A leading supplier of decision-support software for the upstream oil and gas industry faced a testing challenge unique to highly specialized B2B software: their products required testers with deep domain expertise — knowledge of reservoir modeling, hydrocarbon data, and complex oilfield workflows — but also demanded sophisticated automation skills. These two skillsets rarely exist in the same person, and the company couldn’t hire fast enough to keep up.
Each application averaged 5 million lines of code, ran across UNIX and Windows in mixed-language environments, and was architecturally complex — client/server and multi-tier web simultaneously. As the company expanded through acquisitions and internal development, the approach to testing varied wildly by project, team, location, and time frame. There was no consistency, no shared toolset, and no repeatable process.
The company engaged SDT to pilot a solution that could work across their entire portfolio without requiring every domain expert to become a coding specialist.
SDT deployed its Keyword-driven, roles-based test automation approach — specifically designed to separate domain knowledge from automation engineering. Test designers define test cases using plain-language Keywords tied to business workflows. Automation engineers handle the underlying code once, and domain testers can create and modify tests independently from that point forward.
Conducted a pilot evaluation of UTP within the client's mixed Unix/Windows environment, demonstrating effectiveness across both platforms before full rollout
Built complete regression suites using a roles-based Use Model and Workflow, enabling non-programmers to write and maintain test cases
Deployed across Unix, Windows, and Web-based application surfaces — a single consistent approach for all platforms
Assigned specific testing tasks to specific roles, freeing domain experts from scripting and freeing automation engineers from domain knowledge requirements
Trained all designated personnel in their specific roles for sustainable, self-sufficient ongoing operation
"SDT is the only firm we found to be able to address such a broad and complex testing challenge. This methodology of role-based testing allows us to abstract the computer science skills from the domain skills in our testers. A group of five highly proficient Automated Test Engineers can now provide the computer skills to keep a group of 50–100 domain knowledge testers running smoothly."
Director of Quality Systems
Director of Quality Systems
B2B Software Provider — Upstream Oil & Gas Industry
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