Don’t Skip This Step Before You Start Software Testing

COVID-19 is accelerating digital transformation strategies in every industry and profoundly impacting those that must now primarily rely on reaching customers virtually. In fact, a  recent McKinsey report shows that digital customer interactions jumped to 65% by July 2020 — from just 41% in December 2019.

As organizations deploy digital apps and solutions faster and more frequently, the likelihood of missing software bugs or glitches increases. With each and every negative experience, a customer’s impression of your brand is eroded, which can hurt sales and revenue. Well-planned software testing is essential to mitigate the costly risks of customer dissatisfaction—but it is only as effective as the strategy you have in place to perform it.

An effective testing strategy begins with having a clear picture of where your organization is today, its desired to-be state, and the gaps between both. This holistic perspective about your organization — its processes, resources, and skill sets — is the foundation for a testing strategy that not only improves quality assurance, but also ultimately supports your business goals and objectives.

The Risk of Leaping Too Quickly Into Software Testing

Consider this real-life example of one company that jumped too quickly into testing: The company subscribed to a software testing automation tool that cost $400,000 over a three-year period. After 18 months of paying for the subscription, however, the company still had not used the technology.

After purchasing the subscription, the company began to realize it lacked the proper infrastructure and skill sets to successfully implement the tool. The technology was effectively sitting on the shelf. Had they performed a current-state assessment before subscribing to the tool, the organization could have anticipated the gaps and had a plan to address them upfront. Instead, they lost significant time and financial investment.

Even if the company had used the tool to perform testing, the results would likely have been unsatisfactory. As with any project, you should take stock of where you are and build a plan to achieve your business goals to be successful. Software testing without insight leads to subpar products and unsatisfied customers.  Research shows that nearly half of retail consumers, for example, will abandon a purchase due to page crashes, long load times, or website errors. Seeking the advice of a trusted partner before developing your software testing plan, however, can prevent these issues before they become losses.

The Case for the Current-State Assessment

At CTG, both a current-state assessment and the development of a Performance Improvement Roadmap are key components of our client testing strategies. In our more than 50 years of providing support to over 400 testing clients, we’ve learned that upfront due diligence is not an optional step but a critical best practice that must be integrated into all our testing strategy engagements.

CTG partners with clients to assess their true current state and develop a future-state road map that helps organizations achieve their business goals. For organizations with aggressive timelines or limited resources and bandwidth, a current-state assessment can be performed during a day of intense whiteboarding sessions. For others, we can deliver a two- to four-week engagement.

Regardless of the project scope or duration, organizations must take a purposeful approach to testing to avoid unnecessary risks. The most successful testing programs start with proper perspective on the structures, skill sets, and tools your organization already has and those it needs to keep you ahead in the race toward digital transformation.