How Dechert “reinvests testing time into innovation” with Kainos Smart Test
“We’ve saved hundreds of hours that used to be spent on manual testing. Now, we’re able to reinvest that time into collaboration and innovation.”
About Dechert
Headquartered in Philadelphia, USA, Dechert LLP is a multinational law firm working with almost 50% of the Fortune 100 companies. With over 20 global locations and more than 2,000 employees, Dechert excels in corporate law, litigation, financial services, and private equity.
A global legal powerhouse
Operating across diverse jurisdictions, Dechert turned to Workday to unify its HR operations in 2016. Since then, the organisation has scaled and moved into new geographies while investing in continued Workday growth. However, during these periods of change, focusing on Workday’s biannual updates posed challenges for Dechert’s lean Workday team of three. Testing required meticulous regression checks to ensure smooth continuity across Payroll, Benefits, Onboarding, and other modules.
Ernie Atella, Senior HRIS Manager, explains: “We were reactive and would have spent all of our full-time hours during the Preview Window just testing the ‘What's New Automatically Available’. We would have been totally focused on the items that we needed to address to ensure that our Workday configuration remained functional.”
Ernie continued, “The volume of work for five weeks twice a year was immense. Even with SMEs assisting, we spent full-time hours manually checking everything. Without baseline comparisons, every module had to be reviewed piece by piece.”
Optimising testing through automation
Recognising the inefficiencies of manual testing, Dechert partnered with Kainos Smart Test to automate the process in 2018, overhauling how the organisation navigated Workday’s exciting releases. “Once we got with Kainos, we appreciated how comparison testing saved so much time,” Ernie shared. “It highlights configuration issues early, allowing us to focus on critical areas like security and reporting.”
The tool’s automation allowed Dechert to test and refresh tenants efficiently during Preview Windows, reducing disruptions and providing greater control over updates. “If we didn't have Kainos, we could never get through it all – we’d spend almost all of our full-time jobs just making sure that we were going to be OK with go-live. As it stands now, we only spend a fraction of our time doing that.”
Unlocking growth through automation
Automation didn’t just make the process easier; it also created opportunities for forward-thinking improvements. Instead of being consumed by manual tasks, the HRIS team could prioritise strategic enhancements. Reflecting on the impact of automation, Ernie noted: “We’ve saved hundreds of hours that used to be spent on manual testing. Now, we’re able to reinvest that time into collaboration and innovation.”
With Kainos Smart Test in place, Dechert is well-prepared to navigate future updates and leverage new features. The HRIS team has shifted from reactive maintenance to proactive planning, enabling the firm to stay ahead in the evolving HR technology landscape. As Ernie concludes. “It’s great to see that automation is helping carve out time for collaboration and forward planning. We’re now able to innovate and enhance our processes, ensuring we deliver the best outcomes for our employees globally.”
Dechert’s journey with Workday and Kainos Smart Test highlights the transformative power of automation. By streamlining update testing, the firm has not only saved time but also offered new opportunities for growth and efficiency, reinforcing its position as a leader in the legal industry.