How Qoala Optimized their Development Pipeline with Middleware

Qoala, a leading innovator in the insurance tech space, is committed to transforming how insurance is delivered. As they grew rapidly, they realized that improving their development processes would be key to staying competitive in a fast-paced market. With their engineering teams stretched thin, they sought a way to reduce inefficiencies, increase product quality, and improve their software delivery speed without compromising on reliability.

The solution?

Middleware.

Also read: Middleware: Open-Source DORA Metrics for a Smoother Engineering Flow

Key Challenges faced by Qoala

In Q1 2024, Qoala’s engineering teams were grappling with several challenges that were hindering their development process:

• High Lead Times: Their lead times were too long, delaying product updates and new features.

• Slow Deployment Frequency: Irregular release cycles made it hard to keep up with the competition.

• Quality Concerns: Code quality was inconsistent, leading to more bugs and a longer time spent on bug fixes.

• Inefficiencies in the Development Pipeline: Developers were spending too much time on fixing issues instead of building new features or innovating.

Strategic Actions Middleware Implemented for Qoala

By leveraging Middleware’s insights from GitHub, Jira, and other tools, Qoala’s engineering leadership was able to make data-driven improvements in key areas of their workflow:

1. Reducing Bug Fixing Time

By tracking developer activity, Middleware highlighted key patterns in bug occurrence, enabling Qoala to target and resolve root causes more effectively. Developers were able to reduce time spent fixing bugs by 24%, freeing up more time for new feature development and innovation.

2. Optimizing Development Process Efficiency

Middleware identified bottlenecks in the deployment pipeline and suggested ways to streamline the process. By reducing the cycle time between development and deployment, Qoala was able to release features 40% more frequently, which significantly improved their agility.

3. Improving Code Review Practices

Middleware provided insights into code review patterns, helping the team identify areas for improvement. By reducing the time spent on code reviews and eliminating "flashy" PRs (pull requests that were rushed through without thorough examination), Qoala enhanced their review process, reducing review time by 32%.

4. Faster Recovery from Incidents

Middleware’s monitoring tools helped Qoala identify and address bottlenecks in their incident management process, reducing their mean time to recovery (MTTR) by 90%. This drastic improvement meant that when issues arose, they were able to resolve them quickly, keeping the system stable and minimizing downtime.

Results Qoala Achieved in 2024 After Using Middleware

The strategic actions taken using Middleware’s insights paid off quickly. By the end of Q2 2024, Qoala had achieved:

• 24% Reduction in Bug Fixing Time: With fewer bugs to address, the development team could focus on building new features and improving the product.

• 40% Increase in Deployment Frequency: The team was able to deploy more frequently, responding faster to market needs and customer feedback.

• 32% Decrease in Flashy PRs: Code reviews became more thorough, leading to fewer issues in production and better overall code quality.

• 90% Reduction in MTTR: When incidents did occur, Qoala was able to recover from them 90% faster, resulting in less downtime and a better user experience.

Before Middleware

• Long lead times delayed product updates and innovation.

• Inconsistent deployment frequency made it difficult to stay agile.

• High levels of bug fixing took time away from strategic development.

• Code reviews were inefficient, leading to rushed approvals and more bugs in production.

After Middleware

• Faster Lead Times: Lead times were reduced by over 50%, enabling quicker releases.

• More Frequent Deployments: Deployment frequency increased by 40%, leading to a more agile development cycle.

• Better Code Quality: Fewer bugs in production thanks to refined code reviews and thoughtful testing.

• Faster Incident Recovery: MTTR was reduced by 90%, ensuring better system stability.

Business Impact

• Improved Customer Satisfaction: Faster releases and a more stable product led to improved customer experiences and higher satisfaction.

• Increased Productivity: With fewer bugs to fix, the team could focus more on new features and improvements, driving greater productivity.

• Cost Savings: Fewer production issues led to reduced operational costs and better resource utilization.

Analysis

Engineering Problem Qoala faced

In Q1 2024, Qoala’s engineering team faced long lead times, inefficient deployments, and a high focus on bug fixes, preventing them from moving quickly in the market. Their code review process also contributed to delays, and incidents took too long to resolve.

Questions to Address

• How can we reduce lead time and increase deployment frequency without sacrificing quality?

• How can we improve the code review process to minimize errors in production?

• What steps can we take to reduce the time spent fixing bugs and addressing incidents?

The Middleware Solution

By integrating Middleware’s insights, Qoala’s leadership team implemented several key changes:

• Optimizing Lead Time: Middleware’s data helped them streamline the development pipeline, reducing lead time by more than 50%.

• Increasing Deployment Frequency: By identifying bottlenecks in their deployment process, they boosted deployment frequency by 40%.

• Improving Code Quality: Middleware’s insights into code reviews led to a 32% reduction in flashy PRs, improving code quality.

• Enhancing Incident Response: By refining their incident management process, Qoala decreased MTTR by 90%, ensuring faster recovery from issues.

Productivity Insights and Learnings

For other companies facing similar challenges, Qoala’s success offers valuable insights:

• Optimize Development Pipelines: Analyzing and optimizing your development pipeline can drastically reduce cycle times and improve overall efficiency.

• Increase Deployment Frequency Without Compromising Quality: By focusing on reducing bottlenecks and improving code quality upfront, it’s possible to release more frequently while maintaining high standards.

• Improve Incident Management: Reducing MTTR is crucial for keeping systems stable and ensuring a better user experience.

• Leverage Data to Drive Decisions: Data-driven insights, like those provided by Middleware, can guide your team to make informed decisions and continuously improve your workflows.

Also read: Optimizing OpenStreetMap’s DevOps Efficiency: A Data-Driven DORA Metrics Analysis

Conclusion

With Middleware’s help, Qoala transformed their development process, significantly reducing lead times, increasing deployment frequency, and improving code quality. The impact was felt across their business, with faster releases, more reliable products, and higher customer satisfaction. Qoala’s success is a perfect example of how data-driven decision-making can optimize development pipelines, increase productivity, and help businesses stay competitive in a fast-paced market.

Are you ready to transform your own development process? If you want to achieve similar results and optimize your workflows, Middleware can help you get there. Book a call with us today and discover how Middleware can streamline your development pipeline.

Let’s make your development process faster, smoother, and more efficient—just like Qoala’s!

You can also check out our Dora Metrics Case Studies for more insights into the efficient software development process.