Case Study

August 2019

Blue Planet Inventory transforms

operations at a major CSP
Enabling massive operational efficiency improvement

Author: Francis Haysom

www.appledoreresearch.com
Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

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Publish date: 8/30/2019

Cover image: Francis Haysom

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 Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
“Blue Planet is the platform of choice for end to end data visualization across our
organization”
Senior Director – Automation, Ethernet and Commercial Services
A major US Communications Service Provider (CSP) was seeking to rationalize its multiple
inventory solutions, to massively improve network operations efficiency and provide a strong
foundation on which to launch a new SD-WAN offering. Using Blue Planet Inventory (BPI), the
CSP was able to be the first to market with an SD-WAN offer in North America and has radically
improved efficiency of its network operational staff across multiple domains: SD-WAN, IP
transport and cable access. In totality, it was able to modernize its operations and save
substantial costs by obsoleting its legacy inventory systems.

Prior to Blue Planet’s engagement, the CSP had operated using a large number of siloed, “end of
life” and inflexible inventory solutions. Working with the Blue Planet team, the CSP has now
successfully moved to a single federated inventory environment, with a complete and current
view of the CSP’s network, spanning multiple operational domains and inventory platforms. In
addition, the CSP has replaced two legacy inventory solutions that could not fully support the
operational and modelling requirements for HFC/DOCSIS and metro Ethernet networks. With
Blue Planet Inventory (BPI), the CSP has:

• Enabled a full service-view, for rapid diagnosis of issues, by relating overlay and underlay
networks, such as SD-WAN overlay on top of Ethernet

• Enabled the successful introduction of new SDN-based optical technology (Flex-grid)

• Achieved first-to-market with an innovative SD-WAN offering

• Empowered their operations staff with leading-edge visualization of its whole network. This
has enabled operational decisions to be made rapidly with complete network context rather
than swivel-chair

• Provided massive process automation; replacing high-cost manual business processes

o Reducing service design time from multiple hours to under a minute

o Saving approximately 30 minutes per enterprise customer technical support call

o Reducing MTTI (mean time to identification) from one hour down to 20 minutes

• Leveraged simple API-based integration with other OSS systems

By enabling the rationalization and replacement of multiple inventory solutions, the CSP has
achieved the type of operational transformation that has failed in many other service providers
worldwide. BPI is now providing the CSP with a strong foundation for further OSS

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Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

rationalization, transformation and automation, as well as the ability to fully leverage new
network technologies.

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

The CSP recognized that its existing operational environment, which managed a $20 billion
business, was extremely inefficient. User groups, from planning, engineering and NOC teams
through to pre-sales, were “swivel-chairing” between multiple systems. As a result, the CSP was
constantly struggling with understanding the network, service and customer impacts as a result
of network faults, and sub-optimal planning of the future network.

The multiple systems being used were a mixture of “best of breed” COTS products, “end of life”
home-grown tools, as well as offline Visio network topology diagrams and Excel planning
spreadsheets. Because the systems were not integrated, the CSP struggled with data quality due
to significant inaccuracies between what was in the network, compared to what was in the
various network inventories. The existing inventory solutions were also focused on fulfilment
needs, with limited support for assurance and operational users. Visualization of the network
was difficult with poor or non-existent network and service topology views. Furthermore,
separate systems also meant high levels of variability in planning and design standards across
the various divisions and markets within CSP.

The fragmented environment required significant training for people across all the systems and
tools, meaning that usage of systems was often limited to small groups of siloed experts.

The CSP’s existing systems also made the introduction of new technologies (and some existing
technologies) difficult. These systems had fixed hierarchy of objects, that largely inherited the
circuit-based network structure of the 20th century. They forced existing technologies, like
HFC/DOCSIS and metro Ethernet, to be modelled as if they were pseudo circuits and required
large amounts of data definition in underlying databases in order to be useable. Modern
software-enabled networks, like flex-grid and SD-WAN, necessitated an evolution from this rigid
and static environment so that they could use the dynamic capabilities associated with these
new technologies. The operational needs of Ethernet business services were a fundamental
driver for the original selection of BPI.

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 Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

ENABLERS FOR SUCCESS - WHY BLUE PLANET?

“Network aggregation and visualization, across the board, is critical to our success”
The CSP tasked its IT organization with identifying a solution that could visualize its whole
network, that would scale to the needs of new network technologies, particularly Ethernet, and
would provide strong system integration capability. The CSP selected Blue Planet Inventory
(then DonRiver) based on its product capability, its flexible project approach and its people.

Technical foundation!
“A single tool to do the job, exposing inventory to all users!”
BPI provides a strong technical framework for inventory federation, visualization and
automation. It allows CSPs to leave existing system investments in place, while introducing a
next-generation user experience and allowing replacement of “end of life” systems over time.
This solution allows common federated planning and design processes across the business and,
by using open standards, allows simple API integration to other systems in the OSS
environment.

Inventory Federation
BPI allows CSPs to federate data from multiple OSS systems and present it in a single user
interface. BPI maintains a graph model that links objects held in each underlying system. Data
from an existing OSS system can be cached in BPI or can be fetched on an as needed basis from
the underlying system. The product is extremely flexible and supports integration with leading
vendors in OSS. The product is built to provide a means of aggregating and integrating existing
assets, whilst ensuring that existing business processes are maintained and incrementally
enhanced.

Advanced visualization made simple

BPI provides users with a ‘single pane of glass’ into a CSP’s OSS environment. Designed to enable
highly configurable visualization, BPI provides a ‘simple’ user experience for Engineering and
Operations personnel. In the case of the CSP, this has enabled the network to be presented in the
same way as existing Visio diagrams. This has meant that training of engineers can be minimized,
with no need to train users on non-intuitive visualizations. This ultimately led to dramatic
improvements in the trouble-to-resolve process.

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Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

Figure 1: Visio-like visualization

Source: Blue Planet

Flexible network modelling

In selecting BPI, the CSP sought to have a platform that could properly model its existing and
new network technologies. The software is 100% backed by a custom-designed graph database
(Neo4j) to support telecom operations, which makes it easier to model technologies in a graph;
as well as being easier to integrate data. This provides faster application response. Moreover,
licensing costs are less expensive in comparison to legacy inventory providers which was a big
saving to the CSP once the legacy system was retired.

The challenge in many existing inventory systems that rely on legacy database technologies, is
that they tend to fix the structure of a modelled technology and its network hierarchies from
the device upward. This approach is optimized around the circuit-based technologies of the 20th
century. Newer technologies and services like HFC/DOCSIS, metro Ethernet and flex-grid are
forced to be modelled as if they were pseudo SONET paths. At the CSP, this resulted in inventory
systems that were unusable because they required messy workarounds to model a network or
service.

By contrast, BPI’s use of a graph database, gives massive flexibility to model any technology
based on its own merits, with a service down structure. HFC/DOCSIS can behave like
HFC/DOCSIS with the technology relationships of HFC/DOCSIS supporting the operational
processes of HFC/DOCSIS. The Blue Planet data model allows creation of relationships without
having to define foreign keys and one can create new properties without having to define them

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 Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

as predefined columns. These native graph models are reusable across all Blue Planet Inventory
implementations.

Training and analytics built into product

The CSP’s existing inventory management tools were extremely complex and required very
specialized training for users. This meant that only 50 users were trained on the legacy system,
and they were required to be consultancy level to cope with complexity. By contrast, BPI
reduced the need for training, and eased the adoption, by visualizing the network in a manner
already used by users – Visio network diagrams. The incorporation of crib-sheet videos into the
system, along with highlights of what’s coming in next releases, further simplified the training
process. As a result, the number of BPI users has linearly grown from the start of the project to
over 6,500 users who actively use the system.

BPI also provides analytics visibility to management, allowing executive stakeholders to have a
clear view of the benefits and usage of the system. Use of all views in the tool is tracked,
enabling their value and effectiveness to be measured. Also, analytics reports are provided to
senior management showing how much training is being used (videos watched that week) and
showing the business benefit based on operational KPIs as shown in Figure 2. Operational
savings of over $1M USD are typically being realized in an average week.

Figure 2: Management dashboard reporting

Source: Blue Planet

Data quality management

Accurate data is central to the success of BPI at the CSP. When a data inaccuracy is identified,
this is logged into the existing data discrepancy management processes. Data quality issues are
raised via integration between Blue Planet and the CSP’s existing trouble ticket system, with

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Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

data quality issues flagged to users with a data discrepancy indicator shown within the BPI UI
shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Data discrepancy management view in Blue Planet Inventory

Source: Blue Planet

Why Blue Planet? Delivery approach!

“BPI is enabling sprint-based development on a two weekly release cycle”
The CSP recognized that transforming its operational environment would require a significant
investment. They knew it would take significant of time and energy. They were looking for a
partner who could take a flexible approach to delivery, ranging from a traditional design,
development, test, deploy approach to very agile approaches with story points and sprints.

The Blue Planet team has allowed the CSP to be flexible in its project model. The inventory
solutions (HFC and Ethernet), described in a later section, have been delivered using a classic
waterfall model, with phased testing of data migration and final cutover to the new system.

The federation solution, described in a later section, has been delivered in a fully agile manner,
with iterative Continuous Integration and Development (CI/CD) style delivery of functionality
and business benefits, on a two-week cadence. Blue Planet’s zero-downtime deployment
capability has enabled an iterative “DevOps” like project approach with users able to consume
new functionality with a simple logout and login.

Rather than trying to boil the ocean, Blue Planet’s approach has been to focus on resolving the
CSP’s biggest challenges and bring initial value within 3-4 months and then to continue to build
on top of this success.

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 Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

The CSP was impressed with Blue Planet’s impressive track record and delivery references with
major worldwide tier-1 providers. This has meant that the Blue Planet services team was
engaged to deliver all of the work at the CSP, across the metro-ethernet, SD-WAN, HFC/DOCSIS
and IP transport networks.

Why Blue Planet? People!

“We were impressed by BPI’s strong network expertise”
The Blue Planet Inventory software solution grew from a business initially focused on successful
delivery of complex OSS data migration projects. This experience has given the Blue Planet
team a wealth of deep expertise in the OSS domain to support both pragmatic transformations,
as well as increasing automation. Blue Planet is committed to maintaining this culture, with
OSS and automation experts comprising over 50% of Blue Planet personnel, complementing its
strong networking knowledge base.

SOLUTIONS
The Blue Planet team has successfully delivered three solutions to the CSP. They have provided
the customer with strong replacement inventory solutions for their IP/transport network and
HFC/DOCSIS network. In addition, the federation capabilities of BPI have been used to provide a
single solution for metro ethernet and has enabled the introduction of new SD-WAN offerings.

Metro Ethernet and SD-WAN Federation Solution

BPI has been used to federate a number of inventory systems, including the likes of Cramer,
Metasolv, Ciena-based transport and IP inventory, as well as other networking vendors'
equipment inventories. For federation, BPI acts as a one-stop-shop for the CSP’s entire metro
Ethernet and SD-WAN network, including service and customer information.

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Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

Figure 4: BPI federation architecture used at CSP

Source: Blue Planet

BPI federation has enabled the CSP to migrate key metro Ethernet customers from a legacy
inventory system to BPI; whilst allowing continued management of other business customers on
the legacy platform. This has allowed proper end-to-end visualization of key customer services,
including correct modelling and processing of label switch paths (LSPs). It has also improved
the data quality of the LSP inventory, with the removal of brittle and non-validated loading of
LSPs. All of this has been achieved with no impact on users who continue to see a common
federated visualization.

BPI is supporting the CSP in fully modelling and recording its customers’ SD-WAN networks. This
requires the modelling of VNFs on SDN networks, which are in turn deployed on metro Ethernet
networks. A clear and complete unified inventory is critical for simplifying the management of
SD-WAN.

The federation functionality of BPI now provides the single source of “network truth” for all CSP
projects. This was demonstrated when the legacy metro ethernet inventory platform went down
for 4 days and BPI was able to allow continued operational use from its inventory cache. It is
also aiding provisioning engineers to make better customer service changes by augmenting the
limited network view held in fulfilment systems.

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 Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

BPI was used to federate data to provide visibility, in a single screen, of physical and logical
networks. As part of the federation BPI is mapping different technology layers (1, 2 and 3)
enabling strong root cause analysis.

BPI is supporting a “high-end” customer portal, giving customers an online view of their service
and its SLA performance. BPI provides the portal with an accurate polled, in-memory, cached
view of the customer’s network on-demand.

BPI’s users have moved from a situation where it would take half a day to get visibility of what
services were running over a device, to one where this can be achieved in 4 mouse clicks. Using
BPI’s federation functionality, CSP is now saving approximately 30 minutes per each enterprise
customer fault call, reducing MTTI (mean time to identification) from one hour down to 20
minutes.

IP backbone and Transport Inventory

BPI has been used to replace a Metasolv inventory solution for the MSO’s nationwide transport
and backbone network. Initially the CSP had intended to use another COTS platform for every
layer of the network. However, high implementation costs and modelling difficulties for new
optical technologies, such as Flex-grid, led them to select BPI for their transport backbone
network.

This project was the largest migration of data to a graph database model, which greatly
simplified the implementation and modelling.

HFC/DOCSIS Inventory
BPI has also been used to replace a home-grown system for HFC/DOCSIS. Originally, it had been
intended to migrate this to a competitive COTS inventory platform, but high implementation
costs and modelling difficulties for HFC/DOCSIS meant this project had failed.

The CSP’s existing inventories were split across multiple regions. This meant that each system
reflected different and separate regional company thinking and processes. The implementation
of a single HFC national inventory using BPI has enabled consistent planning, design and
provisioning processes across the country.

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Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

PROJECT PHASING AND TIMESCALES

With Blue Planet, the CSP has managed to achieve very rapid deployments and business results.
The following table gives the high-level view of the project timescales and key business value
delivered.

Phase Timescale Business value

CSP Business Start - Jan 2014 • Supporting 6500 users
Services • Supporting SD-WAN technologies
Deploy - July 2014 • Enabled migration of key customer whilst
allowing other customers to remain on
federated legacy system.
• In production within 6 months

CSP Business Iterative feature • 6-week CI/CD deployment of new features

Services releases since • Zero downtime, users have a 5 second
2014 reconnect
• Strong user support for continued adoption of
features.
• Strong user satisfaction.

HFC/DOCSIS Start - Feb 2016 • Proper modelling of HFC network aligned with
operational need
Deploy – Mar 2017 • Took 11 months to get into production

Transport/Backbone Start – Feb 2018 • Support for optical SDN network and Flex-grid
was achieved in 2 months.
Deploy – June 2019 • Traditional waterfall project approach
• Multiple data migration tests with users
checking migration accuracy.
• Data issues resolved in legacy systems.
• Added benefit of users becoming familiar with
system
• 13-month project for transport network

Source: Blue Planet

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 Blue Planet Inventory transforms operations at a major CSP

FUTURE ROADMAP
The Blue Planet software and team has proven itself as a true visionary able to address
longstanding issues with innovative thinking and commitment. Such is the CSP’s confidence,
that further challenging projects are being investigated including:

• Support of SD-WAN product enhancements, including Versa controller for uCPE.

• Introducing data reconciliation with the network. CSP’s transport, IP and Ethernet networks –
including SD-WAN - were initially delivered without network discovery. Incremental data
validation is key to delivering benefit.

• Power and space management.

• Physical fiber inventory management

• Driving greater operational efficiencies through greater automation.

• Integration to other systems – including billing, alarm management, SLA management and
historic/trend analysis.

The CSP is already seeing synergies from the acquisition of DonRiver by Ciena, particularly in
terms of better operational support and in leveraging Ciena’s strong network knowledge,
particularly in the core network and in edge devices.

SUMMARY
Blue Planet Inventory has enabled the CSP to succeed in replacing its legacy inventory and
processes with a modern federated inventory system, that can support its software-controlled
networks. In addition, its federation capability has allowed the CSP to radically improve its
ability to support Metro Ethernet services and has supported its ability to deliver the first
commercial SD-WAN solution in North America. This is unique in an industry that has frequently
attempted projects of this size and complexity and failed.

The CSP now has a modern, microservices based and open API-driven system that enables
automation. The openness of the Blue Planet software means that the CSP is able to work with
other partners to develop further integrations and processes, without vendor delivery lock-in.

BPI has enabled the CSP to transform its network operational environment. With strong built-in
analytics, operational savings of nearly $1M per week are being realized with significant
reductions in network planning and design processes timeframes and 20-30-minute time
savings per customer call.

The success of BPI, in providing the CSP user community with the network views and tools it
needs, is reflected in it being ranked the #1 OSS platform by internal users 3 years in a row.

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