Software Testing Blog

Many of the future predictions about the projected course of the software industry analyze the move into software-as-a-service (Saas) models, and how it relates to conceptions about QA services. Trumba, an online software company described the movement of the SaaS industry in a report from February of 2007: “’IDC, global provider of market intelligence, predicts that worldwide spending on SaaS, which totaled $4 billion in 2004, will reach $10.7 billion by 2009. SaaScon, an organization sponsoring its second annual SaaS conference, points to recent studies that say 61% of North American companies with revenues over $1 billion plan to adopt one or more SaaS applications in the next year.’” Then again, what’s to be expected when technology heavy-hitters like Microsoft put significant weight into the movement? An article from ZDnet entitled “Microsoft outlines SaaS plans” (http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Microsoft-outlines-SaaS-plans/0,130061733,339273759,00.htm) details Microsoft’s $6 billion plan to further their SaaS platform which was implemented in 2006.

Is it that much of a surprise that the software industry seems to be moving rapidly to a software-as-a-service model? From my perspective it seems to benefit both software providers and companies mutually well. Software companies gain a recurring revenue model, much easier distribution channels, and easier service methods. Companies can avoid the bulk of costly in-house IT departments (including the hardware infrastructure and the personnel to maintain it), gain the scalability of online platforms, and focus more heavily on their core business.

The uTest testing platform is delivered as a software as a service to our customers and testers. Customers can self manage their complete QA and testing cycles on the uTest testing platform without the need to invest in hardware and software infrastructure or an in-house QA system. There is no need to invest in ongoing maintenance fees or endless software upgrades.

uTest Platform Benefits:

• Much shorter time to deploy
• No hardware and software
• No maintenance required
• No extra development required
• Accessible anytime, anywhere
• On demand access to global testing resource

The Future of QA Services

With this substantial movement in the traditional conceptions of software, it only follows that software services (including QA services) would undergo a similar transformation. We at uTest are the forerunners of the Testing-as-a-Service model – providing similar benefits that the SaaS movement is to companies. We bring testers together from around the world – providing on demand alternatives to outsourced or in house QA services. We allow companies to supplement their in-house QA team and expand the reach and capabilities of small QA departments. Only time will tell if we are right- but we are confident that QA-as-a-service will become one of the dominant models in the years to come.