Numerous development companies struggle with rising costs and time expenditure for testing, a consequence of higher quality requirements from the customers as well as an increasing amount of diverse devices. In addition, there is the need to test in the net of several operators as well as verify the translations to other languages and cultures. This pressure usually results in the company testing to the best of it’s ability with the resources available, hence testing on home ground and possibly with a lower number of loyal customers as support.
Nevertheless, there is a way to reduce the costs and yet increase the quality for all customers, basically by organizing the company properly and outsourcing appropriate parts of the testing. Two things are important to remember when devising a strategy for testing; firstly, testing the projects in the shortest time possible. And secondly, maximizing the combination of devices, language settings, networks etc. tested.
Within the software development industry the need to continuously verify and validate what’s developed is no news. Usually, some kind of Agile method, such as SCRUM, is used to regularly test developed functions as well as run regression tests. Likewise, extensive tests are performed before releases. There isn’t really any need for major alterations in the process itself. However, we must change what is tested and when it is tested. Commonly the “troublesome” tests are performed at the end of the project, or in the worst case not at all, due to their relatively high price. We must apply the same routine for testing as for development; running these “troublesome” tests early in the process, to receive feedback on our solutions before the development has proceeded for too long. According to Agile methods, we always check with the customer so that the correct tasks are performed, and accordingly we must verify that the new development works for our customers in practice.
Let’s take an example: a mobile application with payment solutions about to be launched in Europe. This required testing of payment services in numerous countries, together with translation to several languages and compatibility for the net of various operators. Not to mention the range of different mobile devices the application must work with. Thus, there is a need for regular testing in many countries, on many types of devices. Every testing round must also be performed in shortest time possible, to enable a quick feedback to developers, accordingly reducing the time-to-market. Formerly, there were only too alternatives, both quite complicated: either construct a big organization with employees running the tests, or contracting testing companies in various countries running the tests locally.
Through the Services of Applause, a much more effective organization of your QA division is possible. I would recommend a core group of highly competent testers responsible for planning the testing, and then complementing with a subscription on Applause Community testing. More than 250 000 professional worldwide testers will at short notice support you in verifying your applications. The time-to-market will be reduced radically and the quality will reach another level, all of this to a fraction of your present testing expenses.