Our Work
Visual FoxPro Replacement: How BP Aero Cut Teardown Data Entry Time by 50%
Overview
BP Aero, an aviation services company serving customers including Pratt and Whitney, GE Aviation, and CFM, relied on a custom Visual FoxPro application to manage engine teardown operations. As the business grew, the system became a bottleneck the team could no longer work around.
When the original developer disappeared, updates stopped and the system became unmanageable. BP Aero partnered with Ticomix to replace the FoxPro application with a modern .NET solution, delivered in just six weeks.
The result: a 50% reduction in engine teardown data entry time.
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Industries
Aviation & Aerospace, MRO, Engine Teardown
Technologies
.NET, C#, SQL Server, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Entra ID, Visual FoxPro (legacy)
Services
Legacy Application Modernization, Visual FoxPro Conversion, Custom Software Development
Challenge
BP Aero’s decade-old FoxPro system had become a liability. For three years, the original developer had been unreachable, leaving the team unable to make even basic updates. New part numbers, engine models, and customers couldn’t be added, forcing the team to work around the system instead of through it.
At the same time, performance issues slowed operations. The application shut down unexpectedly and struggled to keep up with growing teardown volume. In a process where speed drives throughput, even small delays slowed parts moving out the door.
As BP Aero expanded and took on more work, they needed a system they could control, scale, and rely on.
Curious what a similar replacement might look like for your system? Try our FoxPro ROI calculator to estimate cost, timeline, and potential savings.
Designing the Solution
Since the original source code was no longer available, we started by reverse-engineering the existing application. The goal was to create a seamless Visual FoxPro replacement that maintained the functionality of the original system while adding modern, scalable, cloud-based capabilities.
The solution focused on:
- Replacing the legacy system with a cloud-based application to support scalability and future growth
- Rebuilding 26 core forms and five essential reports to match and improve existing workflows
- Replacing a 13,000-line spreadsheet with structured, system-managed data
- Creating fully editable reference data so the team could manage updates without developer support
- Providing secure, read-only customer access for partner organizations to view parts in real time, eliminating the email-and-Excel routine
Developing the Solution
Ticomix rebuilt BP Aero’s application using a phased, modular approach that allowed the team to move off FoxPro without disrupting daily operations.
The new system:
- Replaced the FoxPro system with a .NET web application hosted on Microsoft Azure, accessible from tablets, phones, and rugged scanners across the facility
- Delivered real-time visibility for partner organizations through a permission-controlled customer view
- Integrated live access to the parts capabilities list, replacing manual Excel exports
- Added part photo attachments that surface during scans to confirm correct part identification
- Modernized barcode scanning with current-generation rugged Android devices
- Gave BP Aerospace full control of their application, removing dependency on a single developer
Planning a similar Visual FoxPro replacement? Start with a free FoxPro consultation to assess your system and options.
“Ticomix was my first choice. From there on, everything’s been smooth, streamlined. With every challenge, you have over-exceeded our expectations. Your team has been impeccable. This is probably one of the best programs to bring into a company. You made my life a lot easier.”
Daniel Lowman, BP Aero, an ITP Aero Company
Results
The transition to a custom-built platform revolutionized BP Aerospace’s workflow. By implementing a modern Visual FoxPro replacement, they:
- Reduced teardown data entry time by 50%, measured by BP Aero in a head-to-head time study
- Improved throughput, allowing parts to move through teardown and out the door more quickly
- Delivered a production-ready system in six weeks from project kickoff
- Achieved 100% mobile adoption, enabling technicians to work anywhere in the facility without interruption
- Greater visibility for internal teams and partners with real-time access to parts data
- Enabled future-ready growth with a platform that can scale with BP Aero’s expanding global footprint
See more legacy application modernization success stories like this one on Our Work page.
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