Advice for Companies Considering Outsourcing Software Testing

As the desire for top notch, high quality software grows, so does the need for organizations to concentrate on software testing. This critical phase of software development is oftentimes overlooked, which is problematic because in today's marketplace consumer expectations are through the roof. They always want their software to work perfectly, each time without question. Flawed software will decrease a customer's confidence in doing repeat business with the developing company. A good answer to this issue is to outsource the process to a firm that focuses solely on software testing.

As straightforward as this answer seems to be, it can be a tough sell to the developing organization. Pros and cons for both sides exist, and companies that have always done their own testing may not even know where to begin in the outsourcing process.

Some of this issue (and a downside to outsourcing) relates to the fact that there is basically no standard software testing method across every industry, so a firm looking at outsourcing ought to be skeptical about the type of work it should expect from the outsourced company.

This can be solved with the use of contracts outlining what the developing company is looking for, and what the testing company is expected to reasonably provide. This is a benefit because as more organizations identify what the testing market is and what the associated costs should be. This also forces companies that have been doing all of their testing in house to examine how thorough (and possibly costly) their own practices have been. Organizations that select to outsource software testing might be providing the bench mark for other testing entities in the future.

Regarding how much money your organization might save by outsourcing its testing activities, it really differs firm by firm. Additionally, details such as how many customers (and therefore dollars) a company may have lost due to a failure to identify a glitch are difficult to track. And these types of glitches are more common than you might think, because when a company is testing its own products, the deadlines for getting each product out the door can lead to shortcuts in the testing process. Therefore another pro of outsourcing is that the vendor can usually accomplish tasks in a more efficient manner. The vendor will likely be more accurate and thorough with the product because they do not have the conflict of interest that lies with being attached to the results of it. All these firms do is execute testing, and they will complete as many tests as needed to make sure the end product is of high quality.

It does take a certain kind of company culture to be able to participate in outsourcing and have it be successful. A company should have a clear knowledge of its needs, its budget, and its abilities in communicating with the company it has outsourced work to. A company ought to be able to provide adequate training for its employees regarding the outsourced activities. If this work has been previously accomplished in house, it will take time to make the transition. But with a little forethought by the software developer and clear communication between both parties, a profitable relationship can be achieved.


------

UniversalExams.com provides cost-effective self-study training packages for ISEB and ISTQB software testing certification exams. Packages have a 100% pass guarantee and include study guides, practice exams, flashcards, and more. For more articles and unique content for your own website from universalexams.com, contact us.