About Client
The client is a prominent flood insurance provider that has served homeowners for over four decades. Through a partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), they offer federal flood policies aimed at safeguarding homes, businesses, and their valuable contents from the devastating impact of flood disasters. Over the years, our client has expanded its presence and capabilities, establishing itself as the largest flood insurance company in the United States.
The Challenge
The client faced a significant challenge related to their core business applications, which were hosted on an IBMi mainframe. While they aimed to enhance the quality and efficiency of their testing processes, they encountered difficulties in identifying a suitable test automation solution that could seamlessly integrate with their mainframe environment.
Key Challenges:
- Mainframe Environment: The client’s core business applications were hosted on an IBMi mainframe. Mainframe environments often have unique characteristics and technical complexities that require specialized solutions for effective test automation.
- Quality and Efficiency Improvement: Seeking to improve the quality and efficiency of their testing practices, the client recognized the potential benefits of test automation. However, they struggled to identify a solution to meet their requirements within their mainframe environment.
- Compatibility and Integration: The main challenge lay in finding a test automation solution that could effectively interface with the IBMi mainframe. Compatibility and integration were key concerns, as the chosen solution needed to interact with the mainframe applications and processes seamlessly.
Technology Stack
The Solution
Programmers.io tackled the client's challenge by collaborating with the client to conduct a Test Automation Readiness Study. This study laid the foundation for a strategic approach to automate IBMi mainframe applications, offering substantial advantages, including comprehensive regression testing and stable automated tests.
Test Automation Readiness Study
Programmers.io initiated a comprehensive study to understand the client's needs and technical environment thoroughly. This step ensured that the subsequent solution would be tailored to the unique challenges and requirements of the IBMi mainframe application.
Optimal Strategy Discovery
Programmers.io identified the optimal strategy for automated testing in the IBMi mainframe environment through the collaborative study. This strategy was developed to achieve automated tests, comprehensive regression testing, and stability.
UiPath-Based Automation
Programmers.io determined that UiPath-based automation was the ideal solution. UiPath is a leading robotic process automation (RPA) platform known for its versatility in automating various tasks, including IBMi testing. UiPath scalability was key to adapting it to the client's extensive mainframe environment.
Efficient Automation System
The team at Programmers.io designed a robust automation system that effectively automated testing processes using the UiPath platform. This solution targeted the client's specific needs within the IBMi mainframe context.
Nightly Unattended Robots
The team introduced the concept of running nightly unattended robots to enhance efficiency. This approach allowed tests to be executed automatically during off-hours, ensuring thorough testing without the need for constant human intervention.
Integration with CI/CD
The integration of the UIPath orchestrator with the client's CI/CD tool, Jenkins, proved crucial. This integration enabled automation to be seamlessly triggered by pipeline changes, ensuring that new changes were rigorously tested and integrated into the regression suite.
Business Impact
Comprehensive Testing
Facilitated comprehensive regression testing utilizing a UiPath-based automation solution. This automated solution minimized the risk of errors and issues escaping undetected.
Stable Automated Tests
Stabilized automated tests that could be relied upon for accurate results.
Scalability
Adapted the automation solution to the client's extensive IBMi mainframe environment which proved invaluable.
Efficiency and Acceleration
Integrated unattended robots at night with Jenkins, to accelerate release cycles, improve software quality, and shorten test cycles.
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