Faberwork improved a fleet management company's geofencing applications.
Client
Our client, a vehicle management firm, needed to enhance its geofencing for security and efficiency reasons.
Challenge
The customer faced rising expenses from the ownership and maintenance of their fleet. The rising cost of cars led to higher insurance fees as well as increased operating and repair costs.
Solution
Geofencing is a natural solution to controlling these costs. With geofencing, the client could use tracking devices to monitor and control assets, allowing users to monitor valuable assets and check their location, activity, and condition whenever needed. All this information would be gathered in one central place and could be accessed instantly, making it easier to manage assets effectively and make informed decisions.
However, not all geofencing applications are equally effective. Our Client’s implementation of geofencing needed to be upgraded in the following ways:
● Accuracy and precision: The client sought more accurate and precise testing for the geofencing feature to ensure a bug-free experience for end-users. However, existing quality assurance (QA) testing methods sometimes hindered accuracy, triggering false alerts or notifications within geofences.
● Time zone gap: Due to time zone differences, coordinating with the Client’s customers was challenging. This led to delays in receiving requirements for testing essential geofencing features.
● Real-time updates: Geofencing systems are needed to handle real-time updates and notifications more efficiently than the current installation. QA testers needed to be able to conduct performance testing to guarantee smooth operations. This needed to occur without significant delays even when multiple vehicles/assets entered or left geofenced areas simultaneously.
● Managing multiple assets: With numerous assets to test, it became crucial to manage all of them to efficiently receive multiple alerts.
HOW GEOFENCE WORKS
● Geofences are defined by specifying geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) on a map.
● The geofence boundary extends outwards from the center point in all directions, forming a circular area.
● Using the X and Y coordinates and the defined radius, a circular boundary is created around the center point on the map.
● The system continuously tracks the location of the asset or vehicle using GPS or other positioning technologies.
It compares the current coordinates of the asset/vehicle within the defined geofence boundary.
● When the asset/vehicle enters or exits the geofence boundary, the system detects this change in location.
Results
Faberwork’s solution focused on QA processes. The diagram below illustrates the flow from analysis to reduction of bugs and time feature releases.
Faberwork also implemented specific changes to address the Client's issues. They included:
● Test Scenario Expansion: Faberwork created various test scenarios for different aspects of geofencing. By thoroughly assessing these scenarios, we provided accurate testing results, evaluating each aspect from both the dealership and customer perspectives.
● Required Meetings: To address time zone challenges, Faberwork organized meetings to gather detailed requirements. We utilized real devices attached to geofence vehicles/assets, enabling comprehensive testing of notifications and alerts in real-world scenarios.
● Implementation of Test Cases: Faberwork incorporated the Client’s requirements into test cases. For instance, in the case of geofencing for loaned vehicles, where missed installments triggered geofences based on historical stops like home and office locations, Faberwork ensured swift vehicle recovery for efficient payment issue resolution.
● End-User Impact Assessment: Faberwork evaluated how geofencing features benefitted end-users and integrated this understanding into the testing procedures. By utilizing real devices from Clients' organizations, Faberwork received instant alerts, facilitating thorough testing and ensuring optimal functionality.
“Upgrading geofencing can yield significant business improvements in increasing efficiency and lowering cost.”
—Divya Bika, Senior Quality Analyst at Faberwork
