Founded in 1993, IFD Engineering. has built a stellar reputation for delivering innovative software solutions in the warehouse logistics sector. Their flagship product, StoreIT, is a powerful and adaptable Warehouse Management System (WMS) designed to handle the full spectrum of warehouse operations—from material receipt and storage to logistics and goods dispatch.
Led by CEO Krasimir Dimitrov, IFD Engineering is committed to maintaining StoreIT's position as a market-leading solution by constantly adapting to the latest technological advancements.
Vaadin won us over with its full Java support—letting our Java-oriented team program, debug, and rely on Vaadin to handle JavaScript at runtime.
– Krasimir Dimitrov, CEO, IFD Engineering
The challenge
Technology evolves rapidly, and staying ahead requires continuous innovation. Vaadin 8, the framework on which StoreIT was initially built, had provided a reliable foundation since 2016. However, once it reached the end of life, it marked a pivotal moment for IFD Engineering.
Faced with the need to ensure ongoing security updates, performance improvements, and compatibility, the company decided to migrate StoreIT to Vaadin 24. Far from viewing this migration as a challenge, IFD Engineering embraced it as an opportunity to modernize StoreIT—enhancing its performance, user experience, and long-term competitiveness.
The solution
The migration to Vaadin 24 was more than just an update—it was a complete platform modernization. The team rebuilt the application from the ground up to harness the latest features and capabilities of Vaadin 24, delivering a robust and user-friendly solution.
Vaadin's rich functionality and UI performance were game-changers for us. It brought native Windows application functionality to the web, far surpassing our experience with ASP.NET and Telerik controls.
– Krasimir Dimitrov, CEO, IFD Engineering
Key steps included:
- Implementing a modern design foundation: The team developed the MainLayout page, incorporating AppLayout with Drawer, a streamlined menu system, and an intuitive TabSheet for seamless navigation.
- Upgrading components for responsiveness: The outdated GridLayout was replaced with the modern FlexLayout, ensuring responsiveness and compatibility across devices.
- Enhancing security: Spring Boot Security with BCrypt was implemented, fortifying the system against modern threats.
- Improving user interaction: Features like Drag & Drop functionality enabled users to customize their workspace, improving efficiency and satisfaction.
By addressing challenges and leveraging Vaadin's modern Java platform, IFD Engineering transformed StoreIT into a faster, more secure, and intuitive platform.
The results
The migration to Vaadin 24 has been a resounding success, delivering significant benefits to both IFD Engineering and its customers:
- Enhanced performance and stability: StoreIT now operates with greater speed and reliability, ensuring a smooth experience for users.
- Improved security: Modern frameworks and tools bolster protection against evolving threats.
- Customizable user experience: Features like Drag & Drop functionality allow users to personalize grid layouts, making workflows more intuitive and efficient.
- Future-ready architecture: The new three-tier design seamlessly integrates with any backend version, simplifying updates and maintenance across multiple projects.
Looking ahead, IFD Engineering is leveraging Vaadin 24’s capabilities to introduce AI-driven features, such as task distribution algorithms and warehouse capacity optimization, further solidifying StoreIT as a cutting-edge solution in the industry.
Key takeaways
By embracing change and upgrading to Vaadin 24, IFD Engineering not only ensured the longevity of its flagship product but also set a new standard for warehouse logistics software. The migration showcases the company’s commitment to innovation, user satisfaction, and maintaining its market-leading position.
Ready to modernize your existing app or start fresh? Vaadin 24 gives you the tools to build secure, scalable, and future-ready applications. Kickstart a new project at start.vaadin.com or accelerate your Java modernization with the Modernization Toolkit.