Software outsourcing is a common topic of discussion when it comes to building software on a budget, without any compromise on quality. However, the outsourcing of QA services is less harped on, as QA teams are usually included within software development team arrangements by default.
Nonetheless, QA outsourcing services, especially for testing applications from an industry or compliance perspective, can be a highly valuable addition to existing software development projects. In some cases, it is also indispensable, especially if you need QA specialists that have niche expertise with regards to a certain technology, or once again, a compliance regulation of some sort. QA outsourcing companies are ideal sources for hiring specialists that go beyond generic software testing, thanks to extensive expertise and a wide pool of talent that isn’t restricted to geographical boundaries.
QA outsourcing is your secret method for launching high-quality software faster. It involves entrusting software testing to a team of experts, freeing up your internal resources and ensuring a polished final product.
In this article, we discuss why the importance of software QA testing goes beyond simply ensuring that an app is in basic working order; from contributing to customer experience to tightening cybersecurity, software QA testing delivers much more value to businesses, albeit in an indirect manner. We also elaborate on how a Software Developer Engineer in Test (SDET), typically through a QA outsourcing service, can elevate the quality of deliverables across the entire Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) – and not just during the testing phase. Read on to know more!
Interested to outsource your company’s software QA operations? As a leading software development company in Sri Lanka, EFutures can scale to deliver QA services that are either weaved into existing software development operations – or offer a dedicated team as an extension.
Need specialist QA teams that are familiar with technologies such as AI, or cybersecurity? We’ve still got you covered. Tell us what you need, and we’ll be happy to build a custom QA strategy for you.
Testing software after building it and prior to releasing it doesn’t require any stressing, without a doubt. However, the benefits of software testing go beyond simply delivering an application that is bug-free, with features working as intended.
How does software QA and testing contribute to the business at large, beyond mere functionality? This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some key areas where QA significantly contributes to overarching business objectives.
Better quality products equal happier customers. Likewise, software or mobile applications that function as intended will render customers satisfied, and even help with long-term retention. Through rigorous testing, this is conveniently possible. However, a QA strategy that has been streamlined to test software efficiently can significantly contribute towards shipping new features that have been requested through user feedback much faster, thereby contributing to CX in a far more dynamic fashion.
For software applications stationed in industries that face fierce competition, it is imperative to enhance application capabilities in order to attract new customers, and retain existing ones. This calls for a DevOps or CI/CD approach that can handle ad hoc updates, be they via comprehensive product/engagement analytics, or direct user feedback. If the QA team is equipped with a strategy that can undertake regression tests with little to no downtime in order to approve software versions prior to release, this can be a game-changer.
With SecOps now being an essential framework that is incorporated by top IT outsourcing companies across the globe, it is crucial for software development teams to be supported by QA teams that are equally focused towards security as well. SecOps teams may still be able to take on the bulk of work and responsibility when it comes to cybersecurity, while network monitoring and threat management tools can further deliver support.
However, having a competent QA team can make a world of difference for SecOps, as QA engineers are also inspecting applications and automating test cases with cybersecurity in mind. This alignment towards a mutual goal can be highly valuable for businesses of any size across any industry, as protection can be maintained in a digital landscape that’s constantly being targeted by new and sophisticated threats everyday.
Software QA teams can also contribute towards compliance obligations that a business may have, by ensuring applications meet any regulations pertaining to a specific industry or region. This can be done through customised tests that detect non-compliance, either by existing QA teams, or by QA specialists who have niche expertise for specific regulations that need to be adhered to.
Most buzz and discussions surrounding software QA and testing are often around general topics such as software testing types, models and business benefits. However, learning more about what a Software Developer Engineer in Test (SDET) can offer your software development project is a worthwhile discussion to have with team leads and/or project managers who are responsible for your project.
Unlike a regular QA engineer who is only involved once a working version of the software is available following the development stage, an SDET will be involved across the entire SDLC owing to their added expertise in programming. In other words, an SDET shall help build software with a quality-focused approach, from as early as the planning stage.
While an SDET’s programming expertise renders them suitable for inspecting software at a code level, they can also function as key contact points for businesses that need to communicate what they want to deliver in terms of CX. SDETs, therefore, are ideal additions to not just QA teams, but software development teams as a whole owing to the triangulation of QA, programming and CX, across all stages of the SDLC.
Leading software development companies in Sri Lanka and around the world understand the value an SDET can add to any software project. As a result, incorporating them across existing projects (especially larger ones that are well established yet significantly complex) can help improve quality assurance operations. This can be particularly advantageous for projects that have repeatedly been experiencing the same calibre of issues, and CX goals are seldom met – in spite of executing sprints and epics multiple times.
Whether or not an SDET can be added to your software development team is a discussion that is best had with whosoever is leading the project. Bringing problems that have been persisting and/or goals that haven’t been met even after a significant passage of time can be ideal starters to the conversation. Making the final decision to add an SDET is one that needs a cost-benefit analysis, without a doubt – but it shall nonetheless give your project a ‘second set of eyes’ to significantly improve, especially if the right individual is chosen for the position.
QA outsourcing services can help businesses leverage subject matter experts in the field of software testing, in order to ensure that software applications are built to serve any niche requirements that may exist, no matter how unique. QA outsourcing services can typically be arranged by software outsourcing companies, so businesses can continue to rely on one provider for all their needs. QA outsourcing services can also facilitate the placement of SDETs, as they possess programming expertise to monitor the quality of an application from as early as the planning phase.
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