success case
Quality culture with DORA Metrics: visibility and data-based decisions
Implementation and application of DORA metrics for visualization of results in dynamic environments and awareness of team and product improvements
Introduction
For one of the biggest players for benefits in Brazil, the lack of visibility and the inconsistent measurement of its product development and support processes generated significant challenges. The absence of concrete data made it difficult to identify bottlenecks, resolve defects and make strategic decisions. Better Now was called to implement the DORA Metrics and create an integrated solution that would bring clarity, automation and a culture of continuous improvement to teams.
The client faced a complex scenario, characterized by the following challenges:
• Lack of Visibility: There was limited insight into the actual performance of teams and the delivery workflow, preventing the early identification of issues and improvement opportunities.
• Inconsistent Measurement: Performance metrics were fragmented across multiple tools, including Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, SonarQube, and Veracode, with no centralized source for analysis and decision-making.
• Diagnostic Challenges: The absence of integrated data made bottleneck identification and production defect monitoring a manual, time-consuming process.
• Limited Continuous Improvement Culture: Without reliable and consolidated data, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and making fact-based decisions became significantly more difficult.
Better Now developed a comprehensive and scalable solution to unify, process, and visualize performance data:
- Integrated Metrics Portal: The first step was the creation of a centralized portal that integrated all of the client's development and project management tools. This enabled standardized data collection and provided a single source of truth for performance analysis.
- Data Unification and Modeling: Through extensive API documentation analysis, we identified the most relevant data sources. Python-based data extractors were developed to collect and consolidate information into a unified repository, leveraging both relational and dimensional (snowflake) data models. This foundation enabled advanced analytics, predictive insights, and future Machine Learning applications.
- Metrics Standardization and Reporting Automation: DORA Metrics (Deployment Frequency, Change Failure Rate, Lead Time for Changes, and Mean Time to Restore) were standardized and automated through dynamic Power BI dashboards. This approach eliminated manual reporting efforts and ensured that teams had access to accurate, real-time insights.
- Gamification: To drive engagement and encourage continuous improvement, the solution incorporated gamification elements that made performance tracking more interactive, transparent, and motivating for teams.
The implementation of Dora Metrics It has brought transforming results, offering the customer unprecedented visibility into their development and support processes. Workflow analysis and optimization resulted in:
- Increased visibility and reliability: the teams gained an integrated and clear view of the performance of their deliveries, which led to an increase in [insert number here]% in reliability in the development and support of products and services.
- Data based decisions: The metrics provided the basis for leadership and teams to make strategic decisions based on concrete data rather than assumptions.
- Workflow Optimization:
- Unsuccessful Deploy Rate was reduced to 7.89%.
- change lead time was optimized for 195 hours.
- Average service restoration time was minimized to 151.74 hours
Continuous improvement culture: Transparency and continuous measurement of results boosted a culture of continuous improvement, where teams are proactive in the search for efficiencies and problem solving.
Details and Conclusion
The approach of Better Now It went beyond the simple implementation of a tool. Our focus was on creating a sustainable solution that would generate long-term value for the customer. The Metrics Portal Not only did it solve the problem of lack of visibility, but it also became a strategic asset for the company, serving as a source of historical data and a basis for predictive analytics.
By measuring and optimizing collaboration between development and operations teams, the solution of Better Now It encouraged a more integrated approach, resulting in more robust software, less prone to failure and shorter delivery cycles. The client not only solved its visibility challenges, but also established a new foundation for operational excellence and continuous innovation.
