Modernizing Insurance Application: Vaadin and Java for Smooth Transformation

HDI, an international insurance group established in 1903, has grown from a liability insurer for the German industry into a global insurance powerhouse. Their mission is to develop and deliver insurance solutions that active and dynamic companies require for their success.

Despite their impressive portfolio and innovative approach, HDI faced significant challenges with its Policy application leading to ineffective communication between its IT and business teams. This is where Hicron Software stepped into the picture.

At the heart of HDI’s operations is a Policy application, a crucial tool developed in 2009 for managing contracts, drafting policy documents, and issuing invoices. The application’s outdated complex architecture and limited functionality were slowing business operations. The IT and business teams struggled to understand each other’s needs due to their different spheres of work.

The application needed a revamp, and HDI needed a support on how to navigate the complex transformation. They needed a partner that could propose tech upgrades and solutions that would enable business continuity without starting from scratch.

A previous partnership with a vendor had failed to provide the desired results, amplifying the need for a strategic partner who could offer both technical expertise and a keen understanding of HDI’s business needs.

HDI chose Hicron Software due to our tech expertise, geographical proximity, cultural fit, team stability, and proficiency in the German language. What set Hicron’s team apart was our business-focused approach and commitment to understanding HDI’s unique challenges and needs. But we had more surprises in store for them.

Contrary to HDI’s assumption that the onboarding process would take several months, our team completed it in just two weeks, leading to a pleasant surprise for HDI. This demonstrated our commitment and efficiency and set the stage for a successful partnership.

Our role expanded beyond just development; Hicron’s team played a crucial role in fostering effective communication and mutual understanding. By carefully explaining the business and technological dependencies, we helped the teams find common ground and work towards a shared goal.

This collaborative approach was instrumental in transforming the outdated application into a dynamic, efficient, and user-friendly tool.

Our Business Analyst performed an extensive business analysis, delving deep into the details. On that foundation we recommended a suitable working model for the project. We mapped and matched the legal requirements of the local market, the dynamic changes in the market itself with technology. As a consulting and implementation partner, we proposed working with Vaadin – an open-source web application development platform for Java.

Vaadin, Mockito, JUnit4, TestBench, RCP, Java8, Oracle DB, Eclipse RCP, SWT, JPA, IBM Websphere, Maven, H2 DB, Camunda BPM S, plunk