Banking And Financial Software Testing Methodologies

The increasing regulatory requirements, raising customer expectations, rapid consolidation, and convergence in the banking and financial sector has created the need for sophisticated IT solutions that operate in real time with continuous availability and reliability.

In a drive to give operational excellence, which is of paramount importance, the banking and financial sector is looking for solutions that could address the challenges they are facing:

• Implementing more rigor within risk management and corporate governance from board level downwards
• Building on opportunities from market concentration and globalization
• Focusing on the need to gain operational synergies from mergers and acquisitions

• Responding to regulatory and government changes and leveraging these changes to provide business opportunity
• Improving customer service and customer retention
• Reducing operating costs across both the business and IT
• Implementing technological changes such as Vista and SOA based solutions

The technological advancements, intent to address these challenges, need to be sophisticated, hence the need for a formal quality management and testing approach that will help them deliver enhanced business value with optimized benefits, and above all a defect free solution.

AppLabs' quality management and testing services utilize its many years of banking and finance experience across the globe to support clients who view technology as a business enabler and see the importance of getting implementation right first time. Integration of large, widely distributed systems is more and more complex and AppLabs services are designed to identify and manage these effectively, hence delivering result-oriented and cost-effective services.

Software vendors often focus on software development activities, which leave them with very little time to develop testing competencies. As a bank, you might find that they lack proven processes and methodologies, and ready test teams to execute your testing projects as efficiently as a specialist independent testing partner can.

We have a track record of over 14 years in successfully executing software testing projects for Global 500 banking and financial services clients across the world (translating to over 10 Million person hours of testing experience). Over the years, we have created (and are continuously improving) Test Processes and Methodologies that comprise:

• Metrics-driven testing processes
• Standardized documentation of test ware
• Effective systems of reviews
• Optimum usage of automation techniques

Our vast experience with testing projects has helped us to evolve numerous best practises which differentiate us from system integrators who also offer testing services. These form the foundation of our Seven Step Methodology that minimizes project risks and streamlines testing delivery to your satisfaction. Your partnering with us for testing services provides for effective and comprehensive planning and execution of testing projects.

Seven Step Delivery Model

Step 1 - Proposal for Engagement

In this step, we define the terms of reference, customer expectations, project scope & commitments, and the overall project framework.

Step 2 - Knowledge Transfer

In this step, our domain experts/business analysts will ensure that the critical activity of knowledge transfer, both domain-specific as well as project-specific knowledge, takes place smoothly and with the least possible effort.

Step 3 - Test Preparation

In this step, which runs parallel to the software development activity, our team works with you to produce test strategies, test cases, traceability, test scripts, test data guidelines and Run Plans. Parallel preparation helps compress project timelines.

Step 4 - Test Execution

In this step, we carry out actual testing based on the test start and completion criteria. Experienced test teams work together to ensure flawless and timely completion of the project.

Step 5 - Defect Management

In this step, we take care of defect management and track defects systematically to closure. We also produce test logs, defect summaries, status reports and defect analyses.

Step 6 - Test Automation

In this step, we select and deploy appropriate tools for automating regression testing and performance testing. Test execution productivity is considerably enhanced by the use of automatic tools.

Step 7 - Test Maintenance

In this step, we implement a process and a stable framework for handling on-going release testing requirements on a long-term basis

Quality & Testing for Financial Services

Unparalleled financial services domain expertise to our testing engagements. We have experience testing key applications for the world’s largest banks, insurers and investment firms and have developed a wealth of proprietary tools and accelerators to streamline your testing processes.

• For banking, our testing accelerators cover common processes for commercial lending, cards processing and payments. We have an extensive library of test cases, scenarios, use cases and automated scripts including models for VisionPLUS®, SWIFT, and TSYS®
• For capital markets, we developed industry-leading tools for FIX protocol testing and Calypso in addition to accelerators to test systems for investment banking, asset and wealth management, brokerage services, custodian operations, and exchanges.
• For insurance, we have use cases, test scenarios and automated scripts to handle common tasks for underwriting, policy administration and claims management. Our accelerators for specific insurance applications include model based testing assets for Guidewire. Our Pega Testing Toolkit helps lower testing time for Pega-based business process management applications through automation.

Measurable Results

Capgemini combines world-class testing expertise and global financial services domain experience to streamline testing for customized or commercial off the shelf applications. We have helped our clients:

• Optimize quality assurance processes to reduce post production defects by 25% or more
• Develop testing management programs that reduce post production defects by 25%, test execution time by 15%, and testing preparation time by 20% with 0% defect leakage to production
• Reduce test failures due to unavailable test data by 70%
• Achieve 15% overall project savings through the use of defect prediction modeling
• Lower testing time for commercial software by as much as 30%

Proven Solutions for Financial Institutions

• Model Based Testing Workbench. A tool driven approach to automate test design and accelerate testing for commercial financial services applications. By using pre-defined models, Capgemini helped a European bank increase test coverage by 300% and created over 2,600 test cases in one month.
• Quality Blueprint. A customized assessment which measures the maturity level of your test organization against industry benchmarks. Using our proprietary, historical database of assessments, Capgemini benchmarks your company against the financial services industry across 22 dimensions and provides a roadmap with recommendations to move to the next level of maturity.
• Managed Testing Services. A collaborative approach to sourcing testing and QA services, managed testing services provide financial services firms with a way to transform their testing function and achieve high-quality systems cost-effectively, without losing overall control or incurring expensive overhead costs.

From Capgemini