Case Study
Wigersma & Sikkema: Scaling Global Gas Monitoring with a Unified Digital Platform
Industry - Natural Gas Equipment and Services
Region Overview
Wigersma & Sikkema is a company based in the Netherlands that has spent over a century perfecting natural gas equipment and services. They provide critical hardware like volume converters, remote reading systems, and gas pressure regulators, along with specialized inspection systems. While they are world-class in hardware, their software infrastructure previously suffered from high technical debt, relying on a decentralized, siloed Microsoft Access architecture that lacked a "single source of truth" for global operations.
In this legacy setup, customers maintained individual, outdated databases, which created significant security vulnerabilities and licensing challenges. Managing these fragmented systems—especially when accounting for complex industrial variables like seasonal pressure drops and "alternative line" testing—became an operational burden.
Turning this fragmented environment into a centralized, high-performance cloud platform was the primary challenge. With the implementation of a centralized PostgreSQL database and a modern software suite, all legacy data was successfully migrated, bringing global visibility and predictive maintenance into place. The final outcome was a fully functional system, moving from 30% to over 90% functional coverage, which delivered high customer satisfaction through an advanced, automated reporting dashboard.
Technologies Used
Python
Kotlin
Dot Net
React
Next.js
Flutter
Django
PostgreSQL
Microsoft Access
Azure
Alibaba Cloud
REST API
Challenges & Solutions
Challenges
- High Business Domain Complexity: The development team had to master intricate gas distribution logic, including how gas flow and pressure regulators must be adjusted during seasonal transitions (e.g., pressure drops in winter).
- Fragmented Data Silos: Over a century of data was scattered across individual customer Microsoft Access databases with no centralized synchronization.
- Risky Industrial Data Migration: Merging decentralized legacy data into a single, normalized PostgreSQL schema required meticulous mapping to ensure 100% accuracy for safety-critical gas readings.
- Licensing & Security Risks: Legacy systems allowed for unauthorized “license tuning.” The client needed granular control over licenses for specific hardware, including Stations, Manometers, Inspector Devices, and Test Devices.
- In-Field Inspection Barriers: Field inspectors lacked a synchronized tool to “pick” data from devices and upload it directly to a central management system.
Solution
- Centralized “Single Source of Truth” Architecture: Built a robust cloud-based hub that unified all fragmented data, enabling the head office to monitor global performance in real-time.
- Proprietary Custom Reporting Engine: Developed a flexible tool allowing clients to design and export their own personalized report templates, eliminating manual reporting and meeting diverse regional regulatory requirements.
- Kotlin-based “Inspector Window”: Created a dedicated Android module for field technicians to capture live counter readings and status information directly from devices.
- Predictive Maintenance Framework: Leveraged measurement trends to identify when devices require “tweaking” or annual calibration before they are even sent back to the factory.
- Automated Hardware Handshaking: Implemented a system that automatically identifies connected devices (Volume Converters/Regulators) and loads appropriate parameter sets without manual configuration.
System Transformation: At a Glance
| Feature | Legacy System (Before) | Cloud-Native Platform (After) |
|---|---|---|
| Data Architecture | Siloed Microsoft Access databases (one per client). | Centralized PostgreSQL Cloud database (Unified Hub). |
| Global Visibility | No central oversight; fragmented and "blind" global views. | Real-time global visibility via interactive dashboards. |
| Reporting | Manual data exports and time-consuming manual reporting. | Automated custom reporting engine with personalized templates. |
| Security & Control | High security risks; vulnerable to unauthorized "license tuning." | Multi-layered security with granular hardware license control. |
| Maintenance | Reactive: Issues were addressed only after hardware was returned. | Predictive: Early detection of trends allows for proactive "tweaking." |
| Field Operations | Manual data entry and disconnected field notes. | Instant Sync: Android "Inspector Window" captures live field data. |
Measurable Results
Functional Leap
Elevated Customer Satisfaction
Advanced Maintenance Insights
Granular Asset Control
Seasonal Operational Efficiency
Operators can now use real-time trends to adjust regulator settings accurately during winter pressure fluctuations.
Team Involvement
| Resources | Count |
|---|---|
| Backend Developers | 3 |
| Frontend Developers | 3 |
| Android Developer | 1 |
| Solution Architect | 1 |
| UI/UX designer | 2 |
| QA engineer | 1 |
| Inspection Window Specialist | 1 |
Core Features of the Software
Effortless Device Configuration
Real-time Data Capturing
Intuitive Visual Data Presentation
Converts raw gas pressure and flow data into clear visual trends to help operators make informed adjustment decisions.
No Configuration Required for Device Recognition
Automatically identifies the connected devices and loads the appropriate parameter sets without requiring any manual setup.
Development Timeline
Planning and Discovery
2 months (Included on-site visits to the Netherlands to map industrial workflows).
Development
1 Year (Approximately) using an Agile/Sprint-based model.
Delivery
Core solution delivered in 2025, ongoing feature extensions, and product development.
Future Prospects
Vivasoft is continuously refining Wigersma & Sikkema’s platform through ongoing feature extensions. Focusing on AI-driven simulation and 100% hydrogen-ready monitoring. These developments ensure the product evolves alongside global green energy standards, offering advanced predictive insights for a safer, sustainable future.
Bothered by a Decentralized Database with Data Scattered All Over the Place?
