Background
Our client, a leading logistics and transportation organization, was investigating using process automation to provide more reliable data outputs from various warehouses and sorting centres, whilst reducing the manually intensive efforts previously used.
Before the project, a daily manual count was required at the end of shift patterns to capture warehouse/delivery loads to help sustain operational effectiveness. This approach led to a large margin of error caused by double-counting or miscounts. In addition, it was manually intensive and embedded additional levels of cost. Automating this process would allow for better forecasting and increase operational efficiencies.
This is a multi-year programme that would create extensive year-on-year savings. Dukebridge were asked to ensure the data quality of the feeds reporting into the new central cloud-based database, leading driving testing activities for all Business Object and Qlikview based reports.
Challenge
Joining the programme at an advanced stage, it was found that the test approach and strategy were unclear and had not been signed off, with limited test documentation being available. Additionally, there were no requirements for the new reports that required testing. Given the tight time frame to implement an automated solution, this posed a significant risk to the programme.
Solution
Dukebridge deployed a highly experienced Test Lead with extensive data reporting onto the programme. The data expertise that the Test Lead brought helped the Business Analysts create the requirements matrix from scratch allowing for test cases to be built for all reports. The expertise in Qlikview and Business Objects that Dukebridge brought to the project helped expediate the data analysis of some of the new reports, as well putting robust test approach, strategy and documentation in place to ensure data quality of the reports was achieved.
“Dukebridge deployed a highly experienced Test Lead with extensive data reporting onto the programme”
Outcome
Testing timeframes were met by Dukebridge against all reports in scope, allowing the client to meet the aspirational technical go-live date. As additional value-add, Dukebridge produced a client-specific recommendation paper outlining potential increases in effectiveness of Quality Engineering on other programmes based on the key learns from this programme. This paper has been well received and with several of its recommendations already having been implemented on other programmes of work within the group.
