Roq Automates MS Template Regression

THE CLIENT

Roq has been delivering a Managed Test Service (MTS) to their legal industry client, for over six years. 

One of the larger projects Roq have been a part of in those six years is an Office 64bit migration project. This project was needed to ensure the new Document Management System (DMS) that was going to be rolled out would perform as expected across all Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint). 

THE CHALLENGE

Within Office, the Client has over 50 MS Office Templates which allow the organisation’s Fee Earners to quickly generate documents when needed. Prior to the Office 64bit Migration Project, Office template testing was being executed manually several times per month, taking roughly one day to complete each time. Roq and the Client identified this project as an opportunity to grow their automation in the Business-as-usual (BAU) space, to speed up delivery into production by automating the template regression pack. BAU is just a small piece of the overall MTS jigsaw. 

THE SOLUTION

Roq reviewed the manual regression pack for the existing client templates and identified some key scripts that could be automated to speed up test delivery. The team then developed an automated regression pack in EggPlant Functional which enabled some of the manual testers to execute additional tests. The Roq team then presented the results back to the client through a lunch and learn session; something Roq is trying to implement across its client base. 

THE OUTCOME

This solution now allows the Client to do more frequent releases into production (monthly but can-do emergency releases within a day) through an Azure DevOps pipeline, where our automation is baked into the release process. Using the old process, a Template release could take four to six weeks. The pack enables the manual test team to automate test execution and then review the results allowing test resources to be used elsewhere on other important, valuable tasks. We can also run the testing overnight meaning there is no test downtime.  

The client is extremely happy to see progress in BAU automation, as this is a key development area over the next two years. 

Roq Value 

• Time reduction in the execution of Template Regression 

• Manual tester capability upskill – No need for technical engineers to run the pack 

• Facilitated the reallocation of resources to other valuable activities 

If you’d like to discuss how Roq can support your business, please reach out to a member of our team at ask@roq.co.uk or head to our services page for more information.