The Importance of Crowd Testing

Image Source: Pixabay

According to a market analysis report by Grand View Research, crowd-testing was valued at $2.62 billion in 2022. The global crowdsourced testing market is now set to grow by an average of 11.7% annually from 2023 to 2030. But what is crowd testing, and why is it suddenly so important?

This article will look into the importance of crowd testing and what it means for developers.

What is Crowd Testing?

Crowd testing, or crowdsourced software testing, is a type of manual testing developers use to test digital products. This could be anything from static websites to apps. But crowd testing differs from traditional testing methods because it gives a 'real-world' product assessment.

This type of testing uses a large number of testers from different regions and countries to create a realistic test environment. Users will operate the software in the same way future consumers will. This enables them to pick up problems and bugs that an automated testing framework may miss.

Crowd testing can be used for beta testing during development or to gain customer feedback. It is becoming a popular quality assurance (QA) solution as other methods can't keep up with the fast pace of web development.

Why is it so Important?

The importance of crowdsourced testing has emerged through the need to provide more user friendly products. The only way to do this is to include potential users in the testing process.

Developers are also looking for faster QA solutions that are relatively inexpensive. But crowd testing doesn't have to be an alternative to other testing methods. If you look at Global App Testing's manual testing guide, you can look at other testing methods that can be used alongside it to create a fully-rounded testing process. We've taken a closer look at some of the benefits of crowd-testing, highlighting its importance.

Image created by author

1. It helps create more user-friendly products

The key value of crowd testing is that it's a developer's first look at how their product works in the real world. This is especially valuable for those working in niche markets. An automated test to find bugs is one thing. But no one is more thorough than someone who may be parting with their cash for a product in the future.

For example, imagine you have created a business phone system, such as a cloud-based PBX. When working with communication software, useability is one of the top priorities. In this case, crowdsourced testers could highlight any areas that are not user-friendly, find bugs in the system, and give feedback on its features.

2. You can test on a larger scale

Another benefit of crowd-testing is that it is easily scalable. This can be difficult with other types of manual testing. But many crowdsourced testing apps allow you to create test groups that are as large or small as you want.

If you need help with how to get started, there are also crowdsourced testing companies that can help you to create a testing strategy. This means you can test at important stages of development and find suitable testers.

3. A larger testing group saves time

Working to a deadline shouldn't mean you have to compromise with quality assurance. Crowd testing uses a large, diverse group to speed up the process of finding software bugs and other glitches in your system.

This type of testing also gives you an advantage over your competitors. Faster testing means using crowdsourced testing at all crucial stages of your development. So your product will not only be up and running quicker, but it will also have been more rigorously tested.

Image Source: Pixabay

4. Testing is more diverse

Crowdsourced testing is more diverse than other testing methods because it uses testers from different areas around the world. It is crucial that, if you're developing an app to be used globally, it has been tested for use on a global scale. Different types of testers can highlight different problems and minor bugs.

For example, your client is expanding their handmade shoe company. They want you to create a new version of their online shop, alltheprettyshoes.sg, for the Singapore market. If you don't use localized testers, you may miss out on crucial information, such as bad translations, culturally offensive content, or inaccurate conversion rates.

5. It can be more cost-effective

One of the main problems with web development is that initial budgets are often low, and costs can mount up quickly. Hiring a whole testing team that isn't needed for the entire development process is often not cost-effective. Crowd testing uses remote workers available on-demand, which can cut costs significantly.

The efficiency of the testing also means that you don't have to spend money in the future fixing bugs that weren't found before your product or website launched. Furthermore, addressing any issues identified through crowd testing, such as the need to remove bugs or viruses, like the Search Alpha virus, ensures a smoother and bug-free product launch, reducing potential support and maintenance costs.

6. It works as free marketing

An added advantage of crowd testing is that it also works as free marketing. As this testing often gives potential users a sneak peek at products before launch, it can be used to build momentum before your launch day.

If customers have had some input in developing a project, they will feel more connected to it. This means they are more likely to recommend it, especially if you can advertise that you have fixed any bugs or problems they found.

Crowd Testing Your Project

Crowdsourced testing is a growing market you must look into because it is likely that your competitors are already on board. This type of manual testing is cost-effective, saves time, and makes it easier to test on a large scale. But as a developer or company, the importance of crowd testing is in its ability to help you create the most user-friendly experience.

If you are unsure if crowdsourced testing suits your project, ask yourself, "Can I currently guarantee that my product is usable and user-friendly?" If not, it may be time to reconsider.