In the fast-moving world of technology, making sure that software works is of critical importance for companies. When software goes wrong it can be really bad for businesses, it can harm your reputation, cause customers to flee and in worse case scenarios even make them go out of business.
I am going to tell you a story of how software testing could have prevented a potential disaster.
Imagine that a leading financial software provider faced a major crisis when their flagship product, a cloud-based accounting software used by thousands of businesses worldwide failed due to a permissions bug. Reports flooded in from frustrated customers who were unable to access their financial data, process transactions, or generate essential reports.
The failure occurred due to a small bug in a recent software update, no one noticed the problem during the development phase. The internal testing process the company employed was too focussed and did not have a holistic approach which led to the issue slipping through the cracks. Shortly after the release, customers got really worried and started complaining on social media, asking for a quick fix. When this happened the company management knew that they had to act fast.
They gathered a team of independent quality assurance experts. The QA team led by independent testers, were key in fixing the problem. They used both automated tools and manual checks to carefully look at every part of the software. The focus of independent testers maintains a steadfast commitment to thoroughly test every aspect, including seemingly insignificant functionalities, often overlooked by developers and internal QA departments.
When money and reputation are on the line, quality assurance is paramount. Even with a rescue, their reputation was in tatters. To recover, they needed a hefty cash infusion. Pre-launch testing, and even better implementing testing practices into the software development life cycle early could have prevented this debacle.
However, the incident served as a wake-up call to the company. They realised that they needed to change how they develop and test software. They implemented a policy to employ independent testers from that point forward leaving the company to do what it does best but ensuring the testing is done externally free from internal processes to get that software through the door.
The story of this company’s software failure shows how crucial it is to test software well in order to reduce risks.
When companies focus on quality and investing in comprehensive software testing they can not only prevent disasters but also position themselves for long-term success.
The message:
Investing in rigorous independent QA is not an optional luxury – it's the price of staying solvent, keeping a reputation, and serving your customers in an increasingly digital age.
Please contact us at Zamaqo, if you are in need of an external software testing partner.
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