Selecting Outsourced QA Testing? Know the right questions: experience, tools, communication and scalability.
Outsourcing software QA testing services is often highly beneficial for businesses, who can reap the rewards of a third party's perspective and experience at a cost-effective rate. But finding the most suitable supplier is not always an easy task, as it is a process that involves a series of steps. Where should you start then? And most importantly: when looking for the right partner, what are the best criteria for evaluating outsourcing companies? Here are 6 important questions to ask.
#1 What resources and infrastructure does the provider have?
One of the main benefits of outsourcing is that an external vendor has an infrastructure in place, including staffing, automation, and other testing tools. This will save companies money and give them the experience they need to produce solid results.
When considering which partner is the best choice, companies will need to evaluate the resources and infrastructure that the supplier has to complete the project. Do they have engineers with specialized skills who have completed similar projects with a solid track record? How many testers are on the team — enough to perform services for multiple companies at the same time? Will the equipment cover all types of quality control tests required for the product?
Given that many vendors will be handling sensitive data, companies should also evaluate the security protocols they have in place to ensure they will be able to keep your information protected.
#2 What is the project budget?
Cost should not be the only factor in selecting a quality control testing vendor, and companies should be wary of services that have a “too good to be true” price – because they are probably, in fact, too good to be true. be true. Still, many companies choose to outsource due to cost-effectiveness, so price is an important consideration.
Companies should take into consideration the overall project budget and how much they can spend on testing. When comparing suppliers, they should note whether the price is in line with market norms for the area, bearing in mind that nearshore and offshore companies will likely be much less expensive than onshore alternatives. They should also discuss what is included in the overall package — for example, will there be additional fees for retesting?
#3 Is there a cultural fit?
Given the close collaboration between partners during the QA testing phase — and the entire software development life cycle (SDLC) — a cultural fit is essential and not always guaranteed, especially if teams are based in different countries . Companies must consider the culture of their own workplace.
To assess whether organizations will function well, companies should consider conducting interviews via a video conferencing platform. They will need to take into account factors such as language ability and work styles. If these are incompatible, the outsourcing relationship can become problematic, with miscommunication and lack of follow-up.
Companies will need to think about whether their internal teams can work well with third-party organizations. This may require some training from the leader. The success of the project depends on the smooth running of operations by both interested parties.
#4 Does the provider have a solid track record?
The QA testing vendor should be able to prove their expertise by demonstrating a solid track record of successful projects. Companies can research the qualifications of their potential partners by looking at the company's digital materials, including its website, case studies and portfolio of past work, and by reading references and reviews on platforms like Clutch.co.
These materials should offer an indication of your methodology, breadth of experience, specializations, team size, and overall quality. In addition to ensuring that the supplier has the necessary experience, companies must evaluate whether this experience includes projects in their specific niche.
#5 Will the provider be able to scale services?
As companies grow, so does the volume of projects they plan to undertake. When evaluating potential QA testing providers, they should think about whether companies have the capacity to grow with them, taking on more projects and completing them successfully. After all, if all goes well, an organization will likely want to keep returning to the same supplier.
Companies should consider whether the outsourcing company's resources can accommodate a greater workload depending on their demand for services. It will make your lives easier to have a single, trusted outsourcing partner to turn to who has the team and tools to complete a multitude of projects efficiently.
#6 What is the contract like?
Every organization must negotiate a fair contract with its vendor that includes Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that define expectations and each component of the testing process that must be delivered. It must be clear how the contracting company will evaluate the services provided, including deadlines, milestones and other criteria determined by project leaders.
There should also be clauses that stipulate the cost of the project and what additional fees – if any – the company will incur if the schedule is extended or any other unexpected circumstances arise. It is important that both parties understand and agree to the terms to avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings later when the project is underway.
Rigorous quality control testing is an essential part of the SDLC, and companies must be able to trust the outsourcing provider they hire to perform it. Resources, budget, cultural fit, experience, service scalability and contract negotiation are important criteria for evaluating potential suppliers.
