Synergy Case Studies

Over the years Synergy has build relationships to be proud of.  Our systems have shown resilience over time.  The dependability of our systems and our ability to stay abreast of new technology and where needed create technology have kept client relationships solid while building new relationships.

Market America of Greensboro, NC - News Aggregator

PROBLEM:

In 2008 Market America a One-to-one marketing company had the need to replace YellowBrix as it's content source.  All new content had to be strict guidelines on availability, meet core competencies and utilize the IBM UniVerse database.  NLS was to be the veneer for Unicode for storing non-English content.  The content was to be spread across web portals.

SOLUTION:

CAPTURE NEWS was the proof of concept which Synergy created to demonstrate how quickly news can be aggregated from a legitimate reliable source through contracts.  Not knowing UniVerse and NLS Synergy took the approach through proof of concept to show how quickly the latest .Net and C# technology could aggregate in 44 different languages and save to SQL Server (which handles UniCode out of the box).  The proof of concept was completed in 2 days.  Synergy worked side by side with MA project manager & developers to re-create take knowledge learned in POC to a finished product in IBM UniVerse & NLS.

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Wachovia Bank of Charlotte, NC - AS/400 DB2 Expert System GUI Interface Creation

PROBLEM:

In 2004 Wachovia Bank communicated the need to rewrite an application from CoreBrix a firm located in New Delhi, India that handled Wachovia Real Estate Asset Management.

SOLUTION:

RECMTMS was the solution Synergy delivered to Wachovia.  After analyzing the current CoreBrix application the decision was made to scrap the entire application and rewrite it.  The resulting solution was written in .Net C# to SQL Server rather than Microsoft Access which CoreBrix chose.  The new solution included a custom reporting system written entirely in C#.  All data was derived directly from real estate Microsoft Excel spreadsheets which were edited sometimes on a daily basis.  Wachovia stilled used the system as of 2006.

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Dimon Tobacco of Farmville, NC - Tobacco Processing System

PROBLEM:

In 2003 Dimon a tobacco processing company requested the creation of a new Tobacco Processing System which was to process tobacco on a global scale.  This was to be a WinForm application with security and processing capabilities including barcoding.

SOLUTION:

TOPS (Tobacco Processing System) was the solution Synergy delivered to Gilbarco.  Written entirely in Microsoft VB.Net as a WinForm application.  Every feature was created separately as reusable DLL's which were consolidated into a working Tobacco Processing System.  All forms were within the DLL's themselves.  The first implementation of the system was in Tanzania.  Synergy's primary role was working with Deepak Kulkarni, Phani Chitti and other Indian developers for creation and consolidation including the Data Access layer and Barcoding Layer.

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Triad Guaranty of Winston-Salem, NC - Job Scheduler & Document Management System

PROBLEM:

In 2001 Triad Guaranty a Primary Mortgage Insurance company requested the need for a Job Scheduling and Process Monitoring System.  Also included was the need for a Document Management System for handling internal EDI request/response files.

SOLUTION:

EZMon (EZ Monitor) was the solution Synergy delivered to Triad Guaranty.  Entirely written in Microsoft Visual Basic with over 30 custom written controls for enhanced usability and interface functionality.  This solution monitored web sites, pings, remote locations, printers via SNMP, processes, room temperature, weather and much more.  EZMon saved Triad Guaranty over $50,000 in the first year alone.

EZScan was the solution Synergy delivered to Triad Guaranty for the Document Management System.  This solution allowed for tracking and recording of all EDI request/response files through their PMI responsibilities.  EZScan was to save Triad Guaranty an estimated $1.5 million in a custom implemented system in the first 3 years.

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Syngenta of Greensboro, NC - Windows and Web Consulting / Development

PROBLEM:

In 2000 Syngenta a crop management company needed assistance with Windows Development and Web Development.  The resulting solutions should interface with their Oracle 8i database.

SOLUTION:

Various solutions were delivered to Syngenta which utilized NTier with Microsoft Visual Basic and Oracle 8i.  COM/MTS (Microsoft Transaction Services), SQL Plus and SQL Navi were in solutions.  Synergy mentored Syngenta in-house developers as well during the process on Microsoft Visual Basic reusable methods.

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Galey and Lord of Atlanta, GA - Time in Motion Processing System

PROBLEM:

In 1999 Galey and Lord needed to rewrite their current 'Time in Motion' system to work past Y2K. 

SOLUTION:

System Concepts in Greensboro, NC divided the project work and selected Synergy to build and deliver the primary Windows interface.  The resulting solution increased profits while decreasing the amount of time needed to perform 'Time in Motion' manufacturing assessments.

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USAir of Winston-Salem, NC - Dividend Miles Rewrite

PROBLEM:

In 1998 USAir need to look ahead and rewrite their Dividend Miles System to handle Y2k. 

SOLUTION:

Written in Microsoft Visual Basic, Rexx, OS/2 with HLLAPI controls for handling screen scraping of the IBM DB2 database Synergy was able to reduce the amount of time in development by donating repositories of code to the process.  Synergy reverse engineered Wang's multi-image TIFF files which Wang wanted over a million dollars to convert to Y2k.  The end result was a new file format which would replace the TIFF files with full multi-image functionality as well as any file type.  The resulting Synergy file format was a MIFF (Multi-Item File Format).  Rewriting Wang's TIFF file type immediately saved USAir 1 million dollars.

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Gilbarco - AS/400 DB2 Expert System GUI Interface Creation

PROBLEM:

In 1996 Gilbarco a gas pump manufacturer needed a GUI Windows interface that mimicked all AS/400 green screen Expert System screens. 

SOLUTION:

ESI was the solution Synergy delivered to Gilbarco.  Written entirely in Microsoft Visual Basic utilizing NO third party controls except for the terminal emulation HLLAPI control.  The application did NOT require access to the DB2 database to get the job done or any other permissions that were not already set.  HLAPPI was used to screen scrape the AS/400 green screens.  The new Windows GUI duplicated exactly through Visual Basic controls screen labels, data entry areas including colors and password fields down to the exact screen location of all elements.

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Nabisco Planters & Lifesavers - Document Management System for Competitive Edge

PROBLEM:

In 1993 the Nabisco a foods company needed the ability to track competitive sales, product lines, prices and news and have it available to all the Planters and Lifesavers divisions. sales & marketing department needed a GUI Windows interface that mimicked all AS/400 green screen Expert System screens.

SOLUTION:

CATS (Competitive Activity Tracking System) was the solution delivered to Nabisco.  Written entirely in Microsoft Visual Basic the solution utilized Microsoft's first version of SQL Server which ran on OS/2.  All information entered into the primary interface was divided by product categories of Gum, Non-Chocolate, Biscuit etc.  All information was stored by competitor, regional location, category and more.  The solution allowed incorporated the TWAIN protocol for scanning and manipulating the interfaces from the application itself with rotating and cropping.  All images were saved to SQL Server as BLOBS in the format of CMP from a third party control which reduced the images 30% more than JPG and were still 16 million colors in depth.  Nabisco is still utilizing the system.

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High Point Radiological Services - Patient Billing System

PROBLEM:

In 1986 HPRS a patient radiology company had a need to rewrite of an existing patient billing system written in Business Basic running on a Data General Bulldog system on top of an AOS/VS operating system.  The system had to stay in Business Basic running on the same hardware and operating system.  Changes to the billing system had to be changed to include changes happening at the time in Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross as well as ICD-9 and HICFA 1500 form data transferred via the preferred EDI proprietary methods of Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross.

SOLUTION:

Development initially was phased to concentrate initially on rewriting higher priority items.  The overall data dictionary structure was changed and added to to incorporate new electronic claim standards at the time.  New development was created around the ICD-9 diagnosis codes, modifiers etc.  The system ran from 1986 to 2007 when it was replaced by the new HPRS office manager who was familiar with another system.