PdMAIN
Software developer scores with hockey portal built using .NET Framework 3.0
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Company Overview
Anyone familiar with the world of adult hockey leagues knows how difficult it can be to find goaltenders and referees, where demand often outstrips supply. No hockey game can proceed without them, and searches can become frantic as game time approaches. Because of this, an entire industry has arisen based on this need – an open marketplace where hockey teams rent the services of goalies and referees on a per-game or per-season basis. These services, however, have traditionally been local in nature and, with no one place to post or browse ads, are often difficult to find. Even when an ad is located, hockey players must still engage in a series of phone calls in order to confirm – and still have no way to verify that the goalie will appear.
Business Challenge
In this dilemma MeshMinder Inc., saw an opportunity. The Burlington, Ontario-based company recognized the need for a comprehensive, Web-based solution that would help match hockey teams with available goalies, referees and players over a centrally managed Web portal. But MeshMinder knew that building such an application would be challenging.
“The solution would need to consider many variables. It would have to track the locations of both goalies and hockey teams, plus the dates and times goalies would be needed, their vicinity to a particular hockey rink, fluctuating pay rates, and more. Based on our experience, we knew building this kind of functionality would require a large time and resource commitment,” says Frank Fortino, president, MeshMinder Inc.
Usability posed another challenge; the solution would have to be simple to use and navigate, and appeal to a broad audience that varies widely in age and technical sophistication.
As an ISV in business for 30 years, PdMAIN has extensive experience with Microsoft and Oracle based technologies, and initially considered building the solution in Java utilizing an Oracle-based database. Ultimately, MeshMinder decided to build the application using Microsoft-based developer software, including Visual Studio® 2005 development system, based on .NET Framework 2.0, and leveraging the workflow capabilities found in .NET Framework 3.0.
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Solution
“PdMAIN has an ERP solution that uses more than 200 Java and Oracle-based modules, and we have deep knowledge of that platform. But we decided to build the application in the .NET-based environment. We were impressed by the ease of integration and advanced features of Microsoft software, and felt it would help us ship the finished product faster,” says Gerhard Fiedler, president, PdMAIN.
Specifically, MeshMinder was won over by Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 – the managed programming model for Microsoft Windows®, which includes Windows Workflow Foundation. Windows Workflow Foundation is a programming model, engine and set of tools that help developers quickly build workflow-enabled applications. These applications are designed to run on Windows Vista™ operating system, Windows XP or the Windows Server 2003 family. Workflow Foundation also provides full support for Visual Basic .NET, C#, debugging and features a native graphical workflow designer.
After seeing a demonstration of Windows Workflow Foundation, MeshMinder was convinced that .NET Framework 3.0 could help it build the complex scheduling and workflow functionality the hockey matching solution would require.
“We looked at third-party scheduling systems, but concluded that none of them met our needs. It was clear that the Windows Workflow Foundation model could help us build our own, quickly and easily. The success of the application would rest on workflow, and .NET 3.0 offered us the capabilities we needed,” says Fortino.
Taking advantage of .NET Framework 3.0 also enabled PdMAIN to build a compelling and intuitive user interface using the features and functions of Windows Presentation Foundation, which provides developers and designers with a unified programming model for building rich Windows-based smart client user experiences.
Business Benefits
The resulting solution, called MeshMinder.com, was completed on time, and within budget in less than three months.
“PdMAIN was able to deliver the solution faster than we expected, lessening the impact on budgets and resources. This gave us more time to focus on marketing and building this new part of our business,” says Fortino.
Reduced complexity
MeshMinder knew that MeshMinder.com would be a complex application, requiring a high degree of sophisticated workflow functionality in order to deliver value to users. By taking advantage of Windows Workflow Foundation in .NET Framework 3.0, MeshMinder was able to build an application that was intuitive enough to attract 200 registrants in its first two weeks alone, far exceeding initial expectations, and which today boasts a registered user base of 440 goalies, 200 referees and 400 players.
MeshMinder.com is able to account for a wide range of variables. Goalies, referees and other players looking to offer their services can create a profile in MeshMinder.com indicating their playing preferences, such as available playing times, preferred locations, capability, and required playing fees. Requests made in MeshMinder.com for goalies, referees are matched with corresponding profiles and email or SMS text alerts are sent to all potential candidates. The first candidate to confirm acceptance gets the job. MeshMinder.com then manages the rest, including calendar scheduling, confirmation to the requestor, email reminders and even driving directions from the player's home to the appropriate arena. The process ends with a system-generated email sent to the requestor asking for ratings of the service provider in categories such as "effort", "punctuality" and "attitude".
“All these notifications and permutations required the support of a strong workflow engine. Building MeshMinder.com with .NET Framework 3.0 helped us to not only manage this complexity with ease, it also helped make the user experience as intuitive and seamless as possible,” says Fortino.
Enhanced user experience
Until MeshMinder, hockey teams and goalies relied on classified ads, arena postings and word-of-mouth to locate each other – a time-consuming and inefficient process. Now, using a simple, streamlined Web interface, MeshMinder.com offers both parties an easy-to-access solution. With its .NET-based foundation, the solution is also accessible on the browser over any device
As well, less time spent in cover development meant more time for details – MeshMinder also provides matching services for ball hockey and in-line (roller) hockey players. It will soon include additional, user-friendly features such as a "My Team" feature that will allow users and coaches to manage their league or team statistics, player contact information, upload photographs and post game schedules. The "Set up a Game" feature will allow users without a team to post an ice time and allow interested players to sign up to play. Other planned features include player and team blogs, posting of free ice time by arena and a virtual marketplace for hockey-related merchandise.
“We were able deliver all this functionality in a simple e-mail message and Web link. We’ve made it very easy for users – all they need to do is click and respond, and MeshMinder.com does the rest,” says Fortino.
More development opportunities
With a new-found expertise in .NET Framework 3.0, PdMAIN has provided developers with a tool that can help them further reduce the time it takes to build innovative business solutions. This ensures that the company is prepared to address even the most sophisticated customer requests.
“Clients are asking us to deliver ever-more complex solutions to address their business challenges.NET Framework 3.0 helps us to further reduce the time it takes to meet their needs, which gives our developers and our company a strengthened competitive edge,” says Fortino.
Microsoft .NET
Microsoft .NET is software that connects people, information, systems, and devices through the use of Web services. Web services are a combination of protocols that enable computers to work together by exchanging messages. Web services are based on the standard protocols of XML, SOAP, and WSDL, which allow them to interoperate across platforms and programming languages.
.NET is integrated across Microsoft products and services, providing the ability to quickly build, deploy, manage, and use connected, secure solutions with Web services. These solutions provide agile business integration and the promise of information anytime, anywhere, on any device.
For more information about Microsoft .NET and Web services, please visit these Web sites:
msdn.microsoft.com/webservices
For More Information
For more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in the United States or (905) 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to: www.microsoft.com
For more information about PdMAIN products and services, call 905.331.4600 or visit the Web site at: www.pdmain.com
