Why Outsourcing Regression Testing Services Can Save Time and Money?

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is Regression Testing?
• The Cost and Time Challenges of In-House Regression Testing
• Benefits of Outsourcing Regression Testing Services
• Real-Life Example of Savings Through Outsourcing
• Challenges to Consider When Outsourcing
• Key Features to Look for in an Outsourcing Partner
• Conclusion

Introduction

In a rapidly changing field such as software development, consistency concerning the product is critical. Whereas regression testing pertains mostly to new patches or updates that should not affect any existing functionality, many companies may find internal regression testing somewhat expensive and time-consuming. External regression testing services are a strategic technique that saves time and money, while providing high-quality research results through experienced testing services. In this article, we will discuss why outsourcing regression testing is a game-changer for organizations.

What is Regression Testing?

Regression testing is the process of rerunning previously created test cases. To verify that recent changes, such as code updates, combining features, or patching bugs. It does not adversely affect the existing functionality of the application.

For example:

• When a unique feature of a new e-commerce platform is introduced, such as a payment gateway, the regression testing ensures that all existing features, such as product browsing, adding items in the cart, and user authentication, work perfectly.

It is expedient for iterative and rapid change, and expected development methodologies such as Agile and DevOps. Regression testing would mean that those undiscovered bugs can threaten the user experience, thus resulting in revenue losses and also reputational damage.

The Cost and Time Challenges of In-House Regression Testing

While regression testing is essential, managing it in-house presents significant challenges:

• High Resource Investment: Specialized tools, skilled testers, and an optimized test environment are requirements for effective regression testing. Building up and maintaining this infrastructure may lead to increased costs, especially for small and medium-sized organizations.
• Time-Consuming Process: Regression testing is not a job in which test cases will be executed once after each upgrade. To achieve smooth integration, a minor UI modification may entail testing hundreds of cases. This takes up valuable development and QA time.
• Hidden Costs: Updating test scripts, maintaining the latest cutting-edge testing environments, and spending on new technologies just to keep pace are often among the first things to be overlooked. These costs add up over time, making in-house regression testing less cost-viable.

Benefits of Outsourcing Regression Testing Services

1. Cost-Effectiveness

• Elimination of Overheads: Taking out cycling regression tests by yourself eliminates the need to hire and train specialized employees. An outsourced partner would take care of the infrastructure maintenance costs, tool costs and procurement of licenses. 
• Pay-As-You-Go Models: There are numerous testing service vendors who have come up with flexible pricing to make the pay-by-need system very inexpensive. 
• Access to Advanced Tools Without Extra Costs: Renowned testing agencies rely on the deployment of contemporary solutions such as Selenium, TestComplete, and Appium. Possession or even the use of such would not be affordable for any of the individual organizations. 

2. Time Savings

• Dedicated Testing Teams: By outsourcing, you gain access to a team of skilled testers focused exclusively on testing, leading to faster completion of regression cycles. 
• 24/7 Testing Across Time Zones: Testing service providers often operate globally, enabling continuous testing even when your in-house team is off the clock. 

3. Access to Expertise and Quality

• Specialized Knowledge: Testing firms have domain-specific expertise and experience across industries. For example, they can better anticipate challenges in fintech applications versus gaming apps. 
• Thorough Testing Practices: With tools like test automation and exploratory testing, outsourced teams ensure that high-quality delivery is met. 

4. Focus on Core Business Activities

• Shift of Burden: This enables the in-house development and QA teams to actually do some productive strategic tasks such as positioning and innovation, as well as working for customer engagement and feature development. 
• Improved Productivity: By delegating regression testing to experts, businesses can optimize internal resources and meet delivery deadlines efficiently. 

5. Scalability

• On-Demand Resources: Depending on the demands of your project, outsourcing partners might scale their teams up or down. 
• Adaptability to High Workloads: Outsourced teams can manage varying workloads without sacrificing timing or quality, whether it's a major release or a little update. 

Real-Life Example of Savings Through Outsourcing

Consider a mid-sized SaaS company planning a large software upgrade. Managing regression testing in-house would have included hiring temporary testers, purchasing additional licenses for automation technologies, and compensating for overtime. Instead, by outsourcing regression testing, they worked with a service provider who finished the procedure in half the time, with fewer resources, and at 40% less cost. This allowed the organization to focus on enhancing the user experience for the new capabilities, resulting in a successful launch.

Challenges to Consider When Outsourcing

While outsourcing regression testing provides various benefits, it is critical to handle potential issues:

• Choosing the Right Partner: Although testing companies should provide high-quality software testing services, this is not the case with every testing service. They should be evaluated in terms of their knowledge, reputation, and past performance.
• Communication Barriers: Working in a cross-national team poses frequent threats during the outsourcing of different work areas. At an international level, proper communication practices should be initiated to avoid misunderstandings.
• Data Security Concerns: The sensitive data pertaining to projects must be shared under a stringent non-disclosure agreement binding in tandem with the other rule-based compliance requirements involving regulatory standards like GDPR or HIPAA.

Key Features to Look for in an Outsourcing Partner

• Proven Track Record: Check for positive client feedback, case studies, and industry experience.
• Technical Expertise: Make sure they're using up-to-date testing tools and platforms.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Partners will happily adjust to your needs - scaling up or scaling down, depending on the stage of the business.
• Security Standards: Verify that the provider follows data privacy standards and employs secure communication channels.

Conclusion

External regression testing is more than just a cost-cutting solution. It is a strategic investment in quality, efficiency, and scalability. Businesses can leverage the experience of skilled people and innovative solutions. This ensures that their software remains flexible and reliable. Even though there are changes and regular upgrades, at the right partner path, outsourcing has the potential to turn regression testing from a laborious process into a smooth and efficient process that frees businesses to innovate and grow.

About Author

Nikul Ghevariya is a dedicated QA Executive at PixelQA, a Software Testing Company, evolving from a trainee to a valuable contributor across diverse projects. With ambitious goals, he aspires to master new QA tools and delve into Automation and API testing, showcasing an unwavering commitment to continuous learning.