BICS creates an Agile QA function for a portfolio of 60+ products

BICS, part of Proximus Global, is a global telecom solutions provider operating a network of 120+ points of presence worldwide. With participation in 20 submarine cable systems and over 700 direct routes, it supports global connectivity links.  On top of this infrastructure, BICS delivers 60+ solutions for telecom operators – from roaming and signaling to IoT, messaging, voice core, cloud communications, billing, and fraud detection –supporting the full spectrum of modern telecom operations.

As a global telecommunications leader, BICS operates a complex ecosystem of multi-domain software solutions. Each application in the stack has to comply with stringent reliability, scalability, and security requirements. To maintain its dominant market position and ensure faster release speeds without software quality compromises, BICS has initiated a fundamental transformation of its QA function, with the help of Tieto Tech Consulting.

The main objectives included:

• Modernization and standardization of QA practices across all product categories
• Development a test automation framework, integrated into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
• Adoption of Agile methodology to achieve better alignment between development and QA teams

To keep help BICS maintain its global leadership and ensure “always-on” service quality, Tieto Tech Consulting introduced a comprehensive QA framework rooted in Agile and automation best practices: 

• Transition to Agile. Reorganized QA processes using Agile methodology to initiate "shift to the left" – earlier test acceptance criteria definition and automated tests integrations at every stage of the SDLC, for every new build. QA became embedded in development, ensuring faster feedback and improved product quality.
• Automation-driven QA. Implemented the Test Automation Pyramid, balancing unit, integration, and E2E tests for maximum efficiency and minimal redundancy.  Regression testing time reduced from weeks to hours.
• Continuous Integration/Delivery (CI/CD) implementation. To further increase release speed, we embedded automated testing into BICS’s CI/CD pipelines, making the execution part of the “definition of done” for every user story. Instant feedback from CI-integrated test pipelines enabled safe refactoring and continuous software improvements.
• QA metrics adoption. To ensure transparent reporting and promote higher quality standards, we introduced sprint- and story-based metrics, traceability matrices, coverage reports, and aggregated quality dashboards.
• Unified collaboration and documentation. To cultivate continuous excellence, all documentation and processes have been standardized across all teams. The unified knowledge base promotes consistency in testing standards, reduces information asymmetry across teams, and simplifies institutional knowledge sharing.

The scope of the QA automation services between BICS and Tieto Tech Consulting evolved over several years – from a small pilot engagement to a multi-year partnership that pertained all BICS’s software domains worldwide. Today, QA at BICS is a joint-initiative between BICS internal personnel and experts from Tieto Tech Consulting. Through continuous process improvement, we established a robust, self-sustaining QA ecosystem, powered by:

• Proven automation frameworks: HtmlUnit (for JSF-based front ends), Playwright, React Testing Library, Spring Boot Test
• Performance testing tools: k6, Gatling
• Customized automation frameworks for back- & front-end applications
• Jira-hosted test management space fully integrated with Agile boards
• Postman service for API testing
• Confluence spaces for documentation
• Jira and Zephyr dashboards for reporting (with views for technical and business users)

Beyond process and tooling, Tieto Tech Consulting has also led a cultural shift toward Agile thinking through Scrum coaching and processes Alignment with Agile best practices and performance metrics.

Through this long-term partnership, Tieto Tech Consulting enabled BICS to focus on innovation in global communications while maintaining unwavering confidence in software quality and performance. The success of this collaboration is reflected in the ongoing partnership between BICS and Tieto Tech Consulting, which has been extended until 2030. 

Results delivered to date:

• 80%+ in test automation coverage for key applications and new solutions in Roaming, IoT, Cloud Communications, Signaling, Capacity segments.
• 12-24 releases per year within applications, thanks to streamlined processes and CI/CD integration.
• 5x to 10x faster regression tests for all major applications, with the average test execution speed of 10 minutes per application.  
• 100h+ hours saved annually, thanks to QA automaton
• Reduced downtime and higher service reliability for telecom customers in every region
• A thriving QA culture that promotes learning, continuous improvement, shared ownership, and rapid feedback across teams