Solving a puzzle while updating its design, that’s how Andrei Chmelev would describe his work at M Soft. A software engineer like Andrei must be creative in designing a solution to a specific problem. There is a great deal of room for creativity in such an endeavor, a facet many of us might not perceive because we lack the insight of a mind like Mr. Chmelev’s. On a recent project for LiteFlow’s electronic document management system, Andrei was tasked with improving the frontend and backend development of LiteFlow, enhancing the system’s user interface. The digital marketplace is bigger than ever and its exponential expansion informs us that the needs of companies to handle the demands in a highly competitive world are immense. They require much more than simple adaptation, they demand vision. Andrei afforded such vision in his work on LiteFlow’s manner of conducting business with their customers in the present and future. Specifically, M Soft specializes in software solutions for document management and workflow automation. The company provides tools to optimize business processes, focusing on electronic document management systems (EDMS). On behalf of M Soft, Andrei has designed a system which positions them for positive interactions and advances. Chmelev proclaims that such an endeavor is always an enlightening process for himself and his clients, asserting that nothing is ever “by rote. He remarks, “There is a significant amount of creativity involved in my work. While I leverage proven approaches as a foundation, each project presents unique challenges that require innovative thinking. For example, designing real-time data processing for large-scale systems or creating intuitive user interfaces often demands out-of-the-box solutions. Creativity allows me to tailor systems to meet specific needs effectively.” In hopes of gaining insight in the clearest manner, we’ve asked Andrei to take us through the process with a first-person perspective. What follows is a direct explanation of how he attacks such a scenario.
From the onset, did this seem like a fairly simple project for you or was it deceptively complex?
Andrei Chmelev (AC): The most challenging task was to design a system that was flexible for configuration, universal for extension, and adaptable to various business processes. To achieve this required the development of a modular architecture and implementation of an interface that allowed customization to specific organizational needs without compromising performance. In short, it wasn’t simple but then, it never is. (laughs).
How did you make the system simultaneously more efficient and easier to use? It’s okay to get technical about your approach as those who read this interview will likely be familiar with the jargon or terminology.
AC: Using Vue.js, I developed dynamic and reactive components, providing a seamless user experience with minimal load times. Kendo UI was employed for advanced UI elements, such as grids, dropdowns, and charts, to create a polished and professional interface. This combination enabled users to efficiently navigate complex document workflows and access critical data effortlessly.
And what was your angle in improving server performance?
AC: ASP.NET Nancy streamlined the development of lightweight, modular APIs, reducing server response times. SignalR enabled real-time communication between the client and server, ensuring instant updates for collaborative document editing and task management. Together, these technologies significantly enhanced system performance and user satisfaction.
I think one of the most important parts of what you created is the training module. Let’s be frank, it doesn’t matter how good the system is, if people are frustrated because they have problems using it, it creates a backlash. User experience is so vital and a huge factor in whether a system or a product finds an accepting audience. What were the key components of the training module you created that helped users?
AC: You’re completely correct and it cannot be overstated that, even if I create something that works well, people have to feel that it’s designed with an “ease of use.” I take this very seriously. There are four pillars around which I built the training module. First, Interactive tutorials which provide Step-by-step guides demonstrated system functionality, from basic navigation to advanced document processing. This is then reinforced with scenario-based learning: Real-world use cases allowed clients to simulate their workflows within the training environment. There is an automated feedback function which provides instant feedback on user actions helped clients quickly learn the correct procedures. Finally, we could foresee that users from many different areas and cultures would be using Liteflow. To account for this, there is multilingual support to ensure accessibility for diverse client bases.
Writer : Basil Thomson