In today’s fast-paced software development world, post-development testing ensures that the implemented functionality works as expected. Quality Assurance (QA) plays a crucial role in ensuring that software meets the required standards.
There are two primary QA models: traditional QA and Quality as a Service (QaaS). In this blog, we will compare both models and help you decide which one delivers the best results.
Introduction
Quality Assurance is at the heart of software development, and the approach to it can significantly affect the results. Traditional QA methods have been used for many years, while modern solutions like QaaS are gaining ground with rapid digital transformations. Both models have unique benefits and choosing the right one can be the difference between a successful project and one that falls short.
Understanding Traditional QA
Traditional QA methods typically include Manual and scripted testing, regression testing, and phase-gated models like Waterfall. These approaches focus on structured and systematic processes to ensure the software works properly and functionality meets customer requirements.
- Manual and Scripted Testing: Testers manually execute predefined test cases to validate software functionality and user experience.
- Regression Testing: Re-runs existing test cases to ensure new changes don’t break previously working functionality.
- Phase-Gated Models (Waterfall): Follows a linear, sequential approach where each phase (e.g., requirements, design, development, testing) must be completed before moving to the next.
While traditional QA has been reliable in structured environments, it can be time-consuming and sometimes lacks flexibility. It also often requires significant manual effort, leading to inefficiencies and increasing the chances of human error.
What is QaaS?
QaaS, or Quality as a Service, is a modern approach to software testing that leverages cloud-based services, automation, and agile practices to enhance the speed and effectiveness of QA processes. It is designed to be more flexible, scalable, and efficient compared to traditional QA. The key features of QaaS are:
- Automated Testing: QaaS uses automated tools to run tests faster and more frequently than manual testing.
- Cloud-Based: It allows organizations to access QA resources and tools on-demand, reducing the need for on-premises infrastructure.
- Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD): It integrates testing within the development pipeline, allowing for quicker release cycles and faster feedback.
QaaS enables businesses to achieve better results by focusing on speed, scalability, and flexibility while reducing the chances of human error.
Also, read Why Is QaaS the Future of Scalable QA Solutions
Key Differences: QaaS vs. Traditional QA
There are several key differences between QaaS and Traditional QA:
- Speed and Efficiency: QaaS offers automated testing that runs faster than manual testing, allowing quicker feedback and more rapid development life cycles.
- Scalability: QaaS can scale up and down according to the project requirements, there is no limitation with the frequency change, whereas traditional QA requires more resources and infrastructure.
- Flexibility: With QaaS, teams can quickly adapt to changes and continue testing without interruptions, whereas traditional QA often follows a more rigid structure, making it difficult to change the testing approach immediately.
- Cost-Effectiveness: QaaS is often more cost-effective and cost-saving in the long term, as it reduces the need for large teams of testers and infrastructures.
In short, QaaS can offer better results in a dynamic and fast-paced development environment due to its focus on automation, scalability, and flexibility. However, it has some limitations, depending upon the use case, for instance:
- Regulated Industries (e.g., Healthcare, Finance) may require assistance from manual and exploratory testing for compliance.
- Complex UI/UX Testing: Automated QaaS may struggle with visual validations and user experience issues.
- Initial Costs and Learning Curve: Setting up QaaS automation requires investment in tools, skilled professionals, and infrastructure.
When to Choose QaaS Over Traditional QA?
Choosing QaaS over traditional QA depends on the specific needs of a project. If you are working on a large-scale, continuously evolving application, QaaS might be the better choice. Here are a few situations where QaaS stands out:
- High Volume of Tests: If your project requires running numerous tests frequently, automation and cloud-based testing in QaaS can significantly speed up the process.
- Agile Development: QaaS integrates well with agile methodologies, allowing continuous testing and quick feedback.
- Cost Reduction: QaaS can be more cost-efficient if you want to reduce the overhead of maintaining large testing teams and infrastructure.
However, traditional QA might still be the best fit for smaller projects or those requiring detailed, manual testing.
Case Studies: How QaaS is Transforming Traditional QA
Many enterprises overlook the role of continuous testing and governance in preventing failures, reducing rework, and accelerating feature releases. That’s why inMorphis partnered with AutomatePro to quality test—a proactive approach that ensured accelerated business velocity for one of our clients:
- 70% reduction of manual testing efforts.
- Up to 95% reduction in production defects.
- Faster UAT sign off and Go-Live.
Through QaaS, inMorphis helped customers cut testing costs by 30% while improving platform reliability.
Future of QA: Is QaaS the New Standard?
As technology continues to evolve, the future of QA looks increasingly focused on automation and cloud-based services. QaaS is quickly becoming the new standard for many organizations, especially as they embrace agile and DevOps practices.
The rise of artificial intelligence1, machine learning, and advanced automation tools will only make QaaS more effective, allowing companies to streamline their QA processes further. As businesses continue to push for faster delivery times and better software quality, QaaS is likely to become the go-to solution.
Conclusion
Traditional QA and QaaS have their merits, and the right choice depends on the project’s needs. Traditional QA methods offer structure and human insights, while QaaS provides speed, scalability, and flexibility. In today’s fast-paced software world, however, QaaS is rapidly becoming the preferred model for ensuring high-quality software with quick feedback. It also provides faster, more reliable results, enabling companies to release high-quality products on time and within budget.
By embracing QaaS, your organization can stay ahead of the competition, delivering high-quality software implementations quickly and cost-effectively. Adopting QaaS through trusted partners like inMorphis can revolutionize your approach to QA, leading to better, more reliable software products.
At inMorphis, we can help you seamlessly transition to cloud-based QA services, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines. Whether you want to improve your current QA processes or implement a new system, we can guide you through the best practices for achieving outstanding results.
