Outsourcing QA vs Outstaffing vs Freelance: Best Solution in 2020

Outsourcing, outstaffing, and freelance have been around for quite a while in the IT industry, covering a wide range of tasks – from copywriting to building agile teams and developing tech products from scratch.

When it comes to software testing and QA, companies don’t always have enough in-house resources to handle the full scope of quality-related tasks. Some prefer to hire independent QA providers who can take a fresh look at the product, while others decide that involving on-demand resources will work better for the company.

The remote cooperation models became widely adopted during the pandemic, bringing along new opportunities as well as new difficulties. So companies start seeking for long-term cooperation that, in addition to cost reduction, can offer high quality and ensure security.

Which Strategy to Choose?

Known as cost-effective, outsourcing, outstaffing, and working with freelancers attract even more attention lately. Let’s take a closer look at these types of cooperation to consider the pros and cons of each.

Freelance

Freelance fits both short-term and long-lasting projects. There are lots of platforms for finding specialists who match your requirements. These platforms usually charge fees for each project but provide access to a big database of specialists. Some freelancers have personal websites.

A freelancer would receive all the tasks, directions, and payments from you with minimum or no intervention from other companies. Most often, freelancers have no problem with working overtime in short-term projects. The expenses will be cheaper compared to other options, even considering platform charges.

Pros

• Low cost.
• Vast selection of specialists with different qualifications.
• Direct communication and management.
• Flexible schedule with on-demand tasks.

Cons

• Risks of low-quality work.
• Finding a specialist can take a lot of time.
• Effort-consuming management.

Outstaffing

Outstaffing QA is a more organized and less risky strategy. You make an agreement with a specialized company (outstaffing agency) that finds a QA team or individual testers with a set of skills based on your requirements. The management of new employees, however, is your task. Basically, you will interact with those workers much like with your regular employees. Thus, outstaffing can be a backup for your in-house team or a full-fledged team.

Pros

• Spending less time on finding specialists.
• Confidence in their skills and experience.
• Direct communication and management.

Cons

• Effort-consuming management.

Outsourcing

Finally, there is outsourcing. You entrust the whole project to a specialized QA provider and get the work done by professionals without spending much effort on organizing the process. Quality assurance outsourcing companies use well-tried testing methods, have experience in different niches and various physical devices to run the checks. On the other hand, outsourcing requires a higher level of reliance on the company you are working with, so you should choose the provider carefully.

You can use outsourcing testing services as an extension for your in-house team. Delegate some QA tasks to an outsourced company or hire them to cover specific areas – test automation outsourcing, for example. You can also choose whether to communicate with the team directly or let your development team work with QA engineers without any intermediaries.

Pros

• Effort-saving and cost-efficient strategy.
• It is easier to check their qualifications and expertise.
• Guaranteed access to specific tools and physical devices.

Cons

• No direct control.
• Heavy reliance on a service provider.

Things to Pay Attention To

Regardless of the chosen model, there are certain points to check before you entrust the testing of your product to someone outside your company.

Portfolio. Study previous cases a potential service provider had successfully completed. Maybe there are projects similar to yours on the list – it’ll be a huge advantage. If there are no cases from your niche, pay attention to their diversity. If the portfolio seems promising, take the opportunity to become the first client in this field 😉

Reputation. Always search for reviews from previous clients. Check at least several different sources to get the full picture. Start with reviews on professional listings and ratings on freelance platforms.

Security. To prevent miscommunication, avoid hidden costs, and make sure that a service provider guarantees confidentiality, be precise regarding NDA, MSA, SOW and SLA you are going to sign. The terms should be clear and comprehensive, and the agreements should meet international standards.

Communication. Efficient cooperation comes from regular explicit feedback. Find out what reports you are going to receive. If you’re thinking of offshore QA testing, make sure you and the potential QA provider speak the same language. Discuss the working hours and ways of responding to possible emergencies beforehand.

To Sum Up

Whether you decide upon software testing outsourcing, outstaffing, or working with freelancers, the quality of your software product always depends on the partner’s qualifications and reliability.

If you choose to outsource quality assurance, let’s discuss the details. Questions are welcome, and you can also check out our portfolio 🙂 And in case you are here just to learn more about the available options, you can check out other articles in our blog.