If you are looking for ways to augment the efforts of your in-house QA team, then outsourcing your software testing requirements to a nearshore vendor can prove to be extremely beneficial. Not only will it help to boost production during a software release cycle, but testers will ensure that you do not compromise on security and product quality.
Nearshore software testing is a best-of-both-worlds solution that lets you foster an agile environment for development while seeking out the domain and technological expertise that comes from working with a dedicated QA partner. Either by itself, or as a powerful complement to offshore solutions, nearshore software testing is gaining rapid popularity in the software industry.
A Common Clock and an Agile Team
Nearshore software testing has become a viable solution for product developers as expertise has expanded in areas such as Central and South America. For example, Mexico now offers state-of-the-art testing facilities that operate on the same time zone as central time in America. In fact, you can fly from the Bay Area to Mexico City in a third of the time it takes to reach traditional offshore testing centers in south Asia.
This proximity brings with it unique opportunities like fostering an agile development environment that has come to dominate the software industry. Sharing a working day with a nearshore QA team means both sides can communicate in real time and source quick solutions—without anyone having to attend a video conference in the middle of the night.
Moreover, geographical proximity means that there will be linguistic and cultural commonalities that will improve professional communication channels. This means that the nearshore QA team can understand your product and its ecosystem much better. Your workflows can be readily synchronized and the quality standards of your product remain unaltered. Most importantly, there’s no difference between the quality of work produced in a reliable nearshore environment versus an onshore testing location.
Quality and Security Within Nearshore Software Testing
It is critical that any outsourced QA partner, regardless of their location, has the domain expertise and security credentials to properly execute the software testing process according to your standards and business goals. We have put together a list of key questions you have to put to any potential QA partner before you commit to outsourcing your software QA testing.
What to Look for in Nearshore Software Testing
The following checklist covers the most important security aspects of QA testing for software:
- What physical and logical security standards are in place?
- How are confidential documents stored?
- What restrictions are placed on customer data availability and use?
- What security training do employees complete?
- Do you have ISO accreditation and compliance with SSAE and other industry standards?
- Can you share evidence of your track record to underscore the quality of your services?
It is also important that your QA partner has access to a range of software testing tools, technologies, and frameworks. Towards that end, you should ask:
- Are you framework agnostic?
- Can you build your framework around my engineering technology stack?
- Do you provide access and training of your frameworks?
- Do you employ modular and reusable frameworks?
- What framework structure will you apply?
- How do you disseminate report information?
- What is your commitment to transparency and accountability?
These questions are important for establishing trust with a QA partner. You need to ensure that they will protect sensitive client information and that they have the expertise to deliver a quality product.
Once you are satisfied with your QA team’s credentials, you can begin to capitalize on the advantages of nearshore outsourcing.
The Advantages of Nearshore Software Testing
Anytime you outsource your QA process, you acquire domain expertise, cost efficiencies, and increased productivity that would otherwise be out of reach for an internal team. You can scale up your resources to meet the extra burden of the QA process—which helps you avoid long-term resource drain—and you can return to external experts familiar with your software every time you launch.
Taking that process to a nearshore solution increases those advantages by reducing costs while maintaining close professional ties and established workflows. It is a best-of-both-worlds solution, especially as a complement to offshore testing solutions, for industry leaders who prioritize quality.
QASource has developed a Distributed Agile® hybrid staffing model that leverages its unique global software testing assets. We employ US-based management teams to act as conduits between our domestic partners and our state-of-the-art facilities in Chandigarh, India, and in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Contact us for a free quote, or call +1.925.271.5555 today to find an outsourcing solution for your critical software testing.
