Archive for the ‘TestExpo’ Category

We’re one week away from TestExpo, the UK’s premier software testing event. As we get closer to the event, the TestExpo blog is going to be spotlighting the presentations led by our sponsors and exhibitors. There’s an exciting amount of information that will be shared and we couldn’t be happier to welcome those who will participate.

Coverity is a leader in software integrity, trusted by companies around the world to prevent software problems, failures and security breaches. Its software integrity products provide software developers the capability to detect and pinpoint possible defects that could have disastrous effects. Coverity’s award-winning Integrity Control, Static Analysis, Dynamic Analysis, Architecture Analysis and Build Analysis provide companies with reliable, trustworthy software integrity to ensure applications run securely and accurately.

We’re pleased to have Alan Perkins, EMEA Technical Director, Coverity & Lorenzo Moneta, and Senior Physicist at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), present on how CERN works with Coverity to ensure the integrity of its Hadron Collider Software in their TestExpo presentation “A New Dimension in Software Quality” on 22 September 2011.

More information about presentations will be detailed on our site, along with information on how to attend. We look forward to seeing you on 22 September 

TestExpo is an event for software testers and QA experts to learn, network and share ideas.  It’s been running for a long time and it’s well known.  But we’ve been analysing attendees in more detail – who attends, from where, and what their job function is, and we’ve found some interesting findings.

First, some great news on overall numbers.  TestExpo attendance has seen an average growth of ten percent year on year. More people means more ideas, more participation, and more inspiration.  The bulk of attendees are software testers and QA professionals, our target audience, so this is also good news.

But TestExpo is also a progressive event that brings together key members of the QA and testing industry.  It’s known – and frequently discussed in TestExpo circles – that there can be a communication gap between business management and testing teams, so we think it’s important that management and executives take interest and ask realistic questions about the role, timing and budgets for software testing and QA processes.



So it’s further good news that we have seen a shift in attendees over the last twelve months with an increase in C-level and QA and software testing managers.  We think this demonstrates two things: that the news and information coming out of TestExpo resonates with all levels of the testing community; and that management knows it needs to attend events such as TestExpo to hear about, discuss, and ask business-relevant specifics about software testing.

Organisations that embrace innovative techniques and cutting edge testing processes will quickly find themselves leading the pack in developing and delivering high-quality products. Software testers and quality assurance professionals understand the value and necessity of staying at the front of new trends, and there is no better way to stay at the front of innovation than leveraging the expertise of testers in the marketplace.

This autumn we hope to see even an even better turnout from those across all levels of our industry. With the growing level of executives and managers joining software testing and QA professionals, there’s a world of information to be gathered at TestExpo.

If you haven’t registered, do so now and for free at our website. Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@TestExpoUK or #TestExpo). We look forward to seeing you on 22 September at TestExpo!

Every TestExpo event has a different theme. During our spring event, we looked at what innovation is and where to look for it in the testing industry. The autumn event: ‘A world of difference: testing tomorrow’s applications’, will focus on the testing tools and applications of tomorrow. We’re looking forward to getting a glimpse of applications and methods our industry will use in the future, and reflecting on geographical differences in approaches.

While our themes may change, there’s always one constant of the TestExpo event: we work with the best and most respected companies in the testing industry. These companies join us and contribute as sponsors and exhibitors, and it’s these organisations that are the driving force behind each event. This year’s TestExpo, which will be held on 22 September 2011 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, will be no different. Once again, the show has the support of a impressive group of sponsors and exhibitors.

As we announce our initial contributors we already have Green Hat and Original Software, two of the world’s leading automated software testing firms, participating once again as sponsors. Joining them is first time sponsor iTrinegy, an expert in networked application performance. Microsoft, the worldwide leader software, services and solutions (you might have heard of them) will also be a key sponsor.

Other companies sponsoring and exhibiting at the event include; Epicentre, an expert in software testing and consultancy; and Seapine Software, a global application lifecycle management (ALM) solutions provider. The British Computing Society, the Chartered Institute for IT, is also returning as an exhibitor.

We’re pleased to have so many knowledgeable sponsors supporting TestExpo and look forward to welcoming other sponsors and exhibitors as we ramp up to this autumn’s event We hope to see you there! Registration is free and you can sign up at our website, www.testexpo.co.uk. For all other inquiries – including details on exhibitor and sponsorship packages, please email Harreet Khara at harreet.khara@sogeti.com.

TestExpo Spring 2011: ‘Automate and innovate – the road to cost-cutting’ which took place in London was a tremendous success. More than 220 software testers and QA professionals attended, participated – and gave some great feedback.

The feedback is important to us – here at the TestExpo organisating committee we’re dedicated to ensuring that each event is the very best we can deliver.  This year in our feedback questionnaires we scored high marks with glowing feedback on the relevance of topics presented, the quality and content of the presentations delivered, the engagement and level of discussion and the information shared by exhibitors, on-site demonstrations and attending experts.  It’s important to us that we get each event just right – we understand that software testers, development team managers and QA professionals are incredibly busy people so we must deliver high-content and high-value in return for their time and attendance.

We also had great feedback from attendees on the location, London’s Queen Elizabeth II Convention Centre – which not only has a great location but has world-class facilities.

Finally, at the this spring event we tried a new formula with the launch of the ‘Innovation Panel’.  This was the closing keynote in the form of a panel discussion led by Sogeti’s Richard Terry. Richard was joined by key TestExpo contributors including Neil Williams from IBM, Richard Irwin from Microsoft, HP’s Ed Hill, Colin Armitage from Original Software and Sogeti’s own Barry Weston.  The panel was lively, informative, engaging and I think it fostered the sense of collective discussion that represents TestExpo.  You can listen to the panel here, though shortly we’ll also be publishing a report based on the panel and some of its discussion points – watch this space.

Finally we want to thank everyone who made the show successful – all of our sponsors, exhibitors, presenters, and the attendees.  This collection of knowledgeable, inspired and professional individuals is the backbone to our show and our industry, and neither would be what it is without them.

Soon we’ll be announcing the location and date for the next TestExpo – so be sure to be on the lookout and ready to add that date to your diary.

If you missed the panel discussion about innovation in software testing, you can listen to the recording using the player below or download the podcast version for offline listening (15MB, 35 mins playing time).

TestExpo is just one week away! The UK’s premier software testing event is shaping up to be an excellent event once again with our programme of speakers and exhibitors which now includes Reflective Solutions. Our theme for the spring is ‘Automate & Innovate – the Road to Cost-Cutting’ and together with other companies such as Shunra, IBM and SQS, Reflective Solutions is joining an already impressive line-up of exhibitors.

Along with many excellent networking opportunities and product demonstrations, TestExpo will be strengthened by presentations from those deeply involved in QA testing as well. Among others, Quotium’s UK manager Adam Brown will be discussing security for testers, while Microsoft’s ALM specialist Richard Elwin will share ways to improve the relationship between testers and developers.

The location for TestExpo on Wednesday 23 March is almost as engaging and exciting as the event programme itself. London is no stranger to innovations during its distinct rich history:

- Back in 1926 Parliament Square became Britain’s first roundabout

- The iconic Hackney Carriage (black cabs), which used to be drawn by horses, are still *technically* required to carry fuel for horses. Specifically, a bunch of hay

- Corante, the world’s fist English-language newspaper, was first published in London in 1621

- London is home to the first shopping mall, the arcade in Piccadilly Sq. built in 1819

- Edward the Confessor built Westminster Abbey in the 11th century. He was the first monarch to be buried there in 1066. Later that year William the Conqueror was the first monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey. Since then every British king and reigning queen – a total of 38 – has been crowned there. And of course, on 29 April it will host the wedding celebrations for Prince William and Kate Middleton.

History such as this that has shaped the London makes the city a great backdrop for TestExpo as it continues to innovate and inspire the testing community.

See you in London.

One of the joys of having so many of the UK’s most prominent testing minds in one place during TestExpo, is being able to rapidly share ideas that move our industry forwards. Another benefit is that we get to hear exactly how everyone across the testing landscape feels about the shared issues that we have our own experiences with. At the recent TestExpo Winter we conducted a survey asking attendees what the biggest stress points were in their jobs. Not surprisingly the stress of deadlines, budgets and testing requirements were at the forefront.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents said that deadlines were their biggest concern – not surprising when you consider that events delegates are working on, such as the Olympics, require both a great deal of focus and a very hard deadline. We also learnt that the same proportion of people believed that budget pressures and a lack of standardised processes caused stress in their workplace.

The reason we are bringing up these concerns is that the theme of the TestExpo Spring event ‘Automate & Innovate – the Road to Cost-Cutting’ has been chosen to highlight and alleviate any risks of mistakes being made by overworked, tired testing professionals. It’s clear that to get the best results possible, companies need to put further methods in place to relieve stress on their employees, with almost all (96%) of respondents revealing that their organisations continue to use manual testing processes.

There’s already an exciting schedule of educational speeches and interactive discussions planned for TestExpo Spring, and with two weeks to go before the big event, there’s still time to sign up. Click here to attend the UK’s premier software testing event for free!