When “it works” isn’t enough – How we approach quality
by Vinolia Kolukulapally, Software tester, bdna
“It’s one thing to understand a system technically. It’s another to understand why it matters and who depends on it.”
That’s something I’m constantly reminded of in my role as a software tester at bdna.
We build technology for public safety, forensics and health. The people using it are emergency services, law enforcement and frontline health workers. What we deliver becomes part of real-world operations. The stakes are high. If something doesn’t work as expected, it’s not just inconvenient. It can have real consequences.
That’s why quality, for me, isn’t just a phase in delivery. It’s something I think about from the very beginning.
What it takes to build a mobile app for real-world operations
Over the past year, I’ve been working as part of a team delivering a mobile application for a regulated, mission-critical environment.
From the start, our focus wasn’t just on testing at the end. It was about building quality into every step.
That meant working across different layers together:
- Integration testing to make sure systems connect and behave as expected
- API testing to validate how data flows behind the scenes
- End-to-end testing to reflect how the product is actually used in the field
But functional testing is only part of it.
Performance matters just as much. The application needs to hold up under pressure, because downtime isn’t really an option in these environments. Accessibility also matters, making sure the product can be used by everyone who needs it and meets required standards.
Before anything reaches our clients, it’s already been tested against the kinds of conditions it will face in the real world.
A big part of this is automation. We’ve built a test automation framework into our delivery pipeline, so every change is continuously checked. It doesn’t replace human judgement, but it gives fast feedback and helps us catch issues early.
Why domain understanding changes how you test
One of the things I value most at bdna is working closely with people who have actually been in these environments.
Our subject matter experts come from public safety and forensic backgrounds. They understand the pressure, the workflows, and what’s at stake when something doesn’t go right.
Working alongside them changes how we approach testing.
It’s not just about validating requirements. It’s about thinking through real scenarios. What happens if connectivity drops? What happens in a high-pressure situation? What could be missed when someone is under stress?
It pushes us to ask better questions, design more realistic test cases, and catch edge cases that a purely technical view might miss.
Quality is everyone’s responsibility
Something I’ve learned here is that quality doesn’t sit with one person or one team.
It runs through everything we do, from how requirements are shaped to how solutions are built and released.
My role sits across that space, working with developers, product teams and domain experts to make sure what we deliver is actually fit for purpose.
Because in the environments we work in, quality isn’t just about whether something works.
It’s about whether it works when it matters most. And that focus only makes sense when you see how these systems are actually used in the field.
Want to learn more about mobile access in the field?
The mobile application referenced here is designed for environments where connectivity isn’t guaranteed and evidence needs to be recorded as work happens.
Scenes of crime. Regional operations. Late-night callouts. Records still need to stand up in court.
