Quality Assurance Outsourcing Guide

Thinking about outsourcing your quality assurance?

That sounds like a good idea to us. 

More and more companies are outsourcing QA these days for good reason.

The only thing you have to be careful about is outsourcing to the right teams in the right places.

If you don’t, you’ll most likely encounter delays, reduced quality, and management headaches that just aren’t worth the trouble.

Trust us, we’ve been doing this for 20 years.

In this guide on outsourcing quality assurance, we’ll explain everything you need to know to outsource your QA properly, including:

• The benefits of outsourcing QA
• The different outsourcing models and their benefits
• The costs of outsourcing
• And how to choose an outsourcing partner

Plus, we’ll share some tips that we’ve learned over the last two decades in this business.

Ready? So are we. Let’s begin.

Key Takeaways

• Outsourcing QA saves costs, improves efficiency, and ensures higher-quality products by leveraging specialized expertise.
• It allows your in-house team to focus on core tasks while experienced testers handle time-consuming testing processes.
• Flexible outsourcing models like TTS and STS cater to both evolving and well-defined project needs.
• Common challenges include communication delays and security risks, but clear expectations and tools can mitigate them.
• Choosing the right QA partner with proven expertise, scalability, and transparent pricing is key to successful outsourcing.

Why Businesses Outsource Quality Assurance

Businesses outsource quality assurance (QA) for a ton of reasons, but mostly to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver better products or services. 

If your team is stretched too thin or struggling to keep up with testing demands, outsourcing QA can help lighten the load. You can usually save 50% or more on costs and reduce headaches like hiring and overhead. 

If you want to stay competitive without overloading your in-house team, it’s the way to go. 

Here’s a closer look at why outsourcing QA can help your business so much:

Focus on Core Business

Outsourcing QA helps businesses boost productivity, improve product quality, and speed up time-to-market by letting experts handle testing while in-house teams focus on high-value tasks.

When your team isn’t bogged down with testing, they can zero in on what they do best, like developing innovative features or delivering excellent customer service. 

Outsourcing QA lets you delegate the nitty-gritty testing work to experts so your team can focus on growth.

Pro Tip: Work with a QA partner who understands your industry. They’ll spot issues faster because they already know what to look for.

Mitigate Costs

Building an in-house QA team is expensive. 

The average salary for a QA tester is over $75,000 per year. That’s not cheap.

You’ve got salaries, benefits, tools, and ongoing training to think about.

Outsourcing lets you pay for what you need, when you need it, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider outsourcing QA for specific projects or phases, like before a major product launch.

NOTE: You can save 50% of your costs or more by outsourcing to Ukraine, India, or the Philippines. However, it’s usually a better idea to outsource portions of QA to an on-shore team that produces better quality and works in your time zone.

Lack of Expertise

We know that most people think QA is just “testing”.

But it’s a lot more than that.

QA is about finding the root cause of problems and making sure the product meets high standards.

If your team doesn’t have that expertise, outsourcing ensures your product is in good hands.

And upskilling someone on your team might be even more expensive than hiring outside talent (and result in a worse product).

For example, a small app development company we worked with outsourced QA for their first big project to us.

In just a few hours, we found critical issues the in-house developers had missed, which saved the company from releasing a buggy product.

No Time to Build a Team

Hiring and training a QA team takes a lot of time.

If you’re up against a tight deadline, outsourcing lets you hit the ground running.

You’ll get an experienced team that can start testing right away.

When NOT to Outsource QA

Outsourcing QA isn’t the best idea in certain situations.

Here are a few times when you might want to handle testing in-house:

• Tight collaboration is required: If your team needs constant back-and-forth with testers to troubleshoot issues in real time, outsourcing can slow things down.

• The project is small or short-term: For quick projects, setting up an outsourced QA team may take more time and effort than it’s worth.

• You need complete control: If your product involves sensitive data or you’re worried about security, keeping QA in-house might feel safer. Outsourcing to foreign countries also increases risk because you often don’t have legal recourse.

Outsourcing QA in these cases can create issues like communication delays, misaligned expectations, or even added costs if the scope isn’t clear upfront.

For example, if you’re developing a complex mobile app with multiple features like payment processing and user authentication, outsourcing would be a great option.

The QA team can test every feature in-depth while your in-house team focuses on development.

On the other hand, if you’re rolling out a small update to your app, like fixing a few bugs or tweaking one feature, your in-house team can probably handle the testing more efficiently since the scope is small and straightforward.

In-House QA Vs. Outsourcing QA

Just to clear things up, here’s our take on in-house QA vs. outsourcing QA—they’re for completely different types of projects.

In-house QA is great for projects requiring tight collaboration, quick adjustments, or handling sensitive data.

Your team has full control, and communication is seamless.

However, it’s expensive to maintain, with costs for hiring, training, and tools adding up quickly.

Outsourcing QA, on the other hand, is a cost-effective solution.

It provides access to skilled testers without the overhead, making it perfect for larger or more complex projects.

The trade-offs? You may face communication challenges or longer turnaround times.

Both have their place depending on your needs.

Pros of Outsourcing Quality Assurance

• Reduces costs by eliminating the need for in-house QA salaries, tools, and training.
• Gives access to experienced testers with specialized skills.
• Scales easily for larger or fluctuating project needs.
• Frees up your in-house team to focus on development and other priorities.
• Speeds up testing with teams dedicated solely to QA.

Cons of Outsourcing Quality Assurance

• Communication delays can arise due to time zones or different workflows.
• Less control over the testing process compared to in-house QA.
• Security risks if sensitive data is involved.
• Requires clear documentation to align expectations and avoid misunderstandings.
• Initial setup can take time, especially for short-term projects.

Outsourcing Models

When it comes to outsourcing QA, businesses typically choose between two main models: time-and-materials (TTS) and fixed-price (STS).

Each approach fits different project needs and budgets.

TTS works well for flexible, evolving projects, while STS is better for clearly defined tasks with a set budget and timeline.

Let’s cover each in more detail.

Traditional Testing Services (TTS)

Traditional Testing Services (TTS) is a flexible outsourcing model where you pay for the time and resources used.

It’s ideal for projects that evolve over time or need ongoing testing, like software with regular updates. 

The main advantage is adaptability—teams can scale up or down as needed.

This model is great for businesses looking for long-term collaboration or those with unpredictable workloads.

Specialist Testing Services (STS)

Specialist Testing Services (STS) is a fixed-price model where you agree on a set scope, timeline, and cost upfront. It’s perfect for well-defined projects, like testing a specific feature or app before launch.

The big benefit here is predictability—you know what you’re paying for.

This model works well for businesses with smaller budgets or projects that don’t need constant adjustments.

Costs of Outsourcing Quality Assurance

Outsourcing quality assurance is usually much more affordable than building an in-house team (but it does come with some drawbacks). 

You’ll save on salaries, benefits, office space, and tools while only paying for the services you need. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of costs:

• Outsourcing QA: Typically ranges from $20 to $50 per hour depending on location and expertise.
• In-House QA: Costs include hiring (average salary around $70,000 per year), training, equipment, and ongoing operational expenses. And don’t forget the time you spend hiring and training either. Opportunity cost matters a lot here.

Here’s a bit more of a breakdown on in-house vs. outsourcing costs:

• Upfront Investment: In-house QA requires hiring, onboarding, and purchasing testing tools. Outsourcing eliminates these upfront costs.
• Scalability: Outsourcing scales easily for large projects. Expanding in-house teams takes time and money.
• Control: In-house QA gives you more oversight, while outsourcing requires clear communication to align on goals.
• Long-Term Costs: For ongoing projects, in-house QA may be more cost-effective over time, but outsourcing works better for short-term or specialized needs.

As you can see, it’s not quite black or white here. There are some advantages to both. It all depends on your project scope.

What to Expect The Outsourced Relationship to Look Like

Here’s what a typical outsourced QA relationship looks like: It usually starts with onboarding, where you share your project goals, testing requirements, and timelines.

The QA team then reviews your needs and creates a testing plan. 

From there, expect regular communication—typically weekly or bi-weekly check-ins—to discuss progress, share results, and adjust as needed.

It all depends on the project, though.

Sometimes we might check in every day during a sprint, while other times we might only meet with you bi-monthly.

The QA team delivers feedback after each stage, and you provide input to keep everything aligned.

It’s a collaborative process designed to ensure smooth progress and high-quality results.

Choosing a QA Outsourcing Partner

Here are five key factors to consider when choosing an outsourcing partner for quality assurance:

• Expertise and Experience: Look for a partner with a strong track record in your industry. For example, if you’re in healthcare, find a team that understands compliance requirements like HIPAA. Ask for case studies or references to confirm their expertise.
• Communication: Choose a partner that aligns with your preferred communication style and frequency. Regular check-ins, clear updates, and fast responses are crucial for keeping your project on track.
• Scalability: Make sure the QA team can scale up or down based on your needs. For instance, ask if they can handle an increase in workload during a major launch or reduce involvement for smaller updates.
• Tools and Technology: Ensure they use modern tools and testing methods that fit your project. If you need mobile app testing, confirm they can test across multiple devices and operating systems.
• Cost Transparency: Look for clear pricing with no hidden fees. Request a detailed proposal or contract outlining costs for each stage of the process to avoid surprises.

Conclusion

That’s our complete guide on quality assurance outsourcing.

Outsourcing your QA to experts can reduce costs, eliminate headaches, and improve the quality of your projects.

At Daxima, we’ve been helping companies develop apps across more than a dozen sectors for more than 20 years.

Contact us today for a free consultation to see if we’re the right fit.