The Silver Corporation

• Reverse-engineered and rebuilt warehouse management system from VB6 to C#/WPF without access to original source code
• Migrated data layer from Microsoft Access to MongoDB with significant performance improvements
• Implemented predictive stock analytics based on sales trends for proactive inventory management
• Delivered as sole technical resource working directly with business stakeholders
• Managed concurrent fractional engagement alongside Holiday Caravans Direct
• Scoped Vue.js website modernisation phase (not reached due to COVID disruption)

The Silver Corporation was an online business specialising in sourcing and reselling materials for jewellery making, with their warehouse located on the Isle of Wight. I was referred to this engagement by Steve (from Holiday Caravans Direct) when he mentioned having to turn away a client - a pattern that would become familiar in my fractional consulting practice.

The core challenge was unusual: rebuild their existing warehouse management system without access to the original source code. The relationship between the client and the original VB6 developer had broken down, leaving them with a working system they couldn't modify or extend. My task was essentially a stealth re-implementation - reverse-engineering the functionality by observing the existing system's behaviour and rebuilding it in modern technologies.

I rebuilt the warehouse management system as a WPF desktop application, migrating the data layer from Microsoft Access to MongoDB. This architectural upgrade brought significant performance improvements and opened opportunities that weren't possible with the original implementation. The new system included predictive stock analytics - continuously evaluating stock levels against sales trends to predict when replenishment would be needed, turning reactive inventory management into proactive planning.

The engagement also scoped a secondary phase to modernise their public website using Vue.js, though this phase was never reached. Like several projects during this period, COVID-19 disrupted the timeline. The client put the project on hold during the pandemic, and despite a significant amount of completed development work, the system never reached production. I didn't hear from the client after the COVID period ended.

This engagement ran concurrently with Holiday Caravans Direct during a period when HCD had reduced to part-time hours due to pandemic pressures. It demonstrated my ability to manage multiple client relationships and deliver substantial solo projects, even when circumstances prevented final deployment.