Introduction
I continued my co-op at ERCO Worldwide for a second
work term as an Application Developer. Having spent
my first term building the foundation of a new
internal audit application, this extension allowed
me to further enhance and stabilize the system. The
application plays a critical role in managing
environmental, health, and safety audits across the
company. During this term, I focused less on
learning the basics and more on refining the system,
improving user experience, and preparing it for
long-term use.
What I Did
This term was about expanding and solidifying the
foundation laid in my first four months:
New Features: I implemented several
new modules, such as advanced reporting dashboards,
action tracking enhancements, and extended audit
role functionality. These additions gave
stakeholders more visibility into audit progress and
compliance status.
Database Improvements: I optimized
SQL Server tables and views to handle larger
datasets more efficiently, reducing load times and
improving query reliability.
Automation Enhancements: I extended
Power Automate flows to handle more complex approval
chains and automated email notifications, cutting
down manual follow-ups.
Permissions and Roles: I worked
with my manager and stakeholders to refine the
role-based access system, ensuring that different
user types (auditors, assignees, supervisors) only
had access to what they needed.
Testing and Feedback: I spent more
time this term coordinating with end users,
gathering feedback, and making iterative
adjustments. This gave me a stronger appreciation
for the importance of user experience in enterprise
apps.
Learning Objectives and Reflections
Goal 1: Strengthen Stakeholder Communication
In this term, I took a more active role in demo
sessions and follow-up meetings with
stakeholders. Instead of just listening, I asked
clarifying questions, presented possible
solutions, and summarized requirements in clear
language. This improved not only the clarity of
requirements but also trust in the development
process.
Goal 2: Improve Application Performance
A major focus this term was on optimization.
Some of the earlier features I built had
performance issues when scaling to large amounts
of audit data. By reworking SQL queries and
adjusting Power Apps delegation strategies, I
improved responsiveness significantly. This gave
me a better understanding of performance tuning
in low-code platforms connected to enterprise
databases.
Goal 3: Explore Documentation and Knowledge
Transfer
Unlike my first term, I began writing technical
and user-facing documentation. I created
quick-start guides, role-based how-to documents,
and structured my code comments more formally.
This will make it easier for future developers
and users to understand and maintain the system.
Goal 4: Gain Exposure to Maintenance and Support
I handled some of the first user feedback
tickets for the app, including bug fixes and
usability concerns. This was a new experience,
as it shifted my focus from building to
maintaining. I realized how important continuous
iteration and support are in a production
system.
Challenges and Future Goals
The biggest challenge was balancing feature requests
with stability. Stakeholders often wanted new
functionality quickly, but I had to ensure the
system remained reliable. This taught me how to
prioritize work and communicate trade-offs clearly.
Looking ahead, I want to:
-
Gain more experience in testing strategies and
error handling.
-
Explore integration with Power BI for richer
reporting.
-
Continue to improve documentation so the project
remains sustainable.
-
Learn more about security practices in SQL and
Power Platform apps.
Conclusion
My second co-op term at ERCO Worldwide was just as
rewarding as the first but in different ways.
Whereas the first term was about learning new tools
and building a system from the ground up, this term
focused on refinement, optimization, and preparing
the app for real-world use. I grew more confident in
working with stakeholders, balancing technical and
business needs, and thinking about software
longevity.
This experience confirmed my interest in full-stack
and enterprise application development, and I'm
grateful for the opportunity to contribute
meaningfully to ERCO's digital initiatives over two
terms.
