Introduction

In today’s digitalized world, the automation of business processes is a decisive factor in remaining competitive. Companies benefit from increased efficiency, optimized workflows and better use of resources. At ONLU, your IT consulting company in Switzerland, we focus on innovative solutions to meet these challenges. In this article, we share our in-depth experience and insights from a challenging project with a regional bank – from the analysis and optimization of existing processes to the implementation of modern automation technologies.

The challenge of process automation

The bank was faced with the task of modernizing its outdated IT infrastructure and simplifying complex business processes at the same time. Several key objectives had to be achieved:

• Acceleration of SQL database provisioning: The provisioning time should be reduced from 10 to just 1 hour.
• Development of clone scripts: In order to ensure efficient data synchronization between production and test environments, reliable clone scripts had to be developed.
• Automation through scripting: Complex processes should be automated using customized scripts, thus minimizing sources of error.
• Resolving dependencies: In particular, the dependencies on Camunda variables in the database had to be removed to enable full automation.

These challenges required not only in-depth technical expertise, but also a creative and structured approach in order to successfully manage the entire transformation process.

Our measures and tried-and-tested solutions

Optimization of database provisioning

The slow provision of the databases had a significant impact on the development cycles. Through a detailed analysis of the existing processes, we identified bottlenecks that could be eliminated in a targeted manner. The optimization of the scripts and the use of automated processes led to a drastic reduction in deployment time – a decisive gain in efficiency.

Development and use of clone scripts

Always up-to-date data is essential for smooth testing and development work. Our specially developed clone scripts make it possible to transfer databases from the production environment to the test environments. This fully automated process not only saves valuable time, but also ensures that data integrity is always maintained.

Resolution of dependencies on Camunda variables

A key stumbling block in automation was the strong link to Camunda and Flowable variables in the database. To overcome this, we have:

• HTTP connectors revised: All relevant connectors have been redesigned to allow more flexible access to environment variables.
• Dynamic environment variables: A new class has been introduced that enables environment variables to be read dynamically for each service task.
• Proof of concept: By using task variables and direct Java calls, we were able to successfully validate the approach and integrate it into the existing architecture.

Best practices for successful release and process management

Clear separation of configuration and secrets

• Transparency in configurations: Environment-dependent settings are designed in such a way that they are easily accessible and comprehensible.
• Secure management of secrets: Passwords and other sensitive data are managed securely using modern encryption techniques.

Use of modern secret management tools

• Tools such as HashiCorp Vault: They ensure robust and secure storage of secrets.
• Bitnami Sealed Secrets: These enable sensitive data to be securely integrated into Kubernetes.
• Sidecar container: By using sidecars, secrets can be read dynamically without being stored directly in the application.

Efficient release management and microservice architecture

• Automated release management: Tools such as ArgoCD simplify and automate the entire release process.
• Management of Kubernetes manifests: Helm or Kustomize are used to manage the configurations centrally and consistently.
• Modular microservice deployments: Independent deployments instead of large umbrella charts improve scalability and facilitate fault isolation.

Packaging and standardization of microservices

• Shared Base Helm Charts: These ensure that all microservices are operated on a uniform basis, which increases efficiency and consistency in deployment.
• Central basic configurations: This avoids the creation of redundant charts and simplifies infrastructure maintenance.

Technologies and tools used

Our technological approach is based on a wide range of modern tools and frameworks that allow us to develop customized solutions:

• Programming languages: Java EE, Java 8
• Frameworks: Spring Framework, Camunda BPM, Flowable
• Integration platforms: MuleSoft Framework
• Containerization: Kubernetes, OpenShift
• Databases: MariaDB, MySQL
• Interfaces: REST, SOAP
• Messaging: ActiveMQ
• Version control: GitLab, GIT
• Quality assurance: SonarQube

These technologies form the foundation of our work and allow us to implement even the most complex projects efficiently and sustainably.

Conclusion and outlook

The automation of business processes is a dynamic and ongoing process that requires constant further development. Our experience in modernizing the IT infrastructure of a regional bank has impressively demonstrated how significant efficiency gains can be achieved through the targeted use of modern tools such as Camunda, Flowable and Avaloq.

At ONLU, innovation and customer focus take center stage. We firmly believe that continuous technological progress and the use of proven best practices help companies to actively shape digital change. Looking to the future, we plan to further refine our solutions and integrate new technologies to always provide the best possible service to our customers.

Stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the IT world – together we are shaping the future of digital transformation.

Your ONLU Team