Season 2 Episode #6: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Pekka Pönkänen. Pekka has 10 years of experience in software testing and is the QA Competence Lead at Wolt. A Global, Helsinki-based technology company that has developed a local commerce platform that connects people looking to order food, groceries, and other goods. Pekka has been touring Europe, talking at tech conferences to explain how his quality-first mindset has transformed Wolts' mobile release process. So join us in this episode, where Pekka takes us through his testing journey, explains how Wolt is able to maintain quality as it keeps scaling, the importance of integrating QA into the Software Development Life-Cycle, how to combat long release cycles, and the skills QA professionals need in the age of AI.

The “QA-Mindset”: What it means, how it’s changed, and Pekka’s approach to it

The importance of building software QA into the SDLC
The move to a “shift left” mentality
Ensuring everyone has a stake in quality
The risks of having QA as an afterthought
The need to constantly learn and experiment with new tools

How Wolt ensures quality at scale and unlocks faster Mobile Releases

Insights on how Wolt cut down its mobile release cycle from 3–5 week mobile releases to just one week
How communication is vital in scaling companies (both in teams and with end users)
Wolt’s focus on great customer service and feedback
How Wolt scaled to 15,000 people without sacrificing quality
How QA moves fast as teams, features, and products grow
Building the right team and the importance of soft skills
Building a culture of team effort and empowering teams to take ownership
Preventing bottlenecks when scaling fast

QA in high-growth customer-facing mobile apps

The importance of “starting early”
How to stop QA bottlenecks
How building with a quality-first approach is vital for companies that want to scale
The importance of customer feedback loops and defining a customer/user
Ensuring feedback gets back to the right people who can make an impact
Why well-designed apps are a pleasure to release

Insights for QA professionals in the age of AI

How the technical demands on QA engineers have increased
Understanding your domain and the needs of QA in different industries
How QA teams can take advantage of new tools and knowledge bases
How AI allows QA Engineers to focus on the human element of testing and creative thinking
Building the right team with the right tools to effectively tackle “pain-points”
Why being honest and communicating when changes need to happen makes an impact

Pekka Pönkänen

QA Competence Lead at Wolt

Pekka is currently a QA Competence Lead at Wolt, with over 10 years of experience working in software testing. Since his first steps into the IT industry, Pekka has sought a deeper knowledge and understanding of IT and its complexities. The journey through each year has piqued his interest and knowledge to new heights, translating into more career satisfaction. In the field of Software Development, he defines himself as a hardworking and creative player, and is equipped with good communication skills and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.

Josh William Burmistre-Griffiths

Digital Marketing and Paid Ad Specialist

Josh William Burmistre-Griffiths works at TestDevLab, focusing on digital marketing and paid advertising across multiple platforms. His past experience working at agencies and unicorn startups has equipped Josh with the expertise to bring valuable digital marketing insights to Tech Effect.

# 25 Pekka Pönkänen (Wolt): Maintaining Quality While Scaling: Wolt's Experience

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