True resource flexibility: how a global software house scaled testing with Roq’s managed service solution

OUR CLIENT

Our client is one of the UK’s leading direct mail order businesses. While traditionally catalogue-based, the company has seen a major shift to digital, with online sales now driving a significant portion of its revenue. Its broad product range spans leisurewear, electrical goods, household items, and personalised gifts - all delivered through an unmatched in-house production and fulfilment operation.

THE CLIENT CHALLENGE

The client was undertaking a significant website upgrade programme to support continued growth and evolving customer expectations. Key challenges included:

• A major digital refit across five platforms created significant testing complexity and risk of disruption to online sales.

• Multiple third-party suppliers were involved, requiring coordination, clear processes, and effective governance.

• The business had limited internal experience with Agile delivery, creating a gap in planning, communication, and requirement clarity.

• Manual testing lacked scalability and efficiency, with no automation in place to support regression or future change cycles.

WHAT WE DELIVERED

Through our Managed Service solution, Roq provided a flexible test team of manual and automation experts, working alongside the client’s development partner. We delivered:

• A full test strategy, implemented through Agile SCRUM using Roq’s Agile Test Method, including onsite collaboration and early planning retrospectives.

• A Selenium-based automation framework, adapted from Roq’s existing asset, to enable future-proofed regression testing across multiple platforms and environments.

• Implementation and ownership of RallyDev, including streamlined internal processes and a new defect management approach for efficiency.

• Functional testing coverage across areas including data migration, cross-browser testing, complex pricing, and dynamic content.

CLIENT IMPACT

Our Managed Service enabled the client to deploy a complex multi-platform upgrade with speed, control, and confidence. As a result:

• The project achieved zero site downtime, protecting revenue and customer trust during a high-risk upgrade window.

• The newly built automation framework supports faster, more efficient regression testing across all platforms.

• The test team’s influence on requirement clarity and delivery cycles ensured that business needs were consistently met.

• Independent testing brought rigour and assurance, validating quality throughout and supporting the successful implementation of IBM WebSphere Commerce.

To find out how Roq’s Managed Service solution can support your business, contact our experts at ask@roq.co.uk.