Capitol Tech Solutions collaborated closely with the Department of General Services (DGS) IT staff to create a modern, cloud-based system for tracking statewide property inventory. Confronted with an outdated 30-year-old system, DGS required a complete rebuild from the ground up using the .NET stack. Our team took the lead as technical product owner and technical development, encompassing front-end and back-end engineering, data management, reporting, business analysis, and project management, effectively complementing the efforts of six state staff members.

Leveraging Azure Cloud Infrastructure

California Department of General Services with .NET, Power BI and Azure

The solution leverages Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure, integrating services such as Azure B2C for identity management, web apps for scalable deployment, Azure SQL for robust database management, Azure Functions for serverless operations, and Azure Pipelines for streamlined continuous integration and deployment. While the project is still in progress, DGS SPI team will utilize the application in a simulated live environment in September of 2024.

A Hybrid Agile Development Process

The application was developed with a hybrid agile process. During the first 6 months, our team analyzed the mid-level requirements, and developed detailed requirements. Simultaneously, we designed the technical architecture of the system, and review business processes to determine where operations could be streamlined. Lastly, we developed an improved data model and transformed the data from the old model to the new. After the initial period, our development team joined the group and began implementing the application.

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Technical Architecture and Sprint Management

The system was built with a Azure SQL database, a C# API layer, a Svelte front end that implemented Figma designs, and PowerBI for the reports. Sprints were 3 weeks long, and deliverables were clearly defined using Azure DevOps to manage user stories and tasks. To complete the work, the team had weekly sessions with the customer, which included demos, UAT, clarification, and refinement of features.

Phased Pre-Production Delivery

The system was delivered to pre-production in phases, with the first phase being the data entry forms for Real Property and State-Owned Structures. User feedback was added to future sprints and implemented prior to production release.

Key Wins

Major wins on the project included automated several manual processes. Previously, data was stored and referenced in Excel, and all of that work was brought into the system. In addition, sending notices included manual work that was streamlined and automated. Also, several firsts were part of the project for the customer, including using Svelte for the front-end technology, using the CA template in design, and integrating PowerBI within the application for reporting.

Tools and Insights for Future Projects

This project provided many tools and lessons we can use on future projects. We developed the framework of a UI based on the CA state template. This allows us to quickly develop user interfaces in the future for new state applications. We also learned the value of having a strong technical business owner as part of the team. The customer provided the business owner, but they have used the same application for over 30 years. By combining the customer’s business owner with our team’s strategist, we can deliver a modern application that meets the needs of the customer. Lastly, the project provided more experience in developing on Azure infrastructure, including pipelines, which we will continue to leverage for future projects.