At Bright Energy, delivering a reliable and high-quality product to our customers and their end-users is paramount. That's why our CTO, Ingrid Franck, introduced Testing Tuesdays 10 months ago—a dedicated day every other week where our engineering, product, support, and customer teams come together to thoroughly test and refine our product before it goes into production.

How Testing Tuesdays Came to Be

I recently sat down with Ulrika Johansson, our Product Manager, who plays a pivotal role as the facilitator and meticulous planner of each Testing Tuesday, to discuss the story behind this initiative and its impact within our organization. Ulrika explained that the initiative stemmed from a clear need to enhance product quality by intentionally pausing our development flow.

"Testing Tuesdays was introduced to ensure we prioritize quality, even if it means stopping the line. This approach allows our developers to take ownership and gain a deeper understanding of the product. By stepping away from continuous development to rigorously test our code and collaborate on testing each other’s work, we can achieve the quality and confidence required for our releases," Ulrika shared.

A Day of Collaborative Testing

So, what does a typical Testing Tuesday look like? According to Ulrika, it’s a day packed with focused testing, team collaboration, knowledge sharing and constant learning. And let’s not forgot - plenty of fun too!

"Every Tuesday, we start with a morning meeting where I outline the tasks and who will be handling them," Ulrika explained. "We don’t just test our code; we also review issues, plan for upcoming releases, and make sure everything is on track. The day is structured with regular check-ins to ensure we’re all aligned, and we end with a final review to determine if we’re ready for the next release."

The initiative has transformed our approach to testing. Ulrika emphasized, "It's not just about finding bugs; it's about understanding the product better, improving communication within the team, and making the testing process more efficient and enjoyable."

Real-Time Impact and Continuous Improvement

One of the most significant benefits of Testing Tuesdays, Ulrika noted, is the tangible improvement in our product’s quality. "We've seen a reduction in post-release issues, and it’s been a great way to raise the overall knowledge of our product across the team. Developers are more aware of potential pitfalls and are better equipped to address them early on," she said.

Ulrika also highlighted the collaborative spirit that Testing Tuesdays foster. "It’s a unique opportunity for our team members to work closely with others they might not interact with daily. This cross-functional collaboration has not only improved our testing processes but also strengthened our team dynamic."

Looking ahead

Testing Tuesdays have been an essential part of our journey at Bright Energy, helping us address current challenges and maintain high standards of quality. However, as we move towards more advanced strategies like continuous deployment, feature flags, and automated testing, this approach will naturally evolve. "As we progress, Testing Tuesdays may adapt or even give way to new initiatives, always with the goal of supporting our commitment to quality and continuous improvement," Ingrid shared.

Our vision for the future is to shift towards more streamlined, automated methods that not only maintain but elevate our product quality. This ensures that our customers and end-users continue to enjoy the best possible experience.

With this approach, Bright Energy is focused on creating a brighter, more efficient future for our customers—ensuring that every innovation, every release, brings greater reliability, performance, and satisfaction.