QASource Blog

Time is the one resource you cannot replenish or write-off. It is unstoppable and unforgiving. It is also a crucial element in the successful delivery of any software development project. Outsourcing your software quality management makes time an ally. An experienced QA expert can find efficiencies at every stage of the testing process, from initial planning through to delivery. They can scale up capacity quickly, identify where and when to apply automation, unlock the advantages of Agile development and early bug detection and create a 24-hour cycle of continuous testing and product improvement.

The world today is highly connected through the internet and social media, we are able to stay connected, even if we are thousands of miles away from each other! Our interconnected way of life is not just for social media, it has reached into other aspects of life. This has opened the door for offshore teams-for companies to have teams located in different countries. As amazing as this is, software companies faced some difficulty. In order to meet these obstacles head-on, the Agile methodology was created. Many top software companies have adopted the Agile methodology because adopting the Agile methodology into an organization yield many rewards. Some of these include higher satisfaction because of more frequent releases, more development time for iterations, the QA team receives access to the software earlier than usual, critical bugs are caught early in the project and stakeholders receive higher visibility.

Outsourcing QA has proven to be highly beneficial for the software industry. When companies partner with an outsourced testing provider, they can save money, produce higher quality software and have access to expert QA engineers with hard-to-find skill sets. As with any endeavor, outsourcing also has its challenges. Some of these challenges, or 'pain points,' are more common than others. QASource's engineers have gathered the most common challenges software companies face and have shared methods to overcome these obstacles. Check out QASource’s latest infographic below to read our expert engineer's tips on how to solve the 4 most prevalent pain points of outsourcing QA:

By now, most product companies are familiar with the benefits of outsourced QA, the biggest one being the lower cost for a potentially higher headcount. Some are even familiar with the big advantages that come with outsourcing to places like India: the culture of leadership in IT, the experience of many of the engineers, and the time difference that allows Indian teams to test while U.S. teams sleep are just a few.

The world of data security is changing rapidly - so rapidly that it can be hard to keep track of all the authentication methods that see wide usage and adoption from product companies. Currently, there are three main categories for security solutions. First, what we know: Your standard alphanumeric passwords and security questions. Second, what we carry: Hand-held items like key cards and ID badges. And third, what we are: Unique bodily identifiers that are nearly impossible to replicate. We’re all familiar with choosing super-strong passwords and clipping an ID badge on our belt loop before leaving the house. But in general, biometric authentication is still a relatively new category in the security space.

QA onboarding can be an overwhelming process for any company, especially when there are so many factors to consider. Partner availability, testing infrastructure, training, domain experience, testing experience, communication skills—all of this can impact your success when working with an offshore QA team. By allocating your resources appropriately, you can proceed with onboarding your outsourced offshore QA team with ease and boost your QA productivity in the long run. Doing this successfully requires a solid understanding on how to onboard a QA team effectively. So, where should a business begin when onboarding their outsourced QA team? We recommend following this advice from our QA experts, from asking the right questions to establishing parameters for project success.

Remember the days when storing sensitive data behind a simple alphanumeric password worked just fine? Those were the days... such simple, innocent days. Every time the latest company data breach makes the news, we’re reminded that those days are over. As hackers and leakers become ever more skilled and brazen, product companies are responding by doubling down on security measures to protect their users, proprietary information, and their reputation in the market. Today, access control goes far beyond the keyboard. The advent of biometrics - the process of authenticating a person using physical or behavioral characteristics - is expanding the reach of security and increasing its effectiveness.

Back in the day, outsourcing was implemented purely as a cost-cutting measure. Organizations would assess which services were vital enough to be kept in-house, and farm out the rest to outside vendors. The work got done, but often, it just wasn’t up to par with what an onsite team could have accomplished. Reasons for this varied -- poor onboarding, insufficient communication, lack of familiarity with the product -- the list goes on.

For young product companies struggling to find their place in the market, there’s no slack. No margin for error, no wiggle room, and no second chances from customers or investors. This means that everyone and their competitors are striving for perfection, and lean teams are trying to run like those twice their size. It’s hard, but it’s the cost of innovating and succeeding.