Portfolio
a1qa provided QA support to help ensure high quality of eLearning software
The client assigned a1qa to set up QA processes from scratch and ensure failsafe software operation
Overview
The client designs novel solutions to businesses across multiple domains. To provide exceptional value to its end customer who evolves the concept of languages digitalization, the client was looking for a QA provider to establish QA processes from the ground up and polish new functionality.
The range of software products submitted to screening incorporated the following types:
- Website and blogs — the main site covering the overall information about the end customer, its business history overview, the links to other useful resources, and the probability to acquire the wordlist.
- Web apps — 20+ solutions allowing end consumers globally to search for words and expressions in various languages, monitor sought after phrases, track lexical and syntax data, add words (for endangered or rare languages), communicate and share information on forums. However, currently they belong to other companies due to the end customer’s decision.
- CMS — for managing web apps and enabling administrators to fill in required content and customize it.
- Lexical databases — all DBs are available for administrators’ and developers’ reviews.
The client was contacted by an end customer as the quality of code delivered by his previous developer was low, which had an adverse impact on the technical health of the product. Therefore, a1qa was to help improve the situation.
Services offered
Functional testing
Test automation
Project scope
a1qa jump-started from establishing QA processes from the ground up. Agile methodology with 2 weeks’ sprints lay in the heart of the development process. However, when assuring the quality of blogs, irregular workflow was observed so that the team was performing upon request.
Although the end customer possessed extremely tight deadlines for delivering new functionality and sometimes was ready to roll out the software of improper quality, a1qa was convincing them to spend more efforts on testing to reinforce quality and avoid post hoc expensive defect fixing.
To help newcomers quickly delve into the testing products due to their extensive amount, the QA manager compiled a plan with a learning curve assessed by the client.
a1qa’s testing strategy encompassed the activities mentioned below.
- Functional testing
Prior to testing itself the engineers created test documentation and were further updating it on an ongoing basis.
Accurate software operation was supported by new feature testing delivered to ensure recently added functionality had no adverse effect on products logic. Regression testing performed to confirm the faultless operation of introduced refinement was followed by defect validation.
Due to timely applied exploratory testing, the QA team extended the test coverage by going beyond the predefined test suite owing to cognitive thinking, clearly understood software specifics and end users’ behavior.
The scope of delivered services in terms of functional testing was varying depending on the client’s evolving requirements.
- Test automation
As regression testing scope on several environments was increasing constantly, the team came up with test automation service.
To streamline the assessment of its business and operational benefits in the long term, a1qa provided an accurately compiled evaluation of test automation effectiveness and showcased results to stakeholders who green-lighted its introduction.
Automated tests written in Java reduced testing time fivefold, significantly sped up time-to-benefits, and helped optimize QA costs. Each test run was followed by generating a detailed report comprising spotted pitfalls, duration, and more.
Quality management
- An internal project audit
To constantly maintain a high level of delivered services and timely troubleshoot the client’s QA pain points, the company’s CEO initiated an internal audit. It helped the team to eliminate existing workflow drawbacks, which positively impacted delivered project outcomes.
- A system of metrics
One of the major problems to overcome concerned monitoring KPIs and progress when assuring the quality of sporadic features. So as not to overlook any drawbacks in the engineers’ performance, the QA manager and coordinator defined specific metrics applicable to tracking indicators of one-time activities.
- Strengthening technical health
When the QA team onboarded the project, they encountered problems with overall software quality level. To highlight them, after each sprint, the engineers collected statistics on the number of detected defects, including a very high percentage of reopened bugs and the time required for their validation. All data was sent to the end customer after each sprint and in the form of a final report.
Having analyzed the quality level based on an independent evaluation, the end customer involved another software developer (current client) who in cooperation with a1qa made every effort to ensure impeccable products operation.
The client alongside the end customer valued long-lasting cooperation, obtained business and operational benefits, as well as quality delivery.
Technologies & tools
- VirtualBox/VMware
- Postman
- Fiddler
- Browser Developer Tools
- Android SDK Tool
- iTools
- PyCharm
- IntelliJ IDEA
- Amazon Web Services
- Jenkins
- Wireshark
- Sublime Text
- Google Spreadsheets
Results
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Established QA ecosystem to work out a strong delivery practice and ensure 360-degree project transparency.
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Polished products quality and improved technical health due to spotting defects early in the development cycle and providing end users with the opportunity to get flawless eLearning experience.
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Faster time-to-benefits and reduced operational costs owing to showcasing test automation benefits followed by its smooth introduction.
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Streamlined workload through high team’s flexibility and quick problem-solving including emergencies.
In numbers
5+
years of project duration
4
QA engineers on board
5X
boost in testing activities due to test automation implementation