Software testing and quality assurance outsourcing

It is no longer surprising when a company owns an app or a software. If anything, consumers have an increasing expectation of convenient and personalised services. For instance, a mobile application for their favourite ecommerce shop, where they can save and purchase favourite items, or a dedicated software for an online accounting solution.

However, just having it is not enough anymore either - it must be of high quality to stand out in the highly competitive market. The most effective way to ensure it is through software testing services, which many companies choose to outsource. Here’s what you need to know.

What does quality assurance include?

Quality assurance goes beyond just finding obvious bugs or testing the final version of the software. It’s a fundamental discipline that must be present during the entire development cycle, from the earliest stages of prototyping to the post-live improvements. As such, it’s a proactive approach to app development, which requires considerable additional resources and time. Those who do it, however, come out with a product that’s not only higher quality, but also requires less maintenance costs in the future.

The process of quality assurance itself can include a broad spectrum of specialisations. For example, functional testing is about making sure that your software covers all of your requirements in a user-friendly and bug-free way, whereas security testing identifies weaknesses that could potentially bring cyber threats. There are also performance testing, exploratory testing, automated testing, and others.

The strategic rationale behind outsourcing

Each of the aforementioned methodologies require their own specific expertise and tools. Therefore, unless you are a huge organisation with a big IT department, managing it in-house is usually not a possibility. Instead, businesses aim to outsource this service.

Specialised software testing partners offer a variety of advantages. They already have the knowledge and experience needed, saving you training or hiring costs for new team members. Moreover, they already work with the most advanced tools in the area, so you don’t have to worry about the expenses from new monthly subscriptions. With their ability to allocate resources according to your needs, the time-to-market of projects also becomes quicker, saving costs there too.

Beyond financial benefits, however, outsourcing quality assurance also brings on a flexible, agile approach to software development. An external partner has no biases towards your product, like a developer might have when testing their own code (which they may have spent long hours on and feel proud of). Having a fresh set of eyes that’s not a direct part of your team eliminates any risks of personal bias and, instead, focuses on the job at hand with high precision.

Finding the right partner for software testing services

Selecting an outsourcing partner for software testing services is primarily about the technological and methodological alignment. Of course, the cost comparison is an important consideration that will always be part of the process. But, if your partners do not share the same views on application development and project management then the collaboration will likely be flawed.

So, when searching for potential options, make sure you look into their process. How do they onboard their clients? Do they have an assessment and planning stage to learn about your project or do they go straight into it? What is their communication and reporting policy? How do they showcase their expertise in the industry? Are they transparent about the exact tools and methodologies they use? All of these questions will help you find someone who’s offering the right service for your needs.

But, to help you get started, here are some examples of leading software testing and quality assurance outsourcing partners today:

• Qalified: Headquartered in Latin America, Qalified specialises in tailored solutions based on unique client needs, taking on high-complexity projects. Besides a team of skilled professionals and an infrastructure of advanced tools, they have a well-established five-step process for their quality assurance projects, from initial assessment to continuous improvements.
• Testlio: Known for their "fused testing" approach, Testlio uses a global network of vetted freelance professionals with an integrated platform and services team. This model is particularly helpful if you’re trying to achieve a big geographic coverage for user experience and localisation testing.
• Cigniti Technologies: As a large, global organisation, Cigniti offers software testing as part of their wider range of services for digital transformation, such as data engineering and intelligent automation. This broad coverage of areas may be beneficial for companies who want to outsource an entire project to a single partner, including the software development and integration as well as testing.
• Qualitest: Qualitest work in a variety of different sectors, offering quality engineering, quality assurance and digital engineering testing. Utilising AI-driven tools, they provide 360-degree software testing to businesses of all sectors, from retail to finance, helping them achieve their goals faster and more efficiently.

Making the right decision

Outsourcing is by no means the right option for all scenarios, as there are many areas in which hiring an in-house team may be more effective. However, when it comes to software testing and quality assurance, a third-party partner can bring a huge amount of value, whether you need specific expertise for a complex project or want to speed up the entire process while minimising costs.