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Case Studies
Workflow Automation Solution for Reinsurance Leader Enhances Detailed Audit Capabilities
Project at a Glance |
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RDA implemented a secure, easy-to-use workflow solution that enhances detailed audit capabilities and automates a complicated change request process for one of the 10 largest reinsurers in the U.S. |
About Our Client
RDA's client is a holding company that provides life and annuity reinsurance solutions in more than 45 countries throughout the world through its operating subsidiaries. Our client has grown to be one of the 10 largest life reinsurers serving the U.S. market.
Background
RDA was engaged to demonstrate K2.net ability to support our client's workflow requirements. This proof-of-concept (POC) automated the workflow of their vacation request and approval process.
As a follow-up to the POC, RDA was asked to implement this company's first K2.net production application. This project involved using K2.net to automate the workflow of their change request process.
Solution Detail
RDA developed an automated workflow solution for our client's change request process utilizing K2.net and InfoPath.
The project included a complete overhaul and update of the InfoPath form for application and system-related change requests to accommodate the highly detailed approval process.
The modified form provides more than 20 distinct views and over 300 data sources. Each form field relies on a data validation feature built into the system. K2 "looks" at the various completed fields and sends notifications to the appropriate team members at each step of the process.
Four separate workflows are encompassed within the solution:- Hardware related change requests
- Software/IT related change requests
- Temporary password requests for server access
- Emergency change requests
For the hardware workflow, the solution needed to access a list of Active Directory users. RDA used Web Services that K2 consumes to provide the user with a drop-down list. Because of the high security requirements, the solution had to enable "full trust" and digital signatures on the InfoPath form. This meant that making changes to selections based on staff changes could potentially have been very cumbersome. In order to overcome this potential difficulty, RDA created SharePoint lists for InfoPath to consume. The lists include active business owners, IT owners, lead developers, password approvers and other team members. This enabled the InfoPath to dynamically pull from the SharePoint list.
A major concern for our client was usability. Prior to this solution, requests were sent by email and business managers replied with "approve." Obviously, this was not particularly useful for audit purposes, but it was simple and quick. The RDA solution needed to compete with the previous process in its simplicity to use while greatly enhancing the organization's automated workflow and audit capabilities.
Benefits
RDA's client now has an automated system that guides all users through the change request process. It essentially manages the process on behalf of the requestor, freeing up time for other priorities. The solution provides a detailed audit trail, which is a critical factor in such a highly regulated industry.
Technically Speaking
The application RDA implemented for our client consists of a single InfoPath form to handle all four types of change requests. The InfoPath form includes more than 20 distinct views and more than 300 data elements.
In addition, the workflow process contains over 50 activities with many different paths of executions, including parallel processes and feedback loops. The workflow process was written in K2.net 2003 (with a SQL Server 2000 backend), and made extensive use of .NET Framework 1.1 to greatly enhance out-of-the-box functionality.
The process is initialized through SharePoint and makes heavy use of much of the built-in functionality that SharePoint provides, including the alert system, security, search, tasks, lists, and document libraries.
