Empowering QA: How Point’s Engineering team is building a robust process

Point’s Quality Engineering team (QE) is committed to upholding the highest quality and product excellence standards. 

Improving team optimization at Point

In recent months, we've undertaken a series of strategic initiatives to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Point's quality processes. To accomplish this, we focused on our testing process and team optimization.  

Creating a strong testing foundation

In the fast-paced world of software development, bugs can sometimes sneak in like uninvited guests at a party, causing chaos after launch. To prevent this, one of the first steps we took was to streamline our testing processes. We built a robust regression test suite that was like an efficient checklist of all our critical features. This suite runs before every release, making sure everything operates smoothly. 

Shifting left, catching bugs early 

Our Quality Engineering team is all about automation! With a strong test suite built, we shifted to optimize its benefits. We actively automate regression tests to run on every branch and release before they merge to production, catching issues early. 

Not only has this accelerated our testing process, but it has also increased test coverage by up to 70%. As a result, we've been able to free up valuable resources and focus on more strategic testing activities.

Smarter testing, targeted results

We adopted integration tests to pinpoint areas prone to bugs — allowing us to build targeted regression tests for those critical areas. By tracking metrics such as test coverage, time taken to certify for the release, and regression bug rate, we can quickly identify trends and take proactive measures to address any issues that arise. This data-driven approach has enabled us to make more informed decisions and continuously refine our processes for optimal results.

Hosting dynamic bug bash sessions

Who said testing can't be fun? We’ve implemented regular bug bashes to bring together diverse stakeholders for an interactive, high-energy feedback session. Not only do these events help us identify potential issues before launch, but they also serve as a rallying point for our entire team, reinforcing our shared commitment to quality and excellence.

Early collaboration

Effective collaboration is key to achieving quality excellence. To foster a culture of collaboration, we implemented regular cross-functional meetings. This allows the team to get a head start on upcoming features and collect valuable feedback on them and their impact on the existing automated regression test suite. It has not only improved communication and teamwork but has also led to better alignment between QE and other stakeholders. 

Investing in continuous learning

To stay ahead of the curve, we started working towards upskilling our engineers. We launched a targeted training program focused on the specific test framework we planned to adopt. 

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This wasn't just theoretical — it was designed to equip our engineers with the practical skills they needed to hit the ground running. Weekly pairing sessions and dedicated mentoring proved to be game-changers, fostering collaboration and accelerating their learning curve. Investing in the professional development of our team members is crucial for long-term success.

Positive results

We implemented these initiatives with the express goal of producing a high-quality product through continuous integration and delivery. We've yielded incredible results — significantly enhancing product quality, reducing hotfixes, decreasing the time to test by about 50%, and releasing new product features faster! 

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As for what's next, we're always testing to enhance our Quality process, which will get us closer to continuous integration & continuous deployment (CI/CD). We're committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in Quality Engineering at Point.