Outsourcing software QA testing services is often highly beneficial for businesses, who can reap the rewards of a third-party perspective and expertise at a cost-effective rate. But finding the best fit provider isn’t always an easy task as it’s a process that implies a number of steps. Where you should start, then? And most importantly, when searching for the right partner, what are the best criteria to use to evaluate outsourcing businesses? Here are 6 important questions to ask.
#1 What Resources and Infrastructure Do the Provider Have?
One of the main benefits of outsourcing is that an outside provider has an infrastructure in place, including staff and automation and other testing tools. This will save businesses money and give them the necessary expertise to deliver strong outcomes.
When considering which partner is the best choice, businesses will need to evaluate the resources and infrastructure the provider has in place to complete the project. Do they have engineers who have specialized skills and have completed similar projects with a solid track record? How many testers are on staff — enough to perform services for several companies at once? Will the equipment cover all the types of QA testing necessary for the product?
Given the fact that many providers will be dealing with sensitive data, businesses must also assess the security protocols they have in place to ensure that they will be able to keep their information protected.
#2 What’s the Budget for the Project?
Cost shouldn’t be the only factor in selecting a QA testing provider, and businesses should be wary of services that come at a “too good to be true” price — because they probably are, in fact, too good to be true. Still, many businesses do choose to outsource because of the cost-effectiveness, so price is an important consideration.
Businesses should take into account their overall budget for the project and how much they’re able to spend on testing. When comparing providers, they should note whether the price aligns with market norms for the area, keeping in mind that nearshore and offshore companies will likely be far less expensive than onshore alternatives. They should also discuss what’s included in the overall package — for example, will there be additional fees for repeat testing?
#3 Is There a Cultural Fit?
Given the close collaboration between partners during the QA testing phase — and entire software development lifecycle (SDLC) — a cultural fit is essential, and it’s not always guaranteed, particularly if the teams are based in different countries. Businesses should consider the culture of the workplace itself.
To assess whether the organizations will mesh well, businesses should consider holding interviews over a video conferencing platform. They’ll need to take into account factors such as language ability and workstyles. If these are incompatible, the outsourcing relationship could become problematic, with miscommunication and a lack of follow-through.
Businesses will need to think about whether their in-house teams can work well with the third-party organization. This may require some coaching from the leader. The project’s success depends on operations running smoothly on the part of both stakeholders.
#4 Does the Provider Have a Solid Track Record?
The QA testing provider must be able to prove their expertise by demonstrating a solid track record of successful projects. Businesses can research their prospective partner’s qualifications by looking at the company’s digital materials, including their website, case studies, and portfolio of past work, and reading references and reviews on platforms like Clutch.co.
These materials should offer an indication of their methodology, the breadth of their experience, specializations, team size, and overall quality. In addition to ensuring that the provider has the requisite experience, businesses should evaluate whether that experience includes projects in their particular niche.
#5 Will the Provider Be Able to Scale Services?
As businesses grow, so does the volume of the projects they plan to undertake. When evaluating prospective QA testing providers, they should think about whether the companies have the capacity to grow with them, taking on more projects and completing them successfully. After all, if all goes well, an organization will probably want to keep returning to the same provider.
Businesses should consider whether the resources of the outsourcing company can accommodate a larger workload depending on their demand for services. It will make their lives easier to have a single reliable outsourcing partner to turn to that has the staff and tools to complete a multitude of projects efficiently.
#6 What Does the Contract Look Like?
Every organization should negotiate a fair contract with their provider, one that includes Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that define expectations and each component of the testing process that should be delivered. It should be clear how the contracting business will evaluate the services rendered, including deadlines, milestones, and other criteria as determined by the project leaders.
There should also be clauses that stipulate the cost of the project and what additional fees -if any- the business will incur should the timeline be expanded or any other unexpected circumstances arise. It’s important that both parties understand and agree on the terms to avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings later on, once the project gets underway.
Rigorous QA testing is an essential part of the SDLC, and businesses must be able to trust the outsourcing provider they hire to perform it. Resources, budget, cultural fit, expertise, scalability of services, and contract negotiation are all important criteria for evaluating prospective vendors.
BairesDev has a proven track record, with talented QA testers and engineers and the capacity to perform a variety of testing procedures. Want to learn more about the QA process and what we can do for you? Contact us!
