Software testing is an indispensable part of the development process. It should prevent bugs, reduce development costs, and boost software performance. More and more companies offer their Quality Assurance services. No wonder the size of the global software testing market was estimated at $40 billion in 2020. This astounding figure is expected to grow even larger in the coming years.
However, choosing the right software testing partner may be a challenge. It is a time-consuming process as the stakes are high. Making the wrong decision can endanger the quality of your product and harm your business.
We listed quick questions that will help you to understand how professional a QA partner is:
- What is your main difference from other software testing companies?
- Describe how the process of cooperation between our companies will take place.
- Have you had projects similar to mine?
- What is your pricing model?
- Do you provide demo/POC services?
- Does the quality assurance partner set realistic testing metrics and targets?
- What devices and platforms do you provide for testing?
- What kind of non-functional testing can you provide? (penetration, performance, etc.)
- What documentation/reports can I get from you?
Having delivered several successful projects in tight collaboration with our clients, we at UTOR have accumulated large experience in this sphere. Therefore, we know what the company usually needs from a QA partner. We want to share our findings with you. Here are questions you should ask to choose a reliable QA team.
Can the QA partner set the project quality goals in order to define a reliable testing strategy?
Many companies don’t have clear testing goals or are not 100% sure when to hire QA engineers and how many specialists they need. Therefore, just connecting a random software testing specialist with the client is not enough. A good QA partner can help to set the QA goals and strategy. The latter should be based on business and development goals.
A reliable software testing partner is not afraid to ask a lot of questions
Such a partner dives deep into the specifics of the client’s business and product: who uses this software, what it is for, etc. Make sure that your vendor clearly understands your goals. If that is the case, you will get a concise written summary of your goals and expectations. It will serve as a cornerstone for the future implementation plan.
Defining the goals and the strategy is what we at UTOR usually do at the start of a project. We always ask why the company needs a QA specialist. Very often, the client either doesn’t have a clear answer or sets goals, requiring a much larger team.
The importance of a QA audit
The cornerstone of our QA consulting services is a QA audit. It reveals quality gaps and provides the client with a clear understanding of what to test, how to do it, and how to implement testing techniques in your workflow. We provide:
- The analysis of the existing QA process strengths and weaknesses
- QA action plan for the next several months
- QA strategy for one year based on business objectives
Read more: QA Process Audit: When and How to Conduct It
Does the software testing partner have a strong reputation?
What are other industry players saying about your potential vendor? Does the company have any awards? Is it mentioned by respectable industry magazines or websites? You may consider hiring a rising QA rock star or an established software testing company. Still, accessing their reputation will be a prudent move. Reputable companies are far more likely to do a good job.
A software testing partner with lots of successful projects will have no problems providing clients’ reviews. Feel free to ask, especially if you have some specific project in mind.
UTOR aims to provide the top QA capabilities for our clients worldwide. Industry experts have already recognized our efforts. For instance, in 2021, Clutch, an active company resource, recognized UTOR as one of the global leaders in software testing.
Does the QA partner have a ‘plan B’ in case of failure?
No matter how good a team is, it can’t perform ideally 100% of the time. Even the best software testing partners sometimes fail. Real professionals know that and aren’t afraid to acknowledge that sometimes things don’t go their way.
The thing that distinguishes reliable companies is the way they deal with failures. Situations, when things don’t go as planned, may tell a lot about your partner. So naturally, you wouldn’t want to find out the unpleasant truth the hard way.
However, you can ask not only about success cases but also about cases of failures. The answer will help you understand whether the company has a ‘plan B’ and can fix things swiftly.
Does the QA partner provide a self-managed team?
Outsourcing a part of the development process to babysit your vendor doesn’t seem an ideal solution. The QA partner should be able to manage the entire process, from creating documentation to controlling the testing process.
Therefore, with a reliable partner, you will be able to focus on your primary business objectives. In addition, a QA manager will mediate the communication between the outsourcing team and the client.
UTOR engineers know their business. So if you hire us as your QA partner, you get a team of professionals protecting your product’s quality. At the same time, you can spend as little as one hour a month managing our QA team.
Can the QA partner quickly adapt to changing requirements?
Reliable software testing partners should be able to adjust their strategy to particular cases. Such companies adapt to your workflow and evolving needs. For instance, adding new functionality for a new market might require some changes in the QA strategy.
Your testing partner should also be responsive. If a tester doesn’t deliver, can you get a replacement promptly? Is your remote QA team accessible during your working hours? Do you get personalized support or a generic email address? Make sure you check everything before starting a project with your new partner.
Our team at UTOR understands the importance of flexibility. Rest assured, we will keep in touch with you, swiftly reacting to your requests and changes in the project.
Does the QA partner have comprehensive expertise and skills?
Testing expertise comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many companies have a domain experience in QA. Some can provide testers with profound expertise in some technology stacks, which is a great advantage. Consultants are usually experts in specific industries. However, they should also have testing skills and resources to fulfill your goals.
The best choice would be a software testing partner with both domain knowledge and expertise in your industry. Our team at UTOR has a versatile portfolio of projects and is familiar with a large arsenal of testing tools.
We will find specialists and a tech stack most suitable for your project. Moreover, our goal is not only to catch bugs. We strive to build QA processes to prevent their occurrence.
Does the QA partner maintain transparent communication?
The lower average QA tester hourly rate makes outsourcing to distant locations look more attractive. However, a scattered team and dramatically different time zones may hinder communication if you are a US-based company choosing, for instance, software testing partner Ukraine.
However, really professional QA teams are ready to overcome those difficulties. Your partner should provide a dedicated manager responsible for communication. Also, the schedule (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) and the style of the meetings should be convenient for the client.
Note how your potential QA partner reacts to your questions. Are the answers clear, detailed, and accurate? Grammar and literacy may not seem like the most important things. Still, they indicate the level of education and respect.
UTOR has a profound experience in establishing effective communication with its clients. We’ve worked with companies from all over the world, and our team has been working remotely for over more than five years.
Does the QA partner set realistic metrics and purposes of testing?
The professional QAs don’t fall into the trap of overpromising. They clearly communicate to the clients what they can and cannot achieve. The success of software testing should be unambiguously defined via a set of metrics. Also, a good QA partner is obliged to provide detailed reports containing the statistics of bugs, defects, and retrospective notes.
We at UTOR take defining the clear goals and directions for the QA process seriously. That’s why performing a QA audit has become our standard practice. It allows us to:
- Choose the right testing approach;
- Identify QA risks;
- Create an action plan with suggestions for quality improvement;
- Reduce the number of bugs and delays;
- Design a QA vision for one year
Is the software testing partner trustworthy?
Whether we talk about software testing for startups or well-established market leaders, outsourcing the QA process to a company from a different country or even continent may raise trust issues. How can the client be sure that a faraway partner does its best to ensure high standards?
Over the years, UTOR has worked with many companies, building solid partnerships. Our recipe is to start with signing a Service Agreement Contract. The latter specifies deadlines, stages of a testing process, etc. — all details discussed during the initial meetings. The document safeguards the collaboration between you and the software testing partner.
Also, it is necessary to maintain a constant flow of updates. Therefore, our team organizes weekly calls to discuss the project’s progress and new tasks.
Which devices and platforms do the QA partner provide for testing?
The number of devices and platforms grows each year. Testing all combinations is nearly impossible. However, some are much more likely than others. A quality software testing partner should guarantee the test coverage for all the devices relevant to your project.
Also, the QA partner should keep up with the ever-changing landscape. Thus, you will rest assured that your software will perform well under most circumstances, even if new arise.
UTOR provides both mobile and web app testing services. We will test your software on all the devices popular in your target region.
Conclusion
You can hardly overestimate the importance of selecting testing partners. However, a reliable QA partner can significantly boost your business. To make the search for such a partner easier, we’ve provided ten questions you should ask while considering each company. Use them to make a wise decisions.
We aim to provide top-notch QA services, and our company fits all the criteria listed above. UTOR is a software testing team with comprehensive experience. We have been working with clients around the world for five years and know what clients are looking for in a reliable QA partner. If you have some project in mind — book a call with our business developer to share the details. Let’s make your software even greater together!
