Postman saves Youi more than 35 minutes in testing time while enabling harmonious collaboration

Collaboration across several teams and services while adhering to stringent compliance regulations and governance standards is a priority for Youi. Youi required a platform that enables seamless data transfer between systems using different APIs, such as CRM and email marketing systems. Testing needed to be simplified for multiple APIs. Both data transfer and end-to-end testing were complicated.

The earlier applications used .Net frameworks and web forms, which made testing burdensome, as detailed in our first Youi case study. Initially, API use was minimal, and a direct 32-bit connection to the datastore was used. There was very little documentation, which made onboarding difficult. The legacy systems presented data in a format that was challenging to read and wasn't particularly intuitive.

Automation is critical as Youi scales, so updating software easily, frequently, and quickly was a necessity. Youi also needed to minimize code errors for these new releases, as they also impact data store features. Improving both data and code quality was a priority. This meant testing, and in particular integration testing, needed to be more time efficient. Previously, QA testing would take up to forty minutes using a browser-based solution.

By protecting data, Youi can avoid data exposure and damage to the company’s reputation. Preventing regulatory breaches eliminates the risk of fines or license revocation and maintains consumer confidence.

Youi's first and favorite choice of API platform is Postman, and its use initially grew organically. Recently, Youi chose Postman's Enterprise plan to increase the security posture and improve API collaboration, discovery and sharing. The various tools available provided a compelling reason to adopt Postman formally. For example, Newman is used in a build pipeline and integrated with Postman.

“Postman is an indispensable part of our software development lifecycle. It's integral to validating software changes as we evolve. Our software developers have greater confidence with changes.”

Evan Newland-Nell, Development Manager, Youi Insurance

Postman provides Youi's various application teams with a secure and effective way of collaborating on APIs in an always-up-to-date environment. Simultaneously, experts in compliance regulations can provide instant feedback to ensure API adherence while the Architecture teams create Open API specifications. With Postman, it takes three or four clicks to import specific and relevant APIs, whereas previously, it took days.

Each application team manages its APIs in separate permission-controlled workspaces. Within these workspaces, developers can create collections for different use cases, such as executable API documentation, API prototypes for new services and much more. This collaborative activity is secured using single sign-on (SSO) and role-based access control (RBAC).

Collections play a fundamental role in the API development pipeline. A designated team manages each application's collections, requests, and monitors. Affixing every team its workspace creates further efficiencies. Workspaces organize the channels of communication between teams. When a team has an ask, they can go to the relevant workspace to make it.

The Shared Services team is a multifunctional team that frequently uses Postman. As detailed in our previous Youi case study, its key responsibilities include testing the Comms team's email templating engine APIs.

The Shared Services team's vision is to support a range of Youi delivery teams. Postman is key to this change, as it is the single source of API truth. Teams can fork collections into their own workspaces and propose changes for the Shared Services team to review and merge.

Automated API testing is a primary use case for QA teams when working with applications, including those for email templates. For example, one application for an email template solution can have up to 4,000 tests and counting. With Postman, it is easy to test changes that have a significant impact. Templates are crucial in providing the basis for customer communication, with messaging being validated through API tests. This is particularly important during regulatory changes when numerous email updates must be made.

“Testing with the Postman API Platform has allowed us to deliver higher quality code and software. Developers enjoy using the platform.”

Pascal Baltes, Software Developer, Youi Insurance

With Postman, the teams can store and maintain test cases and mock data in one place. An extensive repository of test scenarios is now ready to be used. Postman has removed the mental burden associated with ensuring everyone is informed and has the same access to assets and information. The visibility provided by Postman makes collaboration seamless. The most significant time savings were experienced in one of the QA testing suites, which now only takes 2.5 minutes to complete. Previously, it had taken up to forty minutes to finish.

“Postman saves the QA team time and effort. It's an intuitive platform, meaning onboarding new developers is quick and easy.”

Karina Nielson, Software Developer, Youi Insurance

By moving to the Postman Enterprise plan, Youi has clear communication and collaboration between teams. One of the early use cases involved marking integrations between backend and frontend API teams. Postman has now bridged the gap between these two teams.

Youi effectively manages the complexity of policy integration with existing legacy technology using Postman. Simultaneously, the status policy core team's building of new APIs is frictionless

“Postman's transparency makes collaboration seamless, especially when working with compliance and security teams. Collections and workspaces are easy to follow visually.”

Roy Marshall, Lead Quality Assurance Engineer, Youi Insurance

Everyone can use Postman use, as the comprehensive API documentation allows comprehensive rapid onboarding. Non-developers can now run a collection and observe tests autonomously. Data is presented in a readable format.

The Postman UI is easy to use, read and understand. Additional advantages include being able to use Postman instead of having to build a client application for a backend service with an API that has infrequent requests for management functions.

With Postman, Youi can easily make changes to ensure governance standards and compliance regulations are maintained with strengthened security. Postman also facilitates collaboration between teams and the effective organization of APIs.

“Postman is our single source of truth. We are like a relay team handing projects to each other to continuously win at delivering secure, compliant solutions.”

Keyo Jack, QA/Business Specialist, Youi Insurance

One example of expedited processes is QA testing. It now takes only 2.5 minutes in Postman to complete QA testing, whereas previously using a browser-based solution, it took up to forty minutes. The time savings are truly significant.

Postman has enabled a faster time to market as API delivery has been streamlined, while API quality has improved and automation has reduced the margin of error. Using Postman has increased productivity and individual workload capacity.