While the UK is still coping with the cost-of-living crisis, businesses are scrambling to save money by turning to technical solutions. The growing use of AI and machine learning has changed the way that we work and highlighted the importance of having the right digital foundations in place.

But one of the biggest challenges for businesses currently investing in technology, is ensuring that their digital transformations projects are being completed on time, and on budget. Resourcing is a huge part of the problem, with firms struggling to recruit the right people to ensure that their digital installations are handled correctly. They may be reluctant to invest in new staff, fearing that the costs of hiring experienced technical experts might outweigh the fiscal benefits of investing in new technologies to drive further efficiencies.

As a result, too many businesses are being blocked from adopting the latest technology quickly, including machine learning and automation tools, because of a lack of expertise, inefficient data management and onboarding issues.

nFocus Testing, an automated software company believe they have uncovered a solution that allows businesses to maximise their resourcing during digital transformation installations, while minimising their budgets.

Two years ago the firm launched an innovative test automation academy for computer science graduates specifically to overcome the ongoing national digital skills shortage. By putting applicants through an intensive twelve-week training programme, nFocus are supporting the grassroots career development of a number of talented and capable junior test automation professionals.

Automated testing frees up time for digital transformation testing teams to work on new areas of functionality, rather than having to continually test and retest the same functionality. This approach not only allows businesses the opportunity to benefit from the improved technology quicker, but it also streamlines operations and prevents projects from overrunning on time and budget.

Ryan James, Managing Director of nFocus Testing, says that the automation academy is a value-added resource for any business concerned about how to manage their upcoming projects or installations.

He says, “As part of our academy, we’re not just training these junior test engineers and reacting to a national skills shortage. We’re actively placing them in job roles where they are directly expediting transformation projects and ensuring that the process is going smoothly. What we’ve discovered over the last two years is that this is solving a problem that many businesses didn’t necessarily realise that they had. They may have known that digital projects were overrunning but couldn’t articulate the reasons why. But with our help, we’re able to provide the trained personnel that they need, while also helping them to save significant money.”

Ryan believes that one of the key benefits of working with dedicated test automation engineers is that it can be a time-limited resource that can be quickly utilised to suit a company’s needs. The junior test engineers can work with internal staff on individual software installations, as well as alongside bigger teams as part of more comprehensive or lengthy transformation projects.

Ryan says, “We’re incredibly proud of the way that we’re helping to train talented test engineers, and the role we’re playing in investing in their futures, whilst giving them access to real-world experience. What we’re doing is unique, because we’re helping businesses to benefit from the qualified personnel that they need, but in a cost-effective way. They don’t need to go through an intensive, or expensive, recruitment process when we can provide them with the trained personnel that they need, when they need it. It’s a tailor-made recruitment solution that is ideal, especially during today’s tricky economic climate.”

“Right now, firms can’t afford for their digital projects to overrun – they need to be benefiting from the return on investment as quickly as possible, and working with our test automation academy is a guaranteed way to do that.”

nFocus Testing specialise in automated testing and quality assurance processes. This is where businesses can use automation tests to check that new software solutions are being developed and installed correctly without any unknown errors or vulnerabilities emerging. Without automating that process, digital teams (perhaps consisting of IT engineers, software engineers, developers, etc.) may inadvertently spend more time testing and re-testing a piece of software functionality, preventing them from moving on to the next stage of the installation.

The firm received the prestigious Services Company of the Year award at the UK IT Awards 2023.

For more information, please visit nfocus.co.uk