Partnering with a software testing company is a big step toward streamlining your quality engineering and software testing processes, reducing the chance that defects make their way into released software, and increasing the strength of your brand among your target customers.
But when you know what to look for, you can get far more than just a team of experts that perform the testing you need with precision. Your organization can also find a strategic partner that will take your products to the next level.
So how do you find a company with all the right qualities?
Of course, you have to know the qualities to look for and the right questions to ask. To get your team started, here are some of the key qualities we think your team should look for when selecting a software testing company:
A company having extensive software testing experience is just table stakes.
Instead, go one step further and ask about their team’s experience with testing software developed for your industry and how they have contributed to advancing the tools and best practices in your arena.
Software testing companies that combine both perspective and experience will boost the efficiency of your testing by not only making sure that the right items get the evaluation they need, but also that the latest industry standards and cutting-edge tools are applied for the best results.
Software testing has come a long way in recent years, with more widespread use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation.
If the potential partner harnesses industry-leading tools, refined methodologies, and customizable accelerators (e.g., testing templates, reports, or dashboards), they can enhance every aspect of your software testing processes.
Your team may be widely distributed, working under compressed timelines, and facing high pressure to deliver.
That’s why you need to make sure that the potential software testing partner has the ability to work how, when, and where your team works. During the selection process, ask specifically about how communication between your team and theirs will be handled, especially when deadlines are tight or issues arise.
Testing may be a critical part of your software development lifecycle, but can the software testing company step back and understand the larger strategic picture behind your work?
If so, they will become more than just an extra set of hands. Instead, they will become integrated, strategic partners that can provide a full range of consultative services. This type of partner can help with optimizing your quality assurance processes, making a focus on quality a part of your organization’s overall culture, and integrating knowledge management to capture lessons learned and best practices into your organization’s institutional practices.
In other words, they will be able to not only enhance your testing functions, but provide a more comprehensive view of your operations to encourage proactive, continuous development.
Although a service-level agreement (SLA) isn’t a guarantee, it helps you identify how a potential partner will address challenges and hurdles that may arise, enforce the agreed upon goals and expectations, and work to proactively mitigate risks.
Make sure you know and understand the SLAs and are comfortable with leaning on them when the situation calls for it.
Finding and selecting the right software testing partner does take some extra time and effort, but your investment will pay off in the long run as they become an integral part of your software development processes and brand growth.
And if they are armed with industry-leading tools and backed by experience, your software testing has the potential to be more than just a function, but instead a way to elevate your entire brand.
Are you ready to find a software testing partner that checks all these boxes and more? Then you should speak to one of our experts to learn what Qualitest can do for you.
