Claranet supports innovation project "Mobility platform hvv switch"
An innovation project by Hamburger Hochbahn AG shows how forward-looking mobility concepts can be implemented in practice through the use of digital technologies: various mobility services are available centrally via the "hvv switch" app. It is possible to purchase tickets for public transport as well as book ride and car sharing services.
hvv switch is based on cloud-native applications that are operated on the Google Cloud Platform. As a cloud and container specialist, Claranet has been at HOCHBAHN's side since the start of the project - both in setting up a highly scalable platform and designing cloud-native applications as well as ensuring stable and high-performance operation.
Containerised cloud operation
The vision of Hamburger Hochbahn AG: mobility from a single source. The transport provider planned to map a multimodal transport concept via a high-performance app. This application was to be operated in a containerised and highly scalable environment.
As an experienced partner with extensive expertise in application operation in the cloud, container technologies and managed services, HOCHBAHN brought Claranet on board.
After in-depth consultation with Claranet, the transport provider opted for the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) in conjunction with Kubernetes as a tool for container orchestration. The initial aim was a lift & shift of the monolithic application - supplemented by the first platform services from the Google Cloud.
Microservices instead of monolith
However, shortly after the start of the project, it became clear that the monolithic architecture of the application stood in the way of agile solution development: for example, it was not possible for different teams to develop different components of the application in parallel.
In order to fully utilise the potential of the cloud and container-based platform, HOCHBAHN therefore decided to redesign the architecture and code to create cloud-native applications. The Lift & Shift approach became a dynamic re-factoring project.
Microservices on GCP
The microservices are operated by Claranet on the Google Cloud Platform. The environment is flexibly adapted to the respective requirements via scale-up and scale-out mechanisms.
Container management takes place via Kubernetes with the help of the Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). The desired flexibility is fully provided. HOCHBAHN can largely control the microservices-based landscape itself via defined interfaces based on deployment pipelines.
Claranet provided us with professional support from the redesign of the architecture to the creation of cloud-native applications for our mobility platform. Claranet also ensures the stable and high-performance operation of the solution. This allows us to concentrate fully on the expansion and further development of hvv switch."
Shared responsibility
In order to ensure stability in operation and agility in development at the same time, the collaboration between HOCHBAHN and Claranet is based on a shared responsibility model.
The HOCHBAHN can choose very flexibly and quickly between "fully managed", "co-managed" and "self-managed" approaches. While in the first approach the SLA is given to the application, in the co-managed approach the SLA relates to the Kubernetes/container level.
The decoupling of development and operation ensures agility in the further development of the software with the highest SLA and with comprehensive scalability.
Stability in operation
Security and reliability must also be fully guaranteed in agile environments. With classic managed services such as load balancing, firewalling and monitoring, Claranet relieves HOCHBAHN of operating costs and ensures that the applications are consistently available with high performance, stability and security.
Future-proof
The use of cloud-native applications based on Google Cloud has enabled the realisation of a state-of-the-art platform that opens up a great deal of freedom in the management of the microservices landscape.
Short release cycles based on modern DevOps methods enable HOCHBAHN to further develop the solution in an agile manner and have it operated securely by Claranet without the need for major coordination efforts.
The environment can therefore be adapted quickly and flexibly to new requirements of the mobility concept, so that HOCHBAHN is also well equipped for the future.
