SUCCESS STORY
Transforming Product Cost Estimation Through Digital Automation
A mission-critical digital platform replacing complex spreadsheet workflows with automated calculations, integrated enterprise data, and reliable cost analysis.
Client
NDA
Services
Digital Transformation · Enterprise Integration · Business Process Automation
The Challenge
A multinational organization relied on sophisticated spreadsheet-based processes to estimate product costs during the early stages of product development.
Creating an estimate required domain experts to identify comparable products, retrieve relevant information from enterprise data sources, determine appropriate cost references, and perform a complex series of calculations and analyses.
As product volumes and complexity increased, the process became increasingly time-consuming. Cost information was difficult to explore and compare, significant specialist knowledge was required, and variations in working practices made standardization across teams challenging.
The complexity went beyond replacing spreadsheets. Much of the underlying business logic existed in large Excel workbooks, presentations, examples, and the knowledge of experienced users. The new system needed to capture that expertise faithfully while producing results users could confidently trust.
The Solution
Tecknowcore worked closely with domain experts to transform the existing process into an integrated web-based platform for product cost estimation, analysis, and comparison.
Rather than simply reproducing the spreadsheet workflow, the team translated complex calculation rules and multi-level data relationships into a maintainable business and data model. Rapid prototyping and continuous validation with users allowed business-rule definition and software development to progress together.
The platform processes millions of frequently changing records from enterprise source systems. A dedicated data-acquisition component isolates the application from inconsistencies in source data, incrementally importing and validating information before making it available to users.
Because calculation accuracy was critical, Tecknowcore developed an independent SQL-based reference implementation to verify the application's calculations. By validating results against both this reference and expected figures provided by domain experts, the team ensured that complex business rules could be tested consistently and reliably.
The solution was delivered iteratively over multiple phases, introducing automated cost estimation, detailed cost exploration and comparison capabilities while continuing to evolve with its users.
The Impact
The platform transformed a fragmented, spreadsheet-driven activity into a standardized digital process supporting product cost estimation and analysis across the organization.
Automation significantly reduced the time required for key activities while giving users faster access to detailed, up-to-date cost information and powerful comparison capabilities.
The solution also reduced reliance on manual data handling, introduced consistent validation and calculation controls, and made sophisticated analysis accessible through a common digital platform.
Adoption has continued to grow since launch, and the platform has expanded through multiple phases into a long-term solution now supported through ongoing maintenance and evolution.
Technology & Capabilities
Microsoft Azure · .NET · SAP Integration · Enterprise Data Integration · Data Validation · Business Process Automation · Complex Business Rules · Role-Based Access
