As a technology consulting services company, we hear, every day, the challenges faced by CEOs, CTOs, project managers, QA managers, testers… Sometimes they differ, but in most cases, they all have the same pain.

Secure software is software without vulnerabilities, it is quality software. Thanks to the recommendations of the OWASP foundation, we have reference standards that help us to develop software without vulnerabilities, to design robust ecosystems from its architecture and to deliver fully tested software without vulnerabilities.

At SIPSA, we add security at every stage:

• • • During the design phase, threat modelling can help identify potential security issues with a proposed solution architecture.
    • During the development phase, secure code reviews can help find vulnerabilities in source code.
    • During the deployment phase, security testing, such as automated security testing and penetration testing, can validate that the deployment is secure.
      

We implement software quality as soon as we start working on a new project. Through the “Testing Model Canvas”, a fundamental tool that teams use to capture and analyse the reality of each project in a comprehensive and visual way, they study what architecture we come from and what architecture we are going to. In this way, test teams consider security testing as system testing, and start testing from the beginning of the SDLC. Testing is fundamental to guarantee secure and quality software.

Difficulties attracting and retaining talent

The rise of telework has transformed the dynamics of work in significant ways, presenting opportunities but also posing notable challenges. One of the most prominent of these challenges is the increasing global competition for talent. As geographic barriers blur, professionals can now choose to work for companies located anywhere in the world without having to move from one country to another. This phenomenon, while enriching in terms of diversity and access to globalised talent, has led to intense competition between companies to attract and retain the best talent.

Overcoming this situation in the current environment can be effectively achieved through strategic collaboration with other companies that possess the necessary talent. SIPSA embraces inter-company collaboration, forming alliances and making available its experts in quality services, test automation, system integration and project management, complementing the internal capabilities of organisations.

Technological amalgamation

In digital transformation projects, there is a need to integrate new technologies with existing systems, which can be a technological puzzle, where compatibility, interoperability and security become critical elements.

Overcoming technological amalgamation implies a solid strategy and a clear vision. Standardising processes, adopting flexible architectures and implementing robust integration platforms are key to simplifying complexity. Collaboration with technology partners who understand the importance of integration and offer customised solutions is essential.

Our experts in the systematic application of quality in IT projects in the digital era rely on the “Testing Model Canvas”, a fundamental tool for defining strategy. The canvas is completed in sessions with those involved in the project, in which the different dimensions of the project are explored in depth, all the technologies involved are examined, allowing the teams to understand its complexity and address the challenges proactively.

Knowledge management

Information loss and lack of knowledge management are significant obstacles on the road to digitisation.

To address this challenge we created a Quality Management Office, composed of quality and testing specialists.

The QMO standardises a quality framework consisting of tools that ensure the traceability of objective project information, as well as a governance model that guarantees the correct communication and management of the project, taking into account the stakeholders and the strategic vision of the company.

As quality and test specialists, they define and manage the test plan and strategy, and their expertise in automation and understanding of system end-users makes the business more agile and enables it to adapt to the changing challenges of the digital age.

Tool fragmentation

We face the challenge of test execution in an environment where multiple tools are used for different types of testing. We recognise that this fragmentation can lead to inefficiencies, lack of cohesion and increased complexity. To overcome this obstacle, we propose TAST Test Automation System Tool, the end-to-end test automation solution.

TAST automates testing of web, mobile, desktop applications, databases, APIs, processes, MQ messages, files, mainframe and remote scripts. With TAST you can run Integration, Functional, System, Performance, Regression, Acceptance, Load, Stress and Parallel tests. As a codeless solution it facilitates the composition of test teams.

With TAST, companies can consolidate their testing tools, simplify their processes and maximise efficiency throughout the software development lifecycle. By providing a centralised and versatile platform, TAST allows teams to focus on what really matters: end-product quality and user satisfaction.

Lack of unit testing and production bugs

Lack of unit testing and failed deployments are significant risks that affect the quality and stability of the final product. The QMO is established as an Office attached to top management, which, following the Top-Down approach, implements the strategies and decisions that flow from the top down to the lowest levels of the organisation. In this way, we ensure that excellence and best practices permeate all departments of the organisation. 

In this case, in particular, it reaches the software developers and this adherence to quality in their DNA makes them feel the obligation to carry out their unit tests, generating traceability from the requirements and user stories to the unit test plan.

Failed quality plan and no time for testing

Failure to meet quality plans and lack of time for comprehensive testing are common challenges in dynamic business environments. In a landscape where deadlines are tight and market demands are changing, organisations face constant pressure to launch products and services as quickly as possible, and Test Automation services offer an effective solution by streamlining development cycles and reducing manual testing efforts.

It is essential to adopt the “shift left” approach, starting testing from the early stages of the project. SIPSA’s testing experts can start defining the test plan and test cases when they have the functional designs, anticipate and prepare test batteries ready to run when the software or system to be tested arrives. Ensuring timely and error-free deployment.

Resistance to change

Resistance to change can hinder digital transformation efforts, even when the need is evident. Spherical Quality Consulting services provide guidance and support to overcome resistance to change and foster a responsive and innovative organisational culture.

Involving all teams from the beginning of the project is crucial to maximise the creative and collaborative potential. Design thinking workshops play a key role in providing a space where ideas are valued and discussed.

These workshops foster a sense of belonging and commitment, promoting collaboration and trust in the new agile management models. They are also an opportunity to introduce new tools and techniques to improve team efficiency. Design thinking workshops are key to driving innovation and project success by creating an inclusive and participatory environment.

Use cases

Transformation Project BMW Germany: Replatforming of the vehicle management and manufacturing core, from the mainframe to the cloud.

We entered the project carrying out the testing strategy, the project was complex, with many systems involved and test automation was key, as it would have been impossible to do it manually. A 24×7 monitoring of the production system has been implemented, automating 100% of the tests, with a comparison model of the parallel in production in which 200,000 transactions are processed per day.

Transformation Project Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Quality and evidence in the consular transformation project.

We entered the project as a Quality Office and implemented a quality framework with end-to-end monitoring of testing activities.

We implemented the sandwich model in which the Quality team is integrated in layers of: monitoring, execution and analysis and proposal. We carried out design thinking workshops in which the teams involved in the project understood the global project.

Thanks to the “Testing Model Canvas” and using the tools of segmentation, user persona and empathy maps, the testing team put themselves in the feet of the users and by understanding their priorities and needs, they started to detect test cases before the software product was available, facilitating the “shift left”.

Transformation Project Banco Santander Germany: Using Test Automation as a lever for change towards digital transformation in IT teams.

Since 2017 we have been accompanying Santander Bank in Germany (Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH) in its digital transformation. We started introducing quality and testing by taking small steps, introduced test automation, despite reluctance to change, justifying the benefits of automation from top management. A small team was formed to start automating with TAST, and it was positioned as the Bank’s test automation tool. They continue to use it today, with a 68% ratio of automated test executions, with a centralised test team of 15 people and an average of 9,000 executions per month. This has led to a 289% increase in test execution productivity.