Migration from Pivotal Tracker to JIRA Software

Client: State of Southern California

Background: Client had been working in Pivotal Trackerfor many years, but recently realized they needed a more flexible and scalable instrument for their development process, so they decided to migrate to JIRA.

Challenge: To migrate multiple projectswith data exported in CSV format from Pivotal Tracker to JIRA. This case had no standard solution, for JIRA and Pivotal Tracker don’t have the interface for migration to each other. We also have to keep the hierarchy and relationships of the tickets and translate it to epics, stories and subtasks in Jira.

Solution: Since there is no out-of-the-box solutions for this, we had to establish a process of exporting the data, cleaning it up and preparing it for import to Jira. Since we need to keep the hierarchy of the tickets, we would need to import the issues in 3 stages. The process was a bit complex and time consuming so we documented each step so that it would be easier to do it again on the next projects that we had to migrate.

Benefits: The migration was completed quickly with the team migrating multiple projects each day since we had a documented process on how to do this. The whole migration project took just x weeks to complete with all data verified correct and complete.

Setup of Jira Project for Procurement System

Client: Docker

Background: Client has been using Jira for a while already and wanted to add a Procurement System in their existing Jira instance.

Solution: The client has approached us with vague details about the new project they wanted to add. We had a consultation with the client and provided some guidelines with what information is needed to be able to setup a new Jira project. After the client has completed the requirements with our assistance, we were able to setup the new project in a matter of x weeks with very minor adjustments.

Benefits: The project was setup with a complete approval system and robust workflow that will support their procurement process.

Customer review: The customer was satisfied with our work that he even referred us to another group in their company who wanted to make use of Jira in their department.

Setup of Jira Project for Executive Customer Engagement

Client: Docker

Background: Client wanted to setup a process around Jira that will easily manage booking and scheduling of customer’s requesting for Executive engagements.

Solution: The client has provided us with some requirements and had some specifications ready for us to implement which made the setup a lot easier. The requirements provided however only covers the screens and custom fields but lacks the workflow and approval process. We setup an approval process which automatically sets the approver based on a selected option on a custom field. We also implemented auto assignment of tasks depending on the transition status.

Setup of Confluence from Scratch

Client: Union Bank

Background: Client wanted to use Confluence to manage all company documentations.

Solution: The client has no experience with using Confluence so we setup a new instance for him and created a Sample Space and provided some guide on how to navigate and create additional pages and other content for the space.
We also setup the permissions as the client requested. This was completed within just a couple of hours.

Setup of Service Desk with Knowledge Base

Client: nxRev

Background: Client has no experience with using Jira Service Desk and is not familiar with what is needed to set it up.

Solution: We had a discussion with the client with regards to the requirements needed inorder to setup a service desk project in Jira. After they have provided us with their specifications, we were able to setup a new Service Desk Project and related KB space for them. Since they are unfamiliar with how the system works we setup a training and walkthrough with the client and provided some documentations that would help the Service Desk Team and administrators in using Jira Service Desk.

Jira Admin Support of Cloud Instance

Client: socionext

Background: Client has solicited our services to assist with Jira administration and support

Solution: We have assisted the client in multiple Jira admin and customization tasks which includes but not limited to below:

• Creation of filters and subscriptions to send daily reminders to team members of their pending tasks that has not been updated for more than 2 days
• Setup of Agile boards for the projects
• Configure permissions for the projects

Setup and Configuration of Jira Server Service Desk

Client: Nextracker

Background: Client has existing Service Desk project with broken workflows and complex setup which requires some updates and fixes.

Solution: We have to setup and configure a new service desk project for the client which includes around 20 requests types with varying complexities which includes automations, approvalsand notifications. Some request types have more than 10 statuses and requires approvals and triggers to auto create other request types or subtasks. We have also written custom groovy scripts to support the automation requirements in the workflows.
The service desk instance includes add-ons like Script Runner, Automation for Jira, JMWE and a number of other add-ons that support client specific requirements.
We also setup the portal using Refined Theme plugin which allows us to customize the portal heavily to meet client specifications.

Establish Role-based Permissions of Jira Projects

Client: PGA of America

Background: The client has a lot of software projects and their respective permission schemes were inadequately set up. Their permissions schemes was not secure and it was unclear who was should have access and permission to administer the project and its issues. Users of a specific project can view and edit issues in other projects not assigned to them. Even external users (users not employed by the company) can view some of the internal projects.

Solution: We asked for a complete list of users and their corresponding level of access/roles. It was agreed that users assigned a specific role in the project will have access to it. User groups were then created for easier user management. Afterwards, a standard permission scheme was created to be assigned to the projects.

Benefits: Only authorized users can view and edit the client's projects, thus eliminating previous concerns about security. Established Role based permissions so that Project Leads can easily add/remove users who can access the project.

Customer Review: The customer was very pleased with the outcome that they have continuously engaged us for any new updates that requires Jira Admin support.

Migrate projects from Remedy and Service Now to Jira

Client: Cisco

Background: Customer used Remedy and Service Now for their service desk and the whole employee experience was very cumbersome because they had to use and update two systems at the same time. They wanted to migrate both old systems to Jira.

Solution: The process was quite complex since we had to ensure that all info was carried over correctly to Jira. We studied the fields used in Remedy and Service now and then carefully migrated all issues of all projects. Once the migration was done, we also provided some basic Jira support to aid the client in getting used to the new system.

Benefits: The client now solely uses Jira for their service desk. Their employees won’t have to use multiple systems at the same time and can just focus on Jira.

Customer Review: The customer was pleased with the pace of the migration and couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

Set up new service desk project and audit of existing Jira instance

Client: Docker

Background: The client wanted to set up a new service desk project. Additionally, the client wanted to have a full review/audit of their existing Jira instance because there were so many projects handled by so many people. The client’s management team needed to have a clear overview of the current state of their instance.

Solution: A new service desk was created swiftly. More time consuming was the full review of their existing instance. Their instance contains many projects, and each project was fully reviewed to find out what needed to be addressed by the client’s management team.

Benefits: The client now has a new service desk. Deficiencies and flaws in the current instance were also discovered and the client was made aware of them.

Customer Review: The client was very satisfied with the service that we provided.

Set up service desk project and enhance existing projects

Client: NxRev

Background: The client had several current projects and wanted to enhance them. They also wanted to set up a new service desk project to improve their services to their customers.

Solution: By adding automation, updating workflows, and creating new custom fields, their current projects were greatly enhanced. A new project was also created.

Benefits: Their current projects are now better streamlined and process were greatly improved. The new project was of great help to their customers.

Customer Review: The client was happy with the result.

Jira and Admin Support for Walmart

Client: Walmart

Background: The client used a data center to house their enormous company data. Among their many projects, some projects were using the services of AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, and Azure. Expert support was need to ensure that future company operations will go smoothly.

Solution: We provided excellent support to many of their concerns, mostly relating to Jira administration and support.

Benefits: Numerous problems were addressed before they were able to do huge damage. As the old problems were addressed, new ones emerged and they were properly addressed as well.

Customer Review: The client was very pleased with the result, considering the huge amount of effort that was put into preserving and improving the current system.

Jira and Confluence Systems Administrator

Client: Disney

Background: The client uses multiple instances of Jira and Confluence to manage different projects in the organization. They have numerous projects and users and we have provided support to ensure that Jira is running smoothly and configured as needed.

Solution: We resolved system administration requests including, but not limited to: installing, upgrading, testing, configuring, monitoring, maintaining, supporting, and optimizing all aspects of the Jira and Confluence software. We also support all users in terms of permissions and project and space access.

Benefits: Issues of varying difficulties were addressed. As a whole, their projects became more efficient and support requests are addressed a lot faster.

Customer Review: Ongoing Project

Admin for Jira and Confluence

Client: Wells Fargo

Background: The client has been using Jira for years now and their projects have grown numerous over the years. As the number of projects grew, so did the system issues. Sometimes the service desk itself would be very slow due to the many projects.

Solution: Each system issue was looked into carefully and the appropriate solution was applied. The client’s system was also upgraded by migrating the entire system to a data center.

Benefits: Issues were resolved as per company policies. The data center upgrade also proved to be well-equipped to handle the ever-growing demands of a huge company like Wells Fargo.

Customer Review: Ongoing Project

Consolidate Multiple Jira Server Instances Into One Instance

Client: Lumentum

Background: The client is using multiple jira instances in multiple servers. The number of tickets go into the thousands and it's not uncommon for users to jump from one instance to another to view tickets.

Solution: All projects including existing tickets will be migrated to a single instance in a new server using Configuration Manager plugin

Customer Review: Ongoing Project

Migration from Remedy Force to Jira Service Desk

Client: Greendot

Background: The client is currently using Remedy Force for their ticketing system to handle various internal requests to different departments. The client has engaged us to migrate all their request forms from Remedy Force to Jira Service Desk which not only includes IT Requests but other internal process as well such as HR requests.

Solution: We have to setup Jira Service Desk server and migrate all request forms into different Service Desk projects. Some integration is also required that would need API integration and complex scripts to automate some of the processes.

Customer Review: Ongoing Project

Confluence Seminar

Client: Carnegie Mellon University

Background: The faculty and students of Carnegie Mellon University needed a collaboration tool to help them collaborate and share knowledge efficiently. They chose to use Confluence, but not all are well versed with the application.

Solution: We provided valuable information regarding the use and administration of Confluence with focus on these three areas: Templates and Blueprints, Space Organization, and Security and Restricted Pages.

Benefits: Those who attended the seminar have gained useful knowledge and will be able to disseminate their knowledge to their peers. As more and more people know the proper usage of Confluence, the university as a whole will be able to collaborate and share knowledge more efficiently.

Integrate Jira with Zen GRC

Client: Anaplan

Background: The client was working with Jira and wanted to integrate another system called Zen GRC. They wanted to improve their company processes and concluded an integration with Zen GRC will help them achieve their goals.

Solution: As requested, we integrated Jira with Zen GRC. We also improved their Jira instance by creating dashboards, and removing unnecessary fields. A training session was also conducted to ease the user’s transition into the integration.

Benefits: The client can now use the best of both worlds: Jira and Zen GRC. Their Jira instance was also modified to suit their needs.

Customer Review: The job was fulfilled as per the client’s requests and within the agreed timeline, so they were quite satisfied with the outcome.

Setup and Configure New Service Desk Projects

Client: Ascendium

Background: As the client’s company was growing, they needed to create three new service desk projects to support their processes. They were only using a single service desk project for all requests and it has become too big to use and manage.

Solution: Three separate service desk projects were created from a single project. New workflows, screens, and fields were also created to restrict future developments to each project only and make it easier to implement changes.

Benefits: Project use and management are so much easier now that they are using three separate projects and additional permissions.

Customer Review: The client was pleased with the timely delivery of our output. The client hiring us again for future work is a possibility.

Custom Software Development in Networking

Client: NETGEAR

Background: For NETGEAR, high-quality technology is always a priority. However, as a leading company in their industry, they know that developing the best software is not only about having the best engineers in your team—it is also about testing the software consistently and effectively.

To keep up with both of these goals, NETGEAR needed access to on-demand talent of expert engineers who could develop high-quality custom software solutions and also perform testing to ensure the best experience for their users. Now, NETGEAR trusts Skyera System’s Delivery Team with the development & QA of their websites and core platforms, to ensure that they have the highest quality release after release.

Solution: Our full-cycle custom software development services cater to Netgear’s needs and guarantee that all their requirements are met. We also follow the best practices and innovative methodologies to perform custom testing processes. Our QA services focus on delivering simple, easy-to-use, intuitive, and error-free software and experiences building reliable and trustworthy products.

A Custom AWS Architecture for Audio Streaming

Client: SiriusXM

Background: SiriusXM is undergoing a big evolution, changing its legacy infrastructure to AWS and providing new features to its products and services. They needed support in all the technology areas that have to go through those changes while keeping the business running smoothly.

Solution: Our main goal is to design and implement the new architecture based on AWS. Our focus is also centered around the migration of all applications to this new architecture undergoing operational tasks, programming, or issue verification as demanded.

We provide the expertise of our professionals on all fronts, working with software engineers trained in various technologies, and also with a Scrum Master to help them manage development and improve team performance. Our expert teams work across areas like Identity Management (IDM), DevOps, and Integration Service Broker (ISB).

Achieving Digital Acceleration Via Staff Augmentation

Client: Autodesk

Background: Autodesk needed ongoing support and iteration for Maya, a highly-specialized 3D modeling tool that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This product is designed for animation, motion graphics, and VFX software, used extensively by the film and advertising industries.

However, simply adding more engineers to their team wasn’t enough. Autodesk needed an on-demand solution that allowed them to add as much talent as they needed when they needed it. Now, Skyera Systems’s engineers have seamlessly integrated with Autodesk’s in-house team to provide these key solutions and fill any temporary talent gaps in their team.

Solution: Skyera Systems’s expert team is highly skilled, experienced, and multi-functional, always dedicated to tracking requests and providing unique solutions. Our professionals assist Autodesk in supporting Maya’s core by fixing bugs, creating features according to Autodesk’s client’s needs, and iterating over the product to make it compatible with new technologies. The solid architectures we create and our multi-paradigm approach lead our customers’ projects to reliable results.

Our extensive QA capabilities allow us to assess the product’s compliance with the original requirements as the project progresses and provides valuable insights into end-user impressions of the product.

Custom Web Development in Smart Home Technology

Client: Arlo

Background: Arlo needed expert guidance to create a high-visual impact website to display, describe, and commercialize a new remote security camera series.

Solution: Our partnership with Arlo centered around building their website with end-to-end Front End and Back End development, including creating multiple pages for specific products. Our teams always have a thorough focus on QA to ensure the end product is error-free and robust.

Our UI/UX experts also created a unique e-commerce experience, and our expert engineers were involved in the entire project lifecycle, going from design to the final implementation.

Building a Fully-Featured Fintech DevOps Team

Client: Azlo

Background: Skyera Systems helps Azlo by providing key staff augmentation services to support front-end development, building, and maintaining CI/CD with strategic DevOps resources.

Solution: The Azlo app allows you to bank entirely online depositing checks, making transfers and contacting support, among other functionalities. It also enables you to pay freelancers, employees, vendors, and even yourself, and create, send, and manage customized digital invoices to your clients.

Skyera System’s experts work both in the Front End and Back End of Azlo’s banking app, across six of their development teams. Some of the projects and features our highly-skilled engineers participate on include:

• Azlo’s main website.
• Envelope account management system.
• Visa Direct Instant Funding.
• Visa Direct Instant Transfer.
• ACI Bill Payments.
• Subscriptions.
• Enhancements on the user onboarding flow used to create a new bank account.
• Enhancements on the external API used by the partners to create new bank accounts.
• Enhancements in the back office so operation agents have better UX approving bank accounts.
• Migration of the BBVA customer’s API and data.
• Refactoring of the whole onboarding flow for a better UX.

Enhancing Ad Monetization Platforms in Social Media

Client: Pinterest

Background: Pinterest needed assistance with their Pinterest Ads Manager, the platform that allows the ideal product and content placement for the fittest audience, as they search, browse, and discover on Pinterest. They were having a hard time finding the right talent for this work as there is a high competition for qualified software engineers in Silicon Valley, and the best professionals are hard to secure.

Solution: Skyera System’s distributed team model provides full-stack engineers who can hit the ground running to work together with the Pinterest ads team, focusing on developing enhancements for the ad monetization platform. Our teams are specialized in technologies like DBA, machine learning, data science, Python, Java, React, DevOps, QA automation, and also participate in development for other areas like Product, Growth, Security, and Infrastructure.

Scaling Digital Healthcare Products With Custom Software

Client: IQVIA

Background: Unsurprisingly enough, healthcare information technology is one of the most complex fields in IT. IQVIA knows this better than anyone: the company manages data for over 800 million non-identified patients. However, that number is only going to keep growing over the years, and to keep up with its goals, IQVIA needs to implement technology that scales.

And that’s why IQVIA has partnered with Skyera Systems. With the help of our top engineers in healthcare technology solutions, we are helping IQVIA build a Design System that can quickly flex and scale up to increasing demands for long-term success.

Solution: A curated set of components were developed for IQVIA to use in two of their amazing products. One of them was Transparency Reporting, a global transparency reporting solution, and the other one was SmartSolve, a powerful platform for compliance that helps with the scaling of quality systems.

2Developing Top Software Solutions in the Tech Industry

Client: Autodesk

Background: Everyone knows about Google and the excellent software engineering team that works there. That begs the question: Why would a tech giant like Google need to outsource software solutions? And the answer is quite simple: on-demand talent.

As one of the companies most committed to innovation in the world, Google knows how important it is to have a right-sized team with no talent gaps. That’s why, in many cases, working with Dedicated Teams and Staff Augmentation services is actually the best way to achieve innovative goals in tech.

Long story short, Google needed assistance from experts in Software and Automation Engineering to continuously ensure the quality of iOS and Android platforms. Skyera Systems partnered with Google to provide expert device testing to guarantee the quality and excellent user experience of the Android TV platform.

Solution: We deliver stand-alone and integrated testing services to provide superior quality assurance through a deep understanding of business goals and applications. Quality Assurance allows for better control of the quality of the application, makes the evaluation of the product’s compliance with the original requirements fast and easy and provides valuable insights into end-user impressions of the product.

With a combination of automated and exploratory testing, Skyera Systems aligns with the highest industry standards to ensure that Google’s Android and iOS applications are market leaders.

Working with our Extended Team services, our teams operate both on-site and remotely delivering complex products and processes to provide the best level of enterprise service management for the company that sets global standards.

Facilitating Real-Time Data for Nuclear Power Plants

Client: Rolls Royce

Background: In 2016 at the Nuclear Information Technology Strategic Leadership conference (NITSL), Rolls Royce presented their SDS website. Met with outstanding success, they generated a strong impression and much interest among clients. However, this also created expectations to present a more feature rich mobile version at the 2019 edition of NITSL.

The initial version of SDS started as a desktop responsive website that allowed users to access Power Plant sensor data. While promising, it was still missing some of the essential features needed to release a final product for customers.

An upgraded version of SDS was envisioned as a mobile application (mSDS), including new features and real-time access to system monitoring. The main goal involved taking advantage of the latest industrial technologies, in order to add market value while being accessible on mobile devices and tablets.

Rolls Royce also recognized that their technical organization and software development practices were outdated and ready for a transformation. This presented the perfect opportunity for Skyera Systems to propose a solution using our Delivery Team Approach.

Solution: Through our extremely strict process that selects only Top 1% Talent in the market, Skyera System's staffing team worked to quickly select the roles and skill sets required to ensure best practices in code, software quality and enhanced user experience.

During an initial 2-week Discovery Phase at Rolls Royce offices with a Project Manager and Tech Lead, the project’s tech stack, scope, and backlog were defined in conjunction with RR’s product owner. Development started with Front-End React, QA and UX engineers joining the delivery team right after the discovery phase concluded.

mSDS included a new set of intriguing features to access real-time sensor data and diagnostics. A few worth mentioning include the ability to select and group different data points where users can access sensitive power plant data, create local alerts and receive mobile notifications when specific nominal values fall between a customized range. Groups and data points can be customized and classified by administrative users, who can also create global alerts to notify all users at the same time.

A dealbreaker for mSDS version 1.0 was time-to-market and adding immediate business value. With this in mind, the team decided to create a Progressive Web Application (PWA) as an MVP in order to use the same code base for both web and mobile versions, retaining the benefits of a native-like-app while achieving faster time to market.

Rolls Royce has an extensive roadmap of mSDS features they wish to include in future releases, where Skyera Systems hopes to keep on working towards building an ecosystem of applications based on the best software practices. Recently, Skyera Systems participated in Birmingham’s NITSL conference, where new features were added to mSDS.

Enhancing the Digital Experience of Security Platforms

Client: Rolls Royce

Background: Avigilon needed help with the maintenance of its Avigilon Blue Solution product. This system configures and monitors the output of security cameras with images and movement recognition to trigger alarms. It also has a mobile IOS app that can access the system remotely.

Solution: The first challenge was to localize the system by integrating expressions from the user’s mother language, thus providing an improved UX. After this was completed, the focus was shifted to improving UI implementation with better elements and tools. The team made extensive changes and enhancements, including upgrading analytic video rules, adjusting documentation, and automating tests, always delivering a better product at the end of each sprint.

Work was also performed on the mobile app. One of the biggest challenges was the app’s stability. The most significant risk identified was the lack of a proper structure for its codebase, which made the app crash in more than 5% of sessions. To fix this, Agile processes were implemented, concentrating on automated testing and DevOps deployment processes.

The solution was delivered in different phases. First, we decided to refactor and clean up the code to make it easier to work with. The focus was then shifted to the app’s usability guidelines, polishing design, and UX issues. When the app was stabilized, some new features were added.