Each option has its own set of pros and cons, but for many businesses, offshore software testing is the best way to ensure quality assurance. By offshoring these activities, businesses can reduce costs and improve turnaround times. 

As per a recent report, the IT outsourcing market is set to grow by $98 billion from 2020 to 2024 at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period.

However, it is important to ensure that the third party you choose has the necessary experience and expertise to provide quality assurance services.

In this blog post, we will discuss some offshore software testing best practices that will help you guarantee software quality assurance. By following these tips, you can rest assured that your software will be error-free and ready for prime time.

Here we go!

Find Out the Offshore Software Testing Best Practices

Offshore software testing is done on different levels. Here are the key levels that offshore teams work on for testing a web or a mobile app.  

Unit Tests

Unit Tests are performed by a testing resource to check if the execution of functions has been proper or not. Independent testing of functions is done to ensure that each function is tested thoroughly. 

Moreover, unit tests help in creating test samples that are useful in improving the quality of the test results. 

Integration Testing 

This form of testing includes a set of features that have to be tested by dedicated testing professionals. This form of testing helps in correlating the working of individual functionalities and the complete feature. The data from unit tests helps in doing integration tests more efficiently.

Qualifying Tests 

This kind of testing goes to the next level. The testing professional uses qualifying use cases to test complete scenarios. Independent testing teams are required to do these kinds of tests so that they can create multiple scenarios and test the system appropriately.      

User Acceptability Tests

These tests help in finding out the usability of the application amongst its users. This test makes sure that the application can be easily used by the users. 

Also Read: Custom Software Development Challenges: Alleviate Risk with the Best Practices

Types of Application Testing

Application Performance Testing 

Application performance testing is conducted to ensure that the software application meets the performance requirements.   This type of testing is important for any software application that will be used by a large number of users.

Testing The Application Robustness 

These tests are used to test the strength of the application by putting it under conditions that are below normal. It is important to understand and foolproof the recovery mechanism of the software. 

It is essential to run such tests to ensure that one does not have to incur huge costs on occasions of system failure.

Testing the Functionality of The Application 

Every software has some specifications according to which it is developed. The scenarios in which the software is written are described earlier on, and these tests are conducted on the basis of these scenarios. 

It is essential to test all of the features and functions of the software. The test cases should be designed to cover all of the use cases. In addition, the tests should be executed in a variety of environments, including development, QA, and production.

Testing The Scalability of the Application

The size of an application depends on the number of users it can accommodate. If an application cannot sustain an increasing number of users, it will fail in the scalability test. 

That’s why it is important to ensure that the software can handle the increased load. The load test should be conducted with representative data sets and transaction mixes. In addition, the test should include both peak and average loads.

Testing the Platform Compatibility

When testing the platform compatibility, it is important to ensure that the software applications are compatible with the target operating system. The target operating system can be a different version of the same operating system or a different operating system altogether. 

In some cases, it may be necessary to test the software on multiple target operating systems.

Also Read: Advantages of Outsourcing Software Testing Services

Advantages of Outsourcing Software Testing Services

Outsourcing software testing services can provide businesses with a number of benefits, including cost savings, improved efficiency, and access to specialized expertise. Here are some of the significant advantages of outsourcing software testing services.

More Efficient

Outsourcing software testing services can be more efficient than doing it in-house. By outsourcing, you can focus on your core business while a third party is responsible for the testing work. This can be more cost-effective and ensure that the testing should go the right way.

Improved Quality

When you outsource software testing, you get access to a team of experts who are experienced in testing software. This can help to improve the quality of your product. The team will be able to find and fix defects quickly, improving the overall quality of the product.

Faster Turnaround Time

Software testing services providers have extensive experience in dealing with different types of testing projects and can typically turn around projects faster than an in-house team. This can be critical for companies that need to launch new products or updates quickly in order to stay competitive.

Access To Specialized Resources

By outsourcing software testing, you gain access to specialized resources and expertise that would be expensive to replicate in-house. This includes tools, techniques, and personnel with specific skills and experience in software testing.

Greater Flexibility

Outsourcing software testing services give you the flexibility to ramp up or down resources as needed depending on the project requirements. This can be helpful during busy times or when faced with unexpected deadlines.

Detailed Reports

With an outsourcing partner, you get detailed reports of the work that ensures the quantity and quality of the work; you can monitor these on a regular basis to get the best out of your remote team. This way, you can be sure that the work is on track and as per the plan.

Focus On Core Activities

Outsourcing software testing services enable organizations to focus on their core activities while leaving the testing to a specialized partner. This can result in improved quality, reduced costs, and faster turnaround times.

Summing Up

Outsourcing software testing services can be a great way for businesses to improve the quality of their products, save money, and increase efficiency. By working with a team of experts, businesses can get access to specialized resources and expertise that would be expensive to replicate in-house. 

In addition, outsourcing provides businesses with the flexibility to ramp up or down resources as needed depending on the project requirements. 

You can also outsource software testing services to a world-class company like ValueCoders. The firm is an experienced provider of dedicated software testing professionals. 

As a ValueCoders client, one gets a free trial before finalizing a professional to come on board.  Our team of software testers has deep knowledge and experience in testing services provided to a range of business verticals. 

Moreover, the company uses the latest tools and practices in holistically managing testing services for your project.  What else to think now? Contact us today to avail yourself of the top-class software testing services.

Also Read: Grab Top Software Development Frameworks, Tools & Libraries

FAQs

Q1: What is software testing?

Software testing is the process of assessing the quality of a software program. It involves verifying and validating that the software meets its functional and non-functional requirements. Before the deployment process, testing helps to identify any bugs or defects in the software.

Q2: What are testing techniques?

Generally speaking, there are four main testing techniques: unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing. 

Unit tests focus on individual software components (units) and verify that they behave as expected. Integration tests ensure that units work together as intended. System tests check that the entire system behaves correctly. 

And finally, acceptance tests determine whether the system meets the requirements of the customer or end-user. 

Each of these techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right one(s) for your particular project.

Q3: What are the significant advantages of offshoring software testing services?

There are several advantages of offshoring software testing services. First, it can help to save on costs. Second, it can help to improve turn-around time and quality. 

Third, it can help to improve communications between the customer and the service provider. Finally, it can help to increase flexibility and freedom when it comes to choosing a service provider.

The post Offshore Software Testing Best Practices: How to Ensure Quality Assurance appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.

Quality Assurance in Software Testing    

It is a method to assure the Quality of software services or products given to the customers by an organization. In fact, Quality assurance believes in improving the software development process and making it effective & efficient according to the defined quality standards for software products. Hence, it is popular as QA Testing in the world of software development.

What includes in Quality Assurance?

(Image source: Guru99)

The phase-in Quality Assurance consists of:

• Plan
• Do
• Check
• Act

Hence, for regular estimates and improved processes that you follow, you must take care of the above steps and repeat all of them

So, Let’s take a closer look at the previous steps of the quality assurance process:

Plan:

The organization must plan and establish process-related objectives. In addition, it determines the processes are necessary to deliver a high-quality end product.

Do:

Process development and testing, and also “make” changes to processes.

Check: 

Process monitoring, modifying the techniques and verifying if it meets the predetermined objectives.

Take Action:

A quality assurance evaluator must implement the actions necessary to achieve process improvements.

Hence,  it ensures the right design of the product and implements it with the proper procedures, an organization should use Quality Control.

As a result, all this helps in reducing problem issues & errors in the final product.

Quality Control

(Image Source: Google)

Quality control has an abbreviation of QC. It is a Software Engineering process which uses to guarantee the Quality of a product or service. It does not address the software quality assurance methods used to create a product. Instead, it examines the Quality of the “end products” and the ultimate result.

In addition, the main objective of quality control is to check whether the customer is satisfied with the product’s specifications & requirements. If the problem detects, then it needs quick bug fixing before delivering to the customer.

Furthermore, Quality control also assesses people on their quality level skill set and provides training and certifications. This evaluation is essential for the service-based industries and helps to give “perfect” service to customers. 

As a result, many companies choose Software Quality Assurance services from the best companies that provide the SQA services at a low cost. 

Read More: A Guide to Security in Software Development – White Paper

Elements of Software Quality Assurance

There are 10 important elements of Software Quality Assurance.

1. Software engineering Standards
2. Error collection and analysis
3. Vendor management
4. Software Testing for quality control
5. Change management
6. Security management
7. Safety
8. Educational programs
9. Technical reviews and audits
10. Risk management

Differences between Quality Assurance VS Quality Control?

Quality Assurance

• It is a procedure that concentrates on providing assurance that the Quality requested will deliver correctly.
• Quality Assurance aims to prevent the defect. 
• It is a method to maintain Quality- Verification.
• It does not involve performing the program.
• It’s a Preventive technique.
• It is a method to create the deliverables.
• QA involves in the full software development life cycle.
• QA ensures that everything is taking place correctly, which is why it falls under verification activity.

Quality Control

• It is a method that concentrates on fulfilling the Quality requested.
• QC aims to identify and fix defects.
• It is a technique to find the quality-Validation.
• Moreover, it always involves executing a program.
• It’s a Corrective technique.
• Also, it is a method to verify deliverables.
• Hence, the quality check involves the full software testing life cycle.
• Quality check assures that whatever we have done is as per the requirement, which is why it falls under validation activity.

Quality Assurance Functions:

Let’s check out five primary Quality Assurance Functions:

1. Technology transfer: This particular function involves getting a product design document, trial and error data, and evaluation. Moreover, it checks if the documents are capable of distribution, checking, and approval.
2. Validation: It is also one of the major QA Function in which the Validation master plan is prepared for the entire system. 
3. Documentation: This function manages the archiving and distribution of documents. Whether small or big, changes in the document can happen by following the proper change control procedure.
4. Assuring Quality of products
5. Quality improvement plans

Difference between Software Quality Assurance VS Software testing.

Software Quality Assurance

• It is about the engineering process that assures quality.
• It involves the activities related to the implementation of procedures, processes, and standards. Example – Audits Training 
• It takes proactive measures.
• It is process-focused and uses the Preventive technique
• The scope of Software Quality Assurance is applied to all products that the organization will create.

Software testing

• Software Testing detects problems from the product before the product goes live.
• It includes actives concerning verification of the product.
• Software testing takes Reactive measures.
• It mainly focuses on products.
• Software testing uses the corrective technique.
• The scope of Quality Assurance Software Testing applies to a particular product being tested.
  

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Various Software Quality Assurance Techniques

• Audit:

  The audit involves inspecting work products and their related information to determine whether the standard set of processes was followed.

• Review:

  A meeting in which both internal and external stakeholders review the software product for their feedback and approval.

• Code inspection:

  This is the most formal review that performs static tests to find bugs and prevent defect growth in the later stages. Performed by a trained peer/mediator and is based on rules, checklist, entry, and exit criteria. Hence, the reviewer must not be the author of the code.

• Design Inspection:

  Design inspection is done using a checklist that investigates the following areas of software design:

• General requirements and design
• Requirement traceability
• Functional and Interface specifications
• Conventions
• Performance
• Error handling and recovery
• Structures and interfaces
• Logic
• Testability, extensibility
• Coupling and cohesion

Simulation:

A simulation is a tool that models a real-life situation to examine the system’s behavior under study virtually.

Standardization:

It plays an essential role in quality assurance. Hence, it reduces ambiguity and guesswork, thus ensuring quality.

Functional testing:

It is a QA technique that verifies what the system does without considering it. This type of black-box testing primarily focuses on testing the specifications or features of the system.

Static Analysis:

This is a software analysis performed by an automated tool without actually running the program. This technique has many advantages for QA in nuclear, medical, and aviation software. Furthermore, there are some popular forms of static analysis like Software metrics and reverse engineering.

Tutorials:

A software or code walkthrough is a kind of peer review in which the developer guides members of the development team to review the product and make inquiries, suggest alternatives, comment on possible bugs, standard violations, or any other problem.

Stress test:

This type of test verifies how robust a system is by testing it under massive load beyond standard conditions.

Path Test:

This is a white box testing technique. It provides complete branch coverage and ensures executing each independent path at least once.

Six Sigma:

It is a Software Quality Assurance approach that targets near-perfect services or products. Six Sigma is providing benefits to many fields, including software. Moreover, the foremost objective of Six Sigma is the improvement of processes so that the software produced is free of defects in 99.76%.

Certification Based on Quality Assurance

However, several certifications are available in the market, which ensures that the following organization follows the standard Quality process or not? In fact, the Clients make this a must-qualifying criterion while choosing a software vendor.

ISO 9000

This standard was first established and initiated in 1987 and is related to Quality Management Systems. This helps the organization assure quality to its customers and other stakeholders. Moreover, an organization seeking ISO 9000 certification took an audit based on its functions, goods, services, and processes. 

Also, the prime objective is to try and verify if the organization follows the process as expected and verify if the existing processes need improvement. 

Therefore, the benefits of this certification are:

• Increase the profit of the organization
• Improves Domestic and International trade
• Decreases waste and increase the productivity of the employees
• Provide Excellent customer satisfaction

Read Also: Top 25 Custom Software Development Companies Offering Bespoke Solutions

CMMI Level

(Image source: umsl.edu)

The Capability Maturity Integrated Model (CMMI) is a process improvement approach specially developed for software process improvement. Moreover, CMMS is entirely based on the process maturity framework. Also, it acts as a general aid in business processes in the software industry. That’s why this model is highly appreciable and widely used in software development organizations.

CMMI has 5 levels. Therefore, it is a certification that has 5 levels from level 1 to 5. In addition, as per the Quality Assurance Mechanisms, the level from 1 to 5 is for the organization. Software maintenance companies follow these certifications to get good clients. 

• Initial: At this stage, the quality environment is unstable. Simply, no process to follow or document.
• Repeatable: Some processes are followed that are repeatable. This level ensures the right project-level procedures to follow.
• Defined: Set of processes that are defined and documented at the organizational level. Hence, defined processes can be for some degree of improvement.
• Managed: Managed level make use of process metrics and effectively controls the Software Quality Assurance methods that are followed.
• Optimization: this level focuses on the continuous improvement of processes through learning and innovation.
  

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Test Maturity Model(TMM)

(Image Source: Wikipedia)

This model evaluates the maturity of processes in a Testing Environment. In fact, this model has 5 levels, described below-

• Initial: Only ad-hoc methods are used at this level, and no quality methods are used for testing processes.
• Definition: In this level, it defined process and preparation of plans, test strategy, test cases are done.
• Integration: At this level of testing maturity, testing occurs throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC), which is nothing more than integration with development activities
• Measurement & Management: Reviews of designs and requirements occur at this level, and criteria are set for each testing level.
• Optimization: Many best techniques are used for testing processes. In fact, the tool support improves testing standards and procedures.

Conclusion

Software Quality Assurance is essential for the quality of the product. Because it helps in analyzing the bugs and fixing them through implementing various Software quality assurance services. 

Moreover, Software Quality Assurance is important for your software product or service to succeed in the market and survive up to the customer’s expectations.

Above all, we have discussed all the parameters or techniques, processes that you must follow for making the product of high quality. Furthermore, a company with good certification like ISO 9000, CMMI is more likely to get good results, and more & more organizations prefer to take services from certified Software Quality Assurance companies. 

So, you can hire ValueCoders for SQA services as ValueCoders has been in this industry for more than 16 years and has launched more than 4200 projects with 97%+ client retention. 

The post A Complete Guide On “Software Quality Assurance” appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.

If we look in-depth, software product development is the major process in the arena that is defined as a precise procedure, inclusive of different strict steps known as the Software Development Life Cycle. If you need a sophisticated application system (either web or mobile app), you look forward to this process. 

Surely, you would have several questions and confusions pertaining to SDLC and its processes. Thus, we will take a comprehensive look at the software product development process in this article. 

Decoding Software Product Development Process

Software product development process is a term defined as collective steps needed to develop a software product from its initial stage to market presence. Typically, it consists of a number of phases in the complex process of delivering a new product and transforming an old product notion into a marketable solution. 

SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) is all about the rules and practices that assist in connecting tech, non-tech teams, and project stakeholders in bringing ideas into digital products or software solutions. 

The process starts from ideation and concludes with product features, pricing strategy, and distribution strategy. In the beginning, the processes hover around the area and market. Although the product development process aims to maximize the product value and mitigate the risk, failure occurred due to poor quality, noncompetitive pricing, retard and premature entry, weak promotion, and bad brand awareness. 

So, now you would have understood what the software product development process is. Let’s take an in-depth glance into the processes it consists of.

Step By Step Software Product Development Processes 

The software development process is an amalgamation of different processes, and each has its own significance that empowers the complete process with different attributes and insights. Owing to that, many businesses consider product development consulting to do everything right in step by step order. So, let’s take a glance at the step-by-step processes included in software product development for startups.

#1. Brainstorming The Ideas & Planning 

Brainstorming is the initial stage of this cycle, where we define the concept for the product. First, it begins with a great idea that you need to carefully think over in order to implement. Besides, the processes can also be termed as idea generation, as we think of every step or stage of the product. 

The fact is that a business generates a number of ideas, and a handful is good. The process may include : 

• Discussing the project value and idea with the development team
• Gather information from the market or go through the market statistical occurrence 
• Describing the concept and idea on a document and sought approval of stakeholders 

Once you brainstorm over all the ideas and decide the one to implement, It’s time for planning. Meticulous planning is one core phase of software development. It determines the scope of the project and defines means that can meet strategic business objectives. 

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Moreover, planning also includes considering resource availability & allocation, cost determination and budgeting, timeframe, and determining solutions. Once the perfect plan is determined, you are ready to move forward. Although having a detailed plan is another perk that can turn out very fruitful. 

#2. Product Research & Requirement Analysis 

It is critical to have the right product concept in your mind. If you miss out on this, you can fail to validate your idea first and then end up losing precious time in re-considering. Product research and validation enable you to ensure that you are going to develop a product that users will like to pay for, and you won’t be wasting time or money. Here are the ways you can conduct product research to validate your idea. 

• Conduct an online survey to get feedback 
• Begin a crowdfunding campaign 
• Asking for feedback on forums like Quora or Reddit 
• Researching in the demand 

During this phase, you would be able to define the project in detail and analyze the feasibility. During this process, you need to gather a deeper understanding of the project goal and collect all requirements.  

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Moreover, product development engineer carry out the feasibility analysis that allows them to consider all technical and economic aspects and impacts on the development process, time, resources, tasks, team members, and calculating ROI is majorly defined in the feasibility analysis. 

Although requirement analysis assists in identifying risks in the beginning stage, it helps identify the risk mitigation strategies that can be implemented from the beginning. 

#3. Prototyping & Design 

Prototyping is the process of creating the preliminary product to test the design of the product and validate the idea. It enables product developers to cater a solution to stakeholders, which can be used for marketing purposes. Once you develop a prototype, your product starts taking a form. 

After prototyping comes the design of the product, where the actual conceptualization of the solution happens. In design, the detailed software architecture gets developed to meet specific project requirements. The custom-tailored software design helps in defining workflow and standards. 

(Design Principles In Software Development)

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Moreover, it encompasses overall solution design along with the database. In this phase, the complete product is developed as a mockup or prototype for the next stage of custom software development. From features of the solution to defining hardware and software components are inclusive. 

#4. Development & Coding 

Once the designing has been done, now comes development, which majorly includes code writing and transforming design documents into an actual software project. It is the lengthiest cycle of a software development project, as being the backbone of the process. 

The whole process relies on this and a vital thing to pay attention to. The work of the software engineering team is that its code meets the software requirement specification and matches the stakeholder’s requirement. However, the previous stage of software is fulfilled carefully then a ready-to-use software is bound to match the needs. 

In this phase, the software release cycle takes place in three stages, including alpha, beta, release to actual product. 

#5. Integration & Testing 

Now when the software is developed, then comes the next phase involving system testing and integration. The process can vary due to the testing processes. But Typically, QA engineers leverage a wide range of frameworks along with integration executing unit tests, automation compilation, and manual testing. 

QA team performs a number of tests, including functional testing, interoperability, system integration, and acceptance testing, etc., in order to ensure that code is clean and the business goals of the solution are met. 

Meanwhile, validation and verification are critical aspects of software product development services, ensuring the application/solution is completed successfully. When the software turns into a bug-free solution, deployment starts.

#6. Implementation and Deployment 

It is the process where actual thing-installation happens of the solution. It is a retrospective process after the implementation plan. In this phase, the newly developed and tested application goes forwards to the production stage with the inclusion of data and component transfer. 

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However, the specific changes will be deployed during the release. Moreover, it can be a straightforward release depending on the complexity of the project. After this, system analysts and end-users can actually try the ready-made application. 

#7. Operations & Maintenance 

Now comes the final stage, where the software development life cycle includes maintenance and regular updates. The phase is regarded as of utmost importance as you collect the real-world feedback and tweak the solution in order to polish it, enhance, and upgrade the fine-tuned solution. 

In this phase, the performance gets looked at, and an upgrade takes place to modify the solution according to need and performance aspects. The actual need of the end-user and new capabilities are met by additional user requirements. 

Wrapping Up 

As a matter of fact, the software development processes vary from company to company depending on the aim, such as delivering the best quality product that satisfies the need of product demand. Moreover, customer demand is the major aspect targeted during the processes. 

The processes of product development engineering can be shaped and altered depending on the need of each particular project, such as app development, a software provider to identify precise action, and the particular goals achieved. At the same time, the process declaration is a foundation measure to arrange the model for defining frameworks and equip team members in both technical and non-technical works. 

From the quality of code and solution in general, the expectation needs to meet the project manager’s decision-making progress and more. In the end, the final product is all that matters. Relevant software development processes can help in meeting the customer’s expectations and by well-tailored and great software solutions that meet business needs and offer exceptional customer satisfaction. 

However, SDLC helps programmers to stay on top and keep complete information of the project, while the management team can focus on determining the ways to the timely and efficient delivery of software. Moreover, if you have a dedicated product development team, then you can be a step ahead in software engineering and achieve great results. 

The post Glean Insights Into Software Product Development Process To Develop Successful Business Solutions appeared first on ValueCoders | Unlocking the Power of Technology: Discover the Latest Insights and Trends.