However, inexperience in the software testing staff might lead to severe misses in the overall software testing process. This is where in-house software testing can be complemented with software QA outsourcing to ensure that top-notch software product reaches the end consumers (or customers).

CTOs or decision makers need to work on a scalable strategy to leverage the benefits of the software testing model. The process starts with shortlisting the optimal software testing provider that can add immense value to the testing process. However, this task is easier said than done!

In this blog, we deep dive into some of the most integral aspects of software testing outsourcing when seen from the lens of the CTO.

Set Right Expectations for the QA Vendor

It is a known fact that outsourcing of any software activity like development, testing, etc. reaps immense cost benefits to the organization. Apart from cost savings, CTOs and decision makers also need to evaluate the software testing outsourcing provider from a scalability, experience, and expertise perspective.

Mobile app testing has become important in today’s times. Choose an outsourced testing provider that has experience in a varied areas like web testing, mobile app testing, and more. A global software testing provider like KiwiQA can add immense value in such scenarios since the company has served global clients in shipping quality products at a faster pace.

The primary agenda of partnering with a testing provider is to expedite bug detection and accelerate product delivery. In a nutshell, the CTO and other decision markers should choose the outsourced testing provider that has expertise in executing a wide range of software projects.

Streamlining Workflows

The involvement of an outsourced software testing provider completely changes the game of software testing. As a CTO, your core responsibility should be to ensure that there is minimal friction between the internal members and the members of the external testing agency.

Streamline the workflows from the beginning of the collaboration so that your organization can reap maximum benefits of the partnership from the word go! All the necessary touchpoints that are essential for a long-term collaboration should be taken into account.

Also Read: In-house Software Testing OR Outsourcing Software Testing Service

Allocate a Single Point Of Contact (POC)

You need to make sure that the members of the outsourced testing agency have access to the necessary automation tools, bug tracking tools, project management tools, and more. It is essential to have one POC (Point Of Contact) from the testing agency for building a frictionless communication channel between the two teams.

Since the activity involves a great amount of coordination within and across teams, it is best to assign a senior QA Manager (or higher) for such a role. The CTO should also make sure that there is a single POC from the outsourced testing agency, so that communication and execution can be done at a faster pace.

Remove Execution Bottlenecks

Having a streamlined process in place should be the top-most priority when engaging with any company that offers software QA outsourcing. The number of internal and external bottlenecks on the execution front would increase with the size and complexity of the project.

One of the ideal things to do is to align development and testing when using outsourced testing services. QA engineers and other team members from the testing agency should have a clear understanding about application requirements, test processes, bug reports, and other activities involved in product testing.

Having team members that work in different time zones could derail the entire process. In such scenarios, emailing might not be an effective mode of communication. Here, the CTO and his/her team should leverage communication tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc. so that simple issues can be resolved on chat (rather than being dragged in emails).

Also Read: 6 Common Myths About Software Testing Outsourcing

Perform Time-to-Time Vendor Assessment

Many organizations engage with multiple vendors that provide outsourced testing services. The organization has a centralized database where every record of the vendors are maintained on a timely basis.

As a CTO, you need to do a timely assessment from different angles like ROI (Return on Investment), performance, test capabilities, and more. This enables you to take timely actions in case the performance of the outsourced testing company is not up to the mark.

A uniform mode of communication must be set between the inhouse QA Manager and the testing vendor. The POC from the vendor’s side must be kept informed about the performance of their team, so that they can take actions whenever there is a deterioration of performance.

All these steps are necessary for ensuring that the team (and company) benefits significantly by outsourcing their software testing services.

Strike a balance between In-house QA and Outsourced QA

Depending on the project scope and time to market, a conscious decision has to be taken about outsourcing testing services. The company offering software testing outsourcing must complement the capabilities of the in-house QA team.

There should be zero overlap in the capabilities; thereby ensuring best utilization of the resources in hand. CTOs can also opt for an outsourced QA lab in their office premises, so that there is zero friction between the in-house and outsourced QA teams.

To get the best ROI from outsourced software testing, you need to make sure that there is optimal utilization of the test resources. A proper fallback mechanism must be in place for ensuring that a switch to a new QA vendor does stall the project execution.

Also Read: Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing

Create an Agreement with the QA Vendor

Devising a QA outsourcing contract between the organization and the QA vendor should be taken on a very priority. All the terms and conditions must be mentioned clearly in the contract.

A special clause on ‘breach of contract’ and ‘protection of IP’ must be added in the contract. Essential pointers about ‘contract termination’ must be clearly understood by all the stakeholders of the project.

Once you have shortlisted the QA vendor, create a detailed contract before kick starting any project work.

Conclusion

Many organizations are opting for software QA outsourcing as it helps them save costs. Apart from recursive cost savings, such a strategy also helps in accelerated time to market, as the QA vendor has skilled resources that aid in expediting the testing process.

CTOs should be closely involved in all the activities when signing up a new vendor. Choosing a proven global vendor like KiwiQA should be on a CTOs priority list so that the inhouse and outsourced QA teams can work for the betterment of the project.

However, shortlisting a reliable testing company with proven expertise is a task that needs to be executed with precision. In this blog, we look at the essential pointers that should be a part of your checklist when partnering with an independent software testing company. Before we unveil those tips, first we look at ‘why’ & ‘when’ of outsourced software testing.

Why Outsource Software Testing?

There are numerous benefits of the partnership model when it comes to software verification & testing. These benefits are independent of the size & scale of the organization.

Here are some of the major benefits offered by outsourced software testing:

• Achieve optimal test coverage by leveraging the expertise offered by the independent software testing company
• Minimize the overhead costs incurred on hiring and retaining permanent employees for software testing
• Accelerate the software testing process and reduce the feedback cycle for faster time to market

Outsourcing QA services can have a monumental impact on improving the quality of software products and improving the productivity of the client’s in-house development & test teams. An independent software testing company like KiwiQA that has served a wide range of global clients can be an ideal partner in providing specialized testing services.

Now that we have solved the vital puzzle – ‘why outsource software testing?’, let’s deep dive into the pointers that should be a part of your checklist for choosing the best software testing company.

Also Read: Reasons Why Software Companies Don’t Invest In Software Testing

How to shortlist a reliable software testing provider?

Here are some of the major pointers that should be considered when partnering with a company that has expertise in providing software testing services:

1. Company Portfolio

This is one of the most vital things that need to be checked when looking at prospects for outsourced software testing. Software testing encompasses automation testing and manual testing. A software testing services company that has experience in serving a wide range of clients will be in a much better position to provide testing services.

Such a company can also advise you on building an effective strategy for automation testing. A company that has experience with different forms of testing (e.g. performance testing, integration testing, end-to-end testing, regression testing, etc.) is a much better fit in comparison to a company that provides only a subset of those services.

Lastly, check whether the independent software testing company has experience and manpower to on-board large clients, else the delivery timeline might get severely impacted.

2. Engagement Model

Along with technical and functional expertise, you should also understand the company’s outsourcing and service model. You should clarify whether you want the resources to work offshore or whether they should be seated at your location (to minimize the communication gap).

Dedicated team model, fixed price, and time & material model are some of the common engagement models followed by many companies that offer outsourced software testing services.

3. IP Protection

Intellectual Property (IP) is important for any business. IP rights need to be protected, especially when partnering with any solutions (or services) provider. The SLA (Service Level Agreement) should clearly list down the information that should not be disclosed by the vendor. You should also include detailed information related to the violation of IP rights.

An experienced independent software testing company that has served multiple clients would never commit the mistake of breaching the client’s trust. Always opt for such kind of organization rather than going for a testing services company that does not have a clear-cut understanding of IP protection.

Also Read: Software Testing Vs. Game Testing

4. Testing Infrastructure

The testing of web products has to be performed on different types of devices (desktops, mobile devices, tablets, etc.) Along with performance testing and load testing, equal emphasis should be given to cross-browser testing & other forms of user-interface testing.

A reliable and experienced software testing company will not only have good testing resources but would have also invested in the right set of testing tools to leverage the advantage offered by the cloud. Before on-boarding any independent software testing company, always check if the company has relevant software testing tools and testing infrastructure to sign-up a new QA project.

5. Mobilization

Contract development, preparation of SOW (Statement of Work), and creation of SLA (Service Level Agreement) are the integral activities of the mobilization strategy. In this phase, the client and software testing company are in the end stage of finalizing the outsourcing tasks.

The information listed in the mobilization strategy should be transparently communicated to the relevant stakeholders of the project. The interest of the independent software testing company should also be safeguarded in the legal contract (while taking the long-term perspective into account).

Also Read: 6 Common Myths About Software Testing Outsourcing

6. Communication Strategy

Communication is of paramount importance when you are planning to outsource activity related to software development and testing. Delay in communication can be catastrophic for the project.

Though communication is taken for granted for software projects, it is important to establish a clear line of communication with the testing partner. An experienced and independent software testing company like KiwiQA will lay thrust on communication and timely delivery.

In a nutshell, it is essential to partner with a software testing company that has experienced in-house resources, testing expertise, adequate testing infrastructure, meticulous planning & execution capabilities, amongst others.

Conclusion

Software testing is an integral part of any software project. Along with investing in building an in-house team of test experts, organizations are willing to partner with companies that have expertise in providing software testing services.

Executing a collaborative strategy will not only help in achieving improved product quality at lower costs but will also help in reducing the time to market. Since there are a lot of vendors providing software testing services, it is imperative to partner with a global testing company like KiwiQA that has expertise in providing software testing services to a wide range of clients.

The checklist mentioned in this blog can be a good starting point for someone who is looking to outsource critical software testing activities. When partnering with an independent software testing company, always lay emphasis on building a long-term collaboration since it will be cost-effective and reaps significant benefits in the long-run.