Partnering for remote QA: fully-managed vs. co-managed testing approaches

With a consistent update schedule of one to two weeks for mobile apps, the inevitable surge in testing means companies are looking for ways to release the best version of their product that doesn’t turn off users. After all, 79 percent of users abandon a mobile application after only one day due to usability grievances.

So while “build it and they will come” may sound great for movies in the 90s, “test it and make them stay” is the reality for mobile app developers. 

So what’s a company to do? Companies can’t ignore testing. But they may have limited resources that hinder or delay a timely app.  Or, they may look to grow their in-house quality assurance team. 

Need for managed QA testing services

There are many QA challenges in software testing: lack of standard testing processes, testing visibility, increased workloads, efforts duplication, and ever-increasing overhead are just a few examples. To overcome these challenges, businesses can work with third-party partners that offer managed, networked QA testing services.

Data is on the side of testing services. According to AppAnnie, average Apple App Store ratings for mobile application developers experienced an increase upwards of 22 percent via third-party partnerships to help prepare for releases involving major overhauls and redesigns. 

Managed testing services help organizations deal with complex testing challenges to obtain the most favorable outcome. Significant benefits of testing-as-a-service include:

• Reduce the overall cost of testing
• Improve the quality of testing work
• Create centralized testing processes and reliable systems
• Utilize expert testing knowledge from larger networks

Additionally – and perhaps best of all – is that managed QA testing services can be catered to fit a business’s needs, regardless if a company is in search of a partner to manage the whole or just part of the process. In any case, you want QA testing that seamlessly aligns with your development process. 

Testing-as-a-service partnerships can be either end-to-end, fully managed testing services or they can augment your QA testing through a co-managed approach. Each testing approach is designed with a specific purpose in mind, and each has value in a comprehensive test plan. 

So which method is best for your company?

Fully managed: Do it for me

Sometimes a company doesn’t have the resources to do it all. Or, in the case of the current global pandemic, remote and distributed work is a must. That’s where fully managed testing methods come into play. 

With an all-in-one app testing platform, you don’t have to worry about managing or staffing quality testing. From start to finish, fully managed testing services provide the software, services, and expert testers ensuring quality at speed. 

This approach works great for companies looking:

• To scale testing efforts long-term without additional overhead
• To save on management resources
• For remote and // or distributed testers 

Expert and transparent partnerships with fully managed testing providers mean the whole transaction is covered, removing the responsibility and subsequent stress from your company. Whether you have in-house teams, dispersed workers, or no QA department, fully-managed testing approaches take on the responsibility of managing the complete test process so companies can focus on higher-value work.

Co-managed: Do it with me

Putting the “part” in “partnership”, co-managed testing approaches allow companies to control authoring tests as this method augments already established in-house resources. 

For businesses with in-house testing teams and current workflow management tools, a co-managed partnership lets businesses rely on providers for ongoing project management, coaching, and reporting.  This approach augments QA testing with highly vetted experts based on project requirements. 

Co-managed approaches are ideal for companies looking:

• To scale based on immediate needs
• For an objective consultant to ensure projects stay on track
• To rapidly ship fully tested, reliable, best-in-market mobile apps
• To personally assign test cases and cadence to teams

Businesses know their product and the problem it solves. By being hands-on during the QA test phase, co-managed testing providers meet variable project needs.

A meaningful relationship

As explained in a previous article on outsourcing test services, partnering with a trusted company gives you the freedom to focus on other tasks only someone in-house can; ultimately delivering successful outcomes for your overall organization.

Independent, third-party quality assurance services are designed to mitigate quality risks while providing enhanced yet cost-effective quality outcomes. But while a rose by any other name still smells as sweet, a partnership with any outsourced company may end up costing more in the long run. That’s why it’s imperative companies partner with QA providers that can deliver a complete program of testing efficiencies. One that’s platform-powered and leans on networked testing philosophies. 

For Testlio, we take responsibility for all testing and quality outcomes, and share the risk in project delays and issues, ensuring that we work actively with the company’s development. As your testing demand fluctuates, Testlio adjusts its resourcing to match – through the company’s burstable network of expert testers. With a global network of quality testing experts, both fully-managed and co-managed approaches give businesses access to the world’s – and specifically your market’s – most used devices.

Whether you’re looking for a do-it-for-me approach or do-it-with-me, Testlio’s managed testing services help enhance software quality at compelling economics, improving the utilization of resources for more flexible and faster turnaround times. Get started today.