Software Testing and QA Services Trends, Size, and Share

As software development has become an integral part of almost every business, it has become imperative for organizations to ensure the quality and reliability of the software applications and products they develop. One of the most effective ways to guarantee software quality is through robust testing.

Software testing involves evaluating a software or system to identify any bugs, defects or inconsistencies as well as ensure it meets the required business and technical requirements. Thorough testing helps catch issues early in the development lifecycle and prevents them from impacting end users. It reduces risks and ensures a quality product is delivered to customers.

With today’s complex software systems, it is difficult for development teams to catch every possible bug or edge case during development and testing. This is where third party QA services can help enhance the testing process.

Benefits of Utilizing Third Party Testing Services

Expert Resources
QA testing requires experienced testing professionals who are experts in testing methodologies and processes. Leveraging third party testers gets organizations access to skilled testing engineers and resources without having to invest in full time hires or training. These experts can thoroughly test even the most complex systems and products.

Unbiased Testing Approach
In-house testers sometimes miss issues due to familiarity with the product. External testers approach projects with a fresh perspective and an unbiased tester’s mindset. They are in a better position to think like end users and identify troublesome bugs or defects.

Increased Testing Coverage
Third party testers augment Software Testing And QA Services teams by allowing organizations to expand testing coverage. They can perform specialized testing like security, load/performance, localization etc. that may be beyond the capabilities of internal teams. This results in achieving higher testing quality.

Fixed Cost Model
While in-house testing requires support staff and infrastructure that impacts operational expenses, third party services work on a defined project budget. Organizations gain testing flexibility at a fixed and known cost. Resources can be easily scaled up or down as needed without increased overhead.

Objectivity in Reporting
Independent testers can provide objective and unbiased testing status and progress updates. They also point out issues transparently without worrying about internal team/project politics. This assures higher management visibility.

Focus on Core Competencies
Outsourcing testing allows organizations tofocus internal resources only on product development while relying on test experts to test. This helps improve efficiencies.

Types of Services Offered
Depending on client needs, third party vendors provide different QA service models:

Functional Testing
This involves testing software functionality to verify it operates as per design specifications and business rules. Testers simulate real user scenarios and workflows to validate features and functions.

Non-Functional Testing
Going beyond verifying features, this evaluates other quality attributes like security, performance, compatibility, localization etc. Activities include load testing, stress testing, regression testing etc.

Specialized Testing
Some common specialized testing areas include security testing, API testing, migration testing, test automation, test consultancy etc.

Co-sourced/Augmentation Model
External testers are embedded within client teams, often at the client site, to boost testing efforts and act as force-multipliers to internal QA staff.

Onshore/Offshore Model
Leveraging global delivery centers, vendors provide testing services on client timezones at lower costs through optimized pricing models like offshore, nearshore etc.

Managed/Outsourced Testing
Vendors completely take over QA operations for the client, often testing from their own delivery centers located abroad. Entire QA processes are managed remotely.

Defect Management
Testing is typically accompanied by defect tracking, reporting and management support services to oversee resolution.

Factors for Choosing Third Party Testing Vendors
There are various factors businesses should evaluate when selecting third party QA service providers:

Vendor expertise and experience in domain, technologies, testing methodologies used.

Team experience, skills and certifications of testing resources to be assigned.

Testing facilities, tools, automated testing capabilities and process maturity levels.

Delivery/engagement models and pricing structures offered to meet budget and operations needs.

Geographical presence, timezones for required around the clock support and scalability.

Project management practices and collaboration technologies for effective communication.
Client references, case studies and favourable past work experience in similar projects.

Service level agreements, quality assurance procedures and process compliances followed.

Financial stability of vendor as unreliable partners may shutdown leaving projects incomplete.

Proper vendor assessment against these parameters helps choose the right testing partner for quality and reliability of outcomes. Overall, augmenting testing with third party QA services ensures higher software quality at optimized costs.

Future of Software Testing

Emerging Tech Transforming QA
New technologies are revolutionizing software testing approaches:

Artificial Intelligence
AI is enhancing testing with machine learning based test automation, test procedure generation, self-healing tests, predictive analytics for defects and more.

Test Automation
Advanced test automation tools driven by AI and ML are supporting test case development, execution and bug detection at scale for continuous testing.

Cloud Technologies
Cloud testing allows on-demand and elastic access to resources for large scale cloud native and cloud migration testing on public/private clouds.

DevOps/Agile Testing
As applications evolve rapidly, Agile and DevOps enable continuous testing frameworks through practices like shift-left testing, test environment virtuAs software development has become an integral part of almost every business, it has become imperative for organizations to ensure the quality and reliability of the software applications and products they develop. One of the most effective ways to guarantee software quality is through robust testing.

Benefits of Utilizing Third Party Testing Services

Fixed Cost Model
While in-house testing requires support staff and infrastructure that impacts operational expenses, third party services work on a defined project budget. Organizations gain testing flexibility at a fixed and known cost. Resources can be easily scaled up or down as needed without increased overhead.

Objectivity in Reporting
Independent testers can provide objective and unbiased testing status and progress updates. They also point out issues transparently without worrying about internal team/project politics. This assures higher management visibility.

Focus on Core Competencies
Outsourcing testing allows organizations tofocus internal resources only on product development while relying on test experts to test. This helps improve efficiencies.

Types of Services Offered
Depending on client needs, third party vendors provide different QA service models:

Functional Testing
This involves testing software functionality to verify it operates as per design specifications and business rules. Testers simulate real user scenarios and workflows to validate features and functions.

Non-Functional Testing
Going beyond verifying features, this evaluates other quality attributes like security, performance, compatibility, localization etc. Activities include load testing, stress testing, regression testing etc.

Specialized Testing
Some common specialized testing areas include security testing, API testing, migration testing, test automation, test consultancy etc.

Co-sourced/Augmentation Model
External testers are embedded within client teams, often at the client site, to boost testing efforts and act as force-multipliers to internal QA staff.

Onshore/Offshore Model
Leveraging global delivery centers, vendors provide testing services on client timezones at lower costs through optimized pricing models like offshore, nearshore etc.

Managed/Outsourced Testing
Vendors completely take over QA operations for the client, often testing from their own delivery centers located abroad. Entire QA processes are managed remotely.

Defect Management
Testing is typically accompanied by defect tracking, reporting and management support services to oversee resolution.

Factors for Choosing Third Party Testing Vendors
There are various factors businesses should evaluate when selecting third party QA service providers: