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Device Farm: what is it?

Top reasons why people choose to use a certain software is its availability and functionality. Digital applications should work seamlessly on any device or browser that your customer prefers. For example, if a web application can be viewed on Chrome, it needs provide the same experience on Firefox as well.  People will never use an application that won’t work well on their browser or device. That is why, before launching any digital offering, a testing phase is essential for every developer. This is where a device farm comes in.  

 

What is a device farm? 

A device farm (also called a device cloud) is a testing environment that allows a developer to ensure the quality of their software before launching it. Device farms allows the developer to test out the application’s performance on actual devices, while stimulating real-world conditions.  

 

Why use a device farm? 

Testing a software in a device farm allows the application developer to evaluate performance discrepancies across a wide range of devices.  System efficiency can also be reviewed on all platforms that the application developers want to run it on. This way, accuracy is ensured and the application would be error-free.  

There is also no need to manage a slew of devices on your own, nor maintain well-trained teams to run the tests. All you have to do is upload the software to the environment, configure the tests, select the devices, and get the results within minutes.  

Device farms can be used to test not just newly-developed applications but also pre-existing faulty ones. They can check for known issues or try to replicate user errors that allows the application developer to have a clearer understanding of the issues and improve it further. 

 

Some of the biggest Device farms providers are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. These applications can run on older and newer devices, from mobile phones to browsers to virtual devices (simulators and emulators). 

 

Application developers can also do this themselves. However, that would be unprofitable unless you have the volume of applications to warrant the investment. An in-house testing lab consists of at least six components: 

  1. computers (old and new versions),  
  2. multiple mobile devices with different operating systems,  
  3. Storage Area Network (SAN),  
  4. automation,  
  5. networks, and 
  6. people. 

 

Bear in mind that these devices need frequent updates and replacements. All of this together can be VERY expensive. Aside from being costly, creating your own testing lab can lead to compromised data security and infrastructure, putting the business at high risk.  

 

Truly, device farms are becoming significant in the software testing industry. This trend has made application testing faster, more reliable and abundantly accurate. It saves both money and time. Ensuring applications work smoothly and perfectly across many devices allows the application to serve as many customers as possible.  

 

What else can you ask for? Using a device farm is key to success for any quality assurance or application developer.

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Dinusha Herath

Associate Director

Dinusha has over 2 decades of experience in the financial industry with two leading International banks. She started her career with ANZ Grindlays Bank in 1999 and then joined Standard Charted Bank in 2002. Starting her career as a junior officer and having contributed to the banks’ performance in many departments and functions, she rose to Manager Priority Banking Operations and Manager Branch Operations and Services.  

During her tenure, she initiated many risk and efficiency enhancement processes. Recognized as an inspirational leader, she was acknowledged as an efficient and supportive staff member by the staff and customers. Dinusha was recognized as a High Potential Employee for Retail Banking at Standard Chartered in 2020. She brings with her this experience in customer service, governance, and risk management to Visa/Mastercard and branch banking from multinational financial institutions. 

RAAIZ QUADIR

DIRECTOR/GM IT CONNECT

Raaiz brings over 20 years marketing and management experience with 9 years in BPO/IT. He currently heads the IT cluster and the Sri Lanka cell center operations of FBC, providing outsourced services to the Australian and Sri Lankan markets 

Prior to joining Ekta, Raaiz held a number of key positions across multiple business verticals including Airline, Automotive, FMCG, including Head of Marketing & Business Development at Bartleet IT and Account Manager of top-40 U.K. marketing agency, Eclpse Marketing. 

Raaiz headed Adumai (Pvt) Ltd, the first Sri Lankan electronic device manufacturing business (digital taxi meter with a GPS Vehicle Tracking System) from technology development to product design and local manufacturing. 

SIVA SUBRAMANIAM

Co-Founder/CEO FBC Asia Pacific

With more than 35 years of senior management experience in business process outsourcing, Siva offers a truly holistic perspective on the industry. Able to develop start-up strategies and transform cost centres into profitable enterprises, Siva was the General Manager for the Swedish outsourcing firm Transcom Worldwide. Overseeing the Asia Pacific region, U.S., Canada, and the U.K., he grew the business to 14,000+ employees over 9 years. Siva was awarded ‘Best Sales Person’ for the entire Kinnevik Group (parent company of Transcom Worldwide) in 2012.  

Previously, Siva was the Vice President for Customer Experience at AIG Consumer Finance Group in Asia. He also held senior roles with Aspect Software as the Vice President for Business Development & Marketing (Asia Pacific & Middle-East), TeleTech International, a leading global provider of customer management and business process outsourcing solutions, Avaya Global Services Asia Pacific and Deloitte Consulting (Customer Relationship Management Practice).   

In his previous roles, Siva has directed a wide variety of strategic call centre assignments for major companies as Regional Director for American Express Inc., Avis Inc., American Airlines, United Airlines & Pan American World Airways. Avis Australia was a winner of the Australian Quality Award in 1992, the highest accolade any company can win for providing end-to-end Quality Services to customers. 

ISURU SENEVIRATNE

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

A rigorous finance professional with nearly two decades of investment diligence, sustainable business development, and stakeholder engagement, Isuru synthesizes people, process, and technology towards Ekta’s excellence.  

Isuru launched Radiant Value Partners, a New York-based private investment fund, in 2015. In 2013 he co-founded ART Logistics, an innovative transportation logistics business in Sri Lanka.  Previously, he oversaw nearly 40% of over $2 billion in investments at Equinox Partners.  

Isuru has a B.A. (Comp Sci) cum laude from Amherst College, MA and the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting accreditation by Sustainability Accounting Standards Board. He is pursuing graduate study in sustainability and complex systems analysis at Harvard University Extension School. 

KWOK YEN WONG

Chief Financial Officer

MAppFin (Finsia), BEc (Hons) (UQ), F Fin

KY Wong has broad international experience in a diverse range of corporate advisory and financial management roles, including treasury, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, strategic planning, corporate development, and insolvency.  

During his 9-year career at SGX-listed Genting Singapore Limited, he was Assistant Vice President, Treasury, where he also covered corporate finance, in-house M&A, corporate planning, portfolio investments and investor relations. 

He was also involved in corporate financial management and international business development activities in the Asia-Pacific region for Tanjong public limited company, an investment holding company formerly listed on the London and Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchanges. During that 7-year stint, he was based in Manila, New Delhi, and Kuala Lumpur.  

In Australia, he held corporate finance and advisory roles with Tristar Corporate Advisors, Shaw Corporate Finance, and Claymore Capital, conducting equity capital market transactions, M&A, and strategic advisory assignments. He has also worked with KPMG Corporate Recovery and Arthur Andersen Corporate Recovery Services.   

KY holds a Master of Applied Finance and Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (formerly Securities Institute of Australia) and a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Queensland. He is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and also a member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (Singapore). Additionally, he is a member of the University of Queensland School of Economics Advisory Board and the Chair of the University of Queensland’s Alumni Ambassador Council for the School of Business, Economics and Law (Singapore).  

CARMEN CANDAPPA

CORPORATE SECRETARY

Carmen is an admitted member of the Supreme Court of Australia with over 4 years legal experience in Australia. She began her legal career at the Victoria Legal Aid where she was involved in Judicial Review and litigation.

Carmen holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Deakin University in Australia, and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) from Leo Cussen Centre for Law in Australia.

DENIS MCGEE

BOARD MEMBER

Denis has more than 5 decades of global banking, IT, and outsourcing experience. He is well-recognised for his contribution to the technology industry and as a leader and mentor. 

As Chief Administrative Officer of Wells Fargo Enterprise Global Services in Manila, Philippines, he built a team of 4,000+ resources in 3 years, providing Customer Services, Business Services, Risk Services, Social Media, Marketing Support and Technology Delivery capabilities. 

Previously, Denis was Chief Information Officer with the National Australia Bank (Melbourne), where he worked from 2008 to 2013. Denis was responsible for the bank’s data centre transformation, virtual contact centre, and the shift to consumption-based pricing model for technology and communications services.  

Denis spent 38+ years with the Australia New Zealand Banking Group. He managed assignments in all facets of banking technology across most of the bank’s businesses. As the Chairman of ANZ’s offshore unit in India, he spent three years in Bangalore growing and managing the operation. He is a culturally agile person, who quickly integrates into new geographies, companies and diverse teams. 

JOHN PEREIRA

BOARD MEMBER

John has 30 years’ experience in investment banking, fund management, and law.  

He established Tristar Corporate Advisors Pty Ltd providing corporate advice to a range of private and ASX listed companies. He was the founder and CEO of India Equities Fund Limited, which listed on the ASX in 2007. He also created Olympus Funds Management Pty Ltd to offer a range of investment opportunities in alternative markets. 

John’s previous roles include a substantial period at Burdett Buckeridge Young Ltd (BBY), where he held positions of Head of Private Advisory and Head of Corporate Finance. He formed Alchemy Capital Pty Ltd jointly with BBY to promote corporate advisory and capital raising for small/mid cap clients. 

He has had a life-long association with India, and a deep understanding of its political and corporate environment. He is a former President (Victoria) and Deputy Chairman of the Australia India Business Council. 

He holds degrees in Commerce, Jurisprudence and Law. 

ALEXIS INDRAJITH LOVELL

CHAIRMAN

With over four decades of global Finance & Investment Banking experience, Alex brings deep insight, dynamic leadership and the ability to re-engineer entities to create wealth. Alex was awarded the Most Distinguished Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty the Queen of England for services to Investment Banking and was the youngest individual to receive this honor at the time. He was also honored with a Special Recognition Award at the “Business Today” – Top 30 Awards for 2018 recognizing his achievement in attracting foreign investments to Sri Lanka.  He serves as chairman of Ben Holdings LLC, a conglomerate with various interests across Sri Lanka. He is Chairs UB Finance and National Asset Management, and is a Director of Associated Electrical Corporation and Real Investment Holdings. He previously served as Chairman of Union Bank (Colombo) for 9 years.