Software Testing Conference 2006

Today’s testing services provider is challenged to offer differentiated services. The market is expanding rapidly but so is the total number of competitors. Customers are becoming more sophisticated and as a result, expect more for their money.
These factors are causing testing services providers – both off and onshore – to seek new ways of differentiating their services to grow revenue and market share while improving margins through better execution and improved customer satisfaction.

This tutorial outlines a Test Factory solution – A comprehensive Testing Management solution that offers a new approach to managing today’s testing services facility for high profitability and maximum performance.

Customers are asking for more. This includes :
1) better insight into the services provider’s performance,
2) real-time access to project status and
3) early warning related to issues and risks.
Whether evaluating how a current provider has performed or considering a new testing services provider, customers expect to work more closely with their providers to collaborative during the planning effort, communicate frequently throughout the project and preserve a level of confidence that the project is going well.

The Test Factory solution is a complete testing solution.
A web-enabled Client Access Portal gives the customer real-time access to a management dashboard from any location. Early in the planning and requirements gathering effort, customer and service provider personnel can collaborate by jointly identifying project risks and prioritizing risks and requirements. Real-time project status, quality statistics, standard and custom reports can be viewed at any time – enabling more efficient communications, staff meetings and reporting.

The Test Factory solution also includes a Test Factory Workbench and Quality Management Portal that can be easily tailored to handle either service provider-specific or customer-specific processes or practices. The testing process is web-enabled which allows testers, Test Factory management or the customer to easily view and understand the process, quickly identify completed and planned activities, and assign or see tasks at the resource level. This powerful workflow engine offers a common, automated framework and access to a comprehensive testing toolset across all projects within the Test Factory. This improves productivity in several areas of the Test Factory operation. These productivity areas include project environment and tool set-up, specialized customization of the environment, and reuse of valuable project and test assets.

This solution is based on a technology toolset that drives high quality results. This differentiated toolset offers testing service providers the management tools, portals, workflow engine described above. In addition, a full set of testing tools offers unique functionality in several areas.

This unique solution offers a management approach that will drive the effective Test Factory for the 21st century. Differentiated services are readily available to the customer and the service provider – offering improved value for both parties and a win-win for all.