In the highly competitive Japanese fintech market, maintaining impeccable application quality is non-negotiable for earning and keeping user trust. However, the associated costs of domestic engineers can be a significant burden on growth and profitability. This case study explores how SHIFT ASIA partnered with one of Japan’s most popular QR payment providers to solve this exact challenge. We demonstrate how our strategic approach to Quality Assurance not only cut their testing costs by a remarkable 50% but also maintained 100% of their strict quality standards, transforming a traditional vendor relationship into a proactive QA management partnership.

About the Client

Our client operates one of Japan’s most widely used QR payment mobile applications, serving millions of users across the fintech landscape. As a major player in Japan’s digital payment ecosystem, they provide seamless mobile payment solutions that require the highest levels of reliability, security, and user experience excellence.

The Challenge

As the client’s platform grew in user base and complexity, so did the operational costs of its quality assurance. The company faced a critical business challenge: how to significantly reduce expenditure on software testing without introducing any risk to the platform’s impeccable quality and reliability.

They needed a partner who could deliver the same rigorous, high standards of a domestic Japanese vendor but at a much more competitive price point, effectively solving the classic business dilemma of balancing cost and Quality.

Key Challenges:

• Rising QA costs threaten project budgets
• Need to maintain rigorous quality standards for financial transactions
• Complex testing processes require specialized expertise
• Pressure to accelerate testing cycles without compromising thoroughness

SHIFT ASIA’s Approach & Solutions

At SHIFT ASIA, we believe in going beyond a simple checklist. We aim to become an integrated QA partner invested in our clients’ long-term success. Our approach was built on three pillars:

• Rapid Learning & Adaptation: Our team quickly mastered the client’s intricate processes and quality standards, demonstrating our ability to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows.
• Proactive Quality Improvement: Beyond executing assigned tasks, we identified opportunities for process enhancement. Our suggestions were not only welcomed but highly appreciated, establishing us as a trusted advisor rather than just a service provider.
• Collaborative Partnership: We maintained open communication channels with the client’s internal team, fostering a collaborative environment that promoted continuous improvement.

Our solution included a suite of essential manual testing services:

• User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Verifying that new features met all business requirements and delivered an intuitive, flawless experience for the end-user.
• Integration Testing: Ensuring seamless communication and data flow between all interconnected system components.
• Regression Testing: Methodically guaranteeing that application updates and new code deployments do not negatively impact existing functionalities.

Our testing methods included ad hoc testing, exploratory testing, and A/B testing to ensure comprehensive coverage across all scenarios.

Results & Impact: Uncompromising Quality at Half the Cost

The partnership delivered immediate, substantial, and measurable results that directly addressed the client’s core challenge.

• 50% Reduction in QA Costs: By transitioning to SHIFT ASIA, the client immediately cut their software testing costs by half compared to their previous domestic vendor.
• 100% Quality Maintained: Our comprehensive processes and deep understanding of the client’s standards ensured there was no drop in quality. We successfully maintained the high bar for performance and reliability expected of a leading financial application.

What began as a cost-optimization initiative evolved into a strategic partnership. The client recognized SHIFT ASIA’s value beyond cost savings, requesting increased involvement in their QA processes. We transitioned from a reactive service provider to a proactive testing manager, taking ownership of the entire QA lifecycle.

Client Testimonial

“We needed to cut costs, but we couldn’t compromise on quality. They were able to conduct testing at a low cost and with the same quality as SHIFT, which was very helpful. As a new vendor, we experienced periods where productivity didn’t improve initially, as we had to adapt to our way of working. However, recently productivity has improved, and we’ve been able to maintain quality, so that’s great.”

Looking Forward

This project is a testament to SHIFT ASIA‘s core value proposition: providing world-class, Japanese-standard quality assurance with the significant cost advantages of a strategic offshore partner. Our ability to quickly adapt, contribute proactively, and deliver measurable financial and operational results transformed a vendor relationship into a strategic partnership.

Our success with this leading QR payment platform demonstrates our capability to handle complex, high-stakes projects while delivering measurable business value. As we continue this partnership, we remain focused on driving continuous improvement and supporting our client’s growth in Japan’s competitive fintech landscape.

Contact us if you are looking to optimize your QA budget without sacrificing quality.