AtoZ & Treon in collaboration

Benefits for both sides

Treon needed external expertise to develop software validation. The goal is to use automation in testing as comprehensively as possible, because new rounds of software testing come up again and again.

"AtoZ quickly understood what we needed. They were able to provide experienced people with the right competence profile for the project right away," says Kirsi Heittokangas, Senior Engineering Manager, Software.

In the project, which lasted just under a year, a test automation implementation was completed as planned. It remains in Treon's own in-house maintenance, and Treon can continue developing it independently.

From AtoZ's point of view, one significant testing challenge in Treon's concept was the large amount of data collected and processed. It must move reliably from the sensors to the gateway and onwards, without any loss along the way regardless of transfer method or technology.

AtoZ's expert says that previous experience with hardware-related work was a significant benefit, even though the hardware here was a whole of its own. Test automation was clearly developed from the software developer's perspective.

The project brought new perspectives and solutions to how software running on a device can be tested, so the work benefited both the client and the developer.

"At Treon, professionals are valued and a subcontractor is taken in as part of the team. There was room for creativity, but at the same time the work came with responsibility for quality and schedule. Test automation proved to be an excellent way to maintain quality on a sensible schedule."

Experts need to have opinions

Heittokangas stresses that a joint project succeeds best when both parties understand what expertise is needed. The starting point is right when the experts are good and reliable and have exactly the right kind of skills. Motivation and the will to do the job well also matter.

"It is also essential that an expert dares to say what they think. If the customer asks for something silly, you have to react and bring up better alternatives. Being able to understand and say that the customer is not always right is part of professional skill."

Experiences from the completed project were positive in every respect. Heittokangas sees opportunities for broader collaboration with AtoZ in the future.

"We will always need expertise from outside the company as well. With a new partner, it is good to start with something smaller to see how the companies and ways of working fit together. The collaboration with AtoZ has worked brilliantly."