27 June 2005
Egg signs groundbreaking 2-year Managed Testing Service contract with Cresta
Cresta will be responsible for all online bank Egg’s Regression and Performance Testing prior to systems and applications transitioning to live using the full automation scope of the Mercury suite of applications.
The contract was won in the face of fierce competition and also against a backdrop of Egg wishing to move to a performance based delivery raising both quality and providing for risk mitigation.
Tim Allen, Change and Execution Director, summarised the key reasons Cresta was selected: “They were innovative and offered a service based delivery – structured around Test Points and using the Cresta TestStrategist software application to provide visibility and predictability.”
This follows the trend predicted by Gartner of selective outsourcing becoming the most popular tool among private sector organisations. Nicole France, principal analyst at Gartner says: ”Customers are trying to get results based contracts where performance is more closely related to business objectives.”
The contract will operate on a “Test Points” structure (TPs), a revolutionary new idea directly based on quality and quantity measures to carry out Regression and Performance testing. Egg will acquire a quantity of TPs from Cresta on a rolling monthly basis and Cresta will guarantee and be accountable to deliver against these Test Points i.e. Egg pay for testing completed rather than paying for people time.
Cresta’s role will be to ensure quality tested systems and applications prior to being released into live production to support Egg’s three million plus banking customers.
Allen added: “It was the professionalism in the Cresta team on site and externally plus their willingness to build with us an innovative results-based pricing structure, coupled with in-depth knowledge of Egg’s systems, which won our confidence.”
David Cotterell, CEO of Cresta Group, added “The Egg deal is the metaphor of what Cresta is now capable of – we’re totally comfortable to commit to a service based delivery in a “currency” which is meaningful to IT and business – Test Points – if we don’t deliver we’re held accountable.”
ENDS (325 words)
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Egg
- Egg plc is the world's largest pure online bank providing banking, insurance, investments and mortgages through its internet site and other distribution channels.
- Egg had a unique audience figure of over 1.1 million for March 2005 according to Nielsen/Netratings UK Audience Measurement Data.
- Egg plc floated on 12 June 2000 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange with Prudential plc holding approximately 78% of the share capital.
About Cresta
Cresta Group Limited (Cresta) is a specialist, independent testing organisation with a world-class track record in testing and test strategies. Through our principal offices in London, Dublin and South Africa, Cresta implements and tests mission-critical systems to minimise risk, cost and time and has delivered these services to organisations such as Deutsche Bank, GlaxoSmithKline and Egg.
Our track record is achieved through the framework of the Structured System Testing Methodology™, which provides the Processes, Tools and Techniques required to effectively manage and execute the complete lifecycle of testing within a project. Our Enterprise Testing Education Centre runs a programme of continuous education to our consultants and clients alike, so that all are kept up-to-date with the latest industry best practice and technologies. We pride ourselves in the quality and calibre of our consultants.
Cresta is proud to be a top-tier partner of Mercury Interactive, the global leader in business technology optimisation (BTO) software solutions. From its establishment in 1996, Cresta is now one of the fastest growing independent testing organisations in the UK and it is the dedication to quality and delivery that has underpinned this success.
For more information about Cresta Group please visit http://www.cresta.net
Press Contact:
Steve Bray (tel: 01235 443686)
(email:
)

