How to Successfully Onboard a Crowdtesting Partner: Tips and Best Practices

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly; therefore, ensuring the quality and functionality of software applications is paramount. This is where the need for a crowd testing partner arises. 

Crowd testing, also known as crowdsourced testing, is a form of Quality Assurance (QA) that leverages the power of a diverse group of independent testers from across the globe. 

These testers, or the “crowd,” test software under real-world conditions, providing invaluable insights into its performance, usability, and potential areas for improvement.

Hiring a seasoned crowdtesting partner is a must, especially if you aim at providing quality to your users. But how to onboard one? Are there any partner onboarding best practices?

Let’s break down the process into digestible steps.

Onboarding a Crowd Testing Partner Successfully

1. Define Your Objectives

The first step in the partner onboarding process is to clearly define your objectives:

• What are you hoping to achieve with crowd testing? 
• Are you looking to identify and rectify bugs, enhance user experience, or validate the software’s functionality under a variety of scenarios? 
• Are you planning to launch your digital product in several remote geographic locations and require global testers from these locations? 
• Do you want to test different payment methods and digital wallets? 
• etc.

Having a clear understanding of your objectives will not only guide your selection process but also help you establish a successful onboarding plan.

2. Choose the Right Crowd Testing Partner

The selection of the right crowd testing partner is a critical step in the onboarding process. You need a partner that aligns with your needs, goals, and objectives you’ve defined. 

Start by researching various crowd testing platforms or companies. Consider the following criteria:

• their testing methodologies;
• the diversity of their tester pool;
• their reputation in the industry;
• the kind of support they offer.
• How qualified and experienced are their assigned dedicated project managers?

Remember, it’s important to interview at least 2-3 potential partners. This will give you a comparative perspective and help you choose the best partner for your specific needs. 

The right partner will not only provide valuable testing services but also contribute to the overall success of your software application.

3. Share Necessary Documentation

Once you’ve selected your crowd testing partner, it’s time to share all necessary documentation with them. This includes:

• The product description, value to the client, and target audience
• your software’s specifications;
• user manuals;
• Test cases, user-journey, and user stories (if any) 
• any other relevant information that will help the crowd testing team understand your product. 

The more information the testers have, the more effectively they can perform their tasks.

4. Establish Effective Communication Channels

Communication is a key element of a successful partnership. Establish clear and effective communication channels from the outset. 

This could be through emails, video conferencing, chat apps, or project management tools. Regular updates, meetings, and feedback sessions will ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.

Further, it’s critical to assign a stakeholder from the client side who will be readily available to address any issues or obstacles that may arise during the test sessions. This designated individual will serve as a point of contact and their prompt intervention can help resolve show stoppers, maintaining the fluidity and efficiency of the test cycle.

5. Define Test Scenarios

Work with your crowdtesting partner to define test scenarios. These scenarios should reflect real-world use cases to ensure the testing process is as realistic and comprehensive as possible. 

This will help you uncover any potential issues that might arise when your software is used by end users.

6. Monitor and Provide Feedback

Monitoring the testing process and providing regular feedback is crucial. This will help your crowdtesting partner adjust their approach as necessary and ensure you get the most out of the crowd testing model. 

Constructive feedback can guide the testing process and lead to more effective results.

7. Build a Long-term Relationship

Finally, aim to build trust and confidence in your future partnership (your partner should know that today is only the beginning of your journey). 

A strong, ongoing partnership will lead to more effective testing and continuous improvement of your software. 

Remember, crowdtesting is not a one-time event but a continuous process that contributes to the overall quality and success of your software application.

Advantages of Using Crowd Testers Over In-house Testers Only

Crowdtesting QA offers several advantages over traditional in-house testing. Here are some key benefits:

1. Broader and More Diverse Testing Pool

Crowd testing leverages a diverse group of testers from different locations, backgrounds, and skill levels. 

This diversity offers a broader testing pool compared to in-house testing, which is typically limited to a specific team within the organization. 

A diverse testing pool can uncover a wider range of issues and provide a more comprehensive understanding of your software’s performance.

2. More Realistic Testing Scenarios

Crowd testers operate in real-world conditions, using their own devices and networks. This leads to more realistic testing scenarios compared to in-house testers, who typically operate in a controlled environment. 

Real-world testing can uncover issues that might not surface in a controlled testing environment.

3. Objective and Unbiased Testing Feedback

As independent entities, crowd testers provide objective feedback without any vested interest in your software. 

This contrasts with in-house testers, who may be influenced by their knowledge of the software and the organization.

4. Save Time and Get Greater Efficiencies in the UAT Phase

Crowd testing can save significant time in the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase. 

With a large number of testers working simultaneously, tests can be conducted quickly and efficiently. 

This allows for faster iterations and improvements, accelerating the overall development process.

5. Improving Regression Testing

Regression testing, which ensures that changes or additions haven’t broken any existing functionality, can be significantly improved with crowd testing. 

The large pool of testers allows for more thorough and efficient regression testing, ensuring the stability of your software.

6. Cost-effective Solution

Lastly, crowd testing is a cost-effective solution for software testing. It eliminates the need for a large in-house testing team and the associated costs. 

You have the ability to scale up or down your testing efforts based on the actual testing “bandwidth” you currently require. You pay for the crowd testing services you need when you need them, making it a flexible and economical solution for ensuring software quality.

Why Ubertesters?

Digging deeper, we’ve been on the scene since 2014, accruing tons of experience along the way. This makes us one of the most seasoned and respected names in the industry. We’ve got a proven track record of excellence that speaks for itself.

Our services cast a wide net. We work with all types of businesses – from the heavy hitters in the Fortune 500 to enthusiastic startups making their mark. This varied clientele has honed our adaptability and enhanced our ability to understand and cater to diverse testing needs.

But we’re not just about the bigger picture. We focus on the details, too. We assign experienced project managers to each project. Their task is to walk with you every step of the way, taking a lot of the management work off your plate, and making your journey with us as easy as possible.

Finally, we understand that one size doesn’t fit all. So we offer flexible ways to work with us and can scale our services to match your changing needs. We’re here to accommodate your evolution, making sure our partnership always adds value to your business.

Our platform does the heavy lifting when it comes to communication, sharing documents, planning, and feedback. So when you’re onboard with us, you can expect a smooth sailing experience.

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Shoot us an email at sales@ubertesters.com.

Conclusion

Incorporating crowd testing into your software development process can provide numerous benefits. By successfully onboarding a crowdtesting company you gain access to a broader and more diverse testing pool, realistic testing scenarios, objective feedback, improved efficiency, and cost-effective solutions.

When choosing a crowd testing partner, consider the expertise and track record of companies like Ubertesters. Our experienced testers and efficient communication platform can elevate your software quality and enhance the user experience.

Embrace crowd testing and harness its power to ensure your software meets the highest standards of quality, functionality, and user satisfaction. 

Start the journey to successful crowd testing onboarding today.