RATIONAL FOR ENGAGEMENT

With no credible plan to go-live and large unknowns in many areas including architecture, design and the target operating model, the programme had been attempted several times by different vendors and management teams

 

Dragonfly was engaged as part of a refreshed management team to redefine the test approach, steer testing back on track and manage all testing going forward.

CLIENT PROFILE

  • A leading payments acquirer which processes a third of the UK’s payment transactions

  • Large, complex (£1bn) programme to replace the legacy end-to-end payments platform of its acquiring business

  • Programme comprised a multi-vendor, multi-site landscape which peaked at 1000+ people.

SOLUTION

  • Definition and oversight of a new test strategy designed to find as many issues as early as possible

  • Provision of immediate programme board representation to regain stakeholder confidence

  • Provision of ~40 senior specialists covering all functional and non-functional testing, performance engineering and defect management

  • Introduction of transparent and rigorously controlled test processes

 

  • Creation of an early fact base for key functional and non-functional areas to enable the programme to credibly re-plan

  • Ongoing leadership of a test team of ~300 people across multiple geographies comprising an existing center of excellence, captive teams and third-party suppliers

  • 24-hour shift working to maximize the test window

  • Utilization of Piccadilly’s Neuro platform to provide enhanced analytics and MI.

OUTCOME

  • Stabilization and optimization of the test organization and test delivery

  • Savings of £1m+ and reduced headcount of 10%

  • Delivery of a highly parallelized testing plan to ensure key risk areas “failed early”

  • Reduction in defect resolution times

  • Transformation of the MI process for C-level sponsors to improve test transparency and drive programme decision-making

 

  • Significant improvement to test run rates and milestone achievement

  • Identification and resolution of performance and other non-functional issues

  • Successful completion of test milestones, e.g. SIT, UAT

  • Successful launch of a new payments platform.