As part of our annual review, we have significantly streamlined the data structure in Plony, the service and process database behind the Helmholtz Cloud.
Based on the results of the latest Service Portfolio Review, we have completely overhauled the core forms in Plony – the central tool for supporting the lifecycle of the Helmholtz Cloud services. Over 30 unused fields have been removed, and the remaining ones have been revised and reorganized to better reflect operational reality. This means: clearer structure, fewer manual steps, faster onboarding, and a smoother experience for all Service Providers.
What Changed?
Our database Plony, which supports service onboarding and lifecycle management, has been streamlined:
- ~30 unused fields have been removed from the Service Application and Service Canvas forms. These included fields like IPv6, Expected User Groups, and Planned SLA, which currently have no practical relevance.
- All remaining fields were revised to ensure clarity, necessity, and alignment with operational processes.
- Fields that are no longer used for selection or reporting (such as weighting or informational criteria) were dropped, enabling leaner form structures.
Structural Improvements
The Application Form and Service Canvas have been completely restructured and are now clearly segmented into logical, clustered sections. The first step which is the application of a new service now focusses strictly on exclusion criteria plus basic service information. This ensures minimum effort for the decision wether a service is able to become part of the Helmholtz Cloud.
The transition from Application to Canvas is now fully automated, removing the need for manual checks by the Service Portfolio Management team. So, Service Providers can continue enter information whenever they like. Many fields now benefit from pre-filled data or conditional logic, minimizing redundancy and human error.
All of these improvements reduces ambiguity and effort: service providers no longer need to provide details that aren’t used in downstream processes.
What’s in It For You?
- Clearer, shorter, and more intuitive forms,
- Faster onboarding of new services,
- Simplified annual reviews,
- Better alignment with Helmholtz Cloud requirements,
- Less administrative burden for you as a Service Provider.
You can explore the new forms directly in Plony. They are already live and ready for use.
Stay Tuned
An upcoming article will introduce the new Plony feature to create a Helmholtz ID User Group (VO Registration).
Feedback and Support
As always, we welcome your feedback! support@hifis.net