Independent quality assurance helps SBAB achieve a robust patch upgrade with immediate operational benefits
Challenges
Two years ago, SBAB undertook a major upgrade of its core treasury management system from version 6.5 to 7.4. This project was largely successful and brought significant improvements. But post go-live, some persistent issues proved difficult to resolve, and some new issues also emerged. One example: when transactions were updated in the accounting module, the associated fx booking rates, which had been input in the previous version, were no longer available.
Rather than implement a series of hotfixes, which would address such issues one by one, SBAB decided instead to take a more thorough patch upgrade route.
We wanted to maintain a very stable platform, so it was important to resolve all issues thoroughly, and without the need for work-arounds.
Sofié Enlund, Treasury System Manager, SBAB
Solution
Version 7.4.36 met SBAB’s needs, and the patch upgrade project was carefully planned out. To ensure the required highquality implementation, a thorough and systematic testing and quality assurance process was needed. “SkySparc was a very important partner for us during our original upgrade project, and we asked them to bring their independent expertise to the patch upgrade and manage the testing and quality assurance process again for us,” explains Enlund.
SkySparc’s unique testing software, OmniFi, was a key plank in the quality assurance. OmniFi automates testing, bringing speed and consistency and making it possible to test more data, configurations and processes more rigorously and in a shorter timeframe. (SBAB also uses OmniFi in its day-to-day operations, for example, to automate reporting.)
Patch upgrades usually involve less functionality than an upgrade, but do need a relatively high level of regression testing. SkySparc proposed to re-use the test scripts from the original upgrade project, with a modified testing plan and new or updated test cases as appropriate. This would be more efficient than re building everything from scratch.
So the first task, run in parallel with the installation and technical testing of the patch release, was to create the additional test cases and modify others.
Although SkySparc was responsible for the testing as an independent third-party, Enlund wanted to be closely involved, in order to learn how to use OmniFi for future smaller testing tasks. She says: “There was a lot of discussion and collaboration. SkySparc are extremely knowledgeable and brought huge value to the project. They know our business well, so could always go straight to the point.”
The systems integration and user acceptance testing was thorough, checking each area of the system was working properly with existing data, with updates to existing data and with new data. Static data, transactions and cashflows were all tested exhaustivel . Interfaces and the data moving between systems were also thoroughly tested.
Taking a patch upgrade proved efficient and met our requirement to have a very stable environment. We may well choose this route again in future. The testing was efficient and thorough, giving us independent, documented assurance that this core system is functioning correctly.
Sofié Enlund, Treasury System Manager, SBAB
Results
The testing was completed successfully and on time. And, as part of the independent quality assurance process, SkySparc documented the testing methodology and results fully. Says Enlund: “It is really useful to have this independent report, both for audit purposes and to help us in our future work.”
When it went live, the patch upgrade ensured all outstanding issues and work-arounds that had previously been necessary were fixed, improving the overall performance of SBAB’s treasury management system efficiently - and without excessive resource requirements.
Overall, Enlund is very pleased with the results. She says: “Taking a patch upgrade proved efficient and met our requirement to have a very stable environment. We may well choose this route again in future. The testing was efficient and thorough, giving us independent, documented assurance that this core system is functioning correctly. Finally, we have benefited from SkySparc s experience and expertise and have a re-usable library of test cases, and clear methodology for our future needs. It will be a simple process to use OmniFi to test future modifications and changes.”
