The rapidly changing world of
Information Technology can be observed in many dimensions. These include the
advent of new technologies, changing customer preferences, the proliferation of
new devices and operating platforms, the growing menace of cybercrime, and the
increasing role of regulators. Enterprises, aware of these dimensions, are
adopting digital transformation in a big way to stay up the ladder of
competition. And one of the salient features of digital transformation is
adopting or building new software tools or platforms to deliver great user experiences.
This is because customers with
access to new product choices are not satisfied with run-of-the-mill products
or services. Their growing appetite for quality products displaying attributes
such as high usability, security, navigability, and functionality, has hit the
proverbial death knell for companies continuing with legacy systems,
methodologies, and policies. This has brought into sharp focus the critical
importance of following software
quality assurance. The plethora of devices, operating systems,
browsers, and networks has meant the software delivered to the customers should
be functional across the digital ecosystem.
However, notwithstanding the
critical importance of upholding software quality assurance,
many enterprises in a bid to release products quickly and take advantage
of being the first mover, are cutting corners with software quality assurance testing. This results in the delivery
of below-par products leading to unforeseen and unwarranted consequences
(especially with financial software). Let us find out why enterprises
developing software should never compromise with following a robust software quality assurance strategy.
Pitfalls of
not undertaking software quality assurance
With software becoming the
critical requirement in driving the digital ecosystem, ensuring its quality is
of supreme importance. In case, companies do not pay heed to this dictum, they
(including the end-customers) are bound to pay the price. The pitfalls are as
following:
Poor
quality product or service: Today, when software products are having interfaces to
financial and personal information of customers, any glitches or
vulnerabilities can play havoc. Cybercriminals may exploit these to steal
information. Think of using an application with built-in glitches or malware
that results in the siphoning off personal and financial data. Apart from
causing losses to the customers, these glitches can destroy your brand equity.
Citing another example of software being used in diagnostic devices in the
healthcare industry.
If the software malfunctions
owing to the presence of glitches, the result delivered by the device can be
erroneous. The treatment protocol followed thereafter by the medical
professional by taking inputs from such readings can worsen the condition of the
patient even leading to his or her death. To avoid such an eventuality, any QA testing services company worth its
salt should ensure the glitches or vulnerabilities present in the software are
identified and removed forthwith.
An additional cost of reworking: The software quality assurance
services help businesses to spend less on reworking,
retesting, replacing, or remarketing of faulty software. Remember, any
enterprise sets a budget for product development depending on the demand,
technology used, the complexity of the process, and viability. If the software
development pipeline does not incorporate software assurance techniques the chances of that product to have
an uninterrupted run in the market can be cut short. Customers, on being
frustrated with the quality of such a product, can disown or send it for
replacement. The company has to rework on the product, which is both time and
cost-intensive.
Fall in
brand equity: People do
not always buy products on a whim. They usually follow a brand after being convinced
of its quality and price advantage. However, this can take a beating if the
product is delivered to the market without following software quality assurance. But how? The product may come unstuck
when the customer needed it the most or fail to give accurate information, slow
to function, or lead to a data breach. Customers fed up with such products can
disown them, influence others not to buy, and seek compensation for the loss.
In each of the cases, the company is going to pay a heavy price. This is
because building a brand is a time-consuming process involving strategizing,
running campaigns, and spending money. However, such assiduously built brand
equity can bite the dust in no time.
Conclusion
In the Agile and DevOps scheme of
things, following a software quality
assurance strategy is critical for outcomes like continuous integration
and continuous delivery. When software has become increasingly critical in
running and sustaining the digital landscape, especially with the arrival of
IoT, giving short shrift to QA is a recipe for disaster.
