Sonae MC faced challenges in quality and consistency due to the complexity of its digital operation and multiple teams. Testing was performed late in the cycle, focused on regression, with little integration into development and low shared responsibility.
Sonae MC, a retail leader in Portugal, faced the complexity of managing dozens of product teams and a digital operation spanning e-commerce, physical stores, and data platforms. The diversity of systems and delivery models made it difficult to maintain consistency and predictability in quality. Testing was concentrated on regression with little integration into the development cycle; QAs acted late, and environments were unstable. Unstandardized acceptance criteria, a lack of quality metrics, and a culture where quality was only a QA responsibility limited accountability across Dev, PM, and other roles.
DBServices conducted an intensive month-long diagnosis with collaborative on-site workshops involving over 30 professionals. Every phase of the development cycle was mapped, identifying practices, tools, roles, and bottlenecks. This analysis resulted in detailed AS IS reports and the joint construction of a unified, cross-functional TO BE vision. The action plan was structured into five fronts: Automation & Quality Engineering, Environments & Test Data, Governance & Technical Chapter, Metrics & Observability, and Product Culture with shared responsibility.
Clear quality criteria were defined and integrated into CI/CD pipelines, and automated suites were restructured. Environments were standardized, and test data received automated refreshes. A cross-functional Quality Chapter was created, strengthening governance and disseminating best practices. Most importantly, a unified vision of quality was consolidated with an evolutionary roadmap and quick wins, promoting alignment across streams and repositioning Sonae MC toward a model of continuous excellence.
