Marks & Spencer has introduced a new business technology optimisation (BTO) tool to help improve its IT systems development.

The software, supplied by Mercury, is being used at the retailer's IT centre of excellence to help control quality assurance processes and properly apply performance criteria.

The clothes and food retail chain developed 450 application upgrades in 2005, and having better control over the quality assurance process means they have been higher quality, says Mac Miller, Marks & Spencer's corporate test manager.

'The testing centre of excellence is now the single point of control for all new IT projects. By applying quality processes across the organisation, we have reduced business cost and risk,' he said.

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