Client Overview

The client has launched a transformation programme to strengthen the partnership between the police force and the public it serves to reduce crime and improve standards. More public trust in a reliable and responsive police force will improve collaboration, strengthening the police’s efforts to reduce crime.

By evolving into the world’s first digital law enforcement agency, the police force can provide a reliable and responsive service to the public. This transformation programme will enable the agency to operate in a flexible, modern way, enhancing crime-fighting capabilities through more deployable police time, improved efficiency, and reduced costs.

Problem statement

The client undertook extensive in-house performance testing as part of its project rollout but lacked the expertise to validate its findings. With 35,000 users across the organisation, the potential consequences of poor software performance were dire: Technical downtime and slow performance can be the difference between life and death. The officers and the public need to be confident that the solution is robust, resilient, and secure, and failure to demonstrate performance could hinder the adoption of the new system. There was an urgent need for independent verification to ensure the system could perform seamlessly under real-world conditions.

Solution

Inspired Testing stepped in as a trusted partner to provide comprehensive performance testing services. Inspired Testing has a proven approach to performance testing which delivers the best value and a high level of programme satisfaction, and manages the risk of delivery of the application most effectively.

• Assessment of Non-Functional Requirements: We meticulously evaluated the performance requirements of the application, laying the groundwork for precise performance testing.
• Environment Setup and Guidance: Our experts assisted in building robust performance testing environments, ensuring accuracy and reliability in our evaluations.
• Best Practice Guidance: We provided invaluable insights into performance testing best practices, empowering stakeholders with the knowledge to optimise system performance.
• Governance and Assurance: With a focus on quality assurance, we established governance frameworks to maintain rigorous standards throughout the testing process.
• Supplier Performance Assurance: We scrutinised the client’s performance testing approach and results, offering independent validation to instil confidence across the project stakeholders.
• Comprehensive Test Scripting: Leveraging advanced tools such as Neoload, we developed a suite of performance test scripts tailored to validate every aspect of the application’s functionality.
• Execution and Analysis: Our team executed rigorous performance test scenarios, meticulously analysing results to identify any potential performance bottlenecks or areas for improvement. This included the following:
  • Peak tests: The suite of performance scripts was executed at 100% of the target load. The total number of simulated concurrent users was 10000.
  • Stress tests. The same suite of performance tests was executed at 150% of the target load to demonstrate that there is sufficient headroom left to accommodate an increase in user numbers over the next 10 years.
  • Soak tests: The same suite of performance tests was run for 24 hours.
  • Data extraction: A very large number of records with specific data combinations was created in order to exercise the multiple data extraction routines.
• Reporting and Insights: We delivered detailed performance testing reports, offering actionable insights and recommendations to optimise system performance and mitigate risks.

The client already used Tricentis NeoLoad as its Performance Testing Tool of choice, and as the only UK-based NeoLoad premier partner, Inspired Testing was very well suited to assist with the additional resourcing and training skills needed.

What did we achieve?

The close collaboration between Inspired Testing and the stakeholders resulted in a detailed design and architecture of NeoLoad scripts. Business processes were translated into performance test scripts which mimic what an end-user would do when interacting with the application without the need to go through a browser. This enabled the reliable simulation of multiple end users in the application.

Individual scripts were grouped into a population or test pack. Virtual users were assigned to each script to match the client-supplied volumetrics.

Inspired Testing validated the application’s performance under load by mimicking real-world conditions.

Each performance test script had its own ramp-up profile configured, with all virtual users logged in after 15 minutes.

To test the application performance and demonstrate scalability, the test pack was run at increasing intervals of the target load. Starting at 25% and ending at 150% of the target load, all transactions-per-hour targets were met and exceeded.

In addition to this requirement, a test was run against Production to validate that 3,000 unique users could log into the application and perform tasks like searching for custody records, viewing the work tray, and messages.

Average page response times across the test duration were proven to demonstrate a stable and responsive application. Results were analysed and observations and defects were communicated to the client.

The test pack was executed again after each new release and compared to the previous benchmark of results to ensure that no regressions were introduced.

Benefit to the client

The independent verification of the application performance mitigated the risk the client faced if it did not perform seamlessly under real-world conditions. The client received actionable insights and recommendations to optimise response times and reliability under varying workload conditions.

Through our performance testing and optimisation efforts, the client achieved several benefits:

• Improved operational efficiency: Officers can now log crime events and retrieve information promptly, enhancing their ability to respond effectively to incidents.
• Enhanced public safety: Faster response times contribute to better crime prevention and resolution, ultimately improving community safety.
• Increased productivity: The performant solution allows officers to focus on actual police work rather than troubleshooting.
• Cost savings: By addressing performance issues proactively, the agency avoids potential costs associated with system downtime or inefficiencies.
• Reputation management: Maintaining a high-performing system reflects positively on the agency's reputation and increases public confidence and trust in the client’s work.