Delivering high-quality testing services for airlines

CLIENT CHALLENGE
The client hosts an E-commerce suite which comprise of critical applications such as E-com reservation system, a web booking engine, interfacing with the airlines reservation system, loyalty application for tracking, accrual and redeeming of the loyalty points and several other web applications for the airline.

The Quality Assurance department was responsible for managing the functional, regression and non-functional testing of all applications for the airline. The testing team had test specialists recruited on contract and also availed manpower services from a different vendor. However, with the airline’s aggressive expansion plans, the client faced an acute shortage of competent testing resources for their E-Commerce applications. This demanded frequent changes and releases, in order to be active in the competitive airline market.

During this time, IBS was engaged in an Extended Software Development Services partnership with the client for application development and maintenance. Having known the IBS capability in the SDLC processes and its domain expertise, the client engaged IBS as a testing service partner for their E-commerce applications.

IBS SOLUTION
IBS identified a team of core test specialists with deep domain expertise in the TTL space and deployed them in the airline. The team included a Project Leader and test specialists who worked collaboratively with the client’s IT and QA teams.

The test team was responsible for ensuring the overall quality of the application and co-ordination with the development team to ensure a smooth release cycle. The client had also made a concerted effort to ensure that IBS merge as part of the client’s Team. The IBS team underwent domain knowledge transfer and application familiarization sessions by business analysts of the airline company.

Within a short span of time, the IBS team became part of the regular testing, ongoing production defect fixes and regression test cycle. The team adapted to the client’s processes quickly and was involved in the test cycle activities spanning from functional test case preparations and test data creation to functional testing and non-functional testing. All defects identified were reported in ‘Remedy’, the defect tracking tool employed at the airline. The team also did effective debrief sessions to the development team for quick resolution and closure of the defects.

The client’s senior QAs assessed the IBS services and reported it as valuable and commendable for the test coverage achieved. IBS testing support helped the client’s IT department to roll out the newer versions of existing applications and new E-commerce applications successfully.

BUSINESS BENEFITS
• Availability of dedicated test specialists for functional and non-functional testing
• High test coverage and improved quality of the E-commerce applications
• Significant contributions to the QA processes
• Reduction in the contractor costs

KEY FEATURES
• Test plans and methodologies were set in place for testing performed based on the test plans
• Various business scenarios were identified, documented as test cases and tested
• Effective non-functional testing which helped identify performance bottlenecks
• Systematic process of defect reporting and tracking to closure
• Helped the team identify and perform corrective and preventive actions

About the client
The client is the most successful low-cost carrier based in North America. The airline currently serves over 35 destinations across North America and Caribbean cities with over 40 aircrafts and ambitious growth plans. The client operates a modern fleet including Boeing Next-Generation 737-600, 737-700 and 737-800.The airline is committed to guest satisfaction, showing record traffic statistics consistently.