8 signs that you're on the right track
Testing is a complex matter, and I see definite parallels to my mathematics studies: the more I know, the more I realize that I know nothing – as Socrates so aptly observed. The initial euphoria of "I can do this!" gradually gives way to the feeling of "This will never end!", until eventually a realistic assessment and focus on specialized areas develop.
With over 500 years of relevant testing experience, a significant portion of which lies in the insurance industry, we at Infometis understand this feeling perfectly. Our commitment to ensuring that each mistake is made only once has led us to systematically document this experience, and we are happy to share it with you.
For this reason, we would like to draw your attention to eight key elements whose existence promotes efficient and effective testing of Syrius.
1. Testing is an integral part of the value creation process
In an age of increasingly complex systems and rising customer expectations, quality is paramount. Therefore, testing, like software development, must be viewed as a value-adding component of the project – far from being a mere cost factor.
Value-creating testing is not monotonous clicking work following instructions, but a demanding, highly analytical and creative activity:
- Testers think in scenarios – not just in functions.
- They specifically ask themselves the question: "What could go wrong here?"
- They put themselves in different user perspectives in order to identify potential weaknesses early on.
- They possess the technical know-how to automate test cases.
Good testing requires expertise, system knowledge, curiosity, and the ability to think critically. Effective testing accelerates software development by enabling early detection and less effort in fixing errors.
Organizations that actively search for errors no longer need to be notified of them by their users. In such organizations, it is permissible to address errors even under time pressure. Qualified and experienced personnel are hired for this purpose.
2. The client commissioning the testing knows what added value they can expect
The client has a strong interest in understanding the added value generated by testing within the value chain they are responsible for. The testing team also understands the client's terminology, enabling strategically important decisions to be made based on a shared understanding of values.
To this end, both parties agree on meaningful test metrics that can be regularly checked and jointly evaluated.
There is regular, open communication between the client and the service provider. Challenges are addressed constructively, and the collaboration is consensus-oriented and characterized by mutual trust.
3. The project organization is a well-coordinated team
Testing is far more than just a phase shortly before production launch – it accompanies the project from day one through to ongoing operation. Especially in the insurance industry, where software development and testing are often outsourced, close collaboration among all parties involved is crucial. Transparent communication ensures that the client is always informed about how and what is being tested, when tasks are being carried out, and which measurable criteria can be used to assess the quality of the service.
This openness creates trust in quality assurance and prevents duplication of effort through unnecessary retesting, which saves time and costs.
For sustainable quality assurance, an active exchange of information between operations, development and testing is essential:
- Operations & Testing: Incidents and support reports provide valuable insights into potential testing gaps, which the test team considers to optimize future test campaigns. The test team shares its findings, particularly regarding known and unresolved issues, with operations, enabling them to proactively prepare for potential disruptions or user feedback.
- Development & Testing: Early transparency regarding the scope and nature of changes enables the testing team to prioritize tests based on risk. At the same time, development receives timely, reliable feedback from testing, allowing errors to be identified early and fixed cost-effectively – perfectly in line with the “shift-left” approach.
This interplay makes testing an integral and valuable part of the entire software lifecycle.
4. The test result provides information about the mitigated risks
Syrius is a powerful and highly configurable product that is widely used due to its extensive range of functions. To better understand the use and significance of individual functions, a transparent mapping between test cases and business processes creates clear relationships. This makes it possible to track which functions are used how frequently and which test cases actually cover the most important risks.
The risk-based approach provides optimal support: Test cases are specifically assigned to business processes or software modules. This allows duplicates to be avoided and gaps in the test scope to be identified. Prioritizing test cases according to risk, using the Pareto principle, makes it possible to achieve efficient and effective test coverage that specifically counteracts software errors.
This methodology is a continuous process which, when consistently applied, leads to significant gains in efficiency and quality.
See also my blog post: What actually belongs in a regression set?
5. The release notes form a solid pillar in test planning
Every change to the software carries risks. Adcubum's release notes describe these changes and thus serve as the central basis for test planning. Test management can then analyze which adjustments have been made and efficiently identify the relevant test cases. This allows for a high level of risk coverage with minimal effort.
These release notes always contain valuable information about affected business processes and modules. If test cases are mapped to these processes, it's easy to deduce which tests are particularly relevant for the respective release.
Consistent use of the release notes allows tests to be specifically targeted to the relevant changes. This leads to efficient and risk-based test coverage – structured, effective, and resource-saving.
6. Testing is performed using synthetic test data
Synthetic test data provides a future-proof foundation for efficient and legally compliant testing. It meets the highest data protection requirements and avoids potential risks that could arise from using production data.
Furthermore, they offer numerous advantages for a modern testing strategy:
- Reusability: Synthetic data can be used multiple times and promotes the efficiency of test automation.
- Stability: They do not change uncontrollably, which increases the reliability and reproducibility of tests.
- Targeted test scenarios: They enable precise testing of defined use cases.
The management of test environments is also significantly simplified through the use of synthetic test data. Automated data generation processes further ensure efficiency and consistency.
Those who rely on synthetic test data lay the foundation for sustainable quality assurance, stable testing processes and the long-term protection of sensitive information.
7. Efficient and effective test automation
Targeted test automation is a key success factor for efficient and rapid software releases. The focus is on a prioritized, optimally tailored regression set. While automated test cases are not free, they offer significant cost advantages compared to manual execution – especially for frequently repeated tests.
For test automation to remain effective in the long term, a scalable, low-maintenance architecture is crucial. Using appropriate tools ensures that automated tests grow with the software without creating maintenance traps. Controlling and identifying individual elements in Syrius can be challenging because not all elements have clearly identifiable characteristics. Building a robust test automation system in Syrius requires experience.
Test automation demonstrably increases efficiency and effectiveness in the release process, shortens time-to-market, and enables a higher release frequency. The more frequently test cases are executed, the more worthwhile their automation becomes.
Test automation is our core competence – we are happy to support you in unlocking its full potential.
8. Good team dynamics
Good team dynamics are based on mutual trust, open communication, and respectful interaction. Teams that work together constructively foster the exchange of ideas, actively support each other, and tackle challenges together. Clear roles, shared goals, and a willingness to take responsibility strengthen cohesion and ensure efficient collaboration. This creates an environment in which everyone can develop their potential and the team as a whole is successful.
Conclusion
At Infometis, we pursue the goal of establishing quality as an integral part of the software lifecycle. Testing is an indispensable sub-discipline in this process.
We would be happy to support you in professionalizing your testing and establishing it as a key pillar of your value creation. We look forward to hearing from you.
If you would like to read more about Syrius-Testing beforehand, you can find additional information on our website under Syrius-Testing.
