Saif Al Dhaheri, Chief Operating Officer at Al Hilal Bank, said, “Al Hilal Bank upholds an innovative spirit and a progressive approach to service delivery, which is why it constantly invests in the latest and the best technologies. In the case of the T24 system, we were eager to invest in a cutting-edge solution for automated functional and regression testing. Our objective from the outset for this project was to ensure that the bank could implement, run, maintain and upgrade T24 in a cost effective and efficient manner. To do this, we recognised the need to invest not only in T24 but in a program of automated regression testing that would provide real value and support to the bank’s team throughout the T24 application lifecycle.
“The Core Banking Group offered precisely the solution we were seeking with their TestManager™ software. To optimise efficiency and keep our costs to a minimum, it was essential for us, that we were able to implement TestManager™ quickly and seamlessly so that we could undertake the test automation program in the time allotted and using our own internal, skilled local resources.
“To meet our objectives, The Core Banking Group installed TestManager™ in our offices in Abu Dhabi and provided comprehensive training for the Al Hilal test team members. The real value of TestManager™ is that it is optimised for T24 ‘out-of-the box’ and offers very powerful test design and execution of an unlimited number of ‘end-to-end’ business process oriented test scenarios. We were delighted that our team was able to start building our bespoke test pack and executing these tests within hours of the software being installed and our team trained. For us the ROI was very short and the performance gains for our team were immediate.
“The TestManager™ solution and training has enabled us to:
- Implement and benefit from the very latest banking functionality released from Temenos through us being able to confidently implement, test and release the vendor’s frequent service packs
- Ensure that we minimise the cost and effort associated with testing the regular major system software upgrades from Temenos
- Minimise the cost to Al Hilal of T24 Maintenance by remaining within the manufacturer’s standard warranty terms at all times
“With testing traditionally representing between 40% and 65% of project effort (for new implementations and upgrades respectively) the business justification to support the relatively small investment in TestManager™ was a simple and logical one. We fully expect to achieve cost savings of 50% overall and we are confident that we have already exceeded the planned ROI from the current use of TestManager™. We remain committed to expanding the test coverage of our regression test pack which enables us to constantly improve our time-to-market, system quality and TCO with every subsequent release cycle we undertake.”
Andrew Ruffell, CEO of The Core Banking Group, said, “We are delighted and indeed honoured to have one of the most innovative banks in the Middle East using our QA solutions. Mr. Saif & Al Hilal Bank’s team have demonstrated how test automation can deliver significant cost savings, time-to-market advantages and quality improvements when a bank is delivering, supporting and maintaining its Temenos T24 application. Al Hilal now has the ability to control the test and release of innovative new banking products and services using T24 as well as responding to regulatory changes and the annual software releases from Temenos whilst maintaining a firm grip on the bank’s TCO.”