Outsourcing vs In-House Testing

Outsourcing vs. In-House Software Testing

Software testing comes hand-in-hand with any software product. It allows the development team to see how a feature will work and how users will receive those features. This means a software product needs testing from the very beginning, even before the code is written, whether it's a website, a mobile, or a web application.

Deciding whether to outsource or test in-house can be a challenging choice. While both have pros and cons, only one will suit your project best.

In this article, we have created a comparison between outsourcing and in-house testing and a guide for best practices when choosing your outsourcing QA company.

How to choose the best for your project's goals

Although each company has a different vision when creating a product, its end goal is a successful defect-free product launch. Software development and testing should happen together along all SDLC phases to achieve this.

A few factors are involved in deciding where to outsource your project — quality of work, costs, timelines, industry standards, and compliance, among others. Understanding these factors is the first step towards determining whether to do it in-house or outsource. One can easily make an informed choice with the correct information about each model.

In-house testing is an advantage if software testing is a core component of your company. Otherwise, it can be a huge challenge as you have to train your team, hire new people for the project and invest in infrastructure for testing. In such situations, outsourcing your QA is the better choice.

Next, we've compiled a list of benefits of outsourcing and in-house testing for an easier understanding.

Outsourcing benefits:

• Cost-effective

An outsourced QA team has all the necessary tools and frameworks. An in-house team would require you to invest in infrastructure so they can deliver the best results, therefore raising the product's costs. It also eliminates HR costs, as you no longer need to train and hire a new team.

• Time efficiency

Choosing to outsource can help you save time. Not only does the team's experience frees up resources, but also time. It allows you to focus on core activities along with your development team.

• Test Variety

A significant benefit of outsourcing is the variety of tests the QA company can perform on your software efficiently. The tests can be done either by manual testing or automation testing.

• Faster time-to-market

Because your development team can focus more on core activities rather than performing the testing themselves, you can get your product to market faster as you can work in parallel on multiple activities.

• Dedicated and experienced teams

Outsourcing means you get to choose an already experienced team that will be dedicated 100% to your project.

• New perspective

A new set of eyes testing the software product can bring a fresh perspective to the project hence increasing the quality of the product.

In-house testing benefits:

• Easy communication

Having an in-house testing team means communication is easier to manage. The language barrier and time zone differences can quickly become issues when outsourcing.

• Minimal risk of confidentiality breaches

Having your in-house testing team can minimize the risk of confidentiality breaches.

• Develop and train your QA team.

While developing and training your QA team can be an expensive endeavor, it can help save all the time you'd spend briefing an outside company. Your team already knows your project.

What you need to know before outsourcing your software testing team

You decided that outsourcing testing is the right choice for your project - where to start?

The first step is choosing the right provider. Here's a list of best practices for outsourcing your software testing.

• Credibility

Outsourcing a QA team is similar to recruiting. You would not hire a random person to do the job. You should verify and check the credibility of your desired team.

• Low rates

While low outsourcing rates can be attractive, more is needed to guarantee quality. Beware of QA companies who offer low rates to attract clients.

• Resources and limitations

Understand the team's resources and limitations. Even if the desired team has an excellent reputation, can they HELP your project? You must consider what services you need and what tools and frameworks are necessary for your project. Can the desired team cover all your objectives?

• Transparency and open communication

The best partnerships are built through transparent processes and communication.

Next, you can check out our article on how to properly onboard your remote testing team.

Lastly, if outsourcing is the best for your project, remember to research before and ask questions.

We recommend outsourcing a QA company with relevant technical expertise and experience.

Book a meeting with our professionals to learn more about our approach towards outsourcing and see if we can help you with your project.