Uganda Driving License System
Adapting to the unexpected: successfully conducting a Factory Acceptance Test remotely.
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged established ways of working and required teams worldwide to adapt almost overnight. For us, it reinforced the importance of flexibility, creative thinking and finding effective solutions when circumstances change.
The pandemic began just as our team was preparing the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the Uganda Driver Licensing System (UDLS). Rather than postponing the process, our team found a way to overcome the challenges and successfully conduct the entire FAT remotely.
Factory Acceptance Testing is a formal procedure during which software is tested in the presence of the client to confirm that it performs according to the agreed requirements. It provides an opportunity to verify that the developed solution meets the client's expectations and to identify any minor adjustments needed before the final pre-production testing phase.
Under normal circumstances, FAT is conducted with the client in a dedicated test environment to confirm that the system is ready to progress towards production. However, the restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic made traditional on-site testing impossible, requiring a different approach.
What did it look like?
Our team developed an approach that allowed the entire FAT to be conducted remotely from Belgrade.
Through screen sharing, the client could follow every action performed within the system. At the same time, video coverage allowed the client to observe the system operator and the peripheral equipment used throughout the driver's licence issuance process.
This approach enabled the client to follow the testing procedure in detail, creating an experience as close as possible to being physically present.
The main challenges were organizational rather than technical. One week before the FAT, our team carried out a complete rehearsal to ensure that the software and all accompanying equipment were functioning correctly.
The equipment included a Canon camera, signature pad, ten-fingerprint scanner, two-fingerprint scanner, paper scanner, paper printer, receipt slip printer and barcode scanner.
The successful completion of FAT represented an important step towards Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), the final formal testing phase before the software enters production.
The results were particularly encouraging, as no major changes were requested. This meant that the team could proceed towards the next phase without making fundamental modifications to the solution.
Double the Success
Successfully conducting FAT remotely, while maintaining the required quality and thoroughness of the testing process, was an important achievement for our team.
The experience demonstrated our ability to adapt quickly, overcome unexpected obstacles and maintain project progress under challenging circumstances.
In addition to conducting the FAT remotely, the official FAT document was also signed remotely.
This was another significant achievement for the project and a valuable example of how flexibility, teamwork and creative problem-solving can help overcome unexpected challenges.
