Automating adoption: Scorecards for service owners | PlatformCon 2023

Scorecards serve as a powerful mechanism for communicating expectations and tracking platform tool adoption by providing clear feedback loops for software teams. By measuring service performance against defined standards—such as code quality, test coverage, and deployment patterns—organizations can identify specific areas for improvement. The internal Python-based tool, NATO, automates this process by cloning repositories, executing custom checks, and generating actionable facts. When combined with automated remediation, such as creating merge requests to onboard services into the Backstage catalog, this approach accelerates platform adoption without compromising developer autonomy. This strategy shifts the focus from manual, monotonous tasks to data-driven insights, enabling teams to maintain high standards across dozens of microservices while empowering service owners to drive their own progress.