Izix
How we helped Izix transform from a service company to a software company
Overview
What happens when a service company (BePark) wants to transition into a software company (Izix)? The challenge was overwhelming so BePark reached out to madewithlove to understand how it could be done.
Where We Started
Initially, madewithlove completed an audit and delivered our findings. We found a team that was good at shipping features but was struggling to keep pace with the volume of requests and simultaneously manage technical debt.
First up was improving the release cycle and developer speed. Releases were scary, time consuming, and error prone before madewithlove joined. Our team pushed for a proper continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline that allowed for faster release cycles.
Implementing Best Practices
Instead of waiting weeks or months for code changes to reach production, the team could create changes and ship them in minutes. They had the confidence to do so because of other best practices introduced including test-driven development (TDD), domain driven design (DDD), and a new design based on hexagonal architecture.
From Microservices to Monolith
The team had previously explored a microservices architecture but it didn't work as expected. One major change was switching to a modular monolith organization so that, instead of three or four pull requests per feature, a single one could be made.
Our team also helped to identify aspects of the code that were problematic then fix them. Parking lot occupancy is a core calculation needed for Izix. This functionality was rewritten from scratch, resulting in accurate computation results.
Getting the Processes Right
By introducing a team working agreement, a definition of done, regular 1-1 meetings, an improved retrospective format, and semester reviews, developers were finally receiving clear expectations and getting the feedback they needed.
Engineers from madewithlove also employed pair and mob programming to shorten technical feedback loops as much as possible.
What they said
“Madewithlove helped us by providing a critical eye for our situation then got their hands dirty, they got involved to fix problems, to put us on a better path.”
“The staff engineers at madewithlove were essential in not only giving a diagnosis but also being involved to help deliver solutions.”
“The transition was not easy for everyone, but people could see the point and get onboard because of the good technical and human leadership provided by madewithlove.”
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