Closing the Gap: A Guide to Enhancing Your QA Strategy

Kassidy Kelley , Managing Editor

October 19th, 2023

For argument’s sake, even if you think your QA strategy is picture-perfect, you’re likely deficient in one area. Don’t panic… you’re not alone. Most companies face major QA issues that hinder their ability to deliver top-notch software. 

Identifying and addressing QA gaps is pivotal, whether it’s a shortage of skilled testers, limited device and O/S coverage, or automation. By pre-emptively covering common QA strategy issues, you can formulate strategies to bridge gaps and propel your software development endeavors to new heights. 

From the importance of diverse testing approaches to the value of third-party partnerships and system-level improvements, let’s bolster your QA strategy to ensure the seamless, high-quality delivery of apps.

Check this matrix of common issues. Do any resonate?

Here are some of the most common QA issues out there:

Sparse crowdsourcing

Among the most common QA strategy issues is a shortage of skilled testers. Emphasis on skilled. Relying solely on in-house testers may limit your testing capacity and slow development cycles. Consider leveraging a network of freelance testers who can extend QA coverage on demand.

Limited device or O/S coverage

If your QA team lacks access to a wide range of devices and OS versions, you may face QA gaps in testing. Invest in device labs, cloud-based testing services, or crowdsourced testing partners that provide device testing for unique hardware and O/S combinations to extend customer coverage and identify bugs on different devices.

Lack of coverage types

Different types of testing, such as functional, usability, performance, and security testing, are essential for thorough QA. If your testing efforts focus on only one or two areas, you must extend QA coverage for a robust strategy. 

Struggles with Automation

Embracing automation can significantly enhance efficiency coverage and improve your ability to solve QA problems. However, implementing and maintaining automated testing frameworks can be challenging. If you struggle with automation, invest in the right tools and training to improve your team’s automation capabilities. 

Consider leveraging automated testing services to create, run, and analyze automated tests in a centralized testing tool or through third-party tool integrations that work with your existing development flow.

Skills shortage

A limited budget, a competitive hiring market, or a lack of available qualified talent for your specific QA needs could cause a QA talent shortage. Consider hiring from a pool of experts through a crowdsourced QA testing service. Crowdtesting can fill critical QA gaps and efficiently extend QA coverage on a flexible budget.

Extend Capabilities and Solve QA Problems

To bridge your long-term QA gaps and solve the underlying QA issues, you may need to supplement the capabilities of your existing in-house team. 

Utilize Third-Party QA Partners

Leveraging third-party QA partners, such as outsourced or crowdsourced testing services, can help you expand your QA capabilities. A QA partner like Testlio can provide scalability, specialized expertise, and diverse testing environments. QA collaborations are a cost-effective solution and can address various QA challenges.

Hire PT/FT Talent

If budget permits, invest in hiring part-time or full-time QA professionals, testers, and quality engineers. Building a dedicated QA team ensures that testing becomes integral to your development process. Having in-house experts allows for better collaboration, faster feedback cycles, and more comprehensive coverage. A professional QA tester network is the best place to find qualified talent.

Choose Your Own Tools

Every organization has unique requirements and preferences when it comes to testing tools. Choose tools that align with your needs and integrate seamlessly into your development workflow. Customizing your toolset helps streamline your QA processes and improves efficiency.

Use Automation

Automation can solve QA problems and increase testing efficiency. Identify areas where automation can bring the most value and implement automated testing frameworks accordingly. Automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks allows your team to focus on more complex testing scenarios and uncover critical issues.

How to Develop an Automated Testing Strategy

Stick to Systems

To further enhance your QA processes, consider the following system-level improvements:

QA Benefits from Standardization: Standardizing your QA processes and methodologies across teams and projects ensures consistency and reduces the likelihood of gaps. Develop a QA framework that can be applied universally and provide guidelines for testing procedures, documentation, and reporting.

Improve CI/CD pipeline: Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines streamline the development and testing processes. By integrating QA activities seamlessly into your CI/CD pipeline, you can detect and address issues early on, minimizing the chances of gaps and improving overall product quality.

Adopt modern test frameworks: Consider adopting a continuous testing approach rather than relying solely on episodic testing efforts. Continuous testing allows for ongoing software validation throughout the development lifecycle, minimizing QA gaps and ensuring consistent quality at every stage.

Improve developer and QA communication:

• Encourage regular meetings.
• Foster a culture of transparency.
• Establish clear channels for feedback and bug reporting. Improved communication helps identify and address QA issues promptly.

Better internal tester certification: Invest in a tester certification program to enhance the skills and knowledge of your QA team. Regular training sessions, certifications, and workshops can help fill knowledge gaps, ensure standardized testing practices, and improve the overall effectiveness of your QA processes.