Excalibur is one sole application divided into different sections and based on service-oriented architecture (SOA), with each section representing a business concept such as estimation and inventory. They all use the same technology including Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Microsoft .NET 4.0, Entity Framework 4.0, SQL Server as well as SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). Communication with Outlook simplifies follow-up operations for users. Finally, Nms.Core, a proprietary technology of Nmédia, is greatly used across the application.
For the inventory section, an additional application was developed to be executed by mobile barcode readers. Based on the Windows CE platform, this section uses .NET Compact Framework 3.5 as well as Windows Forms. WIFI wireless communication is done through an online service located on a Windows server installed on site at ABF. A robust mechanism needed to be put in place to avoid losing information in the case of lost network connection due to the distance between antennae and interference caused by the numerous piles of steel on site.
The application, while being installed directly on site, is used remotely by estimators located across Québec. The connection with the database and the reporting server is made via a VPN network. In order to avoid creating more work for the IT technician at ABF, updates are automatically installed on the user post upon login thanks to Microsoft ClickOnce.