Wire Media

Outsourcing software quality assurance activities and testing services are not easy, especially when they don’t meet your requirements. The entire process of finding the right software testing services requires a significant amount of time and not to forget about the resources. 

Many times, companies and businesses search online to find the right fit, they ask through people with similar experiences or go to globally recognized ranking websites such as Clutch.

But the truth of the matter is that shortlisting outsourcing companies is not a day’s work, it requires careful consideration to say the least. Because only after analyzing a handful of companies can you find the most suitable one. 

There is no denying the fact that the quality assurance company that you outsource needs to have significant years of experience especially in software development and testing. Because if it lacks the necessary knowledge, all your money and resources will go down the drain along with your project.

Having said that, if your company does not specialize in software testing or quality assurance, it is always better to seek external help but you have to be very careful in doing so. Outsourcing software quality assurance services can not only help you fix your product before the release but also speeds up the entire development process. 

What is Outsourcing SQA?

Outsourcing QA is when you delegate your business operations such as quality assurance to a third party for optimal results, performance and to add expertise.

In this blog I will talk about the things to consider before outsourcing a QA company and also the many benefits outsourcing has to offer but first let’s look at the challenges of in-house quality assurance:

Challenges of in-house quality assurance

Sometimes in order to save costs companies do not hire individual quality assurance engineers, who are considered masters in their domain. Instead, developers are the ones developing and testing the product on their own. This approach is completely wrong because developers may be good at developing software but they are probably not so good at testing.

Therefore, when developers test the product it may compromise the quality and validity of the product. Developers may overlook the flaws and inconsistencies since they are the ones who will be fixing the issue. It can lead to bias about which errors to fix and which to overlook.

The reason why the best way is to have a QA team or better yet hire specialized QA testers. Because QA engineers are trained at what they do, they know all the technicalities and the best approaches to software testing.

Which makes the entire development process faster and efficient. Companies should realize the fact that software development and testing are two separate processes yet intertwined. 

Benefits of outsourcing QA companies

• Outsourcing gives you ample choices to choose from. You can have several options. After analyzing the pros and cons of your shortlisted companies, you can make an informed decision based on your criteria. 
• Outsourced companies can meet deadlines that too on a budget. Before making the partnership official an agreement document is signed which lists down the deadline and the total budget. You do not have to worry about missed deadlines or exceeding budget anymore. 
• It reduces your in-house team’s workload and also shifts their focus to important business operations. 
• You do not need to update or maintain your software before or after the deployment which subsequently decreases the costs. 
• Outsourced QA teams have an established testing system and expertise in the field. Companies that provide outsourcing services go through a vetting process after which they carefully hand-pick employees. Why all this fuss? Because they work with clients from all around the world. 
• Outsourcing companies are always updated with the latest trends in the market. They are familiar with all the tools needed to perform testing for quality assurance. They can also work with a range of devices and operating systems. 

Outsourcing software quality assurance services checklist

Work Portfolio

When hiring a quality assurance and testing services company, make sure to go through their work portfolio. This is probably the most important step. Know about their vision, mission, goals, PM techniques, and tools.

You need to ensure that their work proficiency aligns with your goals and project requirements. They should have a proven track record of working with QA because vendors with limited experience can do more harm than good.

Their engagement models

This includes their business models as some companies offer dedicated team structures meaning whole teams are available for outsourcing at a fixed price, some offer individual testers or developers at an hourly rate. Therefore at this stage, you choose the model that interests you the most. 

Security

It is advised to have a proper agreement in which you list down all your security protocols and also familiarize yourself with theirs such as their policies on network and database security, intellectual property protection, Ad Hoc security et al.

You need to be very clear about the confidential aspects of your business and the company you are looking to outsource should respect and comply with that. Plus, you need to have proper measures in place in case of a breach in the mutual agreement document. 

Communication and collaboration

Communication becomes difficult when you are working with offshore companies. Their time zones may clash with yours. This is where you have to have a clear process in place, along with the time of daily standups to stay in the loop with the progress of your project.

You need to have a single platform for communication. Slack is considered one of the best communication tools out there. Miscommunication can lead to misunderstanding and irreparable damages. 

Software QA is an important part of the entire development cycle as it assures the quality of the product. Therefore if you lack in-house expertise the better option is to outsource.

Through outsourcing, you can not only get improved quality but it is also very cost-efficient. You can find many vendors offering their services but careful & thoughtful assessment and consideration are required before you make a decision.