After more than 20 years of working, collaborating, managing and directing #digitaltransformation projects in which software development has been an important part of the result, we have the experience and some authority to say that the quality control process, or QA as it is more commonly known in development methodologies, is normally underestimated in these projects, either due to not following a formal methodology, due to lack of knowledge or because it is considered an unnecessary expense.
We learned at WAU the way we almost always mature and improve, by making mistakes and having to pay the price for it. In some projects, as I said before, we underestimated the QA issue, often because it is a cost that our clients did not want to pay and sometimes, in order to move forward with the projects, other times because we did not give it the required importance, we started the work without taking this process into account in the costs and times. The result was that the projects took longer than we had planned and the cost was much higher than estimated, often having to “pay the bill” on our part, as they say colloquially, since said costs had to be assumed by WAU.
The thing is that developers are testing the modules worked on in their current Sprint, and they surely deliver them without problems, but as the Sprints progress, if there is no formal process to perform regression or integration testing, for example, of said modules, errors can gradually be introduced into the execution of the total project.
I know that when a custom software development project starts, one of the things that any client will ask us for is to finish it as soon as possible, at the lowest possible cost. The thing is that they also want it with the highest possible quality and that does not always mean less time or cost. Given this request, sometimes the process that is sacrificed the most is the QA process. Big mistake.
In our experience, it is not only crucial to implement this process, but also to automate it, in order to meet the requirement of having things in the shortest possible time, but also to minimize the costs of all testing.
Below I describe some of the benefits that can be obtained by implementing the QA process in an automated way:
1. Reduction of Human Errors
One of the most significant benefits of automation in QA is the reduction of human errors. Manual testing, while necessary in some cases, is subject to failure due to fatigue and lack of attention to detail. Automated processes, on the other hand, can be executed repeatedly with accuracy and consistency, ensuring that every aspect of the software is thoroughly verified.
2. Saving Time and Resources
QA automation allows complex and repetitive tests to be executed quickly and efficiently. Not only does this speed up the development process, but it also frees up developers and testers to focus on more strategic and creative tasks. Ultimately, this can lead to faster product delivery and better utilization of available resources.
3. Improved Test Coverage
Automated QA processes can cover a wider range of tests in less time. From unit and integration testing to regression and performance testing, automation ensures that all critical areas of the software are thoroughly tested. This significantly reduces the risk of critical bugs slipping into production.
4. Consistency and Repeatability
Automation ensures that tests are run consistently every time a test is performed. This is especially important in long-running projects where numerous iterations are performed. The ability to replicate the exact same test conditions ensures that results are comparable and reliable over time.
5. Early Detection of Software Defects
Implementing automated QA allows defects to be detected at the earliest stages of development. Identifying and fixing issues early in the project lifecycle is much more cost-effective and less disruptive than doing so at later stages. This helps keep the project on budget and on schedule.
6. Scalability
As projects grow in complexity and size, automated QA processes can be scaled to meet new demands. The ability to handle high volumes of testing efficiently is crucial to ensuring quality on large projects.
Conclusion
Implementing an automated QA process in custom software development projects is not only a quality measure, but a fundamental strategy to minimize risks and control costs. Reducing human errors, saving time and resources, improving test coverage, consistency and repeatability, early detection of defects, and scalability are just some of the benefits that automation can offer.
At WAU , we understand the importance of quality in software development (we had to learn the hard way lol) and we are committed to integrating automated QA processes into all our projects. We believe that this practice not only improves the quality of the final product, but also ensures that projects stay on budget and on schedule.
If you need support for your development projects in QA topics or the automation of this process, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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