Since software testing often takes place in the later stages of development, some companies find it unimportant. Likewise, executives may also think it’s OK if customers find bugs in a software product after its release.
However, it is ideal if companies view software testing as something that can generate overall value and increase customer satisfaction. Here are some of the many reasons why it is so essential to success.
Testing reduces cyber attacks
Company representatives who perform software testing make it less likely that attackers will find vulnerabilities to exploit. Such incidents could damage a company’s profits and reputation.
For example, if the software in question is for internal use, bug-facilitated attacks could adversely affect a company’s productivity and necessitate the temporary shutdown of certain operations. Businesses that market a pirated product can affect customer confidence in the business and its offerings.
In 2020, researchers discovered several vulnerabilities associated with a cybersecurity software vendor. The problems gave hackers indirect access to devices the company has marketed to customers to improve their cybersecurity readiness. It is a disaster in the making for any company, but especially for a company specializing in cybersecurity.
It should also be noted that a recent survey found that one in three organizations experience more cyber attacks in 2021 than in previous years. Cybercriminals don’t just break into networks through software flaws, of course. However, such unresolved issues can make it easier for them to orchestrate successful and maximum damaging attacks.
Software testing should be factored into a company’s overall cybersecurity strategy. Finding problems sooner reduces the chances that malicious parties will encounter them and use them for destructive purposes.
Tests provide useful insight into customer behavior
Many companies incorporate usability testing into their software review strategies. It charges real users to try the product and give detailed feedback on their experiences. Company representatives can also get real-time data on areas that need further improvement or that are not as useful as they hoped.
Manufacturers can get instant data to create heat maps and determine which areas of a factory are receiving the most traffic. This helps them avoid bottlenecks and optimize the layout of buildings.
Real-time information from software testing can serve a similar purpose. For example, it could show businesses how much time users spend interacting with a particular feature. Alternatively, it can reveal if people get confused or frustrated while using the software.
Knowing these things before a software title is released on a large scale increases the chances of bringing the product to market with most issues resolved. This helps to ensure that the product is as appealing as possible to the target audience.
Testing also provides valuable insight after a company redesigns its software or adds many new features. It is a potentially costly mistake to assume that such changes will please most users. Software testing checks to see if this is the case, allowing companies to make the improvements needed to keep customers happy.
Testing improves reliability
Many industries use software to handle urgent tasks and keep massive projects on budget and completed on time. Research shows that large construction projects take 20% longer than expected to be completed. Software can improve these metrics by giving users greater visibility and helping teams communicate quickly and easily.
Regardless of the industry that uses the software, careful testing of these products before reaching customers can improve a business’s bottom line. It also increases the chances that users will become loyal to products published later.
Bringing reliable products to market is essential as customers want quick returns on their investment. In an industry like healthcare, software bugs, clunky interfaces, or repetitive error messages could sacrifice the quality of patient care by slowing or interrupting provider workflows.
It should also be noted that people start to form opinions on products before they realize it. Additionally, people who use software for businesses will likely receive requests from their employers to provide feedback on their experiences. Suppose a company invests in new software for a team of 500 people and hears from three quarters of the group that the product is interfering with productivity or causing other problems. In this case, the customer is unlikely to buy it again.
Business leaders should strive to view robust software testing as an essential part of overall quality control. If users generally agree that a product performs as it should most of the time and provides them with real benefits, they will be more likely to purchase new software from the company once it becomes available. They will also have favorable opinions on the brand.
Testing helps software company employees make the most of their time
A software publisher cannot have software tests performed by internal employees. Many companies specializing in third-party testing services have automated tools and other resources that contribute to high-quality results.
Whether testing takes place within an organization or is managed elsewhere, it can help the staff of a software company better meet customer needs. For example, test results may reveal that software exhibits unusual behavior on a particular operating system or in a certain browser. Testing helps ensure that the software has the adaptability required to be successful in today’s market.
If testing reveals issues with the platform, business development professionals have a clearer idea of where and how to identify and resolve them as quickly as possible. Without the details provided by these tests, software developers cannot be reasonably sure that the product will perform as intended on the assortment of devices and configurations that customers may use.
Software testing also gives a company’s customer service team useful details, even before fixes are implemented for identified issues. For example, if testing reveals a bug in Windows 11, a call center team could use that information to address user complaints.
Tests reflect a company’s concern
In addition to the benefits of testing detailed here, those responsible for reviewing software should remember that the process is a way for businesses to show that customer experience matters to them.
After discovering software flaws during normal use, a person can naturally conclude that a company has introduced the product to the market with the aim of improving its bottom line.
Deploying a thorough testing strategy will not necessarily reveal all the issues. Still, it’s a great way to show customers that the business has taken whatever steps are necessary to reduce any issues they are having. When people have this impression, they are more likely to continue to do business with a software brand and recommend people they know to follow their lead.
Article written by Emily Newton, editor-in-chief of Revolutionized
