The Strategic Benefits of Software Test Engineering to Product Development – Saheed Adedeji

Software development is a complex and multifaceted process requiring a delicate balance of technical, creative, and strategic considerations considering the ever-evolving customer demands and market competition. As a key component of product development, software has become a critical differentiating factor, providing a solid foundation for delivering innovative solutions that delight customers.

It is for this reason that increased emphasis is placed on quality in the software and product development process. We all know how quality could be a make-or-break factor in the decision stage when choosing a product. The frustration we have all felt, at least once, with a glitchy or underperforming product underscores the importance of optimal quality to product acceptance, hence, the growing popularity of software test engineering or in more familiar terms, Quality Assurance (QA).

Software test engineering is a strategic field aimed at evaluating software applications to ensure they meet specified requirements and are issue-free. It is a discipline that encompasses a variety of methodologies and processes aimed at identifying and correcting software and product issues before they get released to users. In simpler terms, software test engineering can be seen as the quality control field that ensures software or products meet customer requirements.

Although the field of software test engineering may not be as glamorous as some others including software development and UX engineering, the value it contributes to the product development process cannot be underestimated. From ensuring quality from the first day of product development to being a cost-reduction tool over time, the next few paragraphs will discuss some of the benefits of software test engineering to the product development process.

Imagine launching a new mobile app, only to find that it crashes every time someone tries to open it. This will ultimately lead to reputational damage and loss of valuable time as developers will focus on rectifying issues rather than upgrading features. Therefore, organisations implement rigorous testing strategies on their products from inception. Through continuous integration and automated testing, they are able to identify and resolve critical issues long before the software goes live.

This approach often results in minimal bugs and a delighted user base.
Furthermore, software test engineering could be useful in accelerating time to market for products. We all know how important time is in the world of product development. Delayed release of a product could render it outdated or considered an imitation of a product released early by a competitor. Consequently, the crucial role test engineers play in accelerating the product development process.

Contrary to the opinion that test engineering will increase time to market by adding an additional step to the process, the field will invariably hasten development if integrated early in the process. By creating a suite of automated tests that run with every code update, test engineering will help catch and rectify defects early, whilst allowing developers the time to focus on writing new features.

In addition, software test engineering could potentially engender cost efficiency for companies on the long run. Yes, this writer knows that investing in a robust test engineering team could appear costly upfront, it saves money in the long run. Fixing bugs after a product has been released is significantly more expensive than addressing them during the development phase. Drawing from the experience of a colleague who works as a product manager at a financial services company that launched a product without thorough testing, this action led to the company incurring substantial costs in emergency support and customer support.

Finally, software test engineering, when done correctly, is a veritable tool for driving customer trust and loyalty. High-quality software fosters trust between companies and customers due to its constant ability to meet the customers’ needs. It is, therefore, essential that product teams integrate the field into their operations.

The strategic benefits of software test engineering extend far beyond mere bug fixing. From enhancing product quality and speeding up time to market to saving costs and boosting team morale, the impact is profound. Test engineers do not just serve as beacons of quality, they are vital contributors to the overall success of product development.

Their work ensures that when users interact with products, the software responds flawlessly, making the experience a pleasant one.
Saheed Adedeji is a software-test engineer writing from Abuja, FCT. He would love to receive your opinion on the article via folorunshoadedejis@gmail.com