How to choose Right QA team for software development.

Quality Assurance testing is a must before introducing any product on the market. No matter how small or negligible the errors are, it is better to check and correct them before they turn into a big thing. Therefore, QA testing is done to detect if there is any kind of bug or any other errors and give users a smooth, pleasant, and high-quality experience. However, choosing the right QA team for software development can be a hard nut to crack. This article will give you detailed knowledge about the things that must be kept in mind while hiring a QR team.

Read the Reviews

With this intention always better to run a thorough research on the company that you want to hire. Read the feedback of the clients before investing in the company. Also one can easily find platforms over the internet where clients post their valuable feedback against the QA companies. The platforms are namely, G2, GoodFirms, and Clutch. These platforms are the best to carry your research on the preferred company.

Go Through Their Portfolios

This is the step where you will check their past performance, especially the type of work they have done. This will help you know the type of projects they are working on, their standard of work, and see whether they meet your requirements or not. While going through their portfolios keep the following things in mind:

• Look for the types of QA testing they have done previously: This will help you to understand what kind of testing has they performed previously and also what type of testing do they provide on specific projects.
• See if they have worked on large-scale projects: This can cause some problems if the company has always worked on small-scale projects. Also they may not be able to meet the standards of large-scale projects.

Location of the QA team

This is one of the most important aspects to consider while choosing a QA team for software development whether you want to hire an offshore team or a team that is based in your own country. There are various merits and demerits of choosing an offshore QA team. If we take the advantages, then hiring an offshore team is comparatively cheaper. However, coming to do the disadvantages, there might be communication barriers. Because of the difference in time zones and languages, communication becomes a bit problematic.

Smooth Communication

Establishing smooth communication within the QA team for software development and the company that is hiring the team is very important. Miscommunication can lead to less productivity unless management invests in the communication system. Since most of them are offshore teams it is better to stay connected with them via Skype, or Zoom. Effective communication will also help in keeping records of the progress.

Check the previous projects the team has worked on:

Before you choose a QA team for software development, you must inspect the products they have already tested, if it is possible for you. You must check whether the QA team has proper experience in the field or domain you are looking for. Another reason for checking their prior projects is that in the portfolio, it is not always possible to include all the projects. Therefore, to know whether they have the experience, it is better to ask them about their previous projects related to your desired domain. You must communicate with them about the products and services you are looking for also you should ask them whether they are comfortable working in those spheres.

Check their testing methodologies, infrastructure, and tools:

Before you select a QA team for software development, make sure that the QA team possesses the required tools and technologies to provide you with the essential services and products such as all necessary devices, hardware, software, operating systems, testing tools, backend database systems, etc. Therefore, you must discuss with them their testing methodologies because the testing must be done following the same workflow, used for the development of the software to avoid any errors or problems. Another thing you can do is that you should inform them about the types of your projects and then ask them about the testing methodology, they will be using to test your project. Moreover, some projects require a specific tool or technology for testing. Apart from that, many projects include confidential and classified information, which must be protected by suitable infrastructure.

Make a Service Level Agreement (SLAs) and a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the QA team:

generally speaking, a detailed Service Level Agreement is very important for the hiring of a QA team for software development. The SLA consists of all the guidelines and structure of your project. It also includes the desired timeline of your project. Apart from that, it also comprises various steps that must be taken in case of problems or issues. On the other hand, signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement will prevent other parties from copying your business ideas. The NDA makes sure that all your confidential data remains safe and your intellectual property is protected.

The minimum period for which this agreement will remain valid is two years, which may be increased by another agreement. Moreover, the NDA includes all the consequences the parties will face in case there is a breach of the agreement by any of the parties. Signing these agreements is beneficial for the protection of your organization and it will also give you mental peace.

Decide the Engagement Mode:

Based on the size of the project, its complexity, the deadline, and the technologies to be used, select the engagement model. Selecting the engagement model is a significant step in hiring a QA team for software development. The engagement model can be categorized into two types – On-site team and Offshore team. In the on-site team engagement model, you must provide the required resources and infrastructure and the work will be done on your premises. However, in the offshore engagement model, your QA team will use their resources for testing purposes and the work will be done on their premises.

Check different certifications received by the QA team:

Before you hire a QA team for software development, you should ask for the certificates to know in detail about their work experience and qualifications. One has to pass the Software Testing Qualification Board (ISTQB) exam to become a quality assurance analyst or engineer. There are different levels also to pass this examination such as foundation, advanced, and expert level. Therefore, you must ask for the certificate as well as the level achieved by your QA engineer.

Hiring a Quality Assurance team for software development is very important to provide quality services to your clients as well as to maintain a good client relationship. However, selecting the ideal QA team for your business can be a tedious task. This article will give you an idea about how to select a QA team for your business organization.

FAQ

1. What is the need for a QA team?

Ans: Well, it is a very essential part of product launching. Before any application software is launched in the market it always goes through testing conducted by the QA team. It is done to detect errors that can cause a huge problem and provide customers with a smooth, pleasant, and high-quality experience.

2. What skills are needed to become a QA analyst?

Ans:

• In-depth knowledge about software, hardware, and networking
• Programming skills
• Good communication skills
• A creative mindset
• Excellent IT skills

3. How much does it cost to hire a QA team?

Ans: Hiring a QA team will cost you around $30,000 on average.