The significance of a test case management software for start-ups

With software development evolving rapidly, companies need to look for ways to optimize testing processes and improve speed without compromising quality.

This allows them to increase productivity while keeping in pace with the rapidly and dynamic development lifecycle. For startups with limited manpower, skills, budgets, and other resources, the test case management software comes in handy. It helps them to optimize the processes, speed, and quality of the software testing activities, hence save on the much-needed time and resources.

Generally, these tools handle the complete lifecycle of software testing projects. This ranges from creating test cases and plans to define user requirements and generating reports. Consequently, this empowers the startups with the visibility, flexibility, and insights they require to increase efficiency in their testing processes.

The need for testing and challenges startups face

Every software developer, regardless of size, needs to test their products before releasing them to the market. This provides an opportunity for the developer to rectify the defects, ensure quality that will satisfy customers, gain trust, and improve revenue.

Unlike established companies with streamlined processes, dedicated QA teams and resources to carry out comprehensive testing, most startups suffer from uncertainties, lack of funds, time and expertise. But this does not remove the need for thorough testing and practices. Failure to test the software means releasing faulty and unreliable products which often result in disasters.

It is easy to perform manual tests at the early stages of the startup. This can be done by a founder or a team member who understands the software and the testing processes. However, most of these tests cases are not well documented and no one else can tell what was done.

As such, manual testing approaches are ineffective, time-consuming and costly for future operations. To overcome such challenges, deploying test case management software allows the teams to streamline the processes as well as keep proper documentation.

As customers demand more features, the developers will add them and then modify or create new test cases. With a management tool, this takes little time while capturing everything and keeping documentation about the steps, inputs, requirements, and results. Unfortunately, the manual method takes much longer and is usually a challenge managing the changes as well as new test cases. There is also the risk of missing out on some details and information.

What does test management software tool do

In the simplest form, the test case management software consolidates several aspects of testing into one place. This reduces the testing effort, improves resource utilization, speed, and quality of the tests.

Most often, the tools differ in their scope, ability, effectiveness, flexibility, and more. While some organizations settle on one comprehensive solution, others opt to use a combination of different tools. These range from open source to expensive premium tools. However, it is recommended to pick test case management software that meets most or all the current and future business needs.

When this is not possible, the startup can look for those that will bridge the present gap and add others gradually. As the organization grows, the test load increases and it is important to maintain quality even when there are fewer resources.

A typical tool will:

• Capture the test requirements
• Assist in designing the test cases
• Map the test cases to the requirements
• Generate test execution reports

Consolidates everything

A tool enables the teams to create and save test cases, plan, execute the tests, create and save reports, create milestones and requirements, all in from one place. This makes it easy for everyone in the team to know what is happening, what to do, responsibilities and more, without using a chain of emails or chats.

In addition, the management software provides an end-to-end view of the tests cases, test plans, requirements, defects and other useful information along the testing lifecycle.

With a manual system, as the tests increase, it becomes a challenge managing them. In particular, tracing the defects, requirements, and communication regarding an issue is usually difficult. A management tool makes this very easy.

SEE ALSO: 8 tips to optimizing your continuous testing strategy

Visualize important information

Test case management software visualizes the trends in quality over time. This allows the development teams and testers to clearly see the weak points of the software. It also enables the teams to estimate the time it takes to perform automated testing which is useful especially when releasing critical updates. The visualizations show whether the last sprint is good or bad and to what extent.

Ease communication

The tools make it easier to get the test results without starting chats or email threads. Direct comments within the tool remove communication barriers between the developers and testers. Further, some tools allow managers to delegate or assign the work to testers. The tools will then display the results and reports

Improve collaboration

A test case management software allows all the stakeholders access to the same platform in real time, hence bring everyone on board without having to wait until an email or physical document is passed to each team member. The tools ensure that tester, as well as the development teams, are on the same page and each has the ability to view everything about any tests in progress or complete as well as the results.

Minimize duplicating data

When managing test cases, requirements, defects, and other test information in a silo, there is a high possibility of keeping multiple copies of the same data. However, there is a risk of some copies containing different information which can be misleading. A tool ensures that all the team members, developers, QA teams and testers view the same information of the testing processes.

Increase coverage of the manual testing

Testing different data sets manually is usually challenging and slow. Generally, it involves testing the different types of data while following specific steps. However, the test management software simplifies the processes while increasing the coverage.

SEE ALSO: How code testing can do more harm than good

Considerations when selecting a test case management software

Generally, the startups require test case management software to streamline, manage and track the activities throughout the testing cycle. However, with so many testing management tools, there is a need to pay attention to the features and ability so as to ensure that it will meet the startup’s goals at the right budget.

The selection process includes comparing the features, functionalities, cost, feedback, and reviews. Among the things to check are:

• The test management system – check how the system works in enabling managers to create, and manage the software development projects, teams, and members
• Test planning: Does the tool have the opportunity to create the test plans, test cases, user stories or test scenarios
• Test run availability: Does it have an option to create test runs, is it easy to use and efficient? Is it possible to manage the members involved in testing?
• Reports: should have the option to generate reports about the test processes, defects, and quality of the software under test.
• Tracking defect and bugs – does the tool have an option to track bugs
• Additional features – does it have other useful features such as export, import, crash analysis, search option, ability to integrate with other systems and tools, etc.

Summary benefits of a test case management software

The test case management software allows the startup to optimize the testing efforts, identify and issues. By improving the processes, the startups are able to stay within budget and deliver quality products on time.

Among the things a management solution does is to:

• Help the startup teams to organize and keep the testing efforts through properly defined processes
• Keep all stakeholders informed and on the same page
• Improve relationships and collaboration between different team members
• Maintain and update the test cases that the startup wants to re-use
• Automate most of the processes hence improve accuracy, efficiency while saving time and money
• Improve the management of the test teams
• Obtain better and searchable test results hence improve and fasten the decision-making processes
• Improve the speed of testing software
• Easily accommodate changing requirements

Conclusion

The test case management software tools are usually flexible, easy to use, more comprehensive and suitable for startups. The management software reduces the time to plan and execute test cases while improving efficiency, accuracy and allowing the limited staff to concentrate on other useful activities.

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