SQA2 Case Studies: Entertainment
Overview
An enterprise organization struggling with offshore QA turned to SQA² to fix critical quality and communication issues. With our unique blended model, which included onsite embedded QA Engineers working side-by-side with client teams and a cost-effective SQaaS (Software Quality as a Service) team operating in the same time zone, we delivered enterprise-grade quality at a cost that remained competitive with offshore vendors. Results included replacing a failing automation effort with a client-owned framework that was reliable and easy to maintain, leading to zero bugs in production and eliminating rework caused by post-release bugs; significantly reducing overall development effort and cost. The client ultimately replaced their offshore vendor across multiple projects.
Project Background
The client, a global enterprise with multiple concurrent product initiatives, originally partnered with an offshore QA vendor to reduce costs. However, quality issues were consistent and severe. Bugs regularly made it into production, manual testers lacked technical depth, and there was little to no communication between QA, Engineering, and Product. These gaps posed major risks to velocity, team confidence, and release stability.
What started as a cost-saving measure ended up causing unintended consequences and higher costs. The high volume of production defects led to constant firefighting, increased development rework, delayed releases, and mounting internal frustration. The true cost of poor quality soon outweighed any perceived savings from lower offshore labor rates.
After repeated issues, the client brought in SQA² to take over a critical project that the offshore QA team was failing to support effectively. Our mandate was clear: restore quality, increase confidence, and deliver a reliable, scalable QA process. From day one, we deployed a deeply technical embedded QA team working onsite with engineering, supported by our SQaaS delivery model operating in the same time zone. This enabled a shift-left approach, increased automation, and real-time collaboration with product and development.
Challenges
The offshore QA model presented multiple operational risks. Testers operated in silos, contributed minimal insights, and relied entirely on manual testing. Communication breakdowns led to misunderstandings, missed coverage, and delayed responses. The offshore team lacked context on the product and business goals, resulting in surface-level testing and limited accountability.
Working across different time zones added to the friction. Delays in feedback loops, lack of real-time discussions, and misalignment with sprint cadences slowed progress. These gaps affected engineering velocity, weakened trust in QA, and led to rising costs due to defects being discovered too late.
Solutions: A Blended QA Model Built for Enterprise Success
We deployed SQA²’s blended model: a combination of embedded senior QA Engineers working onsite in the same office as the client’s engineering team, supported by our SQaaS delivery team located in the same time zone. This structure allowed us to offer high-touch QA collaboration without sacrificing cost competitiveness.
Key solutions implemented included:
- QA 2.0 Shift-Left Approach: We integrated QA at the start of the SDLC, reviewing requirements for quality and alignment. This allowed us to prevent defects early rather than detect them late.
- Onsite Embedded QA Engineers: Our team worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the client’s engineering and product teams. This enabled real-time input, deeper domain understanding, and tighter feedback loops—something offshore teams couldn’t provide.
- Same Time Zone SQaaS Support: Unlike offshore resources, our SQaaS delivery team was fully time zone aligned. This allowed for fast handoffs, daily test execution, and seamless support across sprint cycles.
- CI/CD-Driven Automation: We implemented automated testing directly into the CI/CD pipeline, ensuring rapid, consistent defect detection and reducing reliance on manual effort.
- Cost-Effective Resourcing Without Tradeoffs: The SQaaS team focused on manual regression and documentation while the onsite team handled technical automation, strategy, and stakeholder communication. This allowed us to deliver premium service with a blended effective rate that rivaled offshore models.
- Transparent, Consistent Communication: We provided proactive updates, clear reporting, and daily engagement with internal teams—resolving a major gap left by the previous offshore vendor.
Outcomes: Raising Quality Without Raising Costs
SQA²’s blended model produced immediate and measurable improvements in quality, efficiency, and team alignment:
- Onsite QA with the cost efficiency typically associated with offshore teams, without using offshore resources: Our model proved that it’s possible to provide embedded, real-time QA support without exceeding offshore pricing. The client experienced better results without increasing their QA budget.
- Cost savings through defect prevention: By eliminating bugs before they reached development or production, the client was able to reduce costly rework, minimized production issues, and lowered the overall QA burden.
- 100% increase in automated test coverage: Our automation efforts within CI/CD doubled the client’s test coverage, improving release stability and confidence.
- Zero bugs reported in production: Proactive QA planning and execution ensured no defects made it to users, marking a clear shift from the offshore experience.
- On-time release delivery: All planned releases were delivered as scheduled, avoiding the delays and surprises that had previously become common.
- Improved team synergy through physical proximity and aligned hours: Our embedded QA Engineers sat onsite with dev teams while our SQaaS resources worked in the same time zone. This enabled immediate collaboration, faster decisions, and more efficient sprint cycles.
- Fewer bugs found late in development: Shift-left practices enabled early defect detection, reducing last-minute surprises and easing the testing burden late in the SDLC.
- Broader organizational adoption: After seeing improvements firsthand, other teams within the company asked SQA² to replace their offshore QA vendors. Our engagement quickly expanded beyond the original scope.
- Stakeholders brought SQA² to future companies: Several client leaders who moved on to other organizations later re-engaged SQA², reinforcing their confidence in the value and reliability of our QA model.
Lessons Learned and Best Practices
This engagement validated that offshore QA doesn’t have to be the only cost-effective option. Our model proved that you can have premium, embedded QA support that works onsite with your engineers without sacrificing cost control.
Key takeaways:
- Onsite QA doesn’t have to be expensive. Our blended model delivers premium outcomes at offshore-competitive rates.
- Same-time-zone support matters. Real-time collaboration eliminates lag and reduces miscommunication.
- Shift-left saves money. Early defect prevention cuts down on rework, lowers risk, and protects velocity.
Contact Us
Looking to reduce defects, improve release speed, and get onsite QA support without blowing your budget? SQA² delivers real-time, embedded QA services through a blended model that competes with offshore pricing without the offshore tradeoffs.
