Does this mean that you hire a third-party vendor and put them in charge of the testing department and hold the vendor accountable if something goes wrong? It means a lot more. Before we get into the complexity of outsourcing testing, let’s first talk about how specialization plays an important role in everyday life. It seems strange but outsourcing testing and specialization have a very deep relationship.
The Benefits of Specialization
Since the dawn of human civilization the increasingly complex division of labor has been closely linked to an increase in total production. Someone once said, “Specializing is like brushing one tooth.” When a person specializes, he directs all his energy through one narrow channel; he is very good at one thing and almost everything else. For example, what happens when a crane fails or any electronics stop working. If something like this happens, what comes to mind? We start repairs on our own or immediately call a plumber or electrician. Have you ever wondered why you are doing this? This may seem like a silly question but they are the first ones that come to our mind because they specialize in their work. Therefore, in a sense, we outsource this work to specialists who specialize in this work.
Outsourcing Testing as a Specialization
Although testing is an integral part of the software development lifecycle, it is currently not among the core competencies of most companies around the world. Thus, working with professional testers and QA specialists (partial or full) is a very profitable option for some companies to obtain the highest quality products. This ensures specialization, economic benefit, resource utilization and independence.
Advantages of Outsourcing Software Testing
The benefits of outsourcing out software testing include the following:
Get the second opinion
Living in a different setting or environment can assist someone have a better understanding of the product from a quality assurance standpoint. This can lead to upgrades or improvements that improve the product quality, increase market share, and generate more income.
Lower labor costs
If the product is a one time thing, then paying for engineers could be seen as an expensive commitment. Furthermore, engineers might not always live up to the expectations as compared to a group of people who specialize in that job. Secondly, not all companies follow agile methodologies so there are situations where a full strength testing team would not be needed all the time. In such situations, it is more cost-effective to outsource the testing efforts rather than keeping a team for testing in-house. Additionally, every person comes with an infrastructure cost. Hence, companies can also diminish their infrastructural cost by subcontracting testing.
Reducing of risk
Every business comes with certain risks. Technologies, markets, financial situations, etc. change quite often and radically. Outsourcing companies can help reduce risks. Because they have experience in their field, they have a much better understanding of how to avoid risk.
Delivery product on time
Because of the high competition, each company desires to bring out their product into the market earlier. There might be situations where tackling the project in-house could take weeks or even months, but this would only delay its release and potentially result in significant revenue loss. It is better to outsource it. An outsourcing testing company that is suitable can begin working on a fresh project promptly.
Fast turnaround time
Traditionally, testing is required at the end of the software development lifecycle in order to free up most of the time, and where delays in development leave little time for testing, an experienced supervisor is required who ensures a quick response. Currently, companies are following the trend where development and test teams are located in different time zones. This helps to react quickly, as the tests are conducted at night based on what was developed during the day.
Concentrate on one’s expertise
The resources of each project are limited and the manager needs to take care of everything. Outsourcing can help a manager to allocate responsibilities and thus focus on their area of core competencies. Outsourcing can also address areas of expertise such as performance, security, availability and localization testing.
To Summarize:
The main driving force behind the rising popularity of outsourced software testing is the power of specialization. By entrusting testing responsibilities to third-party vendors who specialize in this critical aspect of software development, companies can reap immense benefits. Outsourcing testing allows organizations to leverage the deep expertise, fresh perspectives of professionals whose core competency lies in ensuring product quality and mitigating risks.
Ultimately, the decision to outsource software testing is a strategic move that acknowledges the value of specialization. In a world where time-to-market, cost-efficiency and product excellence are paramount, outsourcing testing empowers companies to concentrate on their core strengths. By accepting this approach, organizations can unlock new levels of success, drive innovation, and gain a competitive edge in their respective markets.