10 Key Aspects to Consider when Outsourcing Software Testing Services
As an experienced software development company, we understand the importance of software testing services. In our software testing processes we seek answers to the following questions:
- Does the application work as intended?;
- Are there bugs that hinder the user’s experience? and
- When can the application go live?
That is why testing services are crucial and go hand in hand with the development process. Project managers in large corporations confirm that software testing should represent as much as 33% of a project’s hours.
Software testing services can bring many benefits to companies seeking to improve the quality of their application development and management processes. Also, rigorous testing helps reduce business risks.
Given the increase in global IT outsourcing, many companies choose to outsource software testing. This helps ensure high-quality apps and competitive advantages. Moreover, the competitive benefits of outsourcing include cost reductions and improved use of labor, capital, and technology.
There are many things to consider and account for before signing a contract with an outsourcing partner.
The 10 Most Important Aspects You Should Pay Attention to are:
1. The Engagement Models
Selecting an engagement model is an essential aspect of developing the outsourcing plan. The process of outsourcing includes elements of global business strategy, selecting the physical location, understanding the business model, and deciding on the outsourcing strategy. Two of the most common engagement models are:
Incremental Outsourcing
This model helps companies reduce the risks of outsourcing by dividing the work into small, manageable projects. These projects are then outsourced to service providers. Thus, managers on the client side have well-defined deliverables and programs.
Total Outsourcing
In this model, the client outsources multiple projects and programs to a service provider. The service provider takes on the project, module, or program from a client organization. Then, deploys a small team on site that works with the client’s managers and teams and coordinates the work with the offshore team.
2. Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Some good examples of the types of SLAs that should be considered are on-time delivery, client satisfaction, effectiveness, the volume of work, and sensitivity.
3. Mobilization
This phase refers to the projects’ setup environment and process. It includes setting up the communication protocol with the client, defining the work breakdown structure, sharing standard templates, and building the test strategy, among others.
4. Flexibility
To ensure timescale fluctuations are met, software testing outsourcing agreements require a degree of flexibility.
5. Quality Improvement
The prime objective of the client is often to gain a notable improvement in quality. This can be gained through outsourcing. As the relationship between the two parties matures, there should be a willingness to improve the process and working methods ongoing. Moreover, this should include the whole lifecycle if it enhances the end product and not be restricted to testing only.
6. Change Management
Clients may have frequently changing requirements which, if handled poorly, can affect the time, quality, and cost. To help clients overcome this situation, software testing outsourcing partners maintain a complete change and configuration management system.
7. Intellectual Property Protection
Intellectual Property (IP) protection is one of the essential factors for customers in outsourcing services. Thus, software testing outsourcing providers must protect all PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII) given by clients.
Therefore, the testing and outsourcing providers’ staff should not duplicate, distribute, disclose, convey, or make available any PII to third parties in any other manner.
8. Communication
Outsourcing providers facilitate communication between the client and their stakeholders. Communication is considered a key obstacle to outsourcing. Thus, providers should maintain effective channels and points of contact (POC) open to clients.
9. People
The outsourcing providers maintain a pool of highly qualified and dedicated professionals. This contains software testing engineers, software testing leads, project managers, and technical specialists.
Many outsourcing providers have unique centers of excellence to train their interns and employees on various testing methodologies and tools. Ensuring the most suitable resources for your requirements is critical for the success of the engagement.
10. Security
All the major outsourcing providers have Information Security Policies, Information Security Standards, and Business Continuity Management policies, primarily to protect data.
Also, many outsourcing vendors have physical security measures to restrict the entry and exit of personnel, equipment and media from a specific area.
Software testing is an essential phase of software development but not the core activity of most companies. By outsourcing this function, companies can focus on core activities and leading innovation. All this while the testing providers work efficiently to ensure quality results and a positive business outcome.