Topic Breakdown
Introduction
Companies running legacy systems often struggle to keep pace with modern business needs. Outdated software, unsupported frameworks, and infrastructure that can’t scale become barriers to growth, agility, and operational efficiency. This case study highlights how Lanex Australia helped Development Signs overcome these limitations by rebuilding their ageing sign management system into a scalable, cloud-native solution using AWS, React, and Flutter.
About the Client – Development Signs
Development Signs is a trusted name in the signage industry, providing creation and installation of development signs across Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. With over a decade of industry experience, the company relies heavily on technology to coordinate field contractors, manage sign installations and removals, and store thousands of images documenting their projects.
The Legacy Challenge
Ten years ago, Development Signs invested in a bespoke software solution built with PHP and hosted on a third-party virtual machine. While the system served them well in the beginning, it became increasingly difficult to maintain due to:
- Obsolete Libraries and Frameworks: Most of the codebase relied on now-abandoned libraries, making updates nearly impossible.
- Deprecated Mobile App: An Android and iOS companion app had to be pulled from stores after seven years of no updates, leaving field contractors without mobile access.
- On-Premise Limitations: The system ran on an external virtual machine with no elasticity, performance issues, and security concerns.
- Scalability Challenges: Image storage grew rapidly, and the existing infrastructure could no longer support the load.
- Data Risk: There was no disaster recovery plan or scalable backup process.
Project Objectives
Development Signs approached Lanex Australia with the following goals:
- Migrate and preserve the existing database.
- Rebuild the web application using modern technologies.
- Redevelop the mobile application for Android and iOS.
- Introduce scalable, cloud-native infrastructure on AWS.
- Improve image handling and security for field-collected data.
Our Modernisation Approach
Lanex Australia carried out a full system assessment before recommending a complete rebuild of the front-end, backend, and mobile applications. The modernisation project was broken down into key components:
1. Database Migration to AWS RDS
The existing MySQL database was restructured and migrated to Amazon RDS (PostgreSQL). RDS was chosen for its:
- High availability with Multi-AZ deployments
- Automated backups
- Easy scaling and patching
- Built-in security with IAM authentication
This move alone improved data performance, resilience, and maintainability.
2. Web Application Rebuilt Using React/Next.js
The admin dashboard and client-facing web app were rebuilt using React and Next.js, providing:
- Lightning-fast performance via SSR and static rendering
- Improved SEO and user experience
- Modern, maintainable code with access to an active development community
Administrators can now easily manage projects, view contractor uploads, and generate reports.
3. Mobile App Rebuilt Using Flutter
Lanex chose Flutter to create a new cross-platform mobile app that works seamlessly across iOS and Android. Features include:
- Offline photo capture and auto-upload when reconnected
- Geo-tagging of sign installations
- Project updates from the field
Field contractors can now document work instantly and securely, even in low-signal areas.
4. Scalable Image Management with AWS S3
One of the biggest challenges was managing the thousands of high-resolution images uploaded by contractors. All images are now:
- Stored in Amazon S3, offering near-unlimited, pay-as-you-go storage
- Automatically tagged with metadata (project ID, user, date/time)
- Protected with lifecycle policies and access control
This ensures performance, security, and durability while reducing long-term storage costs.
5. API Server in Containers with AWS CloudFront Security
All API endpoints were containerised using Docker and deployed via Amazon ECS (Elastic Container Service). Paired with AWS CloudFront, the new setup offers:
- Secure, fast content delivery
- Reduced server load
- Protection against DDoS attacks with AWS Shield
AWS Services Used
- Amazon RDS (PostgreSQL) – for database migration and reliability
- Amazon S3 – for scalable image storage
- Amazon ECS – for containerised API deployment
- AWS CloudFront – for CDN, caching, and enhanced security
- AWS IAM – for access control and policy management
Results and Business Impact
Development Signs now operates on a fully modernised, cloud-native infrastructure. The new system has delivered:
| Key Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| App Uptime | ~92% | 99.99% |
| Image Storage Limit | 100GB (manual) | Unlimited (auto-scaled) |
| Mobile Access | Deprecated | Flutter App on Android & iOS |
| Data Security | Minimal | AWS Cloud & IAM Secured |
| Contractor Productivity | Low | High (instant uploads & updates) |
📈 Scalability
As project volume grows, the system can easily scale horizontally and vertically with AWS services.
🔒 Security
Sensitive images and data are now stored in secure AWS environments with encryption at rest and in transit.
💡 Usability
The new app interface is intuitive, significantly reducing the time it takes for contractors to upload and categorise images.
Why Choose Lanex Australia for App Modernisation?
Lanex Australia helps businesses break free from the constraints of legacy systems. We specialise in:
- Cloud migrations to AWS
- Mobile app development with Flutter and React Native
- Web app rebuilds using React, Vue, and Angular
- Containerisation and CI/CD pipelines
- AI automation and process optimisation
👉 Explore our AI and automation solutions
👉 Learn more about mobile app development
Conclusion
By transforming Development Signs’ outdated infrastructure into a modern, scalable solution on AWS, Lanex Australia has enabled the client to operate more efficiently, reduce IT overhead, and improve contractor satisfaction.
If your business is struggling with legacy software or on-premise limitations, contact us today to explore how we can help you modernise and scale with confidence.