Volume 19, January 2010
Excerpt from Offshore Testing Study 2010
With software testing services gaining prominence, it provides a big opportunity for growth in outsourcing and offshoring services in the coming years. We give you a brief snapshot on the offshoring testing services based on our study of service providers in this segment.

The outsourced software testing segment is among the fastest growing areas, presenting a huge opportunity for software service providers. Prayag Consulting has anchored a research report on testing services to provide an overview of the landscape of testing service providers in India. The sample covered both integrated service players for whom testing is part of a larger service portfolio as well as those players who are mainly focused on testing. We contacted large, midsized as well as small players to get a comprehensive and detailed view. This report aims to plug gaps in understanding the testing services market and provides testing practice benchmarking that can be measured against other players in the industry.



   
   
Globalization and liberalization drive the offshore testing wave across diverse markets
 

We used our well-honed methodology - Prayag Research Solutions (PRESS)- to conduct this research which covered:

  • Evolution of the testing landscape
  • Portfolio of services
  • Vertical segmentation
  • Delivery mechanisms
  • Customer trends
  • Future trends

Evolution of the testing landscape

The study shows that the majority of the players began offering testing services during the late 90s and early 2000s. Originally conceived as a low-cost alternative, customers have gradually shifted to offshore resources for more complex forms of testing and for true testing expertise. There has also been a shift in target markets as the testing landscape has matured.

Portfolio of services

The portfolio of testing services is similar across both integrated IT services and pure players. Some players have extended offerings consisting of specialized and customized testing services that are based on emerging technologies.

Vertical segmentation


There are a few verticals which outsource testing  services the most. However, there are other  verticals which are opening up significantly. The  majority of the players who participated in this  study indicated they had plans to address the new  opportunities.

   
   
A wide range of emerging sectors and domains driving a new wave of software testing.
 


Delivery Mechanisms

Respondents had varying methodologies and approaches that were tailored to their offerings. Several of them had methodologies based on the Software/ System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) model while some players had unique delivery mechanisms customized for a wide range of testing requirements. The highlight of these delivery models is that they enable early detection of bugs – thus reducing costs, risks and testing time, while improving quality, time-to-market and productivity output.



Customer trends

Trends are evident in the kind of testing services expected by clients.

Future trends

All respondents were unanimous in their agreement that staying abreast of technological advancements is key to staying ahead of competition. Most of the participants had some procedures in place to keep up with the rapid technological advancements - such as training, publications, conferences and forums.

Concluding thoughts

To sum up, we observed that although the offshore testing industry is still in a stage of development, it is undoubtedly an area of tremendous potential. With various emerging domains changing the testing landscape, the onus is on providers to stay ahead of the competition.

To purchase a copy of this report, contact jayanthi.badrinath@prayag.com

 

 


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