Modernizing Sweco's core asset management system with Oracle APEX
Company
Country
Netherlands
Industry
Engineering
System
Municipal asset management
Executive summary
01
Client
Sweco, a leading European engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm, for their public space asset management platform, Obsurv.
02
The core challenge
Sweco's business-critical Obsurv platform had become difficult and costly to maintain. It has been used by dozens of cities over the last few years, but each implementation has required a significant amount of work due to the need to create custom modules tailored to the specific requirements of each municipality.
03
Solution delivered
Pretius engaged in a long-term, strategic partnership with Sweco to execute a comprehensive, module-by-module rewrite of the entire Obsurv system. The chosen technology was Oracle APEX, which allowed for the development of a modern, web-based platform while leveraging the existing Oracle database. The project involved the integration of advanced GIS functionalities and the development of a new Ribic module for sewer manhole inspection, which Sweco offered through the SaaS delivery model.
Key outcomes:
Successful legacy modernization: A complex, business-critical system was transformed into a modern, web-based platform fit for future challenges.
No radical layout changes: Changes to the system had to be delivered without radically reinventing the layout that Sweco’s customers liked.
Enhanced efficiency & cost savings: The modernized platform is easier and more cost-effective to maintain, allowing for significantly faster customer onboarding and improved operational efficiency.
New module offered in the SaaS business model: The Ribic sewer manhole inspection module, sold under the SaaS model, has opened a new recurring revenue stream.
Client background
Sweco stands as one of Europe’s foremost consultancies in engineering, environmental technology, and architecture. With a vast network of experts, they plan and design the communities and cities of the future.
A key offering in their digital solutions portfolio is Obsurv, a comprehensive asset management system. This platform is trusted by municipalities and large organizations across the region to manage the entire lifecycle of public spaces—from critical infrastructure like roads and sewage systems to vital public amenities like parks and lighting.
For Sweco's clients, Obsurv is an essential tool for operational planning, maintenance, and budgeting.
The business challenge: The growing implementation and maintenance costs
The Obsurv platform – used in dozens of cities – required custom modules for each implementation. This, along with a couple of other factors, resulted in several challenges:
Problematic implementation: The need to develop custom modules for each implementation had a significant impact on the time-to-market which was a growing concern. Something had to be done to streamline the process.
Burdensome maintenance and high Costs: Many diverse versions of the same application had to be kept alive simultaneously, resulting in high maintenance costs. On a logistical level, this often required Sweco’s IT specialists to travel to a particular city, made the entire endavour even more expensive and time consuming.
A barrier to commercial evolution: The market was shifting towards subscription-based services. Sweco's goal was to offer some of Obsurv’s modules as a flexible Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product.
To protect and grow Obsurv's market share, a comprehensive modernization was not just an option, but a strategic necessity.
Technologies That Powered the Transformation
01
Oracle APEX
02
Oracle DB
03
Kubernetes
04
Microsoft Azure
05
node.js
The solution provided by Pretius
Sweco required a partner with deep technical expertise and a capacity for long-term strategic collaboration. They selected Pretius to undertake the complex task of rewriting and modernizing the entire Obsurv platform.
The solution was a meticulously planned, multi-year project centered on a phased migration to Oracle APEX, designed to deliver continuous value while mitigating risk.
This systematic approach involved several key pillars:
Strategic technology choice – Oracle APEX:
Pretius identified Oracle APEX as the ideal technology for this modernization. As a low-code framework built upon Oracle's database, APEX allowed for the rapid development of secure, scalable, and feature-rich web applications. This choice cleverly leveraged Sweco's existing investment in its Oracle database, ensuring data integrity and continuity throughout the transition.
A new Ribic module offered in the SaaS model:
Pretius developed a brand-new sewer manhole inspection module, Ribic, that used cutting-edge technology such as computer vision and was sold in the SaaS delivery model. It proved to be a success and validated our strategy, paving the way for rewriting other Obsurv modules.
Iterative, module-by-module modernization:
A high-risk "big bang" replacement was avoided in favor of a much safer and more effective iterative approach. The Pretius team collaborated closely with Sweco's product managers to rewrite the Obsurv system one functional module at a time.
No radical layout changes:
The idea was to offer Sweco’s customers the experience they knew and liked, so we made sure to consider their habits and avoided radical layout changes.
CI/CD optimization:
We launched a DevOps team at Sweco, enabling the use of best practices like CI/CD to streamline the deployment and maintenance of the Obsurv application for every client.
The modernization project delivered substantial and lasting benefits for Sweco and its clients, creating value across operational, commercial, and strategic dimensions.
Reduced maintenance overhead: The modern, streamlined Oracle APEX platform is significantly easier and more cost-effective to maintain and update, making it easier for Sweco to carry out new Obsurv implementation.
Improved CI/CD process: Sweco’s new DevOps team helped them reduce Obsurv’s implementation time-to-market and maintenance/development costs even further. Deployments and updates that took months now take minutes.
Well-known user experience: The user interface that has been praised by users was mostly kept intact, despite radical changes “under the hood”.
Accelerated customer onboarding: The modular nature of the new platform has made it much quicker and more efficient to configure and customize the application for new clients. As noted by Sweco's management, this has directly resulted in shorter customer onboarding times and lower associated costs.
cities
Using the Obsurv app
countries
Where Sweco operates
A few minutes
Instead of months for implementing the system
Client testimonial
Marijn van den Berg
Team Manager of Obsurv Software at Sweco
Thanks to our collaboration with Pretius, we've made it easier for our clients to utilize Obsurv. Customizing the application modules to their specific needs is now much quicker and more efficient. For us, this means shorter customer onboarding times and lower costs.
Conclusion
This case study is a testament to the success of a well-executed, long-term legacy modernization project. The strategic partnership between Sweco and Pretius demonstrates that even the most complex, business-critical legacy systems can be transformed. Sweco not only resolved the pressing challenges of high maintenance costs but also significantly improved Obsurv’s deployment process thanks to streamlined CI/CD.
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