Everything You Should Know about Test Center of Excellence (TCoE)

Software testing is a mandatory stage of the development process ensuring high quality of future programs and applications. However, checking digital products can be time-consuming and tedious. Most tester teams are overwhelmed with tasks and don’t have enough time to innovate approaches or find better solutions. As a result, testing takes longer and doesn’t implement advanced technologies that could potentially improve process efficiency and optimize resources.

The solution may be to create a Test Center of Excellence (TCoE). What it is and what its main advantages are you will learn below.

What Does TCoE Mean?

A Test Center of Excellence or TCoE is a centralized approach to quality assurance in a company that involves structuring and centralizing work processes to achieve testing excellence. In other words, it is a centralized unit of the organization that focuses on managing the testing process and promotes better collaboration between teams and continuous improvement.

Its ultimate goal is to move from fragmented test efforts to a single management center. It consists of test professionals, tools, metrics, key indicators, and infrastructure that supports the entire organization. 

What Are the Advantages of the Approach?

TCoE is a well-known practice used in several software testing agencies. It has many benefits that have a positive impact on the testing and product development process in the company. Here are some of the main advantages that creating a TCoE involves.

Increases the Efficiency of Test Teams and Workflows

Thanks to the set of standards developed by TCoE, testers have access to the best tools, techniques, and practices that allow them to complete tasks better and faster. They have documentation templates they can follow to avoid common mistakes and work more efficiently.

Reduces Costs

Finding the best tools and approaches to testing often requires not only time but also investment. The Test Center of Excellence finds the best solutions that simultaneously save the budget and increase the testing productivity in the long run.

Promotes an Innovative Approach

TCoE researches trends and identifies a list of components that will help an organization work efficiently and remain competitive. In addition, it hires, adapts, and trains testers to help build a professional team quickly and reliably.

Accelerates Software Testing Time

Standardized paperwork, automation tools, and a defined set of metrics are key to faster test execution. Testers don’t waste time searching for optimal solutions, so they can focus exclusively on their main tasks.

Reduces the Risk of Defects

TCoE specialists thoroughly research the approaches and tools to be used and provide comprehensive recommendations for each case. Together, they help reduce the risk of missing bugs and contribute to the release of high-quality software.

Helps to Optimize Resource Utilization

An in-depth analysis of the appropriate resources not only reduces costs but also allows testers to use the available tools in a thoughtful and economical manner.

Helps Achieve Both Testing and Organization Goals

TCoE establishes a clear governance model and reporting structure that helps to achieve not only the mandatory requirements of the project but also the goals of the organization as a whole. It contributes to business growth and profitability.

What to Pay Attention to?

While creating a Test Center of Excellence has many benefits, implementing it requires a well-thought-out decision. To take advantage of TCoE, consider the following:

1. Agree on the process with the organization’s leadership. If your manager has doubts, implement the approach gradually to determine whether it is appropriate or not.
2. Avoid developing a bureaucracy. The final decision on a case or project should not rest entirely on the TCoE. 
3. Do not limit the search for better solutions within teams. Give testers a little freedom to encourage them to invest in choosing the best tools and approaches.

Whether implementing TCoE is right for your workflow depends on many factors. Analyze them beforehand to understand that it is the best choice for you.

Primary Steps to Take

If you decide to create a TCoE in your organization, act as follows:

1. Identify the needs and priorities of your organization.
2. Form a team consisting of a steering committee and specialists.
3. Define workflows and ways of interaction between teams.
4. Create a repository of tools and metrics.
5. Inform the organization’s representatives about the innovations.

In an era when thorough software testing has a great impact on the release of a reliable and high-quality product, the Test Center of Excellence plays an important role. It centralizes and standardizes workflows, investing in improving processes and results.