easyJet - Enterprise Integration

<h2>Overview</h2> <p>As <b>Programme Manager</b> at <b>easyJet</b>, I led the <b>Enterprise Integration</b> programme to replace hundreds of costly, fragile point-to-point integrations with a resilient, scalable middleware platform and an out-sourced integration competency centre. This initiative delivered a high availability real-time integration platform using <b>Red Hat JBoss</b> and <b>JBoss Data Grid</b> (Infinispan), deployed across a hybrid data centre and cloud environment, and introduced easyJet’s first agile continuous integration tool-chain — a forerunner to <b>Red Hat OpenShift</b>.</p> <h2>Key Activities</h2> <ul> <li>Built a compelling business case by quantifying the high cost and risk of point-to-point changes, where even minor updates triggered regression testing across multiple systems.</li> <li>Ran a sequential RFP process: first selecting Red Hat JBoss as the middleware platform, then selecting <b>TATA</b> as the SI partner with proven JBoss expertise to form the integration competency centre.</li> <li>Designed and deployed a high-availability JBoss platform with JBoss Data Grid (Infinispan) on VMs across physical servers in a hybrid environment, achieving five nines uptime through distributed caching and self-healing replication.</li> <li>Delivered the first production use-case: real-time passenger data delivery to border agencies, meeting 2015 regulatory requirements amid heightened security concerns.</li> <li>Introduced easyJet’s first agile CI/CD tool-chain (pre-OpenShift), enabling rapid, reliable integration deployments.</li> <li>Established a low-cost, need-driven migration strategy: replacing point-to-point integrations only when support became unsustainable or new projects emerged in that domain.</li> </ul> <h2>Technologies Used</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/jboss-middleware">Red Hat JBoss</a> (enterprise integration platform)</li> <li><a href="https://infinispan.org/">JBoss Data Grid (Infinispan)</a> (distributed in-memory data grid)</li> <li><a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift">Red Hat OpenShift</a> (forerunner environment)</li> </ul> <h2>Challenges and Solutions</h2> <ul> <li><b>Challenge</b>: Escalating cost and risk of point-to-point integrations, with small changes requiring widespread regression testing.<br> <b>Solution</b>: Built a business case highlighting the network effect, then implemented a centralised JBoss platform with JBoss Data Grid to decouple systems and reduce change impact.</li> <li><b>Challenge</b>: Selecting a middleware and SI partner with aligned expertise in a fixed sequence.<br> <b>Solution</b>: Ran sequential RFPs — first JBoss, then TATA — ensuring technical and delivery synergy from day one.</li> <li><b>Challenge</b>: Delivering regulatory-compliant, real-time passenger data under tight security deadlines.<br> <b>Solution</b>: Prioritised border agency integration as the first production use-case, proving platform reliability and compliance.</li> </ul> <h2>Outcomes</h2> <ul> <li>Replaced fragile point-to-point integrations with a robust, centrally managed JBoss platform and JBoss Data Grid, reducing change cost and risk.</li> <li>Established easyJet’s first integration competency centre with TATA, ensuring long-term support and scalability.</li> <li>Delivered five nines availability and real-time regulatory data flows, meeting 2015 border security mandates.</li> <li>Introduced agile CI/CD and laid the technical foundation for future containerisation with OpenShift.</li> </ul> <h2>Related Skills</h2> <p>This programme highlights my expertise in:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/skills/1">Programme Management</a></li> <li><a href="/skills/10">Vendor Management</a></li> <li><a href="/skills/9">Contract Negotiation</a></li> <li><a href="/skills/3">Agile / Scrum</a></li> </ul> <h2>Learn More</h2> <p>Explore <a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/jboss-middleware">Red Hat JBoss</a>, <a href="https://infinispan.org/">JBoss Data Grid (Infinispan)</a>, or <a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift">Red Hat OpenShift</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-bates-3409a23/">LinkedIn</a> to discuss my contributions to easyJet!</p>

Overview

As Programme Manager at easyJet, I led the Enterprise Integration programme to replace hundreds of costly, fragile point-to-point integrations with a resilient, scalable middleware platform and an out-sourced integration competency centre. This initiative delivered a high availability real-time integration platform using Red Hat JBoss and JBoss Data Grid (Infinispan), deployed across a hybrid data centre and cloud environment, and introduced easyJet’s first agile continuous integration tool-chain — a forerunner to Red Hat OpenShift.

Key Activities

  • Built a compelling business case by quantifying the high cost and risk of point-to-point changes, where even minor updates triggered regression testing across multiple systems.
  • Ran a sequential RFP process: first selecting Red Hat JBoss as the middleware platform, then selecting TATA as the SI partner with proven JBoss expertise to form the integration competency centre.
  • Designed and deployed a high-availability JBoss platform with JBoss Data Grid (Infinispan) on VMs across physical servers in a hybrid environment, achieving five nines uptime through distributed caching and self-healing replication.
  • Delivered the first production use-case: real-time passenger data delivery to border agencies, meeting 2015 regulatory requirements amid heightened security concerns.
  • Introduced easyJet’s first agile CI/CD tool-chain (pre-OpenShift), enabling rapid, reliable integration deployments.
  • Established a low-cost, need-driven migration strategy: replacing point-to-point integrations only when support became unsustainable or new projects emerged in that domain.

Technologies Used

Challenges and Solutions

  • Challenge: Escalating cost and risk of point-to-point integrations, with small changes requiring widespread regression testing.
    Solution: Built a business case highlighting the network effect, then implemented a centralised JBoss platform with JBoss Data Grid to decouple systems and reduce change impact.
  • Challenge: Selecting a middleware and SI partner with aligned expertise in a fixed sequence.
    Solution: Ran sequential RFPs — first JBoss, then TATA — ensuring technical and delivery synergy from day one.
  • Challenge: Delivering regulatory-compliant, real-time passenger data under tight security deadlines.
    Solution: Prioritised border agency integration as the first production use-case, proving platform reliability and compliance.

Outcomes

  • Replaced fragile point-to-point integrations with a robust, centrally managed JBoss platform and JBoss Data Grid, reducing change cost and risk.
  • Established easyJet’s first integration competency centre with TATA, ensuring long-term support and scalability.
  • Delivered five nines availability and real-time regulatory data flows, meeting 2015 border security mandates.
  • Introduced agile CI/CD and laid the technical foundation for future containerisation with OpenShift.

Related Skills

This programme highlights my expertise in:

Learn More

Explore Red Hat JBoss, JBoss Data Grid (Infinispan), or Red Hat OpenShift. Contact me via LinkedIn to discuss my contributions to easyJet!

Systems Software

JBoss