Quality assurance is what a company does to guarantee its products and services are as good as they should be. Traditionally in Tech companies, it is a responsibility of a QA team that works on finding defects in Software. But the things are changing, and QA no longer depends on the maximum amount of error scenarios covered. Quality becomes a shared duty; it goes beyond software testing services and bug fixing. These transformations inevitably affect the QA processes and their role.
Quality as a trigger for a business reboot
Quality is essential for a company’s reboot during and after a crisis, regardless of what has caused that crisis. The recent events deprived people of many opportunities and clearly emphasized the significance of tech enhancement.
On the one hand, remote will stick for a while. Tech companies around the world allow employees to continue working from home until the end of the year. Some consider the permanent shift to distant mode. Stable and secure online conferencing apps, SaaS platforms, and all kinds of office software are in-demand more than ever.
On the other hand, in difficult times, people tend to reconsider their priorities as customers. Cost-saving strategies imply the cancellation of paid services that aren’t significant at the moment. If the software doesn’t work flawlessly, it is also at risk. There may be a better solution on the market that can help optimize working processes more effectively. Even if it is a pricier solution, the promise of quality will most likely outweigh the cost.
Benefits of a quality-focused approach
A shift in roles and re-shaping QA resources may be challenging, but they are beneficial. Business-oriented teams are more successful in releasing high-quality products, and the focus on quality helps companies gain a competitive advantage.
When the duties are strictly outlined, every team member and every department in the company focuses on their particular part of work. As a result, people don’t pay sufficient attention to the product as a whole, being certain that it is a task for a software testing company or team. Sharing responsibilities brings in more communication that results in less misunderstanding and fewer conflicts.
Continuous education to drive the progress
Education starts with mentorship within the company when the most experienced employees or executives point out the parts where tech and business meet. Tech solutions affect revenue and company growth, so it is crucial for a team to understand the cause and effect of technology and business. Marketing and sales departments should know the product in detail since they are going to communicate its value proposition to the customers.
Most likely, every team will still have their ideas on what the primary meaning of quality is. Yet, no one will keep pretending that a QA company is the only party responsible for product performance.
Another option is hands-on learning. It is a normal practice to allow team members to participate in tasks outside their expertise area. Professionals work according to the rules they’ve learned, and the rules often bind creativity. Amateurs aren’t familiar with conventional practices, so they experiment easily and don’t worry about breaking the agreed standards.
Brainstorming sessions are also an effective way to learn. Spontaneous ideas can become uncommon solutions that take a product to a new level. If the idea is unrealistic or not worth a try, team members can explain their point of view, immediately clarifying how things work.
Changes in the mindset
Adopting a new vision of QA doesn’t require immediate changes in a company’s structure or strategies. It is more about creating an environment where everyone feels free to share their ideas, ask questions, and participate in the decision-making process. Whether you outsource testing or have an in-house team, this transformation is more about changes in mindset and attitude.
Employees should care about the company’s ideas. It doesn’t happen thanks to the conventional motivational speeches. The cause lies in the inner motivation, which is often more important than years of work experience. New employees always come with some career expectations. A company that can support a person’s urge to develop will benefit from their initiative and devoted work.
The new role of a QA Engineer
So if everyone will be responsible for the product quality, what will remain for a QA Engineer? Their competencies and responsibilities are going to evolve, and not only because of the new business-oriented culture.
Technology advances and tech positions have to adjust correspondingly. A QA engineer who only tests a system manually will sooner or later become history. 2020 won’t be the end for QA as we know it, but it is time to start exploring new sides of the familiar profession.
For example, Software Testing Help predicts that AI would eventually take over 70% of quality assurance, and people will concentrate only on 30% of tasks. AI Automation Specialists will be busy mostly with machine learning control and business strategy, spending less time writing scripts for test automation services. Today’s QA engineers will do better on leading and Customer Experience positions. QA services imply repeatedly analyzing large complicated software systems. This task leads to a deep understanding of customer needs and pains as well as improvements required for commercial success. And it is key to building a client-centered company.
Building the customer-centered culture
84% of customers are certain that the experience a company provides is as important as their products and services, Salesforce reports. Yet, only 47% believe that companies are already living to their expectations.
People want companies to adopt new technologies that open better ways for customer engagement and experience. The business landscape is shaped by technology. The focus has shifted from an effective promotion strategy to taking a client-oriented approach. Companies that want to become highly competitive should not only meet but exceed expectations of customers. Sticking to the high quality standards is a sure way to achieve this goal.
