Quality Assurance is an integral part of software development that ensures the product meets the end user's specific requirements, maintaining high quality without compromising its core values. Software and mobile app development companies conduct extensive and rigorous quality assurance testing before releasing the application to nullify all possible risks and failures, boost product credibility, and enhance user experience. Quality assurance experts take two approaches to test and determine the software’s quality. These are the defect management approach and the quality attributes approach. In the first method, they try to identify any software defect that does not match client requirements, such as buggy code, inappropriate design, or poor data management. The second approach tests app functionality, usability, portability, reliability, etc.
GoodFirms Roundtable is a sequence of podcast discussions and interviews where top industry professionals and leaders share their rich views of the latest industry trends, discuss versatile topics related to IT services and app development, and narrate their experiences on getting listed with the GoodFirms platform. The podcast discussions stand as valuable resources for budding entrepreneurs across the globe.
In this current session of podcast discussion, GoodFirms got an opportunity to interact and chat with Yashu Kapila, CEO of Bugraptors.
Bugraptors is a renowned and leading quality assurance and pure-play software testing company founded in 2016 with offices in the US and India. The company offers a broad spectrum of high-quality professional quality assurance consulting services, having expertise in standard and specialized testing. It has also built two innovative products MoboRaptors; an automated mobile application testing solution, and RaptorVista; an automated framework for testing web applications. Bugraptors recently earned the prestigious tag of ‘Best Company to Work With’ in the GoodFirms Leaders Matrix program.
The following podcast discussion has focused on these critical areas.
- Differences between quality engineering and quality assurance
- What obsolete QA practices hold back companies from refining QA processes?
- How can QA teams ensure that quality is integrated into the development process?
- Common challenges that organizations face while improving quality assurance processes?
- How can companies strike a balance between speed and agility without compromising on product quality?
The podcast discussion also highlights the following points.
- What changes must QA service companies implement to match the transforming market scenarios?
- Which automation tools and techniques are used to streamline QA processes and improve efficiency?
- A few emerging trends in quality assurance and quality engineering
- How has GoodFirms helped Bugraptors increase its horizon and gain the trust of more clients?
A lot of us are aware of the term Quality Assurance, but not many are accustomed to hearing about Quality Engineering. Can you explain, what is quality engineering and how it is different from QA?
Okay! To put it in words, Quality engineering is a broad term that comprises everything from quality assurance to quality control. These include methodologies adopted, processes followed, delivery and deployment checks, impact assessment, and more.
On the other hand, quality assurance is regarded as one of the most critical components of the quality engineering process. It focuses on analyzing requirements to achieve predefined goals. Quality assurance also helps to create high-performing tech products and allows quality engineering to get all the checks done.
What are some of the obsolete QA practices that are holding back companies from implementing refining QA processes in their organization?
I guess, these companies adopt a rigid approach to adopting the ongoing methodologies and the latest practices. It hampers the entire quality assurance lifecycle. Most of the time, teams are not ready to align new practices with the existing team, which ultimately limits the quality. They may be resistant to advanced tools, coding practices, test initiatives, etc., which restricts the whole idea of refining the QA process.
Talking about how quality assurance was seen earlier, many believed that it is a process that comes after a series of design and development processes. How can teams ensure that quality is integrated into the development process from the outset, rather than being an afterthought?
I think, ultimately, QA is the key to improved deliveries, saved costs, and of course, high-quality products. So, a few things that can help test teams begin with early testing include:
- First is planning the software release schedule, getting it approved, and sharing the same with all stakeholders like developers, testers, and business analysts.
- Secondly, the team must develop a test strategy document, which contains all the features that will be tested based on high, medium, and low priority.
- Thirdly, the team must add test plans and test cases in the central repository to allow execution tracking.
- The last step comprises selecting the tools, resources, and environment for the timely and simultaneous execution of test cases, including the development process.
What are some common challenges that organizations face when trying to improve their QA processes, and how can they be overcome?
There are certain obstacles that test teams, and developers need to work on together. Some of the most common challenges that I feel organizations face are:
- Inability to establish and define clear requirements
- Planning an unrealistic timeline
- Missing out logical code errors while working on early defect tracking
- Spending too much time on end-to-end regression
Speed and agility is the priority for the majority of organizations, and with that in focus, quality can take a backseat. How can organizations balance the need for speed and agility with the need to ensure high levels of quality in their products?
I believe that development is a critical investment where missing the right pace and balance can hamper or make a product futile. Hence, I’m suggesting a few important points that will help you achieve quality along with speed and agility.
- Defining self-imposed deadlines to add discipline to the development process
- Retrospect the routine to overcome production complexity
- Selecting the right test approach and tools
- Inducing testing and development best practices simultaneously
There’s no doubt that web and mobile applications require vigorous testing. But, with ever-evolving technologies like Big data, AI/ML, cloud computing, etc., taking center stage, what kind of changes does a new QA service-offering company must make to keep up with the changing market scenarios?
Yes, I agree that the emergence of advanced technologies has completely changed the present QA landscape, but with the alignment of the QA process with the rapidly changing tech environment requires testers to progress along with the change.
Also, everything from web to mobile is integrating quickly with innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud, etc., during the development process, QA must aim to get a grip on these technologies.
Besides, it is necessary that testers should work on defining the right test environment while being clear on test requirements and analyzing test coverage for optimum productivity.
While talking about quality engineering and QA processes, we cannot skip on the tools that help make the quality assurance process easier. Can you list some automation tools and techniques that are used to streamline QA processes and improve efficiency?
If I need to highlight a few test automation tools that could help transform the QA process, it would include;
- Katalon
- Selenium
- Test Complete
- Cypress
- Lambda Test
Apart from that, I also want to add that selecting the right tool depends on the specific project, and hence it becomes crucial that any disparity in the project requirements must be embraced while selecting the tool.
Here, I’ll like to share a few quick vital tips with QA teams that will help them strengthen their test automation initiatives. These include;
- Know what should be automated
- Have good-quality test data
- Keep functions small
- Configure your CI/CD setup
What are some emerging trends in QA processes and quality engineering, and how can organizations stay ahead of the curve?
According to Yashu Kapila, the popular emerging trends in QA processes and quality engineering are the introduction of agile or Shift Left methodologies, which are complementing quality engineering initiatives.
Also, to simplify the entire testing process, test automation, IoT testing, AI-based testing, etc., are adding more value to the existing operations. Additionally, to create a secure virtual environment, API testing, blockchain testing, and cyber-security testing have gained more traction.
Since 2016, Bugraptors have been in the market and have been providing testing services to their customers. Since your association with our platform, can you please let us know how GoodFirms has helped you increase your horizons, win the trust of more clients and become a one-stop destination for all software QA testing needs?
I think GoodFirms has always been a source of trust for any person or organization looking for tech support. The process that the entire team at GoodFirms follows to analyze, measure, and calculate the ultimate performance and service of the organization makes it a more valuable resource to pursue.
At Bugraptors, we always had a constant focus on quality. Right from customer service to adopting new technologies and innovation with our operations, we always strive to deliver the best. Fortunately, GoodFirms has always been there to recognize all those efforts and help us take to the masses, bringing us exposure in terms of better business opportunities.
If you want to listen to this podcast discussion, please click here.
What’s Next
Quality assurance is an extensive testing process involving several steps, from crafting a QA strategy to conducting diverse tests, before ensuring the product is fit for release. Quality assurance testing has also allowed software development companies to unleash various advantages, such as saving time and money, preventing breakdowns and technical snags, boosting consumer experience, and much more.
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