The SQS Group

The SQS Group, (SQS) is the largest independent provider of software testing and quality management services. This position and its expertise stem from more than 27 years of successful consultancy operation. The company’s main competitive advantage is its strong methodology, based on decades of project experience. Over this period of time, the company has also developed extensive specialist knowledge in many vertical markets. With more than 5,000 successfully completed projects under its belt, SQS has a strong customer base, including half of the DAX 30 companies, almost one third of the STOXX-50 companies and 36 FTSE-100-companies. Among the clients, there are names like Allianz, Beazley, BP, Centrica, Commerzbank, Daimler, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Post, Generali, JP Morgan, Meteor, Reuters and Volkswagen.

Founded in Cologne, Germany, in 1982, SQS has around 1,640 employees worldwide. SQS has a strong presence in Germany and the UK and offices in Austria, Egypt, Finland, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Furthermore, SQS has a minor stake in an operation in Portugal and a partnership operation in Spain. In 2008, the group achieved revenues of € 143 million. SQS is listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) and has a second listing on the Open Market on Deutsche Börse, Frankfurt.

In the UK, SQS is the leading independent provider of System & Software Testing and Quality Management services, using proven methods to make a quantifiable difference to any project and offer customers a 'best in class' service. The UK Consultancy Service provides tailor made strategies that include planning, time scale estimates, resource planning, specifications, options for tool implementation and training and staffing requirements. SQS project teams take full responsibility for the implementation and success of testing projects using these planned strategies. An objective and independent viewpoint enables selection of the most effective test processes, tools, technologies and utilities to be deployed.

SQS Training is the education division of SQS Group and is an important facet of SQS´ activities. SQS is the world’s first training provider accredited to deliver training for the ISEB Practitioner Certificate in Test Analysis and offers the full range of ISEB and ISTQB software testing training, HP tools training and a wide range of practical and specialist courses for test analysts, test leads and test managers. Without the right practical and specific training, an organisation will not be able to realise the full potential of any internal testing program. All SQS instructors are TAP certified and SQS is a member of the Institute of IT Training.

SQS services and products

Initially, customers approached SQS when problems occurred in key IT solutions– particularly if the applications were developed or bought in from independent software vendors and developers. The quality of the critical applications was then checked by SQS, operating as a totally independent third party, to ensure they met the requirements and standards. It quickly became clear that the motto of ‘prevention is better than cure’ makes business sense. For this reason, SQS offers consultancy services to clients, covering the whole life cycle of the software. This allows SQS’ customers to monitor their development processes constantly, guaranteeing that the systems meet quality and budget requirements.

The SQS portfolio is completed by managed services for long-term outsourcing/offshoring/homeshoring of software testing, by tool solutions, as well as by high-tech engineering in the fields of test systems and embedded systems. SQS consultants have proven skills in a wide range of areas like test management, test environment analysis, testing strategies, Agile development methods, Internet and Web testing, test asset management, health checks, performance and load testing and tuning, automation and in consultancy services. By raising the quality of IT, SQS increases the additional value IT contributes to the value chain of a business unit or the company. Assuming the role of quality manager, SQS provides an independent and unbiased view on current test processes and recommends the tools, technologies and utilities best suited to achieve the business aims.

SQS applies a highly pragmatic approach to business testing by first testing the business critical parts of an application, thus ensuring that possible defects in these parts are ruled out at the beginning. This enables clients to deploy their solutions quickly, a vital part of time-to-market strategy. The SQS strategy of adding value is a deep understanding of the actual business case for testing and the provision of metrics to prove effectiveness and return on investment.

Another important facet of SQS´ activities is its training business, in particular its courses on ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualification Board) and ISEB (Information Systems Examination Board) and its IT conferences. The annual “Software and Systems Quality Conferences” are among the leading software testing and quality management conferences held in Germany, Ireland, the UK and Switzerland.

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