Case Study

Bureau Veritas: Core

Founded in 1828 to address growing concerns around maritime safety, Bureau Veritas has grown into a Fortune 500 powerhouse with over 80,000 employees worldwide. With a global footprint and a wide range of services spanning testing, inspection, and certification, their operations had become reliant on a patchwork of outdated systems. They needed a modern, unified solution to streamline workflows across divisions—without disrupting their legacy databases. We stepped in to make that happen.

The Challenge

Bureau Veritas faced a major challenge: outdated software, inconsistent workflows across divisions, and legacy databases that couldn’t be disrupted. With multiple business practices and systems in play, they needed a modern, unified interface that streamlined operations while keeping their existing infrastructure intact.

  • Fragmented User Experience: Each division operated with unique workflows, leading to inconsistency in software usage.

  • Outdated Interfaces: The existing front-end applications were obsolete, impacting user efficiency and engagement.

  • Legacy Database Constraints: While the client needed a modern front-end, they required full compatibility with their existing databases.

  • Scalability & Maintainability: The solution needed to be scalable across multiple divisions and adaptable for future enhancements.

Our Solution

To address these challenges, our team developed a fully integrated modern front-end system that provided a seamless and unified experience while ensuring backward compatibility with the legacy databases.

UX Steps and Obstacles

Research & Problem Definition

We began by immersing ourselves in the client's ecosystem—conducting stakeholder interviews, auditing current software, and identifying pain points across divisions. Given the complexity and range of legacy systems, we took a holistic approach to shape the overall design direction, then broke it down feature by feature to address specific needs and constraints.

User Journey Mapping

For every key feature and user persona, we mapped optimized user flows throughout the platform. With each division operating differently, we identified overlapping patterns and streamlined them wherever possible. Where workflows diverged, we introduced flexible “contexts” that allowed each group to work within tailored interfaces—without sacrificing consistency.

Design & Prototype

We explored multiple design directions and presented interactive prototypes to stakeholders early and often. This allowed us to validate user flows, gather real-time feedback, and refine the experience before development—ensuring that functionality and usability remained at the core of every decision.

Key Components

Unified Underlying Front-End Interface

  • Designed a consistent, modern UI that was intuitive for users across all divisions.

  • Built a launcher system that allowed users to access different applications (Project Management, Timesheets, Expenses, etc.) from a single entry point.

  • Used ReactJS with Material UI and DevExtreme to ensure a dynamic, high-performance interface capable of displaying and searching thousands of records rapidly.

API Layer for Legacy Integration

  • Developed a NodeJS & NestJS API layer to bridge the gap between the modern front-end and old databases.

  • Implemented TypeORM to handle complex data interactions while maintaining existing database structures.

  • Ensured real-time data synchronization using WebSockets and background tasks where needed.

Cross-Division Challenges & Solves

Contextual User Experience

  • Introduced role-based access control (RBAC) to tailor user experiences based on their specific needs.

  • Treated each division as a layered “context” affecting the underlying application, allowing for maintenance of a core set of functions with specific business logic and interface placed on top.

Modular & Scalable Architecture

  • Built a microservices-driven architecture to accommodate different division requirements.

  • Used Docker & Kubernetes for seamless deployment and scalability across different environments.

  • Established CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions for automated testing and deployments.

Results & Impact

One Interface, Company-Wide

By delivering a consistent and intuitive interface across all divisions, employees could move between tools and applications without retraining—fostering familiarity, reducing user error, and unlocking opportunities for cross-functional collaboration. A common design language meant faster adoption and a smoother experience for everyone, regardless of their department or technical comfort level.

Rapid Onboarding = Major Cost Savings

With a streamlined platform and intuitive workflows, new hires were onboarded significantly faster, slashing training time and accelerating productivity. This efficiency translates into real dollars saved—especially at enterprise scale.

No More Licensing Headaches

The client financed and now fully owns the platform, eliminating dependency on third-party software and avoiding millions in long-term licensing fees. Full control of the product means no more surprise costs, license audits, or renewal negotiations.

Legacy Compatibility, Future-Ready Architecture

Our robust API layer ensured uninterrupted access to the client’s legacy databases, while the modular, scalable design allows for future expansion without rework. The system is built to grow with them—without ever holding them back.

Conclusion

By leveraging modern technologies while respecting legacy constraints, we successfully transformed an outdated system into a future-proof, user-friendly platform. This case study highlights our expertise in creating practical, high-performance solutions that balance innovation with enterprise needs.