CASE STUDY
Language Services & Technology Solutions
~7,500 employees, 30+ countries
Total Technology Transformation Budget: £180 million
As part of a global £180m technology transformation, our client initiated multiple high-value programmes, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce CPQ, Client Access Portal, and IP-LXD. Fortitude 17 (F17) was engaged to provide strategic Test Leadership and to embed QA excellence across Salesforce CPQ, the Portal, and IP-LXD.
• Salesforce CPQ: While exceptionally structured and led by a high-calibre Programme Lead, the project required a formalised Test Lead role to consolidate QA standards, drive UAT, and ensure BAU upskilling.
• Portal: Originally outside the Salesforce CPQ scope, Portal was later aligned under the same leadership. It was behind schedule, over-budget, and lacked testing rigour. Political friction arose between Technology and C-Suite stakeholders, with competing requirements and no prior QA structure in place.
• Delivery context: Lean SI partner involvement and internal political challenges created additional delivery complexity.
• Implemented a rigorous Test Strategy with clear standards, traceability, and execution models.
• Led all testing activities, including: System Integration Testing (SIT), Functional Testing, Regression Testing, UAT planning and execution, and defect triage/reporting.
• Partnered closely with the client’s BAU team, embedding QA knowledge and training for long-term maturity.
• Navigated C-Suite political challenges by aligning both Programme Leads (Salesforce CPQ & Portal) and ensuring executive confidence through structured quality evidence.
• Salesforce CPQ: Delivered an exemplary test phase, reinforcing the programme’s reputation as one of the best-run initiatives within the £180m portfolio.
• Portal: Brought an underperforming project back under control — establishing standards, closing test gaps, and ensuring alignment across leadership stakeholders.
• Cross-team collaboration: Fostered BAU upskilling and left the client with a sustainable test process.
• No QA or Test Team in place at pivotal project stages.
• Limited experience across the delivery team led to poor risk forecasting and workload estimation.
• Absence of structured testing left the project at risk of failure.
• F17 was embedded as Test Lead to establish holistic QA practices.
• Implemented structured planning, risk management, and execution oversight.
• Aligned test practices with other concurrent projects (Dynamics 365, Salesforce CPQ, Portal).
• Supported the client’s BAU Service Desk, ensuring readiness post go-live.
• Project was successfully brought back on track, with QA methods stabilising delivery.
• The team adopted consistent QA practices across all projects (D365, Salesforce CPQ, Portal, and IP-LXD).
• Risks were mitigated, and the project was delivered with renewed confidence from stakeholders.
By embedding F17 leadership across Salesforce CPQ, Portal, and IP-LXD, the client not only salvaged at-risk projects but also achieved sustainable QA maturity within a high-stakes £180m transformation. Political challenges, lean teams, and late QA onboarding were navigated through structured frameworks, executive alignment, and hands-on delivery — leaving the client positioned for long-term success.
At Fortitude 17, we don’t just test systems — we protect investments.