Mobile applications: Agile development for the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis

I've been a project manager at the digital pole of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis since 2019.

My main mission is to manage and complete various projects, mainly web and mobile projects.

On a day-to-day basis, my tasks involve analyzing needs, monitoring schedules and budgets, validating deliveries... We rely heavily on service providers via public procurement contracts.

Yes, in 2019, the Metropole has decided to centralize information and services for its agents, by creating a single intranet called M Actu. Previously, this information and these services were managed separately by each of the Metropole's territories.

M Actu initially provided pay slips, a centralized directory, HR documents and news.

We have developed a mobile application to make our services accessible to everyone. In fact, half of the city's employees don't have a computer workstation.

It was important to us that all agents should be able to access M Actu, which is why we created the mobile version in 2020.

This has also enabled us to develop new mobile-related functionalities:

• Today, every agent can use his or her mobile phone to sign in, which is one of the most frequently used functions.
• We offer an on-the-fly room reservation system. The agent scans a QR code in front of the room, obtains the availability times and can reserve.
• We have also developed a travel assistance system, which suggests itineraries between the metropolis' buildings in its 92 communes.

Sully won the tender for the mobile intranet in 2022. Sully's teams took over the existing application and participated in its ergonomic redesign.

We also enhanced functionalities such as leave management, with a calendar view, cancellation and validation functions.

The teams' responsiveness and technical skills are excellent, which has enabled us to maintain a stable, high-quality application.

Yes, M Actu was one of the first projects we carried out in 100% Agile mode. It was new for us, and a major challenge for the project. Thanks to Sully's expertise and support, we were able to implement this method effectively.

We work in sprints. First, we define the requirements and the design with Sully's UX/UI team, who model the evolutions. Based on this design, we estimate the tasks with the development team, during the poker planning. Finally, we develop and deliver the functionalities.

This allows us to be flexible and respond quickly to urgent needs. At Métropole, it's not uncommon for a new requirement to become a priority. Agile mode enables us to integrate it quickly into a sprint and deliver within a few weeks.

With a V-cycle, we couldn't easily take into account changes that hadn't been planned for a long time.

This collaboration is very positive. I'd like to highlight 3 successes:

• The great stability of the application, with no bugs.
• I also really appreciate the quality of the technical analyses provided by Sully, which enables us to make the right decisions.
• Lastly, working in Agile mode with Sully has taught me a lot and enabled us to run the M Actu project efficiently. It has also enabled us to apply this method to other projects. The key to our success was Sully's mastery of the Agile method and our good collaboration. It's a method that requires everyone to get involved, but one that has proved its worth over the past 2 years.