50% faster development cycles
75% cost reduction compared to previous solutions
Delivered enterprise-grade functionality with minimal effort
Problem Summary
Somnath Maji set out to build a highly customizable reporting application as a solo developer. Existing reporting tools forced him to choose between rigid standard charts or overly customizable but unprofessional ones. He needed a platform where even someone with no experience could create professional dashboards instantly. But with limited funding supported only by consulting work, most component packages were too costly or lacked enough customizability.
“If somebody is looking for a great tool to work with? Yes. I would definitely recommend Syncfusion for anyone who is trying to develop something meaningful,”
– Somnath Maji, Founder of Igniatek Consultancy.
BEFORE SYNCFUSION
Challenges
- Need a customizable reporting tool without compromising professional design.
- Budget limitations as a solo developer.
- Most packages were costly or lacked customizability.
- Needed extensive documentation due to background in Python/Java, not .NET.
AFTER SYNCFUSION
Solutions
- ASP.NET Core controls offer flexibility and ease of customization.
- A full-featured Essential Studio suite is available free via Community License.
- Syncfusion offered strong UI, robust features, and no hidden limitations.
- Syncfusion documentation was thorough and easy to follow.
Company Overview
After 15 years in senior roles at IBM and Lodha, Somnath founded Igniatek Consultancy to provide clients with business and tech guidance. Alongside consulting, he began building internal software tools, starting with a customizable reporting application intended to improve workplace efficiency. His long-term plan is to combine both consulting and software offerings to solve business problems end-to-end.
Implementation
Somnath explored Syncfusion and was impressed by its extensive documentation and the high performance of ASP.NET Core controls during his trial. Once he learned he qualified for the Community License, he gained unrestricted access to all controls for free. This allowed him to rapidly implement dashboard creation features while ensuring strong customization options and a professional look.
“So, I am basically trying to bridge that gap and give people a platform that is extremely easy for even somebody who has no experience. It is just a click of a button, and they can create a professional-level dashboard for analysis.”
But could he afford it?
Being an individual developer, Somnath found out that he qualified for the Community License, which gave him the whole suite of controls for free. He couldn’t believe it and did a thorough search, looking for the catch. There wasn’t one! Until his company reaches a certain size or level of financial success, fully functional Essential Studio components are his to use at no cost.
After starting with the controls, though, he realized that what really makes Syncfusion stand out is its support team.
“When I’m stuck and raising a ticket, it’s not an automated message or some generic reply,” he said. “No, it is someone who is knowledgeable, who is the developer, who is reading it and actually understanding it, doing it. And then giving me an actual solution, sometimes even with some code snippets. That is outstanding.”
The support team turned what would have been a weeks-long troubleshoot with another company into one or two days of brainstorming that “was kind of like working with a colleague.”
Results
With the help of Syncfusion controls and support, Somnath was able to develop his reporting app, XL Data Analysis, in half the time. He recently published the first version of it, free to use as he gathers feedback.
XL Data Analysis creates professional-grade visualizations from Excel data. Somnath provided the following chart to show the gaps his application fills in the market.
| Microsoft Excel | Other Charting Tools | XL Data Analysis |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Eventually, he intends to release multiple versions and work directly with companies looking for greater levels of customization and containerized versions.
He is currently starting work on some smaller projects for clients and is exploring which Essential Studio controls he can employ to complete them.
Conclusion
The founders of Syncfusion understand that starting something new and reaching for your dreams can have formidable barriers. They experienced it themselves! If you’re looking for a partner in building your vision, check out our Essential Studio Community License, BoldSign® Essentials plan for e-signatures, or BoldDesk® for Startups for a customer service help desk.
