At BroadSoft, a leading provider of enterprise unified communications solutions, embracing the latest mobile technologies is critical. Users demand the same dependable voice over IP (VoIP) services on mobile devices that they enjoy on desktop computers. Anything less simply isn’t an option.

The Challenge: Re-Engineer a Legacy Application and it’s peripheral integrations to Meet Market and User Demands

Before connecting with Katdare Software, BroadSoft relied on a legacy administrator interface for its managed cloud service, BroadCloud. The interface, built with Adobe Flash in 2006, did not provide the seamless mobile experience customers demanded. And with plans to expand into the international market, the dependency on Flash was preventing BroadSoft from seizing new opportunities and growing its operation.

According to Ricardo Araki, Director of Research and Development at BroadSoft, modernizing BroadCloud’s legacy interface was a prerequisite to international expansion. “Our resources were tied up in maintaining the existing product,” Araki said. “To meet our long-term goals, we needed to replace key components of the product with a rich HTML5, mobile-friendly UI”

BroadSoft’s internal team, though sharp and well-equipped, lacked the experience necessary to re-engineer the existing product on their own. Araki knew they needed a highly technical partner who could build a modern, scalable interface for BroadCloud users.

After researching multiple vendors, Araki and the BroadSoft team narrowed their options down to two different companies. One of them was Katdare Software, which stood out for three different reasons:

1. It was clear that Katdare Software understood the technical challenges involved with the project
2. The proposed approach positioned Katdare Software as an extension of the existing BroadSoft team – a remote, US-based partner who could work day in and out with BroadSoft. In other words, Katdare Software wasn’t going to let “developing to spec” limit its ability to collaborate, innovate, or anticipate challenges
3. Katdare Software clearly possessed the technical experience needed to work with key platforms and frameworks, including modern Java and web services, Javascript, Ext JS, and Ofbiz, all of which would be critical to the application re-engineering effort

“It was clear from our conversations with the technical lead at Katdare Software that they had a solid handle on the technical problems we needed to solve,” said Araki. “They gave us confidence that they were the right choice for the project.”

“Katdare Software gave us confidence that they were the right choice for the project”
Ricardo Araki, Director

BroadSoft selected Katdare Software to liberate its legacy application from yesterday’s standards. It was time to deliver an experience that was easy for all BroadCloud users to enjoy and that didn’t depend on an outdated software platform.

Joining Araki at BroadSoft were Meenakshi Prajapati, Senior Web Developer, and Amanda Sulzbach, Manager of the Portal Development Team. They worked directly with Amol Katdare, Katdare Software’s Principal Consultant, to monitor progress, evaluate milestones, and move the project forward.

From Araki’s perspective, consistent communication was key to gauging the team’s progress. “With a true agile mindset, Katdare Software held weekly meetings to discuss where things stood and showed us what to expect next,” he said. “They were incredibly efficient at triaging the ‘to do’ list, resolving integration challenges, and sending deliverables to review.”

“With a true agile mindset, Katdare Software held weekly meetings to discuss where things stood and showed us what to expect next.”
Ricardo Araki, Director

One of the biggest challenges for BroadSoft was ensuring that changes to BroadCloud met stringent security standards. Thanks to extensive experience in enterprise development, Katdare Software understood the extent to which security impacted various areas of the BroadCloud project

“They were incredibly efficient at triaging the ‘to do’ list, resolving integration challenges, and sending deliverables to review.”
Ricardo Araki, Director

According to Prajapati, “Working with Katdare Software improved our understanding of the anatomy of a modern Java and Ext JS-based enterprise web application. We’re still using those skills every day as we support the new product.”

After several months of ongoing collaboration, the BroadCloud administrator application transitioned to a modern, more manageable, user and mobile friendly interface. With its technical goals achieved, BroadSoft could finally begin its international expansion.

“Working with Katdare Software improved our understanding of the anatomy of a modern Java and Ext JS-based enterprise web application. We’re still using those skills every day as we support the new product.”
Meenakshi Prajapati, Lead Engineer, BroadSoft

“Since beginning our relationship with Katdare Software, we’ve brought BroadCloud to the Asian and European markets,” said Araki. “Re-engineering the administrator application made it all possible.”

Ultimately, Katdare Software addressed three critical business challenges for BroadSoft:

1. Modernizing a legacy application to meet the needs of mobile users
2. Enabling expansion into enterprise markets around the globe
3. Educating internal talent about new standards, languages, and technologies

Before connecting with Katdare Software, preparing BroadCloud for an international user base seemed like a daunting task. But as the project progressed, it became clear that meeting this business goal wasn’t just possible – it was going to happen sooner than expected

The engagement continues to influence the BroadSoft team. According to Prajapati, “We expanded our technical chops and broadened our understanding of what’s possible. We’re still using those insights today, and we probably always will.”