How specialist testing and quality engineering supported a complex platform migration, enabling an on-time rollout with zero critical or high-priority production defects.
The results at a glance
About the client
A multinational optical retail chain operating across the UK, Ireland, Australasia and Nordic markets, providing optical and audiology services alongside retail products.
The challenge: modernising a complex retail technology environment
Beginning in 2015, the business undertook an ambitious digital transformation to create a more connected, consistent customer experience across its international operations. The programme aimed to create a single view of each customer, bringing together online interactions, in-store purchases and prescriptions. New digital capabilities followed, including an e-clinical platform, a consumer mobile application and in-store tablets.
These had been integrated with an increasingly complex legacy estate, including systems maintained over more than 20 years, a fragmented environment that was difficult to scale, maintain and adapt.
A key element of the wider modernisation was the Find and Book replatforming project: decommissioning the AWS-hosted Drupal implementation and transitioning to a new platform, with support for the legacy environment approaching its end.
The new environment needed to support:
- A modern, more stable technology stack
- A common codebase across international markets
- Market-specific configuration and localisation
- Existing journeys without loss of functionality
- Improved accessibility aligned to WCAG AA
- Better technical performance and search visibility
- Flexibility to introduce new customer journeys
- Automated testing embedded earlier in development
The challenge was not simply to introduce new technology, but to deliver a complex transition without compromising customer experience, functionality or business continuity.
The 2i solution: embedding quality throughout the transition
A comprehensive quality engineering and testing approach was established to ensure the new implementation delivered the same functionality as the legacy system, applied one codebase across all markets, and avoided high-priority issues at rollout. Quality was built in across four connected disciplines: end-to-end testing, test automation, One-Team Agile working and shift-left quality.
Testing across international markets
End-to-end testing covered the retailer's UK and Nordic businesses and the optical and audiology businesses in Australia and Ireland, alongside customer messaging in the UK and Ireland, validating critical functionality across geographies and service lines.
Automation to support efficient delivery
Automated tests were implemented across the UK and Nordic businesses and the optical business in Australia, including appointment triage functionality, building repeatable validation into the delivery process as development progressed.
A collaborative, shift-left approach
With several third parties responsible for different elements of the implementation, fragmented delivery was a significant risk. A One-Team Agile approach brought the parties together, and shift-left practices identified risks and defects earlier in the lifecycle.
Quality maintained, not inspected in
Testing was treated as a continuous part of the programme rather than a final delivery stage, improving collaboration between teams and reducing the cost of resolving issues before release.
One codebase, four market groups, one delivery team
Testing spanned the retailer's optical and audiology businesses across four market groups, each with its own configuration, localisation and customer journeys built on a shared codebase.
Internal teams, testing specialists and third-party partners worked as a single Agile delivery team. An offshore team in India supported the programme while working UK business hours, keeping collaboration close across every market.
Disciplines covered functional, automation, performance, security, accessibility and website testing alongside quality engineering. Established delivery and test management tooling, including Jira, qTest, JMeter and Selenium, underpinned the programme, chosen to fit the retailer's existing ways of working.
The outcome and benefits
- Zero P1/P2 defects in production. The initial rollout completed without any critical or high-priority production defects being identified, establishing a foundation for planned expansion into further markets.
- On time, on budget, no loss of scope. The changeover was delivered to schedule and to cost with no reduction in scope, so the retailer kept its agreed functionality and customer journeys.
- Minimal business disruption. Comprehensive testing and collaborative delivery minimised disruption, important given the retailer's international operations and reliance on digital services.
- Earlier defect detection. The retailer's own teams adopted a shift-left mindset, so issues were found and fixed earlier, reducing remediation cost and supporting faster release cycles.
- A platform for future growth. A consistent foundation across markets gives greater flexibility to adapt customer journeys, expand online and in-store capability and add new functionality.
Specialist testing and collaborative delivery modernised a complex technology environment while protecting business continuity.
Read the full case study
The complete case study covers the legacy estate, the quality engineering approach, the market-by-market scope and the outcomes in full.
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