POS Testing with Robotic Automation

A Case Study

The Client

The client, an innovative tech company based in the US, is a leading provider of POS (Point of Sale) hardware and software solutions. With operations focusing on both the US and UK markets, the client develops POS software as their primary offering while manufacturing their own branded POS hardware. Their comprehensive solutions cater to a wide range of industries, enhancing transaction efficiency and customer experience.

The client required a robust, scalable testing solution to meet the rising demands for quality and reliability across their POS machines, mobile POS systems, and kiosk solutions. SGBI’s RAAS (Robotics as a Service) and TAAS (Testing as a Service) models emerged as the ideal fit, combining automation and manual testing to deliver exceptional results.

Project

POS System Testing Infrastructure

Client

Innovative US-Based POS Tech Company

What We Did

RAAS, TAAS, Robotic Testing Automation, Accessories Integration

The Challenges

Managing and testing a wide array of POS solutions presented several critical challenges for the client.

The combination of hardware dependency, rapid software updates, and the high cost of manual testing created significant bottlenecks in their testing process.

1

Hardware Dependency and Constant Updates

POS software updates required rigorous testing on physical devices, leading to heavy reliance on manual processes. Frequent device updates made automation difficult, resulting in testing delays and inconsistent quality.
2

Labour-Intensive Manual Testing

Manual testing was resource-heavy, costly, and slow. Skilled human testers were difficult to find, and employee turnover led to loss of domain knowledge and testing history.
3

Device Calibration and Performance

POS systems required precise calibration to ensure smooth performance during high-usage periods. Testing transaction security, speed, and hardware-software interaction was critical but challenging to perform consistently.
4

Scalability Issues

As the client expanded, scaling the testing process without adding significant costs became an obstacle. Manual testing limited their ability to conduct large-scale tests across multiple devices and locations.
5

Transaction Security

Ensuring transaction security across POS machines, kiosks, and mobile POS devices was paramount. Manual testing often overlooks subtle security vulnerabilities, posing risks to end users.
6

Operational Costs

Maintaining a team of human testers was expensive, and the need for round-the-clock testing added to the financial burden. Testing throughput was limited, slowing the release cycle of POS solutions.

Fully Automated Robotic Solution Designed to Mimic Human Interactions

The Solution

SGBI delivered a comprehensive robotic automation solution, empowering the client to enhance testing efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

Quaco Studio AI

AI-Based Test Automation Suite: Facilitated automated test case generation and execution using machine learning to optimize coverage and efficiency.
Integration: Seamlessly integrated with the client’s existing test management system for real-time analytics and reporting.
RAAS (Robotics as a Service): Allowed the client to deploy robotic automation without upfront capital investment.
TAAS (Testing as a Service): Combined automation with manual oversight for a flexible & effective solution.

Quaco Robots – Quaco Pro D

Real Device Testing: Robots interacted directly with physical POS devices, mimicking human interactions such as button presses, card swipes, and receipt printing.

Advanced Vision Systems: Utilized computer vision to recognize POS interfaces and perform accurate, consistent tests across device types.

Scalable Operations: Multiple robots tested devices concurrently, accelerating the overall process.

Accessories

  • Contact Chip Card Multiplexer – QMUX-C
  • Contactless Chip Card Multiplexer (NFC) – QMUX-N
  • Card Swiping Action Accessory – QSWIPE
  • Card Insert Action Accessory – QTAP
  • Barcode & QR Code Multiplexer – QMUX-BQ
  • Receipt Rolling Accessory for OCR Validation – Q-ROLL

The Results

“SGBI’s robotic automation solution transformed the client’s POS testing operations, providing measurable improvements in speed, accuracy, and efficiency.”

90

Reduction in test execution time

100

Test coverage

60

Reduction in operational costs

Substantial increase in test throughput

Elimination of human error

Enhanced Scalability and Adaptability

Operational Excellence

By automating repetitive testing tasks, the client achieved significant operational efficiencies. The reliance on human testers was reduced, enabling 24/7 testing with minimal oversight.

Knowledge Retention and Scalability

Quaco Studio stored test data in the private cloud, preserving knowledge and ensuring consistency even as personnel changed. This allowed the client to scale testing efforts seamlessly without losing critical expertise.

Enhanced Product Quality and Security

The solution ensured thorough, secure testing, reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing the reliability of POS software and hardware.

Through this collaboration, the client not only accelerated their product development lifecycle but also positioned themselves at the forefront of innovation in the POS industry.