The global business process outsourcing market is expected to reach $525 billion by 2030. Maintaining a competitive edge in software development is essential for businesses of all sizes. Quality Assurance (QA) plays a pivotal role in ensuring that software products meet the highest standards of performance, functionality, and user satisfaction. As the demand for robust QA processes continues to grow, many organizations are exploring the option of offshore QA teams to streamline their development cycles and reduce costs.
This article discusses the benefits of hiring an offshore QA team, engagement models for hiring offshore testing teams, and the most common challenges of managing offshore QA experts.
Benefits of hiring an offshore QA team
Here are the benefits of hiring an offshore testing team:
- Cost-effective labor. Offshore QA teams are often located in countries with lower labor costs, allowing you to access highly skilled QA professionals at a fraction of the cost of hiring in-house staff.
- Reduced overhead. You can save on overhead expenses such as office space, equipment, and benefits typically associated with in-house teams.
- Flexibility. Offshore QA teams can be easily scaled up or down based on project requirements. This agility helps you adapt to changing workloads without the need for extensive hiring or layoffs.
- Diverse skill sets. Offshore QA teams often consist of professionals with diverse skill sets, experiences, and industry knowledge. This diversity can be beneficial when testing products for different markets and user demographics.
- Language proficiency. Many offshore QA professionals are fluent in multiple languages, which can be advantageous for testing products in international markets.
- Accelerated testing cycles. Offshore teams can work during your non-business hours, allowing them to complete testing tasks overnight. This leads to faster turnaround times and quicker feedback for development teams.
- Access to niche skills. Offshore QA teams often specialize in specific testing types, such as automation testing, performance testing, security testing, or usability testing. This expertise can significantly enhance the quality of your software.
- Core business focus. Outsourcing QA tasks allows your in-house team to concentrate on core development activities, innovation, and strategic planning rather than diverting resources to testing.
- Access to advanced testing tools and infrastructure. Offshore QA providers often invest in the latest testing tools, technologies, and infrastructure, providing your project with cutting-edge capabilities.
- Adherence to industry standards. Offshore QA teams are often well-versed in industry-specific regulations and standards, ensuring your product’s compliance and security.
Offshore hiring differs from nearshore hiring. We recommend reading our article What is Nearshore Software Development: Complete Guide to be well-versed in this.
Outsourcing vs. outstaffing: how is it better to hire offshore QA teams?
When you’ve decided to seek an offshore QA team, the next step involves determining the most suitable business and payment model for your collaboration with the offshore software vendor. This engagement model dictates payment terms and project deadlines and influences project management and the integration of hired specialists.
However, deciding whether to embrace an outsourcing or outstaffing approach is essential before diving into these specifics. Your choice should be guided by several key factors, including the project’s scale, your budget constraints, and the level of control you wish to maintain over both the project and the team.
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is preferred for companies without an internal tech team or those less focused on technology. It’s also ideal for business owners seeking the vendor’s expertise in managing the QA team. Furthermore, outsourcing is the way to go if your requirements extend beyond testing to encompass other software development services like design, business analysis, or DevOps.
Outstaffing
Outstaffing is better suited for scenarios where you demand full control over the QA and development processes and want to expand your in-house tech team. A notable advantage of outstaffing is its flexibility. You can start with a single specialist or a small team and scale up as needed, initiating projects cost-effectively.
Challenges when working with offshore QA teams
Here is a list of challenges you may encounter when hiring and managing offshore testing teams:
- Trust concerns. The initial hurdle you might face involves selecting a dependable QA team to ensure the security and integrity of your company’s products and sensitive information. When outsourcing, trust becomes paramount, as you won’t have the same direct supervision over the testing process as you would with an in-house team.
- Communication challenges. Efficient communication is a pivotal element of successful project management. Its significance amplifies when engaging with an offshore QA team. Numerous common issues can hinder smooth collaboration with an offshore QA team.
- Cultural differences. While cultural differences might not initially appear to be the linchpin of an efficient workflow, they greatly impact the overarching testing process. The cultural backdrop in which your testing team operates and the societal context in which your team members reside inherently shape their approach to business decisions, problem-solving, and collaboration with others.
- Time zone disparities. Significant time zone disparities can trigger communication and feedback delays, potentially impeding the overall testing process. In a survey conducted by GoodFirms, 30.77% of respondents acknowledged time differences as a substantial challenge in the outsourcing landscape. Aim to collaborate with a QA team that offers at least a few overlapping working hours whenever feasible. This arrangement facilitates the timely exchange of feedback and the swift resolution of inquiries, minimizing or eliminating delays in your workflow.
Hire offshore QA specialists with the help of Red Jumpers
Red Jumpers is an agency specializing in bringing IT companies together. We have developed a network of reliable outsourcing and outstaffing partners of more than 700 companies.
We screen each partner and check their reputation on independent websites and through a rating system. Even at the start, we get to know the company’s CEO personally and build trusting C-level relationships. Therefore, you can be sure that you will work with strong partners who will allow you to grow professionally.
If you have a complex hiring request of any specialization, feel free to contact us right now!
Conclusion
So, hiring an offshore QA team can bring numerous advantages to your organization, including cost savings, scalability, access to global talent, improved efficiency, and enhanced product quality. However, it’s essential to select a reputable offshore partner, establish effective communication channels, and manage the collaboration efficiently to maximize the benefits of this outsourcing strategy. And at Red Jumpers, we can help you with this!
