Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Software Testing

Linh Nguyen | 21/05/2021

Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Software Testing

The demand for quality software applications is at an all-time high. This forces many organizations to keep up with the latest testing practices to ensure that any software developed runs smoothly and without trouble. Hence, the need for software testing has grown over the years and keeps increasing as time goes on.

Organizations are now tackling this increasing demand by using software testing outsourcing practices as a strategy to meet the needs of consumers and employees. However, others are having a hard time deciding whether to outsource software testing or not. These organizations are torn between outsourcing testing activities or setting up an in-house testing infrastructure.

The most common questions on their minds are what are the advantages and disadvantages of software testing outsourcing? For this reason, this article highlights the pros and cons of outsourcing software testing to make it easier for companies that are having a hard time deciding whether to outsource or not.

What is Software Testing?

A software development project is not considered finished at the end of the development process. It must go through a series of software testing processes before it can be deemed completed. Software testing is the science where various techniques are applied to find defects in parts of the software.

It is usually performed by professionals testers highly-trained professionals like .net programmers, C# Programmers, PHP programmers to name a few. It is carried out both during and after the software development procedure to make sure the software runs flawlessly. These testers work side-by-side with the development team to ensure that the software meets the requirements of the client and can run smoothly after launch.

Testers find the defects and report them to the development team. The development team then fixes the defects and sends the software back for testing. These two teams stay in constant contact until all defects are resolved before handing over the final product to the client. However, in order to make sure that the software stays bug-free, it is recommended to keep in touch with the software testing team and keep the software tested to prevent any potential future bugs.

Why is Software Testing Important?

Software testing is a very vital process in the software development cycle. There are a few reasons why software testing is important, including:

It Saves You Money

Software testing allows you to find bugs in the software before it is released. The longer the bug goes undetected in your software, the higher the cost will when the time comes to have it fixed. Software testing identifies and resolves problems with the software at an early stage which can help you save money.

It Prevents Corporate Emergencies

The stakes are higher when dealing with corporate software since problems in these types of software can cause system blackouts, missing data, and communication breakdowns. To avoid these catastrophic scenarios, it is best to perform software testing on corporate software that is going to be used throughout a company or to handle sensitive information.

It Delivers Great User Experience

User experience can make or break a product which is why software testing is important. Software that is slow and glitchy can lead to users’ frustration and dissatisfaction. Testing software will ensure that consumers have a great user experience and will most likely purchase and recommend the product to others.

It Promotes Organization, Productivity, and Efficiency

Performing software testing early on in the development process can increase productivity. This way instead of waiting until the very end, testing can be done in small segments throughout the development process. Developers and testers can work together by utilizing agile methodologies where the developers create and deliver small chunks of software by a set deadline. Once delivered, testing can begin as the developers continue to work on other parts of the software. Using this method can improve productivity and efficiency.

Advantages of Outsourcing Software Testing

Cost-Effective and Time Efficient

Choosing to outsource software testing projects can help you save money, resources, and time. It is a very cost-effective alternative to internal hiring, training, and providing resources to a new or developing team. Hiring an in-house team requires additional costs which can include:

The time HR requires to find and build a testing team. Finding the right people for the job can take time and time equals money.
New employees may take some time to get familiar with the project and team members. During this period, the efficiency of work can be greatly reduced which means your product may take longer to hit the market.
Testing needs testing setups, stubs, and different other tools for testing, defect tracking, test management, CI/CD, and much more which also adds to the cost. Depending on the type of software testing required, you may need to invest in specialized software or hardware.

Those are just a few disadvantages for having an in-house testing team which outsourcing can eliminate. Outsourcing your testing project to an established and trusted company can grant great results to your software project. Software testing outsourcing companies are equipped with the necessary skills, software, and hardware tools to carry out the job. This will lower labor costs and all other additional costs especially if you choose software development outsourcing companies that offer software testing services as well.

Access to a wider pool of experts

Software testing techniques are constantly changing and outsourcing your software testing projects can give you access to world-class experts. These highly skilled individuals are experts in their respective fields and up to date with the best practices. They are well versed in various testing tools to perform fresh testing, which can find new defects that teams that perform repeated testing may not be able to find. This ensures software that is updated and free from all bugs and flaws.

High-quality results

Software testing may be considered less important from a developmental point of view. Developers may rush the process to finish the software development process with testing put on the back burner. This can take a significant toll on the quality of software produced.

Testing tools, resources, servers, databases, and other types of specialized testing software and hardware can cost a fortune if you hire an in-house or on-shore team. It is highly likely that when you choose to outsource software testing, the experienced third-party vendor will perform end-to-end testing to guarantee quality results. The software will be fully tested, free from bugs, and ready to roll out.

Focus on Core Business

One of the biggest advantages of software testing outsourcing is that it gives you the ability to focus on core business areas. These teams are equipped with the knowledge and specialization on specific types of testing to handle your software testing processes so you can focus on other aspects of the software like marketing, etc.

Hiring an off-shore company can improve in-house efficiency by giving you and your employees more time to focus on the critical aspects of the company. It saves you a great deal instead of wasting time and money to train your existing team during crucial working hours.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing Software Testing

Confidentiality and Security Issues

Advantages of Outsourcing Software Testing

Choosing to outsource software testing can put an organization at risk if they share highly confidential and sensitive information. These can include anything from customer records to source codes, workflows, reference models, and others. Businesses need to take extra precautions when hiring a third-party vendor to ensure all shared information remains safe and secured at all times.

Choosing a trusted vendor

A quick search online for software testing outsourcing companies will generate tons of results. This can leave business owners frustrated and can sometimes lead to hiring the wrong company. One of the most important things to remember when outsourcing software testing is to find a suitable partner that you can trust. Not only should you be able to trust them with sensitive information but also trust that they will handle high-value and business-crucial projects with professionalism especially if these projects have a lot of revenue and penalization depending on them.

Working Across Borders

Software testing outsourcing companies are located overseas in countries like India, China, and other countries in the world. This can lead to some trouble when outsourcing your software testing project. Problems can arise due to differences in time zones, language barriers, and restricted methods of communication. Oftentimes, you and the vendor may be able to find a way of making things work.

Tips for a Successful Outsourcing Software Testing Project

If you decide to outsource your software testing, there are a few simple tips that you can keep in mind to help you get the most out of your experience.

Involve the testing team as soon as possible - that means they should be present during the developmental phase. Bugs that are found and fixed early costs significantly less than those found after.
Set up testing goals and come up with a testing strategy before starting your project to avoid confusion and delays. Be clear and give testers all the information they need, including the requirement specifications. You can draw up a service level agreement that covers the volume of work, deadlines, downtime, and availability, etc.
Establish a point of contact on both sides so that you’re always in the loop and can express your opinion and participate in the decision-making process more effectively.
Work with a contract especially if you are providing access to your internal system with confidential information. An NDA is a perfect example of this and in the event, something goes wrong, you’re safe.

Conclusion

Many businesses find themselves in a dilemma and wonder if software testing outsourcing is the way to go. There are many pros and cons of outsourcing software testing and the decision to outsource varies from company to company. It all depends on the company’s need and how prepared they are to handle it if they decide to do it in-house. In the end, business owners need to have to look at the entire project from all angles and be fully aware of the advantages and disadvantages before making the big decision of outsourcing or not.

Topics: Software Testing