Case study

Fast-track development of a new scanner for Aegate

From PA Consulting’s technology centre in Cambridge, UK, comes a sophisticated, compact new scanner that can read both RFID tags and barcodes. It has been designed for PA venture company Aegate for use in pharmacies worldwide to ensure that the drugs they dispense are genuine and safe.

In just eight months PA developed a completely new scanner, capable of reading and processing virtually any barcode or VHF Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and interfacing to a variety of other devices and systems.

Despite its demanding timescale the project completed a month ahead of schedule. This achievement was due, above all, to the fact that PA acted as a 'one-stop shop' for the project, undertaking all the software and hardware design, and also the central information system with which the scanner communicates. Co-locating the entire project team with the client facilitated rapid decision making and allowed a development approach that could compress the traditional project lifecycle while keeping risk to an acceptable level.