Cloud Computing for Improved Product Delivery Services: A Case Study of AB Pty. Ltd

This report discusses how AB Pty. Ltd, a small product delivery company, faced challenges with delayed deliveries and customer dissatisfaction. The report proposes a solution using cloud computing, specifically IBM Bluemix, to improve the performance of product deliveries. The design plan and deployment plan are also discussed. The report highlights the difficulties faced during the creation of the smart application based on vehicle tracking system.

Cloud Computing

Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 IBM Bluemix...................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Business Case.................................................................................................................................................... 13
2. Proposed Solution.................................................................................................................................................. 13
3. Design Plan........................................................................................................................................................... 14
4. Develop and Deployment Plan...............................................................................................................................22
5. Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................. 24
References-20hrvrd........................................................................................................................................................ 25

1. Introduction
This report sheds light on a case study of a company named, AB Pty. Ltd. This company
basically carries out product delivery services to a specific area, i.e., Austin downtown, Texas,
USA. The further provided details about the company are highlighted as follows- This Company
owns nearly three trucks to carry out the delivery service. This shows how small the company is
and the area covered by it also denotes the size of its business. Mainly, it handles the deliveries
of the third parties. The case takes a turn when its deliveries start getting delayed and the
customers start complaining out the lately delivered products. Thus, the company is facing
customer dissatisfaction at the moment. The company really wants to know what has caused this
problem to arise and what could be the possible solution for it. The company out of its interest
and concern hires a business analyst to rectify the issue and suggest possible and effective
solutions. The identified issues revolve around the busy and increasing demands of the trucks. It
is determined that, the present scenario of the company is it is having a long pending list of
product deliveries. Because, now the trucks are able to manage only three product deliveries in a
day. But earlier, it wasable to over five deliveries in a single day. Thus, this is expected to
increase the list of pending deliveries.Hence, the analyst has scrutinized some potential reasons
that the company is facing challenges to deal with. Keeping the size and need of the company,
few recommendations are suggested. The company really has to take immediate actions on the
issue, if not the dissatisfied customers will increase and it will affect the growth of the company.
The impact of cloud application for this business will be analyzed, designed and implemented.
The objective is to provide a befitting solution of the current issues which the company is
facing related to the late product delivery. The report will investigate on the effective solutions
which are already provided by the business analyst, from which one will be selected and
implemented. The selection of the solution will be carried out by the newly hired ICT professional,
of the company. The IBM blue mix will accessed, for providing a proposed solution. The
development plan will be shared. Finally, the solution will be to develop a simulated connected
vehicleapplication, using Bluemix.
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1.1 IBM Bluemix
Bluemix is used for developing the design of the solution, for the case study’s problem,
which refers to delayed product delivery service. The analysis determines that, the delay can be
monitored and resolved, with a web application. This will help to resolve the issue of delayed
deliveries. Mainly, the Bluemix helps to developweb applications and it is an effective option
considered.
It is also referred as IBM Bluemix and it is a cloud platform as a service, which IBM has
developed. IBM Bluemix supports various programming languages as well as services and
integrated DevOps for building, running, deploying and managing the applications on the
cloud.Bluemix helps to have easy access of cloud across various deployments. Moreover, IBM
Bluemix is free to build and anyone can do it just by logging in to the below provided link:
https://idaas.iam.ibm.com/idaas/mtfim/sps/authsvc?
PolicyId=urn:ibm:security:authentication:asf:basicldapuser
This link directs to the below displayed window, so that the users can log in to access the
service of Bluemix.It helps to create a dashboard for an application.
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After logging in to the website, the user will a list of applications on the left side of the
screen, and from this the user must select the option “Cloud foundry Runtimes” application. This
selection creates the application even with the absence of an infrastructure. Then, the SDK must be
selected for the node. The below image depicts the same process. For creating an application, the
user must provide a host name for the application (Ibm.com, 2016).
Proceed further by creating a database for the created application. The below window shows
a list of services listed in the left side of the screen.Among them, select the option, “Data &
analytics” service, because it helps to create the database. Thereare possibilities of viewing third
party database, by using IBM products present in the analytics services. The same process is
depicted in the below represented image.
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The above made selection will direct the user to the below represented window.
In DB MySQL Database, the user must create a new Database. Then, the next step is to
establish database connection. Then, the user must concentrate on deploying the application. The
users are recommended to check the connection tab that is present in the left side of the below
represented window. The same process is depicted in the below represented image.
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As mentioned earlier, it is required to establish connection between the database and the
applicationand once it is completed successfully, the instances of the application commences.
This can be easily be viewed in view tab. Then, the following step is to do the configuration
work. This option is present at the right side of the navigation pane in the window. Next, the edit
code option should bechosen.Necessary changes can be altered according to the requirements of
the user(Console.ng.bluemix.net, 2016).
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By using the Blue mix devops screen, the configuration file will be showed. The
window’s right side navigation pane, comprises of the tabs namely, build and deploy, edit code,
track and plan. If the user have any changes to be done for the code, it can be done easily with a
click of a button i.e., by selection the edit code option. Before, option this option, one must be
careful whether the file is selected correctly or not.
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Once the user has completed with the editing process, the file will be next deployed. To
deploy it is very simple, the user will see a red button on the screen and the user must just select
this button and it’s done. After, this there will be pop up window on the screen which will be
displayed immediately after deployment. The pop up window has a message which questions
about the need of redeploying the file. If the wants, the file can be redeployed or else it can be
cancelled.
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Then, select the ok button. This will let to open the window of the GIT Repository. Even
at this point, there are possibilities of editing the file. The configuration file will be shown at the
right side bottom of the window. The user must select the option “Commit” now to commit the
files. This button is available at the right side corner of the window.
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After completing the complete process, the window will display the modified details, on
the left side of the window. Then choose the push button.
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In no time, the build and deploy stage appears. This stage is seen only if the application
creation process has been completed successfully. Successful acknowledgement message will be
sent for confirming the creation of the application.
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The preceding step is to select the final execution result. It enables to deploy the message
which states as “Application successful.”
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1.2 Case study Problem
This case study of AB Pty. Ltd, which handles product delivery services for a specific
area, like, Austin downtown, Texas, USA is analyzed. The business analysis provides details
about the company and highlights the issues. As the company has only three trucks it was earlier
able to complete 5 deliveries in a day, but when the demand of the trucks increased the trucks
could only complete 3 deliveries in a day. The company dint understand why is this happening.
This lead to the investigation on what is causing the trucksto delay and increase the list of
pending deliveries. The delay in the delivery of the products is making the customers
dissatisfied, which is a serious threat for a budding company like AB Pty. Ltd.The business
analyst have listed out few effective reasons that AB Pty. Ltdis facing challenges at present. It is
observed that, there is a serious need for the company to work on improving the performance of
product deliveries. This is only possible with a technology which can monitor the cause for the
delay of the trucks. For customer satisfaction, the cloud application is suggested and IBM
Bluemix is recommended for designingand implementation of the
solution(ibm.com/developerWorks/, 2016) (Sankaranarayanan, 2016).
The following are the important aspect that are required in the proposed system:
1) It is necessary to develop a smart application which can simulate the
movement of the truck.
2) The system must be able to divide and share the delivery zones.
3) The performance of the truck can be improved with the increased speed of
the trucks.
4) The delivery must be allocated equally among the present trucks.
5) In case of any violations, like speed limit must be notified.
6) Once the delivery is completed, the delivery must be completed and
updated.
7) Geo alert is suggested to know the entry and exit of the assigned zones, to
have cooperation between the truck allotments.
2. Proposed Solution
From the evaluation of the case, it is examined that the problem is threating to the
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business and must be attended with immediate actions. The proposed system is implemented
with the following smart features:
1) The deliveries will be divided and assigned among the trucks.
2) The delivery zones will be divided in to the following zones:
a) North
b) South
c) East
d) West
3) The trucks location will be easily identified, during the product delivery.
4) The truck driver can be communicated, if required.
5) Notification will be sent to the admin and the truck driver. In uncertain situations.
6) If any problems are present in the truck, it will be alerted and the truck’s issues can be
resolved and avoid the delivery delays (developerWorks Recipes, 2016).
IBM Bluemix services is used for developing thissmart application. It will have
Geospatial Analytics service. The created dashboard of the Bluemix application, the proposed
solution will select Add services and click on Free.
3. Design Plan
Design plan for the smart application of vehicle tracking system presented below:
Step 1:Go to the website of IBM Bluemix services and log in.
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Step 2:Integrate IoT with Bluemix.
Step 3:Using the dashboard configure the foundation of IoT.
Step 4:Select the device type and allot it an id and name.
Step 5:Select “Add API” option, to generate the Keys of new API.
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Organization ID: rl79j3
Device Type: Vehicle
Device ID: XYZ
Authentication Method: token
Authentication Token: X-eW!!D!LQTIjK@Wfq
Organization ID: rl79j3
Device Type: Vehicle
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Device ID: XY
Authentication Method: token
Authentication Token: @Rk0&LQ+Vx8+4n&I2J
Step 6:Download the starter kit, after deploying the kit.
Step 7:Using fork project, create a project and clone it with its repository. Then, select “Edit
code” option for modifying the file named as, manifest.yml. Later, open config or
settings.jsr file.
a) Enter vehicle type, for iot_deviceType.
b) EnterOrganization’s ID (six-characters) for iot_deviceOrg.
c) Enter token and registeredID for iot_deviceSet
d) Enter the created API key for iot_apiKey.
e) Enter API key token for iot_apiToken and store it.
The following link will take you to check the created application:
https://api.ng.bluemix.net.
Step 8:Ensure to create and configure the Geospatial Analytics, because of its use in recognizing
the entry and exit of the truck from the regions.
Step 9:With the help of IoT, select “Create” and bind the starter kit and the geospatial analytics.
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Only then the below mentioned URL can be accessed:
http://app-name.mybluemix.net/GeospatialService_start
Step 10:At last, choose “Alert” option, as it will allow to display the procedure of geofence
(Ibm.com, 2016).
4. Deployment Plan
This section ensures to represent a development plan for the proposed solution. The
development plan includes the following:
Once the design is completed, the testing is taken place where for the corresponding
truck, the tester first sends a command. To send this, Set Property command is used. The map
applications will be connected with this attempt. Then, the user can change the application’s
properties dynamically (development, 2016).
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5. Difficulties
The creation of smart application based on vehicle tracking system is has some difficulties such
as,
 IBM account creation
 Deployment of the Code
 Configuration of the Code
 Creation of Geospatial analytics
 Configuration and deployment of smart applications.

6. Conclusion
AB Pty. Ltd is the business case study which is analyzed. From the case study various
aspects of the business are revealed such as the current and the previous functioning carried out by
the company. Its current stance and the issues which are faced by it. The case study also provide the
important business details, like the company handles product deliveries for the third parties and it is
a small sized business, which comprises of just three trucks to deliver the products to the
customers.The customers are believed to be dissatisfied with the delayed service being provided by
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the company. This has increased the feedback from the customers, where they are companioning
about the delayed product deliveries. The basic rule of any business is to satisfy its customers and if
the company fails to do so, will reach nowhere in the future. Instead it will surely see down fall of
the business. Thus, the company has shown concern about the challenges being faced in the delivery
service and has contacted a business analyst who has further completely analyzed the business. The
analyst has encountered the issues like long pending product delivery list is increasing due to the
less number of deliveries being completed. The reason for this is considered as the increased
demand of the trucks and uncertain conditions which has resulted in this issue. The objective of this
report is to work on finding a befitting solution of the current issues which the company is facing, in
terms of late product delivery and customer dissatisfaction. It is determined that a set of suggestion
are listed by the business analyst and the company has hired ICT professional to select and
implement one of the best solution for the company.
The analysis has determines that, the delay is possible to be monitored and resolved, with the
help of a web application. This effort helps to solve the problem of delayed deliveries.For which, the
IBM Bluemix option is considered as an effective solution, because it has the capacity to manage
high-performance and cost-effective public, private and management networks. Additionally, IBM
Bluemix develops the design of the solution and also develops theweb applications. Bluemix is
considered as a best option as it is a cloud platform as a service, which IBM has developed. It is
observed that it supports various programming languages as well as services and integrated DevOps
for building, running, deploying and managing the applications on the cloud.Bluemix supports with
easy access of cloud across various deployments and it is free to build, where one has to just log in
to the website of IBM Bluemix.
Therefore, this report has investigated effective solutions. A proposed solution is provided.
Bluemix is used for developing design of the solution. The design plan and the development plan are
provided. At last, the solution is shared with appropriate images of the developed vehicle tracking
system.
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