by Pratik Mistry, Senior Business Head at RadixWeb
Timelines, resources, tools, and, most importantly, budgets are factors that demand attention when an enterprise considers software testing. This article has endeavored to touch upon why testing is imperative for successful and value-adding software development.
Here are the 5 reasons why you, as an enterprise, should invest in software testing.
1. It boosts reputation.
For a positive brand perception among users, the enterprise must maintain software quality and efficacy, given that both these pre-requisites have measurable effects on sales. And here is where the importance of software testing comes to the fore.
Imagine a situation in which an enterprise creates a software/application and launches it in the market without prior testing. This could cause a massive dent in the enterprise’s brand equity if clients or end-users find bugs and issues in the software.
Testing is an essential aspect of quality control, and can prove to be either the undoing or the making of your company’s reputation. Software testing ensures the delivery of a high-quality and bug-free product. Rigorous testing Ensures customer satisfaction as it eliminates any issues that could mar your brand’s value and, thus, its profitability. Thus Software testing is therefore considered as an integral part of the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle).
2. Errors identified and resolved before launch.
The cost of fixing an issue expands In direct correlation with the time taken to identify it. By investing in software testing, your enterprise can locate issues during the development life cycle’s production phase. Some schools of thought argue in favor of applying hotfixes to issues in live situations. However, this is a high-risk situation and can lead to further issues.
By including testing in the SDLC, enterprises can effectively detect flaws early on, making their resolution a lot safer and cost-effective.
Software Testing ensures that the application is functioning appropriately. Reliability tests run high-level loads for a certain amount of time. Stress tests measure the maximum load that the software can handle, and fail-over tests check the software repetition mechanics. Such tests effectively detect and enable the resolution of issues that might impede product efficiency.
3. Improve software resilience.
According to a report by Statista, forward-thinking organizations spend an average of 23% of their development budget on software testing.
Enterprises must make sure that their software/application can weather perils like cyber-attacks, network issues, etc. With testing practices such as performance testing, pen testing, and the like, enterprises can leverage multiple mechanisms that put the software/application through its paces. Through iterative development, it guarantees a flawless and robust end-product.
4. Promote efficiency and productivity.
Hurried fixes, incoherent and frantic communication, and top it all, faulty software can affect the market value and promote despondency among internal stakeholders and partners. If your enterprise is ready with a thorough testing plan and a dedicated team of QA professionals, the development teams can be more confident and productive.
Following the agile methodology is suggested as with it developers iteratively build the software in smaller portions allowing for almost simultaneous testing and subsequent issue resolution, enabling the process to stay well within timeframes and budgets, making the process a win-win for all stakeholders.
5. Ensure an outstanding user experience.
One of the major factors contributing to the success of software is its users’ experience. Software testing ensures that the is glitch free, as any error in code can create a negative impression on your customers. A bad ‘buggy’ experience can cause frustrations to mount and may even cause a customer to give up on your product altogether. That is a direct loss of a customer, not to mention the negative reviews that may push away other potential customers.
Software testing ensures that your customer has a smooth and seamless user experience that forms a part of your brand story. Happy and satisfied customers say good things about your company, thus increasing brand value and reach.
In summation.
We now know that if an enterprise wants to reduce bugs, recognize and resolve database and other issues, and to build a robust and responsive application/software while acquiring rapid and seamless functional capabilities, then software testing is the way ahead.
From an uninformed perspective, hiring a software testing company might seem like an unnecessary expense, especially if your enterprise is in a hurry to launch its product; however, testing can be one of the significant factors that determine your product’s success and ultimately your business.
Software testing fulfills the objective of launching world-class software, but in the long run, it also helps generate profit as it satisfies users. And satisfied users are a lot more willing to make a purchase. Software testing can help your enterprise increase ROI, enhance customer retention, and show that your enterprise cares about its customers.
Pratik Mistry is a driven technologist and spirited technocrat. He is Senior Business Head at RadixWeb, a custom software development company where he steers his passion for helping businesses grow revenues by delivering top notch software development services and in building value-based partnerships.
