Introduction
As part of the multidisciplinary course Project 4.0, I worked on a real IT project for Axxes, a leading IT consultancy company. Axxes was looking for a solution that would allow employees to carpool more efficiently to company events — with the goal of promoting team spirit and supporting sustainable mobility.
Together with students from Electronics-ICT and Applied Computer Science, we formed the fictitious development company Noober. As a team, we went through the entire process from analysis to proof of concept. The approach followed Agile and SCRUM principles.
What is “Project 4.0”
The project proceeded in two major phases: analysis and development.
Phase 1: Analysis and preparation
In the first phase, we examined the needs of Axxes and developed a concrete concept. We conducted a target group analysis, defined the required functionalities and drew up user stories, mock-ups and a project plan. This laid the foundation for targeted and customer-oriented development.
Phase 2: Development and implementation
During an intensive project week, we developed a working web application. We built a REST backend and a user-friendly frontend and integrated an AI module for route planning. This way we delivered a proof of concept that fully matched the needs of Axxes.
Core Functionalities
The web application allows Axxes employees to register for events and indicate whether they want to be a driver. Shortly before the event, an AI module analyzes all registrations, locations and preferences. Based on this, optimal carpool routes are generated. Drivers receive a personalized Google Maps route with pickup locations. This not only promotes collegial connections, but also contributes to more sustainable mobility.
My role: “Backend responsible”
As a backend developer, I was responsible for the entire technical foundation of the application:
- Development of a RESTful backend, set up in .NET Core with focus on scalability and clear API architecture
- Database model and data storage, including managing user data, events, preferences and carpool routes
- Integration of the AI module that automatically calculates routes based on registrations and residential locations
- Authentication and authorization, with secure access to the application for different user roles
- Testable backend structure via a Docker Compose configuration so that developers could easily integrate frontend and backend locally
Reflection
This project greatly deepened my backend development skills, particularly around:
- REST API design and clean code practices
- Integration of AI logic in a backend context
- Collaborating in a multidisciplinary team
- Agile working and dealing with realistic project constraints such as time pressure and tooling
- Working with modern development tools such as GitLab, Docker and Postman
This experience offered a realistic insight into the workings of professional IT projects and gave me the confidence to independently realize backend projects from A to Z.