Key Takeaways
- Outsourcing your QA can lead to significant overhead cost savings, provide you with access to specialized expertise, and allow your team to focus on core business functions.
- You can outsource a wide range of QA services, including automated testing, manual testing, performance testing, mobile app testing, IoT testing, and security testing.
- Choosing the right QA outsourcing partner involves evaluating their industry experience, certifications, and client feedback to ensure they meet your specific quality standards.
Quality assurance (QA) is a crucial aspect of the software development process. It ensures products meet high standards of functionality, reliability, and user satisfaction. Effective QA practices help identify and fix defects early, preventing costly issues and maintaining software integrity.
However, managing QA internally can be challenging due to the need for specialized skills, resources, and infrastructure. It can also distract developers from core activities, hindering productivity and growth.
Outsourcing QA allows you to leave this function to external experts, allowing your in-house team to focus on their strengths, such as product development and customer experiences.
This article explores the various benefits of QA outsourcing services and offers guidance on selecting the right QA outsourcing partner. We’ll also present the top 10 QA outsourcing service providers to help you make an informed decision.
How Does QA Outsourcing Work?
QA outsourcing involves delegating QA tasks to a third-party service provider rather than managing them internally. This process typically begins with identifying the specific QA needs of a development project and selecting a suitable outsourcing partner who is responsible for executing the required testing activities directly or helping you hire QA professionals.
The outsourced QA team collaborates closely with your internal development team to understand the project requirements, establish testing protocols, and ensure that the software meets the desired quality standards.
Communication is maintained through regular updates, progress reports, and feedback sessions to align the software testing process with the project goals.
What Are the Benefits of Outsourced QA Services?
Outsourcing QA services brings a multitude of advantages to the table, helping to enhance the overall quality and efficiency of your software products. Below, we delve into some of the key benefits that make QA outsourcing a popular option for numerous companies.
Cost efficiency
The substantial cost savings associated with QA outsourcing is one of its most attractive benefits. By engaging in QA outsourcing, you can trim your operational expenses significantly, depending on the location of the service provider. When you outsource, you don’t need to pay to directly maintain in-house testing facilities and related administrative functions.
You can also save on salary costs, especially when you outsource to regions of the world where competitive rates are offered for QA services.
Access to expertise
Another major benefit of QA outsourcing is the acquisition of specialized knowledge. Outsourced QA engineers are equipped with modern testing methods and sophisticated tools that are essential for ensuring software quality.
By utilizing outsourced QA teams, you gain access to a far larger pool of expertise than the one available locally. This strategy improves the quality of software while also relieving your internal staff from the burden of managing comprehensive testing tools and methodologies.
Focus on core business activities
By opting for outsourcing QA, your team can focus its resources and energy on its core competencies, such as product development, marketing, and customer service, without sacrificing the quality of your software. This approach prioritizes critical aspects of your company’s operations while still maintaining high standards in terms of software quality.
What QA Services Can You Outsource?
Outsourcing services for software testing cover an extensive range of QA tasks to meet different needs:
Automated testing
Automation testing is a key part of modern QA processes—one survey found that 40% of companies automate software testing continuously throughout the software development cycle. Automation helps with repetitive testing tasks that would otherwise take a lot of time to complete manually.
Outsourcing automated testing saves time, boosts productivity, and ensures consistent, reliable testing, as external vendors often use tools like Selenium, JUnit, and Cucumber to streamline the testing process.
Manual testing
Although automated testing is an efficient method for validating software, there are situations in which manual testing is still necessary. Certain projects that involve sophisticated logic or demand subtle discernment unique to humans require a thorough review by skilled testers.
A survey by Perfecto found that manual testing is the most time-consuming activity in the testing cycle, meaning outsourcing it can free up considerable time for your team to focus on other tasks.
Performance testing
The objective of performance testing is to locate possible constraint points in an application and verify its capacity to accommodate anticipated user loads. It evaluates an application’s functionality under different levels of demand, with a focus on maintaining stability and reliability.
To accurately gauge performance that mirrors actual user conditions, real-world tests are preferred over simulated environments.
Outsourcing performance testing grants you access to specialized expertise and advanced tools specifically designed to evaluate an application’s performance under various conditions, ensuring that your application can handle real-world usage scenarios effectively.
Mobile app testing
Technical failure is one of the main reasons for user churn when it comes to mobile applications. Studies have shown that 79% of users will only try an app once or twice more if it fails initially, and 71% of uninstalls are the result of the app crashing.
Ensuring a uniform and satisfactory user experience across different platforms is essential, which makes mobile app testing indispensable. By conducting thorough mobile app testing early in the development process, QA professionals can detect any defects or usability problems.
Outsourcing performance and compatibility testing ensures that your application operates flawlessly across multiple devices and operating systems.
IoT testing
Outsourced IoT testing focuses on evaluating the functionality, security, and connectivity of internet-connected devices. This ensures reliable and secure device performance, offering a trustworthy user experience.
Outsourcing this aspect of testing mitigates risks and enhances device reliability, ultimately benefiting your business by helping you deliver high-quality, secure IoT products.
Security testing
Software vulnerabilities are being exploited all the time. Outsourcing security testing to experienced professionals helps find and fix vulnerabilities that could lead to cyberattacks. By hiring experts, you get access to advanced tools and specialized knowledge without needing to invest heavily in-house.
This approach strengthens your software’s defenses, ensuring data safety and building user trust. It also saves time and in-house resources, allowing your team to focus on core business activities while maintaining high security standards.
How To Choose the Right QA Outsourcing Partner
Choosing an appropriate QA outsourcing partner is essential for the success of your software projects.
Whether you choose a specialized firm or agency or broader recruitment agencies experienced in sourcing QA professionals, it’s important to choose an outsourcing provider that aligns well with your specific business requirements.
Here, we will delve into the criteria you should consider when selecting a QA outsourcing partner.
Choose a strategic outsourcing location
Selecting the right geographical location for your QA outsourcing needs can significantly impact the success of your project.
Consider factors such as time zone compatibility, cultural alignment, and the availability of skilled professionals. The right location can help support effective communication, seamless collaboration, and timely project delivery, enhancing the overall quality of your software.
Evaluate experience in the industry
It is essential to assess the industry experience of any potential QA outsourcing partner by examining their track record and portfolio, ensuring they have relevant industry knowledge and a history of successful project completions.
Look for case studies that highlight their expertise in handling projects similar to yours. This can provide insights into their problem-solving capabilities, adaptability, and how they manage challenges specific to your industry.
Check certifications and credentials
You can better gauge an outsourcing provider’s trustworthiness and adherence to quality benchmarks by examining their certifications and qualifications.
Look for key accreditations such as ISO 9001:2015 for quality management systems, ISO 20000 for service management, and ISO 27001 for information security management. Such credentials confirm the alignment of their services with established industry norms for excellence and dependability.
Review feedback from previous clients
When choosing software testing outsourcing services, it’s important to consider feedback from previous clients. This will help you understand how satisfied they were and how successful the service was. Reading client reviews is key to knowing how skilled and reliable potential QA partners are.
Top 10 Companies for Outsourcing QA Services
When it comes to outsourcing QA services, there are numerous reputable companies with a strong presence in the US. This list includes both niche QA specialist firms and broader recruitment firms that excel in sourcing QA professionals. Note that this list is not organized in any specific order.
1. Near
Yes, we are putting ourselves first because we love helping companies hire tech talent that meets their needs. At Near, we allow our clients to expand their teams quickly while ensuring the integration of QA expertise into ongoing projects.
Our dedicated team of hiring professionals is committed to helping you throughout the entire hiring process, making bringing in qualified QA talent fast and simple. We’ll provide you with a tailored selection of pre-vetted candidates, meaning you only need to conduct final interviews to make your decision. Many of our clients are able to make a hire in under 21 days.
2. QA Mentor
QA Mentor is a leading provider of QA services with a comprehensive suite of offerings, including functional, automation, performance, and security testing. It is known for its expertise and tailored solutions to meet various industry needs.
3. Cigniti Technologies
Cigniti Technologies is a global leader in independent quality engineering and software testing services. The company offers a broad range of QA services and has a proven track record of delivering high-quality solutions.
4. Qualitest
Qualitest is recognized for its extensive experience in providing end-to-end QA services. It specializes in various testing domains, such as automation, performance, and security, ensuring robust software quality.
5. Applause
Applause offers a unique crowdtesting approach that leverages a global community of testers to deliver real-world testing results. Its services cover functional, usability, and security testing, among others.
6. Testlio
Testlio provides managed QA services through a network of expert testers. The firm focuses on delivering high-quality software through comprehensive functional, regression, and exploratory testing.
7. Testrig Technologies
Testrig Technologies specializes in providing a variety of QA services, including functional, automation, performance, and mobile app testing. It is known for its customer-centric approach and high-quality results.
8. QASource
QASource offers a broad range of QA services with a focus on delivering cost-effective and high-quality solutions. It has expertise in various testing domains, including automation, performance, and security testing.
9. A1QA
A1QA is a software testing company that offers a full range of QA services. The company specializes in functional, performance, security, and mobile testing, ensuring comprehensive QA.
10. TestFort
TestFort provides a wide array of QA services, including manual, automated, performance, and security testing. Its team is dedicated to delivering high-quality software through meticulous testing processes.
Final Thoughts
QA outsourcing can play a critical role in boosting software quality while enabling you to use your limited resources more efficiently. You can achieve superior-quality software deployments by tapping into the skill sets of dedicated QA experts without having to sustain an internal testing team.
However, to select a suitable QA outsourcing partner, it is vital to carefully scrutinize their track record and expertise in the industry.
Near has experience helping companies fill technical roles quickly with talent from Latin America (LatAm), delivering high-quality talent and simplifying the entire hiring process. To discover how we can help you hire a QA specialist 50–70% faster, book a free consultation with one of our hiring experts today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does outsourcing software testing cost?
The cost of outsourcing software testing can vary widely based on several factors, including the complexity of the project, the types of testing required, the duration of the engagement, and the location of the service provider.
As one example, outsourcing development-related roles like QA to a professional in LatAm typically results in salary cost savings of over 30%.
For an accurate estimate, request detailed quotes from multiple QA service providers, considering their expertise, tools, and methodologies to ensure you get the best value for your investment.
What are the top countries for outsourcing QA?
Several countries are recognized for their excellence in QA outsourcing, each offering unique advantages. Here are some of the top destinations:
- Mexico: Offers competitive pricing and proximity to the US
- India: Renowned for its large pool of skilled QA professionals and cost-effective services
- Ukraine: Has a strong technical education system and offers competitive pricing
- The Philippines: Provides excellent English proficiency and favorable labor costs
- Poland: Known for its high-quality tech talent and robust IT infrastructure
- Brazil: Offers a substantial talent pool and favorable time zone alignment with the US
- Argentina: Known for its strong IT sector and high level of English proficiency
How do I manage communication and collaboration with an outsourced QA team?
Effective communication and collaboration are vital for the success of an outsourced QA project.
Utilize project management tools like Jira or Trello to track progress and assign tasks. Schedule regular meetings and updates to discuss project status, address any issues, and align on priorities. Additionally, establish clear communication channels and protocols to ensure seamless interaction between your internal team and the outsourced QA professionals.