Outsourcing in testing: QA companies against freelancers
Outsourcing in testing: QA companies against freelancers
It is no secret that the recent trend in QA (Quality Assurance) is outsource testing. And the fact that many testers turn into freelancers only reinforces this trend. We’ll try to figure out the advantages of outsourcing testing in specialized companies, offering such services, over the involvement of freelance specialists, and if the individuals have their “benefits”. The advantages of QA outsourcing over an independent company:
1. Risk minimization. When transmitting QA activities to the outsourcing company, the customer minimizes most risks, described above. Applying to the company that offers QA services, you should conclude the relevant contract. According to the conditions of agreement, the customer and the QA company get a clear picture about the responsibility, time frame and budget. Within the framework of the contract, the parties often discuss possible risks and their management.
2. Financial guarantee. The contract specifies the possible penal sanctions from both parties in cases of non-compliance with the points of contract, quantitative and qualitative indicators. As a result, both parties are interested in their full implementation. Depending on the specifics of the project, the parties can specify and document the following additional kinds of financial guarantees: compensation for the lost profits, free performance of certain works in case of inadequate quality, etc.
3. Competitive selection basis. The search of freelancers can be realized at the specialized sites according to the rating, feedbacks, online competitions, etc. But the involvement of the QA companies is performed at a qualitatively new level. Forming the competition by sending requests to several companies, the customer often gets free assessment of all the necessary jobs and most likely, the time schedule from the tender participants. So, you can choose the most appropriate testing company and get the analysis of the project, performed by the external experts before its start.
4. Demonstrated professional experience. Here we should highlight an opportunity to use the confirmed extensive experience of outsourcing QA companies. This information, starting with the overall rating of outsourcer and ending with the accumulated feedbacks from the previous customers, which you can use in selecting the companies for cooperation.
5. Qualification. Many people explain the high efficiency of involving QA freelancers with the fact that one can interview every team member and make a decision on the basis of the summary, which guarantees the selection of qualified experts. Such practice has long been used in the formation of the team of outsourcing QA company. In particular, at the client’s request, the company can do the interview and the selection of team members on the basis of the summary, qualification, experience, etc.
6. Well-managed team. The development of complex systems, consisting of a large number of solutions and integrations and requiring the fulfillment of the long list of tasks and running different kinds of tests it necessary to outsource the professional cohesive team of experts. It is difficult to achieve with the individual freelancers, geographically isolated from each other. In that case, it would be reasonable to prevent the risks, i.e. the priority to the companies specialized in outsourcing, providing services at a professional level. One of the actual customers of such projects is the telecommunications companies.