Modernizing a Legacy System using Modern Techs (C#, WPF, EF and PostgreSQL)

Overview

A legacy console-based system used by textile agents had been relied on for years to track sales, calculate commissions, and manage settlements between agents, manufactures, and customers. As business volumes grew and commission structures became more complex, the text-based system struggled to keep up. But that’s not all. Lacking experience with older technology, businesses found it challenging to adapt their existing solution to their changing needs.

We redesigned the entire solution as a modern WPF desktop application built with C#, powered by Entity Framework Core, and backed by a robust PostgreSQL database. The modernized system now supports flexible commission rules, transparent reporting, and an intuitive workflow for both administrators and field agents.

Client: Textile Agency / Commission Agent

Challenges With the Legacy System

1. Rigid Commission Calculations

The console application used hard-coded formulas. Any change in rates, slabs, or product categories required modifying source code.

2. Poor Visibility & Transparency

Commission agents lacked access to structured reports and found it difficult to verify commission calculations.

3. No Centralized Relational Database

The file-based backend resulted in:

• Duplicate sales entries
• Mismatched settlements
• Long processing time for monthly payouts

4. Lack of Integrations

Importing sales data from external tools or ERP sources wasn’t supported.

5. Complex Manual Reconciliation

Administrators spent hours manually validating commissions for each agent and region.

Project Goals

1. Build a flexible and transparent commission management system.
2. Provide a clean, modern WPF interface for quick data entry and review.
3. Design a distributed architecture to allows front-end software to run on multiple computers or nodes within the network.
4. Use Entity Framework Core to simplify data access and future enhancements.
5. Design a scalable PostgreSQL database for large sales and commission datasets.
6. Improve reporting for sales orders, commission earned, etc.

Technologies Used

• Languages: C#.NET
• UI Framework: WPF (XAML)
• Backend: Entity Framework Core
• DB: PostgreSQL
• Reporting: SAP Crystal Reports

Results

• Dynamic Commission Rules: Admins can change rules instantly without code changes.
• 50% Less Time Spent on Monthly Payouts: Automated settlement calculations and validations.
• Complete Transparency: Agents can view detailed breakdowns of all commission entries and payouts.
• Highly Scalable: PostgreSQL backend supports growth in agents, territories, and sales volume.
• Maintainable & Extensible Codebase: C# + EF Core + WPF + MVVM provides long-term flexibility.

Conclusion

The legacy console-based commission tool was transformed into a modern, maintainable, and transparent agent sales commission solution.

Using WPF, C#, Entity Framework Core, and PostgreSQL, the new system offers flexible commission rule management, automated settlements, and powerful reporting — enabling better control, faster payouts, and insightful decision-making for the textile distribution network.