Collaborative IBMZ/OS Server testing results in transformative changes, including continuous regression testing and more frequent releases
About The Client
After more than four decades, our customer is a trusted name in the insurance industry. They specialize in providing flood insurance solutions to homeowners, businesses, and communities across the United States. Focusing on innovation, customer service, and risk management, they prove their dedication to helping clients safeguard their properties and investments from flood-related risks.
- Industry: Insurance
- Headquartered: US
- Platforms: IBMz/OS Server, WinRunner, TestDirector, Testuff, JIRA, Excel
- Team Size: 5–6 Members
The Challenge
The customer had an application that used a web-based interface to allow agents, customers, and lenders to access their policy information. It was linked to the customer’s data residing on a mainframe computer. The application had to be released on time, and it was critically important that test coverage was known to eliminate defects in all stages of the end-to-end operation.
There were challenges during the initial period of the project. One involved understanding the complex functionalities of the integrated products in the suite. A second challenge was that 85% of the project was on a company mainframe and testing was done manually. Fast, comprehensive testing was imperative to meet their schedule and avoid surprise errors at the later delivery stages. This was especially true for the mainframe code interaction with the graphical user interface (GUI) application.
Our Solution
Manual test design was recognized as a bottleneck that had to be eliminated to enable successful on-time delivery.
Baseline Manual Testing and Collaborative QA for Accurate Data Validation
The client’s manual testing was the baseline used to assess efficiency gain delivered by tools being considered in the deployment. A testing group with insurance representatives and developers made up the team building the applications to ensure that the correct data was accessed.
Evaluating Test Suites for Comprehensive GUI and Mainframe Coverage
The testing team tried several test suites to find one that satisfied the client’s requirements. First and foremost, it needed to use its current automation platform to handle the application’s complexity, provide known coverage of the system’s operation, run both GUI and mainframe testing, and automatically generate executable scripts to shorten testing time.
Technologies Used
Our software architects and engineers are experts in using the latest technologies.
- IBMz/OS Server
- WinRunner
- TestDirector
- Testuff
- JIRA
- Excel
Business Impact
Our solution added value with surprising results because we were able to deliver a high-quality product on time.
Here’s how we did it
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Streamlined Process
Resources cover upcoming projects and existing new releases in various states. This streamlined the testing process, covered all the testing aspects, and verified different forms.
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Increased Confidence
RTM increased the testing coverage scenarios to 95% and demonstrated a 90% reduction in defect leakage.
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Consistent Messaging
With the introduction of a new testing approach, they successfully transitioned to weekly release cycles, ensuring that updates and enhancements are delivered to users more frequently.
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Nightly Regression Testing
Implementing consistent, nightly regression runs contributed to higher confidence in their software.
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Notable Improvements
The client achieved notable improvements in operational efficiency and enhanced competitive edge.
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