Case studies/South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)

SYMCA wanted a faster, more reliable way to share transport info online, so they teamed up with us to move a key app to Microsoft Azure.

CLIENT

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)

INDUSTRY

Local Government

SERVICE

Cloud

PARTNER

Microsoft

The client

SYMCAisalsoresponsiblefortheregion’spublictransportnetworkandmanagesthe102millionpassengerjourneysmadeeachyearinSouthYorkshire.

The challenges

SYMCAsoughttoenhanceitspublic-facingwebsitesbytransitioningtoacloud-basedplatform.

Motivated by the scalability and security of public cloud, the transformation would assist SYMCA with the delivery of its business goals by leveraging digital transformation for the betterment of the people of South Yorkshire.

The project aimed to preserve core website functionality, including delivering accurate transportation information to the population of South Yorkshire. Choosing Nasstar for its Microsoft Azure expertise, the partnership quickly evolved into a strategic alliance.

Our goal

ReshapeSouthYorkshire’spublictransportwithMicrosoftAzure.

Nasstar was tasked with re-platforming a key SYMCA application that allows users to track public transport schedules from their mobile phones.

The outcome

Find out how our expertise could transform your organisation.

Improved efficiency and development agility

SYMCA transitioned from manual website updates to automated CI/CD deployments using Azure DevOps pipelines. This shift has streamlined workflows, reduced errors, and accelerated the pace of development.

Enhanced security and resilience

The new platform offers built-in disaster recovery, flexible web scaling, and improved security through Azure Front Door WAF. Rigorous load testing confirmed the platform’s ability to handle high traffic volumes reliably.

Empowered digital capability

Through training, documentation, and knowledge sharing from Nasstar, SYMCA now has the tools and confidence to manage its digital environment effectively and adapt to future demands.

Aligned with public service and transformation goals

The platform supports SYMCA’s digital transformation strategy by delivering a more efficient, secure, and resilient public-facing service, ensuring the region’s digital needs are met both now and in the future.

Our solution

The new solution has brought several positive changes to SYMCA. The website is now more resilient, and the organisation is benefitting from increased development agility through automated deployments with CI/CD pipelines.

01

SYMCA identified the need for transformative change but faced challenges, including reliance on on-premise hosting and limited familiarity with the benefits and capabilities of core Azure web services. These limitations posed potential risks to a smooth and effective cloud migration.

02

To ensure no loss of core functionality, Nasstar worked closely with SYMCA’s Head of Digital Transformation and aligned with key internal stakeholders. This collaborative approach ensured that business goals were met while modernising the infrastructure.

03

The process began with an Azure App Assessment to confirm PaaS compatibility. Using Infrastructure as Code (Azure Bicep), Nasstar deployed Azure resources in line with Microsoft’s Well Architected and Cloud Adoption Frameworks. The website was successfully re-platformed onto SYMCA’s Azure tenant in under three weeks.

04

Aligned with SYMCA’s digital transformation goals, the new platform delivers improved efficiency, security, and resilience. Since implementation, Nasstar has provided continuous support, including training, documentation, and knowledge sharing, equipping SYMCA with the tools to confidently manage an evolving digital landscape.