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Crowdsourced Testing

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Crowdsourced Testing

The word Crowdsourcing was coined back in 2005 and for those who are unaware it is a sourcing model in which individuals can obtain goods or services, including ideas and finances, from a large group of internet users; it divides work between participants to achieve a cumulative result.

What is Crowdsourced Testing

So, what is Crowdsourced Testing? Crowdsourced Testing is an emerging testing method of Quality Assurance which differs from the traditional Testing Methods by way of being carried out by a number of different Testers potentially in all different places. The Testers are not paid consultants are used in addition to a standard Quality Assurance Team (normally in-house). Crowdsourced Testing takes full advantage of cloud technology and the efficiency of Crowdsourcing.

Generally, the testing is performed via a platform and more often that not offered free of charge to the company that is requesting the testing to be performed. A community of Testers will then execute manual testing of the product and provide feedback on any bugs that they identify. Each type of bug will be graded and the Tester will be paid dependent on this for each bug that they detail.

Advantages of Crowdsourced Testing

There are many advantages of Crowdsourced Testing but to name a few:

  • Cost Effective (Crowdsourced Testers are only paid per bug that they find).
  • Decrease the Time-to-Market for your product due to increased resource.
  • Remote Usability Testing via targeted group of Testers.
  • External Testers are not pressured to meet corporate targets and offer unbiased Testing.

Disadvantages of Crowdsourced Testing

As with all Testing Method and Testing Approaches there are disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages of Crowdsourced Testing are:

  • Potential confidentiality issues due to Testers being external to your company.
  • Dependent on region of Testers, communication and time differences can cause delays in feedback.
  • Test Coverage is harder to confirm and track.

As with any new implementation of a new QA Team, be it internal or remote, be sure to start with a strategy and plan to be sure that things do not quickly get out of hand ensuring that all roles and responsibilities are defined and understood by all members of your Test Team.