Overview
A major U.S. aviation company engaged our team to upgrade its Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM) platform to the latest supported version. The system supports fuel procurement, hedging, logistics coordination, inventory tracking, and financial reporting across a complex operational environment.
The upgrade required modernizing infrastructure, reviewing business processes, migrating more than 300 custom extensions, and ensuring operational continuity during transition.
Business Challenge
The existing platform had become increasingly difficult to maintain due to:
-
Aging infrastructure and framework components
-
A large footprint of custom extensions accumulated over years
-
Risk associated with vendor support timelines
-
Operational dependence on accurate fuel trading and risk data
-
The need to improve reporting, performance, and future upgradeability
The organization needed to modernize without disrupting mission-critical fuel management operations.
Our Approach
Infrastructure and Platform Preparation
We upgraded the underlying infrastructure and technical framework to meet current vendor requirements and support the new release. This included environment readiness, deployment standards, and system stability planning.
Business Process Review
Key fuel management workflows were reviewed to ensure continuity while identifying opportunities to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary customization.
Extension Inventory and Migration
More than 300 extensions were assessed and addressed, including:
-
System interfaces
-
Database views and stored procedures
-
Business process customizations
-
Reporting and analytics components
Each extension was evaluated to determine whether it should be migrated, redesigned, replaced with standard functionality, or retired.
Data Conversion
Historical and active operational data were converted into the new system version. Validation procedures ensured accuracy, completeness, and continuity of trading, inventory, and financial reporting.
Testing and Validation
Testing occurred across multiple phases:
-
Initial functional validation
-
Integration testing
-
Defect identification and remediation
-
Multiple months of user acceptance testing
This ensured operational readiness and confidence prior to go-live.
Vendor and Stakeholder Coordination
We acted as liaison between the client and software vendor to manage defects, clarify changes, and expedite required functionality.
Go-Live and Aftercare Support
Post-implementation support included system stabilization, issue resolution, and ongoing operational assistance to ensure a smooth transition.
Results
-
Successful upgrade to a supported ETRM platform version
-
Improved infrastructure stability and maintainability
-
Migration and rationalization of 300+ extensions
-
Verified data integrity across trading, risk, and reporting workflows
-
Reduced operational risk related to legacy technology
-
Enhanced readiness for future enhancements and analytics initiatives
Key Takeaways
-
Early extension inventory is critical to realistic upgrade planning
-
Business process alignment reduces unnecessary customization
-
Data validation requires more effort than most organizations anticipate
-
Extended UAT significantly reduces post-go-live disruption
-
Dedicated aftercare support accelerates stabilization