Hey there, and welcome to our quick start guide on the stages of QA processes.
A strong Quality Assurance (QA) process will help you prevent bugs, minimize errors, and build products that your users love.
It will also protect your reputation.
No customer wants to pay thousands of dollars for an app that has simple bugs.
It’s all fun and games until they try to reset their password and get a message that says “thanks for deleting your account”.
With over 20 years of experience at Daxima, we have seen time and time again how a well-executed QA process:
- Saves time
- Reduces expenses,
- Boosts customer satisfaction by ensuring a flawless experience from day one.
Instead of waiting for issues to surface after launch, the QA process helps you catch problems early, streamline development, and create software that stands out in the market.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about QA.
We will walk you through the QA process, including its importance, stages, tools, and tips for making QA work effectively in agile environments.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- QA is a proactive process aimed at improving quality and preventing defects.
- A well-defined QA process ensures better customer satisfaction, reduced costs, and faster development cycles.
- Tools like Testsigma, Selenium, and BrowserStack make QA more efficient and thorough.
- QA is not a one-time task but an ongoing process integrated into the entire software development lifecycle.
What is the QA Process?
The QA process ensures software meets quality standards through clear planning, testing, and monitoring.
QA teams analyze requirements, create detailed test plans, run tests, and track defects.
They also work side-by-side with developers to give real-time feedback on progress and to ensure that the development process is running smoothly (and the tool/app does what the client wants).
For example, a QA team might write test cases to confirm a login feature works correctly.
This could include testing valid and invalid credentials, ensuring users can log in smoothly, and verifying error messages for incorrect inputs.
Pro Tip: Break down complex features into smaller test cases. For instance, test a login feature with scenarios like “correct password,” “wrong password,” “empty fields,” and “password reset.” This ensures thorough coverage and catches potential issues early.
The ultimate goal is to deliver software that works reliably, avoids bugs, and provides a frustration-free experience for users.
The Importance of the QA Process
A lot of companies treat the QA process as a necessary evil or a hurdle they must jump through before the product is released.
We see this over and over again.
Trust us, this is a huge mistake.
Testing directly impacts customer satisfaction and retention.
Poorly tested software frustrates clients and users.
And you know what that means: negative reviews and lost trust.
In this game, your reputation is everything. Don’t try to cut corners.
Even small errors can destroy a business and lead to refunds, lawsuits, and the end of your business as you know it.
We once heard of a company that created an eCom app with simple errors in the payment gateway.
Their client couldn’t make ANY sales on Black Friday. That client ended up coming to us.
Why QA Matters:
- Catch Defects Early: Identifying bugs during development reduces the cost of fixes by up to 30% compared to fixing them after release.
- Meet User Expectations: Reliable software builds trust and keeps users coming back. In e-commerce, a fast, bug-free checkout process increases conversion rates.
- Ensure Compliance: QA helps meet industry standards, avoiding legal and regulatory issues. For instance, proper testing ensures GDPR or HIPAA compliance for data security.
Pro Tip: Prioritize testing critical features first, such as payment gateways or login systems. These areas significantly impact user experience and business outcomes.
Now, let me explain some terms that are often confused with one another.
Difference Between QA, QC, and Software Testing
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes:
- QA (Quality Assurance): Focuses on preventing defects by improving processes. It’s proactive and continuous.
- QC (Quality Control): Identifies defects in the final product through inspections and tests.
- Software Testing: A subset of QC that involves executing test cases to find and fix bugs.
In this article, we speak specifically about QA as a preventative process during product development.
Now, let’s cover when you should start the QA process.
When Should You Start QA?
We are about to win the “state the obvious” contest with this answer.
Start QA as early as possible.
Ideally, during the planning phase.
Early involvement helps identify unclear requirements and potential risks before coding begins.
For instance, if a feature lacks clear specifications, QA can flag it early, preventing costly rework later.
In fact, fixing a bug during the design phase costs 5–10 times less than fixing it after production.
Catching issues early saves time, money, and resources.
Pro Tip: Involve QA during requirement discussions. Encourage them to ask questions like, “What happens if the user enters invalid data?” This ensures clear requirements and reduces delays down the line.
Stages of the QA Process
Here is a quick breakdown of the main stages of the QA process.
If you follow these stages as outlined, it will increase the effectiveness of QA and decrease the chance of costly mistakes.
Here are the main stages of the QA process:
Software Requirements Analysis
QA starts by reviewing functional and non-functional requirements.
For example, if the requirement states, “The app must load in under two seconds,” QA ensures this is measurable and testable.
Clear requirements reduce ambiguity and set the foundation for effective testing.
Use checklists to validate requirements. Include criteria like performance benchmarks, security standards, and user scenarios.
When you involve QA early, you’ll catch unclear or conflicting requirements before development begins.
That’s going to save you a ton of time and prevent costly rework.
Test Planning and Preparation
Develop a test plan to define the scope, objectives, tools, and timelines.
For instance, decide whether to automate repetitive tests or rely on manual testing for user-centric features.
Assign tasks to team members based on expertise.
You can also use tools like Jira to manage tasks and ensure you meet deadlines.
Test Case Preparation
Write detailed test cases with clear steps and expected outcomes.
Here’s a good example: A test case for a search bar might include:
- Enter a valid search term (e.g., “laptop”).
- Press “Enter.”
- Confirm the results match the search term.
One helpful tip we use is to organize test cases into categories like “critical,” “high-priority,” and “low-priority” to focus on what matters most first.
Testing
This is where the real action happens: running tests to make sure everything works the way it should.
Functional testing checks features like login and checkout to make sure they actually do what they’re supposed to, while performance testing sees if your app can handle 1,000 users at once without crashing.
Pro Tip: Save time and improve accuracy with automation tools like Selenium for functional tests or Apache JMeter for performance testing.
And don’t forget usability testing, because if users can’t figure out how to use your app, it doesn’t matter how well it performs.
Regression and Re-Tests
You need to re-test after fixing bugs because one fix can accidentally break something else.
Sometimes, we say, “fix one thing, break two more.”
This is called regression testing, and it ensures the original issue is resolved without introducing new problems.
Why do this?
Because even small code changes can have unexpected side effects, especially in complex applications.
Re-testing confirms that everything still works as expected, which prevents frustrating bugs from slipping through and causing bigger issues down the line.
Do not skip this step.
Skipping this step can lead to surprise crashes, broken features, and unhappy users—so always double-check your fixes!
Pro Tip: Automate regression testing for repetitive tasks and run it after every update to catch issues early.
Release Testing
You 100% have to perform final testing before launch to ensure your product is stable and functional.
Don’t worry, it’s not that hard. You’ve done most of the hard work already.
Here’s what to do…
Run smoke tests to verify critical features like login, payment, and navigation.
In case you don’t know, a smoke test is a quick check to make sure the basic functions of your software work before you perform deeper testing.
Think of it like turning on a new car to see if the engine runs before taking it for a full test drive.
Try to simulate real-world conditions during release testing.
Test the app on multiple devices, browsers, and network speeds to identify any hidden issues.
This will make sure that your software meets quality standards and delivers a seamless user experience
QA Approaches
Effective QA requires using the right approach based on project demands.
Teams can choose from manual testing, automated testing, or a combination of methods. Each approach has its strengths.
Let me give you a quick overview of these methods.
Manual Testing
In manual testing, testers execute test cases step by step to evaluate software behavior.
It works best for user-centered features like testing the intuitiveness of a mobile app or verifying visual elements in a UI.
An example of manual testing is a tester swiping left on a mobile app to see if the correct menu opens.
Use manual testing for exploratory testing or areas where user interaction is critical, like checking how intuitive the onboarding process feels.
The biggest drawback of manual testing is how much time it takes.
It is time-consuming and inefficient for repetitive tasks, such as testing the same feature across multiple devices.
Automated Testing
This is when automated tools run repetitive test cases faster and more consistently.
For example, QA teams can create scripts that test login functionality across 10 devices in minutes.
You can also automate testing for features like login, payment gateways, or form validation to ensure they work across browsers and devices without manual effort.
Automated testing increases efficiency, speeds up regression testing, and ensures consistency in test execution.
Pro Tip: Focus on automating tests for high-priority, repetitive, or performance-critical tasks. Use tools like Selenium or Testsigma to save time and reduce human error.
QA for Agile Environments
QA in agile environments focuses on speed, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Testing happens alongside development to catch issues early and ensure rapid delivery.
Here are the key steps for successful QA in agile environments.
Make QA Result-Oriented
Test features that have the most value for users and the business.
Rank features by their impact on user experience and business goals.
Test high-risk or high-value features first.
We recommend that you test payment processing before worrying about whether a button is perfectly aligned.
Here’s why…
A broken checkout loses money, but a slightly off-center button? Not a dealbreaker.
Catching the big problems first saves time, reduces costly fixes later, and keeps things running smoothly.
Ask yourself: “If this feature breaks, how big of a mess does it cause?”
That’s the key to smart, efficient QA.
Make QA Transparent
Share test results with the team using tools like Jira, TestRail, or custom dashboards.
Keep everyone informed about progress, failures, and fixes.
Show metrics like pass/fail rates, bug counts, and test coverage in a shared dashboard.
Pro Tip: Use daily standups to highlight critical issues and blockers. This ensures fast resolution and team alignment.
Make QA Ongoing
Perform testing continuously throughout development.
Run tests after every code commits to catching issues early.
You can use Jenkins or CircleCI to automatically run unit and integration tests for every pull request.
Pro Tip: Start with smoke tests to confirm core functionality, then run more detailed regression tests.
Implement DevOps
Integrate QA with development and operations to automate testing and deployment.
Use Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines to speed up workflows.
For instance, you can set up a CI/CD pipeline to run automated tests after every code push and deploy to staging if tests pass.
Pro Tip: Use tools like GitHub Actions or Bitbucket Pipelines to automate testing and reduce manual efforts.
When QA is focused on results, open about its process, continuous, and built into DevOps, teams get faster feedback, better quality, and smoother releases.
QA Tools
QA tools improve testing speed, accuracy, and coverage.
Choose tools based on your project’s requirements.
For example, use Selenium for automated browser testing, Postman for API testing, and JIRA for tracking bugs.
Combine tools to cover different testing stages.
For instance, pair Cypress for UI testing with TestRail to manage test cases efficiently
Here is the list of major testing tools and their features.
Testsigma
Testsigma makes test automation easier, faster, and way less painful—which is exactly why we recommend it.
It’s a cloud-based, AI-powered platform that lets you write automated tests in plain English thanks to its natural language processing (NLP) feature.
No coding? No problem.
Just type something like “Navigate to www.testsigma.com,” and boom—it’s a test step.
It supports web, mobile, desktop, and API testing, plus it integrates smoothly with CI/CD pipelines for continuous testing.
If you want a simple, powerful, and scalable way to automate testing without the headache, Testsigma is 100% worth checking out.
Selenium
Selenium is a go-to tool for web application automation, and for good reason.
It’s open-source, powerful, and supports multiple programming languages like Java, Python, and C#.
If you’re comfortable coding, it gives you full control over your tests, making it perfect for complex automation tasks.
Since it’s widely used, there’s a massive community, tons of resources, and endless flexibility.
It’s perfect for testing across different browsers or integrating with CI/CD pipelines.
If you need a free, reliable, and customizable way to automate web testing, we recommend Selenium.
Katalon
Katalon makes test automation super simple, even if you’re not a coding pro.
It’s a codeless testing platform for web, mobile, and API testing, with record-and-playback functionality that lets you create tests fast.
No scripts, no hassle—just click, record, and run.
It also integrates smoothly with CI/CD pipelines, so testing fits right into your workflow.
If you want powerful automation without spending hours writing code, Katalon is a solid pick.
Platform Emulators
Ever wonder how your app runs on different devices?
That’s where emulators come in.
They let you test your app in different environments without needing a pile of physical devices.
Android Studio, for example, has mobile emulators that show exactly how your app performs across different screen sizes and operating systems.
It’s a budget-friendly way to catch issues before real users do.
BrowserStack
Testing across different browsers and devices can be a nightmare, but BrowserStack makes it easy.
It gives you instant access to 3,000+ real browsers and devices, so you can see exactly how your site or app looks everywhere—no more guessing or borrowing friends’ phones to check.
It’s perfect for catching display issues before your users do, ensuring smooth operation on any device.
Common Challenges in the QA Process
QA teams face obstacles like unclear requirements, tight deadlines, frequent changes, and communication gaps.
These issues can delay releases and lower product quality.
Here are the most common QA challenges you might encounter.
Unclear Requirements
Vague requirements lead to missed scenarios in test cases. Involve QA early to clarify expectations and identify edge cases.
If a requirement states, “The system should be fast,” quantify it. Define performance benchmarks, such as “The system must load within 2 seconds for 90% of users.”
Pro Tip: Use requirement traceability matrices (RTM) to ensure all requirements are covered by test cases.
Tight Deadlines
Rushed testing increases the risk of missed bugs. Automating repetitive tasks saves time and improves accuracy.
You can automate login, form validation, and API tests using tools like Selenium or Postman to free up manual testers for exploratory testing.
Pro Tip: Prioritize critical paths and high-risk areas when deadlines are tight. Use smoke testing to quickly verify core functionality.
Changing Features
Frequent updates require constant updates to test cases and scripts.
Use tools like Git for version control to track and manage changes efficiently.
For example, when a new payment method is added, update regression tests to include scenarios for all payment options.
Pro Tip: Organize test cases with tags or categories (e.g., “critical,” “UI,” “payment”) to quickly identify which tests need updates.
Communication Gaps
Miscommunication between developers and testers can lead to missed bugs or conflicting priorities. Regular check-ins and shared tools help bridge these gaps.
One of the easiest ways to bridge communication gaps is to use collaborative tools like Confluence or Slack to maintain shared documentation and real-time communication.
Pro Tip: Conduct daily QA-developer syncs to review progress, clarify doubts, and address blockers before they escalate
Teams can greatly improve efficiency and reduce errors in the QA process by addressing unclear requirements, tight deadlines, frequent changes, and communication gaps.
The Future of the QA Process
Advancements in AI and automation are transforming QA.
Tools like Testsigma enable faster testing with AI-driven automation, reducing manual effort and improving efficiency.
Despite automation, human testers remain critical for understanding user behavior and addressing edge cases that tools may miss.
You can use AI-based tools to automate regression testing but rely on human testers for exploratory testing and evaluating usability.
Pro Tip: Combine AI-driven tools with manual testing to cover both repetitive tasks and complex scenarios.
Conclusion
A strong QA process delivers reliable, high-quality software on time.
Skipping QA leads to missed deadlines, unhappy users, and expensive fixes.
Cutting testing corners creates long-term problems that outweigh short-term savings.
And if you need to improve your QA process, we can help.
Contact us for a consultation if you need to automate workflows, optimize test coverage, or improve any other QA-related processes.
Let’s build a QA strategy that drives results and meets user expectations.