant improvements in productivity. |
Writing good code is hard, maintaining existing code is harder, but assimilating existing third-party applications with new, home-grown applications and user interfaces might be hardest of all. And that's the task developers faced at Volvo Financial Services Insurance Group (VFSIG) in Montvale, N.J. VFSIG is an outgrowth of the financial services offerings of international truck manufacturer Volvo. To keep their business competitive with most automotive manufacturers, Volvo Trucks North America realized the need to provide financial services to customers, and created a subsidiary for that purpose. This entity handled many functions, including buyer financing, credit cards, and insurance. By the end of 2000, the parent company reorganized, and created VFSIG.
VFSIG now operates in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with plans to expand into Brazil, England, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In addition to selling the products of other insurance companies in many states, VFSIG is also licensed to write its own policies as a primary insurer. Applications must therefore support a variety of activities for internal users, business partners, and third-party agents.
Meeting Internal Needs
Although the VFSIG IT group consists of only two developers, the group is responsible for creating and maintaining all applications necessary to facilitate the company's wide range of services—no small job for an international company.
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