Symfony update 4.4 to 5.4 for CRM and client’s account development

Our keynote task was to migrate CRM systems from Symfony 4.4 to 5.4. This gave the customer an increased security support period up to 4 years.

Stage 1. Update related packages.

To correctly migrate to the new version of the framework, we first needed to update all existing packages and eliminate all conflicts - for example, if some packages are abandoned or do not support a new version of the framework.

Stage 2. Update Sonata Admin Bundles.

Sonata Admin Bundles are the largest of the packages used in the project. It is responsible for the visual interface of the CRM system and therefore requires more time to update.

Stage 3. Refactoring the code base.

A major updating of the framework entails a lot of changes in system components and architecture approaches. We worked hard to properly clean up the code base and implement actual features to make the project more secure and well organized.

Stage 4. Refactoring of unit/functional tests.

We ran about 5,000 tests until we were convinced that the system we had restructured worked correctly.

While we were updating the framework in parts, the old CRM on the client side was already being modified, as the client base was updated and new data was received. Therefore, our task was to update the framework competently, without any downtown. To do this, we developed a roadmap for how we would implement each new update on top of the existing system, and we replaced components sequentially, so that the old and new systems were running in parallel for a couple of months. As a result, we carried out a complete update reasonably.

Companies offering corporate fitness programs to their employees have a need to have a client’s account through which they can manage this process personally. Therefore, Hansefit set out to develop such a solution for every B2B client.

We implemented the following opportunities in the interface of the client’s account:

• add/edit/delete new employees and assign them a corporate program,
• list and monitor invoices and manage payment information to continue Hansefit’s corporate programs,
• generate reports on employees and billing.

Link to the project: https://customer.hansefit.de/

Since Hansefit has grown into a very large network of gyms and fitness centers, it became necessary to make a convenient search for the nearest location. SAB has implemented this directly on the Hansefit website.

Search for the nearest location is available within 100 km. Thus, clients can see the nearest gym in their city on the map.

Link to the project: https://hansefit.de/studio-finden/

The main direction of Hansefit is the sale of corporate programs to companies. However, there are a number of clients who come to gyms not from the company they work for. These clients also fall into the CRM system, but the billing model with them is different than with B2B clients. Therefore, it was decided to create a payment module specifically for them in an existing CRM system.