The Client

A leading manufacturer with a global presence, headquartered in Iowa, operates extensively both within the United States and Canada. Specializing in wholesale building materials, the company leverages a sophisticated online portal for customer transactions, necessitating impeccable software performance and reliability. This necessity underscores the importance of a robust Quality Assurance (QA) testing framework to ensure the portal’s efficiency and user satisfaction.

The Solution

Confronted with the need to expand their QA testing capabilities, the client sought Planet Technology’s expertise to overcome several challenges. These included a limited in-house software testing team, a significant backlog of 485 manual tests needing automation, and the desire to incorporate more cost-effective offshore resources into their workflow.

Planet Technology responded by deploying a strategic solution comprising three key components:

1. Talent Acquisition: Three contract positions were filled, focusing on QA testing and automation. These roles were specifically chosen to augment the client’s existing team and to assist in developing a new testing framework using SpecFlow and Selenium.
2. Framework Development: The engagement emphasized the development and optimization of a testing framework capable of handling the client’s requirements. This involved collaborative efforts with the client’s team, including a manager, an automation engineer, and an intern, to ensure seamless integration and functionality.
3. Offshore Resource Integration: Recognizing the need for a cost-effective approach, Planet Technology facilitated the inclusion of offshore resources. This strategic move aimed at leveraging global talent to accelerate the test automation process within the desired six-month timeframe.

The Results

The introduction of specialized contract positions and the integration of offshore resources catalyzed the automation of the extensive backlog of manual tests. Although the project is in its initial stages, significant strides have been made toward reducing the manual workload and enhancing the online portal’s operational efficiency.

Currently, the partnership between the client and Planet Technology continues to evolve positively, with discussions to extend the contract and explore additional areas of collaboration, such as .NET software development.

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