Discover the benefits of software QA outsourcing: access to expert testers, cost savings, focus on core development, and impartial quality checks.
Often overlooked, the software quality assurance (QA) process can make or break your final product. It's safe? Is it usable? Are there minimal flaws – if any? Is your performance up to par? If you can't answer “yes” to these questions, you probably skipped the QA testing phase, and that's a mistake.
Some software development companies perform testing in-house. Others turn to third-party vendors to work on the project on their behalf. Is this a good option for you? Here are the main reasons why many companies decide to outsource QA testing that will help you decide.
#1: You’ll Find Expert Experts
Casting a wide net increases the likelihood that you will find testers who not only have extensive experience but also have specialized skills. Many outsourcing teams have different types of experts on their team, including manual and automation engineers and those who are experts in security testing, performance testing, functional testing, and so on. Some also specialize in testing specific types of products, such as mobile and desktop apps or games.
#2: Your experts will customize your approach and project
Each project is unique. When outsourcing your project, you will find a team dedicated to finding the best solutions to ensure the quality of your project and help you achieve your goals and objectives. This personalized approach means they will not only improve your results, but also advise on which types of testing are necessary and which you can skip, helping you achieve efficiency too.
These experts will know which aspects of your project's testing can be automated and which require manual testing. They will also consider the specific types of testing required, such as usability, performance, load, compatibility, stress, and so on, depending on your requirements and expectations.
Typically, as part of your contract, third-party QA experts will also provide support in assessing your needs, helping you plan, describing their methodology and tools, keeping you informed of progress, and more.
#3: The outsourcing partner will have the latest tools and technologies
If your technologies are not up to date, your project will suffer – as will your reputation. Many companies, especially small and relatively new ones, simply lack the internal resources to perform adequate quality control testing. But an outsourcing partner is dedicated to the task of ensuring the quality of its contracting partners' products. They have their own tools as well as experts to conduct a comprehensive quality control process.
Working with a team with its own infrastructure, which must have the latest technologies, means that you will also save on costs, as you will not need to provide your own tools, much less staff.
Given that technology changes quickly, as a business you will want to ensure your partner only uses the latest models. Asking them about their process can help you assess whether their skills and tools are up to date.
#4: You’ll identify risks early on
One danger in ignoring the quality control process is that you will go too far into software development before discovering defects. It's much easier to fix these problems if you catch them early on. By outsourcing your project, the team will be involved from the beginning, helping to mitigate risks before they derail your project.
If you skip QA testing entirely – whether to save money or because you lack resources – the damage to your reputation can be extensive, not to mention the monetary cost of fixing bugs after the product launches. This cost will far outweigh the amount you will spend on outsourcing QA testing, which is generally much cheaper than performing testing in-house.
#5: You Will Meet Safety Regulations
You probably know how important it is to build a secure product that doesn't put your employee, company, or customer data at risk. It's also important to ensure you meet national and global safety regulations depending on where your business operates.
#6: You’ll Speed Up Response Time
There are many problems with leaving testing entirely to software developers. First, QA specialists and software developers have different skill sets. Second, developers are often too close to the product — like those who developed it — to observe it with the critical eye necessary for this process. And third, you will slow down your timeline.
When you outsource the project, you will have a dedicated outsourced team working exclusively on quality control. Not only will they be able to look at the product with a fresh perspective, but they will also help you complete it efficiently since they are not working on the development itself or other aspects of your business.
Efficiency, of course, is vital during the software development life cycle (SDLC). You want your product to get to market in a timely manner, ensuring you are ahead of the curve.
Almost every company, big or small, can benefit from outsourcing software QA testing. It is important to have specialized experts who will customize their approach according to your project requirements and specifications and complete it quickly and professionally. It's simply not worth the risk of ignoring this important phase.