Case Study

Modernizing a complex reporting workflow

We transformed a detailed reporting process into a structured digital workflow for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, connecting multilingual submissions, administrative tools, and document generation.

Client United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
System UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA)
Focus Workflow modernization · Data management · Multilingual systems · Administrative interface
Technology Angular · Django
UNROCA reporting landing page and Member State sign-in screen
UNROCA reporting entry point. The landing page explains the annual reporting context and provides sign-in for designated users.

01 — Challenge

Turning UN reporting requirements into a usable system

Organizations often rely on established forms, documents, and procedures to collect and manage information. Turning these processes into usable software requires preserving the underlying requirements while making the workflow practical for users and administrators.

For the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Member States submit annual reports on international transfers of conventional arms. The system needed to accommodate detailed reporting requirements, historical submissions, administrative oversight, and users working across multiple languages.

02 — The Approach

Translate established requirements into a structured workflow

The reporting standard provided the foundation for the digital process. We structured the workflow around the information required, the different types of submissions, and the administrative tasks supporting them.

01

Structured submissions

Separate export and import reporting, with fields and item details aligned with the established reporting standard.

02

Administrative tools

A separate interface for managing country information and UN Member State settings.

03

Historical data

Migrate existing reports to maintain access to previous submissions.

04

Document generation

DOCX and PDF downloads to support established reporting and review processes.

03 — Implementation

Connect reporting, administration, and document output

The application brings together a reporting interface for participating countries and administrative tools for managing their information. Existing reports were migrated to preserve access to previous submissions, and users can download reports in DOCX or PDF format.

UNROCA country reporting page listing previous submissions and offering a new report by calendar year
Reporting and historical records. Users can review previous submissions, access drafts, and start reports for a calendar year. Reports can be downloaded as DOCX or PDF.
UNROCA administrative country record showing translated country names and Member State settings
Administrative interface. Staff can manage country information, including translated country names and UN Member State settings.

Application technologies: Angular for the reporting interface and Django for the application and administration.

Multilingual reporting

Support reporting in all six official UN languages

The reporting interface supports all six official UN languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish. The separate administrative interface is English-only.

English العربية 中文 Français Русский Español
Chinese-language UNROCA report workflow showing the reporting steps and country report details
Localized reporting workflow. The Chinese-language interface demonstrates how the reporting process is presented across languages.

04 — Result

A reporting experience shaped around the actual UNROCA form

The updated platform brings the formal reporting structure into a Member State reporting workflow, with separate reporting entry points and supporting administration. It connects structured submissions, administrative tools, and a real operational workflow.

  • Users can generate and download reports as DOCX or PDF files.
  • UN staff has administrative tools for country information.
  • Historical reports were migrated for continued access and review.
  • Member State users can review past submissions and start reports by calendar year.
  • Export and import reporting remain distinct, as in Annex III.
  • The standard's seven categories, item details, and nil-report guidance inform the workflow.

What this project demonstrates

This project demonstrates our ability to turn formal reporting requirements into usable reporting software by connecting structured submissions, administrative tools, and a real operational workflow.

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