Outsourced website testing services

Your business requirements will determine everything, from the type and level of testing required, and also where and when the start and end points are.

Performing the actual tests might be the only thing you need, but you might require far more from outsourcing. For example:

• Before testing: Typically before testing there will be discussions, planning, reviews of documentation, user story writing, estimates given, and test plans prepared.
• During testing: During testing there will be bug reporting. Fixed bugs will need to be re-tested to ensure that they have been fixed, and regression testing is also likely to be required to ensure that bug fixes haven't led to further problems.
• After testing: On completion of testing it is normal to have summaries or reports written up, and in addition there may be summary (or retrospective) meetings to attend.

So it very much depends on your own requirements as to how much involvement your outsourced testing resources get involved with other tasks besides the actual testing.

Testing websites which are already in the live environment do not typically require addition access rights, unless logging into member areas, promotional codes, and test payment numbers are required. But testing new features before they go live to the public are likely to require access to offline environments.

Access to test environments ⇨

To enable testing to take place, access to offline testing environments may be required.

Understandably most organisations don't provide access to just anyone without good reason, and sometimes that access can take a while to be approved and set up. It's therefore worth planning ahead to avoid delays at your end with admin work and access approval.

Test cards and accounts ⇨

Testing can often require test credit card numbers to be provided, and possibly access to test profile accounts which may have already been set up for specific customer types or personas.

If testing in secured offline environments is required, test payment cards may be different in development and Qual environments compared to pre-production and live environments.

Promo codes ⇨

If offers, promotions and discounts are to be tested, there may need to be discount codes provided which also have their limitations of use made clear so they can be effectively tested.

If testing in secured offline environments is required promotional codes may be different in development and Qual environments compared to pre-production and live environments.

Bug tracking tool ⇨

Access to your bug tracking tool is also likely to be needed. Sometimes a shared ID can suffice, but that doesn't provide traceability if it's used by more than one person.

Bringing in experienced outside help can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Increased workloads might leave you without enough capacity to test, or you might need to fill a gap in your team due to absence.

The need to downsize can also be a good reason to make use of outsourced resources, and in each of these cases the need can be immediate, short or long term.

Outsourcing can have cost benefits too, and experienced outsourced resources can not only bring a wider perspective on the industry, but can also provide the means for cover outside of regular office hours, and at short notice.