During the process of software development, the software needs to be tested. If you are developing software and are not running beta testing jobs or tests on the software, you might not be aware of any flaws in the software until the product is finished. Agile beta software testing is part of the Agile software development model. The beta testing jobs performed by Agile are usually focused on smaller pieces of code, and performed frequently to ensure predicable and consistent results.
Why Use Agile?
Any type of software testing has limitations of some sort or another. When you are running beta software testing, you want to use the methodology that best benefits everybody. When you use Agile, who benefits? The quick answer is that everybody benefits from Agile. Visibility and transparency are both promoted by using Agile and this helps to preserve the interest of everybody involved in the software project.
Stakeholders – Agile provides better visibility to the stakeholders.
Customer – Because Agile uses frequent releases, the project is guaranteed to satisfy the customer’s needs.
Development team – The Development team will benefit because Agile provides shorter development time for iterations and a shorter learning curve.
Managers – From the project management standpoint, Agile is perfect because there is more productivity due to less meetings, better communication, and lower overheads.
Testing team – Because Agile uses early access for testing, the testing team is able to test sooner.
The Benefits of Agile Software Testing
Agile beta software testing has multiple benefits. If you are considering using Agile for your software beta testing, the following list contains the benefits of using Agile.
Improved Quality
Agile software testing involves testing small sections of the software code at a time, testing and reviews are performed during each iteration and there are frequent builds all of which allows testing teams beta testing using Agile to quickly find and repair any problems. The quality of the software is much higher, so the customer satisfaction is higher with Agile. In short, Agile produces a better quality product.
Focus on the Customer
The needs of real customers are the focus with Agile because one of the methods of Agile is to define product features based on acceptance criteria from user stories. Focusing on the customer’s needs in relation to the software features, the features provide real value. After each iteration, software is beta tested, so feedback is gathered often and changes can be quickly made based on that feedback.
With Agile testing, the priority of the features is determined by the client. Features are then delivered in the order of importance, which is why Agile is such a client-centric methodology. From the customer and client standpoint, Agile is ideal for their needs.
Transparency
Clients are involved during Agile software development. Because of their involvement of the software while it is developed, they see it as a work in progress. This makes projects fully transparent for the client and this is something that many clients prefer. Transparency is very important.
Better Communication
Whenever you have multiple teams working separately on a project, communication can falter. One department might report to the project manager, but not to the other department. Agile software development means that the developers and the testers are on one team, making communication smoother, easier and quickly. There is less chance of something vital not being communicated properly.
Collaboration
Agile development involves a high degree of collaboration between the project team and the client. This is ideal because the client can give feedback and communication is more fluid. The project team works with the client so that if there are questions, the client is readily available to help.
Working software is delivered frequently and early because Agile uses fixed-duration time boxes, which increases stakeholder engagement. Stakeholders see working products earlier, which keeps them engaged in the project; they see that the product is working and that the project is on track. Early tangible results are a big plus for stakeholders.
Early Delivery
Agile uses early and predicable delivery so there is a frequent delivery of features. Agile uses time-boxes iterations on a fixed schedule of anywhere from one to four weeks, so the delivery is not only frequent, it is also predicable as to when features will be delivered.
Quality Control is a Team Effort
Because testing is done throughout development, instead of just after the development team has finished, testing and development work together. Quality is the responsibility of the entire team, working together and not one the shoulders of any one team.
With developers working with testers, it allows for better software quality because tests and development are ongoing and being worked on together. Change can happen quickly and features can be easily refined based on client feedback.
Flexibility
Because iterations are so frequent, Agile gives the project team flexibility to reprioritize and refine features based on the client’s feedback. New requirements can be easily be incorporated for the next iteration. Agile gives the team the flexibility to easily change what the next sprint will be; this allows them to easily modify existing features or to add new features and/ or requirements. The flexibility that Agile gives the development and testing team works to the benefit of both the project team and the client.
Better Problem Detection
There is better problem detection with Agile because the testers and developers are working together, on one team. Feedback about defects can be given immediately so that the developers can work on fixing the bug right away. There are fewer delays due to bugs because defects and problems are found and taken care of earlier than they would be with other software testing methods.
Using Agile to develop and test software has numerous benefits for the client and the project team. Agile results in lower costs, which is always a benefit but more importantly, it provides numerous benefits for the client and the project team, which results in a better quality software project. When it comes to a business focused project management, Agile certainly delivers.