Case Studies

Freightways Limited

Project Overview

Migrating HP e3000, PowerHouse 4GL, COBOL, IMAGE to Oracle with Microsoft Web Architecture

CORE Software Corporation teamed up with a major courier company to migrate their Courier Database System (CDS) from PowerHouse on HP e3000 to a modern .NET/Oracle/HP-UX environment. CDS is critical for tracking every package from pickup to delivery and integrates functions like prepaid tickets, courier contracts, scheduling, dispatch, as well as interfaces with general ledger and payroll.

Lineup of freight trucks with a blue sky in the background

The Challenge

The existing CDS ran on a non-relational IMAGE database on HP e3000, making maintenance costly and new feature development slow. Key challenges included:

  • Legacy Data Store: IMAGE on HP e3000 limited reporting capabilities and integration with other systems.
  • Monolithic Architecture: PowerHouse screens and logic were tightly coupled, making it hard to introduce new modules or improve performance.
  • Business Continuity: CDS supports end-to-end package tracking; any downtime or data loss would disrupt operations and customer trust.
  • Scalability Needs: Growth in shipping volumes meant the system needed a more scalable relational database and a flexible, web-friendly front end. 

Our Approach

Phase One: Data Migration & Foundation

  • Migrated the entire IMAGE database to Oracle 10g on HP-UX.
  • Created PL/SQL packages to transform and update data in the new relational schema, ensuring referential integrity and business-rule consistency.
  • Converted the PowerHouse data dictionary into Oracle tables to preserve metadata, field definitions, and validation logic.

Phase Two: Application Rebuild

  • Reimplemented key CDS modules such as package ordering, prepaid ticket management, scheduling, and dispatch—in .NET using VB.NET and C#.NET.
  • Leveraged the Renaissance Architect framework for .NET to accelerate development, enforce consistent design patterns, and support future enhancements.
  • Integrated new web forms with Oracle via ADO.NET, replacing terminal-style screens with browser-friendly interfaces running under IIS.

Testing & Quality Assurance

  • Ran unit tests on each migrated module to verify business logic against legacy outputs.
  • Conducted integration testing to ensure that package-tracking workflows, financial interfaces (general ledger, payroll), and reporting functions worked end to end.
  • Performed performance tuning on Oracle queries and .NET components to meet service-level expectations under peak load.

Knowledge Transfer & Support

  • Prepared training materials and workshops on the Renaissance Architect tools for the client’s IT staff.
  • Provided hands-on sessions covering schema maintenance, PL/SQL updates, and .NET module enhancements.
  • Established a transition plan with staged cutover steps, fall-back procedures, and post-go-live support to minimize operational risk.

Results

  • Relational, Scalable Data Platform
    Moving CDS from IMAGE to Oracle 10g unlocked advanced reporting, easier data integration, and room to grow as shipping volumes increased.
  • Modern, Web-Friendly Interface
    The new .NET front end replaced clunky terminal screens with intuitive web forms, boosting productivity for order-taking and dispatch teams.
  • On-Schedule Delivery
    Core milestones database migration, dictionary conversion, and Product Ordering module delivery (April 1, 2006) were met within the 16-month timeframe without unplanned downtime.
  • Smoother Ongoing Maintenance
    Standardizing on Oracle and the Renaissance Architect framework reduced reliance on PowerHouse specialists, lowered support costs, and made future feature rollouts easier.

Why It Matters

Legacy logistics systems often become bottlenecks: data is trapped in non-relational stores, interfaces feel archaic, and making even minor tweaks can require specialized skills. By splitting the effort into a data-first migration followed by a phased application rebuild, this project delivered a robust, maintainable platform that:

  1. Preserves Business Continuity – phased cutover ensured package tracking stayed online without disruption.
  2. Improves Agility – web-enabled modules and relational data support faster feature development and reporting.
  3. Lowers Total Cost of Ownership – standard technologies mean easier support, fewer bespoke skills, and a foundation that scales with growing shipping demands.

This case study illustrates how a structured SDLC approach, combined with proven frameworks, can transform a mission-critical courier system into a future-proof solution minimizing risk and maximizing long-term value.

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