Case Study: Tech Innovations

Summary

Unit test suites are a key part of effective software development and continuous integration, but creating them for legacy code is resource-intensive. Goldman Sachs aimed to efficiently boost legacy code coverage and allow engineering teams to refocus their efforts on the development of innovative, business-critical new features.

Challenge 1

The first significant challenge was the platform’s outdated user interface, which led to a confusing navigation experience. Users frequently reported difficulty in finding products due to a cluttered layout and inconsistent design elements across different pages. This disjointed experience not only frustrated users but also contributed to a high bounce rate. Analysis revealed that users were abandoning their shopping carts at a rate of 70%, primarily because they struggled to locate essential features like the search bar and product filters.

To address this issue, the design team conducted user testing sessions to gather feedback on pain points. These sessions unveiled that users desired a more intuitive interface with streamlined navigation. The findings highlighted the need for clearer categorization of products and a more accessible layout. The team decided to implement a card-based design that would allow users to visualize products better and easily navigate through categories, ultimately aiming to reduce the cart abandonment rate and improve overall user satisfaction.

Challenge 2

As mobile shopping continued to gain traction, XYZ E-commerce Platform struggled with its mobile optimization. The platform was not responsive on smaller screens, leading to a frustrating experience for mobile users. The initial site design did not adapt well to various devices, resulting in elements that were either too small to interact with or misplaced altogether. This challenge was particularly concerning, as mobile users represented over 60% of the site’s traffic, and a poor mobile experience was directly impacting sales.

To tackle this challenge, the team initiated a mobile-first redesign approach. They focused on creating a responsive design that would ensure a seamless experience across all devices. By utilizing frameworks that prioritized mobile usability, the team was able to create larger touch targets, simplified navigation, and optimized loading times. A/B testing was conducted to compare the new mobile design against the old version, which ultimately showed a significant increase in mobile conversion rates and user engagement.

Challenge 3

Despite increasing traffic to the site, XYZ E-commerce Platform struggled with low conversion rates. The existing checkout process was lengthy and complicated, leading to customer frustration and abandoned purchases. Analysis of the checkout funnel revealed that many users were deterred by unexpected shipping costs and a lack of payment options. Furthermore, the absence of trust signals, such as customer reviews and security badges, contributed to users’ hesitance to complete their purchases.

To improve conversion rates, the team simplified the checkout process by reducing the number of steps and providing clearer information about shipping costs upfront. They also introduced multiple payment options to cater to diverse customer preferences. Additionally, trust signals were integrated into the checkout page, including customer testimonials and secure payment icons. These changes were aimed at building customer confidence and encouraging users to complete their purchases. After implementing these strategies, the platform experienced a notable increase in conversion rates, ultimately leading to higher revenue and customer loyalty.

Results

Since starting the legacy modernization program using Diffblue Cover, the engineering teams have increased test coverage for the first batch of applications from 36% to 72% in less than 10% of the time it would take to do manually.*

For some applications, this result was achievable in hours or days rather than years. Higher code coverage has also provided greater confidence in application stability when adding new code, improving the speed at which the engineering teams can deliver business value.