Software testing is an essential component in an organization’s Quality Control (QC) procedures. Testing involves executing a software component to evaluate its properties and ensure that there are no errors, bugs, and defects in the product before it is released to the public. But where does Quality Assurance come in the product development life-cycle in relation to testing? Software testing dove-tails with QA, which is a process that includes all activities that center around implementing standards and procedures associated with ensuring that software meets a certain set of requirements, is beneficial to the end-user and free of errors. This does not include testing the products themselves. QA for software addresses usability issues that are centered on delivering the best possible outcome to the customer that might not be technical in nature. In a QA context, a software defect is not just a bug, but can be any problem that impacts the end-user experience, from poor navigation to slow load times or unclear web copy.

Quality assurance in healthcare helps organizations provide a high level of care to patients, who are the ultimate recipients of technology upgrades. QA is a critical step in the project life-cycle, and the more time spent on removing issues, the better it is for the consumer.

Nolij’s QA testing is different in two ways. First, Nolij is a mission-centric organization with a focus on delivering superior patient outcomes through stringent QA standards. Because technology is embedded into the patient journey, there can be no gaps. Second, to ensure error-free end-results, Nolij incorporates Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

The importance of QA lies in controlling the quality of work and ensuring that resources are not wasted and value is created by identifying early gaps. The only way to minimize the risk of defects while also maximizing end-user experience is by including software testing and quality assurance throughout the entire development process.

The final frontier to keep in mind for QA and Testing is cybersecurity. Cybersecurity relies heavily on the right people implementing technology and testing for vulnerabilities throughout development. For Nolij, securing data is always paramount and is a cornerstone of successful relationships with our clients. By using tools such as ACAS and Fortify, security scans become a part of the build/release process and defect management integrations provide transparent remediation for security issues. This allows our clients to understand the potential threats and work with us to implement necessary mitigation strategies.

The key takeaway here is that QA is essential in a world where a positive user experience is key to converting a user into a loyal customer.