Outsourcing software testing services: Expectation and Reality

Outsourcing Software Testing Services

Testing is an essential part of any software development cycle, and there is no need to explain why it is so important. Today many companies, either big or small, regularly apply for outsourcing software testing services to delegate partially or fully their testing activities to an external company. Outsourced software testing enables companies to optimize their testing costs, release internal staff from overloads and overworking, deal with a lack of required expertise, and use the best testing methodologies and tools.

Numerous advantages of outsourced software testing are obvious, still, some companies are disappointed with it. The thing is that outsourcing software testing services can have as many benefits as risks. If you have concluded the necessity to work with an outsourcing software testing company, you should get prepared and take into consideration many aspects.

Outsourcing software testing services: expectation and reality

Communication issues

Expectations: Companies wish to have comprehensive and efficient communication to have everything under control and ensure that all participants clearly understand project requirements and share common objectives. It requires almost non-stop dialog between both sides.

Reality: Companies often do not manage to establish effective communication. As a result, there can be misunderstandings, delays, and some serious problems. Among the reasons for poor communication are language barriers, different time zones, and even cultural differences.

Flexibility and responsiveness

Expectations: Modern pace of life suggests the ability to adapt to continuous changes, and businesses expect that outsourcing software testing companies are ready to work according to the agile approach and meet all changing requirements.

Reality: Not all software testing outsourcing companies can respond appropriately to continuous changes and correspondingly arrange their workflow. Besides, sometimes outsourcing software testing companies cannot provide you with additional human resources, necessary tools, and expertise when you decide to extend the work scope and add new functions.

Security

Expectations: Applying to outsourced software testing services, every company wants to get guarantees of confidentiality, especially when a project contains some sensitive information.

Reality: You cannot have complete confidence that private information is effectively protected. To somehow insure themselves against data leakage, companies have to take heavy measures and usually sign a non-disclosure agreement that involves such aspects as data protection, intellectual property rights, liability, etc.

See Also: Cyber Security Tools

Trust and control

Expectations: To guarantee success, most business owners prefer to keep everything under control, and offshore software testing services are no exception.

Reality: Specifics of outsourcing suggest a lack of control and the only way to stay informed is to maintain reporting. Unfortunately, not all outsourcing companies can give favorable consideration to documents and report generation. It may lead to a breach of trust.

Staff competence

Expectations: Hiring an outsourcing software testing company, we expect to deal with experienced, highly professional specialists who can settle all issues and find the best solutions.

Reality: It is a pity, but from time to time, some companies suffer from the incompetence of some QA outsourcing companies.

Provider selection

Expectations: There are plenty of outsourcing software testing companies, and you expect to choose one of them easily and quickly.

Reality: There is indeed a great variety of outsourcing software testing companies, and you should conduct a thorough analysis, check reviews, and references to hiring the best one. This process can be rather time-consuming and effortful.

How to choose a provider?

To reap the benefits of outsourced testing, it is important to find a trustworthy outsourcing software testing company. As has already been mentioned, it is quite a challenging task.

Oleh Sadykow says, that: “As a co-founder at DeviQA, a leading software testing company, I know the difficulties that company owners face when it comes to selecting outsourced QA vendors. To make your selection process easier, I prepare a checklist that includes main aspects that must be taken into account.”

• Reliability and expertise

To choose the best provider, you should ensure that it is trustworthy and experienced. That is why you should check how long it exists, its reviews, social media pages, current and previous customers. Besides, a provider’s competence can be confirmed by corresponding certificates of its staff as, ISTQB or QAI. Domain expertise is essential as well, especially if you are involved in some narrowly defined industry. That is why make sure that your prospective provider has already dealt with similar projects.

See Also: Why you need software development outsourcing

• Sufficient resources and tools

Choosing a provider, ensure that it can provide more QA engineers than you require now. It should specialize in all possible types of testing even if you currently do not need some of them. In such a way, when you decide to scale up, your outsourcing software testing company will be able to provide you with a wider testing scope.

• Security

Security is always extremely important. Make sure that a provider implements all possible measures to avoid data leakage. In advance tell about the necessity to sign NDA.

• Flexibility and adaptability

Before selecting a provider, make sure that it can deal with unexpected and frequent changes in requirements.

• Reports and communication

In advance define the forms and frequency of reports. You should have access to all the important information. Fix communication methods and make sure that a responsible manager will always be in touch and able to settle any issue.

• Language and cultural differences

Language barriers and cultural differences can be a significant obstacle for effective communication and collaboration; that is why take into account the provider’s language skills and cultural characteristics.

• Time zone

If your provider is situated in another time zone, it can cause some difficulties and challenges. It is better to hire an outsourcing software testing company working hours of which at least partially coincide with yours. It will help to improve communication and settle issues promptly.

Concluding

It is worth saying that outsourced QA testing may have some hidden pitfalls, but corresponding preparation and a serious approach to a provider selection can help to avoid all concluding, it is worth saying that outsourcing software testing services may have some hidden pitfalls, but corresponding preparation and a serious approach to a provider selection can help to avoid all difficulties and get numerous benefits instead.