The types of software testing services are heavily categorized and new methods and strategies are developed and promoted frequently.
We tend to view the nine standard software testing categories listed below as “What” we do – a set of tools, approaches, frameworks and strategies to perform our work. But, we also view “How” we test as at least equally important. Software Quality Assurance is primarily resource management – doing the right things with the right people at the right time. As a software testing company, we believe that “How” is at least as important as “What.”
Any builder can fill a tool box – only a trained and experienced carpenter can build the cabinets that you are proud of.
Software Testing Services to Fit Every QA Strategy
Most software testing services also provide software development services and some even provide more general business process outsourcing services. When you see this situation, you’ll frequently find that software developers sell at a higher price and provide much more profit than software testers. So, it makes sense that the company that provides the software testing services will optimize their better talent to the higher priced role of software developer than the lower priced role of software tester. So, when you ask for a tester, the odds are that you will get someone who just wasn’t quite good enough to be a software developer.
There is a misconception that software testing services are a commodity – it’s just testing, right? Software testing may be a commodity for everyone else, but when it comes to your software, I doubt you want the cheapest general solution out there. You didn’t use that approach when you built your software, so I doubt you’ll want to use the cheapest testers you can find.
And since the testers are low margin and low paid, they tend to want to improve their situation and move up their career ladder. The testers didn’t start as testers, they wanted to be developers. The minute they get a better opportunity, they will take it and leave your project. This almost never happens at a “good” time.
Why Software Testing Services are a Problem
At TESTCo, we specialize in Software Testing Services. We’ve seen these challenges many times since we started in 2002. If insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results, then we’ve decided to take a much more sane approach to this problem. Here’s how we’ve solved this problem.
- TESTCo is built by and for Test Engineers. Test Engineers look similar to Testers but are quite different – see the grape analogy above. Testers generally know, or can be taught, what to do. Test Engineers know the Why and the How. The activities and outputs look similar. Testers write test cases, run test cases and record defects. Test Engineers do that as well but they also understand where the value is created and why it is important to make sure that value is delivered.
- TESTCo creates and delivers Value. Price and cost are related but different. Price is the rate which is then multiplied by time to produce the cost. Value is your perception of the benefits you receive versus the cost you pay. When you optimize for price, your cost and value will be uncertain. At TESTCo, we optimize for value first, cost second and never for price.
- TESTCo attracts and retains Software Test Engineers. It is an over simplification to say that our Test Engineers are our most valuable assets. They are but they usually don’t like being called “assets”. We know the value and scarcity of Software Test Engineers. They are unique and special – just ask some of our current customers. The entire TESTCo business model is based on attracting and retaining the top Software Test Engineers on the planet – and we rely heavily on our Test Engineers to find, attract and retain more Test Engineers. All great engineers seek out and work better with other very talented engineers.
How TESTCo Software Testing Services Can Help You Uncover Value
