Sentinel: modernizing IT Infrastructure in the Pension Industry

Many long-established companies face the challenge of outdated technology infrastructure. Our client, a key player in the U.S. pension and benefits industry, encountered growing inefficiencies in their IT systems. Over the years, they had developed numerous applications, often independently of each other, leading to integration challenges. Some of their technological solutions no longer met modern standards, and their user interfaces were inconsistent and unintuitive. Daily operations became increasingly difficult for users, and implementing new features required significant effort.

Ecosystem modernization

Rather than applying temporary fixes, we undertook a comprehensive modernization of the entire application ecosystem. Our goal was to create a unified, modern environment that not only streamlined daily operations for end users but also enabled seamless integration of new technologies in the future. We focused on solutions that improved system scalability, enhanced performance, and simplified application management and maintenance. As a result, the company could concentrate on its core business instead of struggling with technology-related issues.

A New Architecture Unlocking New Possibilities

The foundation of the new technology ecosystem was a Monorepo architecture, allowing shared components, unified code, and easier system management. By leveraging common UI components and consistent business logic, we created a cohesive and transparent environment that significantly accelerated feature development and simplified system maintenance. New applications could be deployed faster without having to be built from scratch, while existing applications could reuse ready-made solutions, minimizing code redundancy and reducing inconsistencies.

A crucial part of the modernization was implementing a centralized authentication application based on Okta. This allowed users to log in once and seamlessly switch between different applications without repeated authentication. This approach maintained the independence of individual applications while ensuring seamless communication between them. Each application operated cohesively within the new ecosystem while retaining autonomy, a key requirement for the client.

A Modern Interface Designed for Users

While technological improvements were critical, ensuring a user-friendly experience was equally important. Many of the client’s legacy applications featured outdated, unintuitive interfaces that did not meet modern UX standards. By unifying the visual identity of the applications and applying modern interface design principles, we made navigation easier and work more efficient.

The adoption of React and TailwindCSS allowed us to create modern UI components that not only enhanced visual appeal but also improved user interactions. Simplified navigation, consistent interface elements, and better responsiveness enabled users to find information faster and complete tasks with less effort. Implementing UX best practices eliminated unnecessary steps and streamlined various processes, directly boosting workplace efficiency.

Overcoming Challenges

The project was not without its challenges. One of the first hurdles was inventorying and understanding the functionalities of all applications that needed to be integrated into the new ecosystem. Each application was built in a different era using different technologies, making standardization complex and requiring a strategic approach.

During the MVP phase, we prioritized avoiding excessive abstraction in the codebase. We took a pragmatic approach that enabled rapid iteration without unnecessary refactoring. Maintaining code readability and flexibility for future development remained a top priority.

Another challenge was ensuring effective onboarding for new developers and interns. Since the project involved individuals with varying levels of experience, we implemented a structured code review system and mentorship program. Regular meetings, best practice discussions, and a focus on code quality helped new team members quickly adapt to the project's technologies and standards.

Time zone management also required special attention. Some applications stored dates in formats that did not support multiple time zones, causing synchronization issues. To mitigate this, we standardized date storage as text with proper frontend parsing. In one critical application where precision was paramount, we enforced a fixed America/New_York time zone.

Long-Term Impact and Benefits

The modernization project has delivered tangible benefits to the company. New applications now offer a consistent visual and functional experience, significantly improving user satisfaction. The Monorepo approach and shared components facilitate faster feature deployment and minimize compatibility issues. The new architecture enables seamless scalability and the introduction of new solutions without costly refactors.

Perhaps the most significant success of the project is not just the adoption of modern technologies but also the knowledge transfer to the client’s team. Their developers have acquired new skills and tools that empower them to maintain and expand the system independently. Through a collaborative partnership, we developed solutions tailored to real business needs, providing the client with a solid foundation for future growth.