December 14, 2017

Why do I need a quality assurance analyst?

Especially if you have a smaller team, you may question the need for a Quality Assurance Analyst, but don’t pass on the idea all together. QA specialists have training that can not only help the coding of your team, but communication, design, and organization. QA Analysts help with:

Large teams – A special set of trained eyes is vital for larger teams to ensure that no one misses any bugs or mistakes. When managing large teams, it becomes easier to overlook small items. As a project manager, you have a lot on your plate and are inundated with constant information, because of this, small low priority issues can easily get lost in the shuffle. When working with a QA Analyst, they are an extra set of eyes and hands to find and help rectify problems as they occur – no matter what size.
UX problems spots – Your developers are trained to code in the best possible way, but that may not always translate into an easy to use UI. The code may be cleaner and simpler if a button doesn’t light up when it is hovered over, but QA Analysts are trained to look for areas where users could get confused or frustrated. When it comes down to it, user experience is the most important aspect of the project. Your product may excel at its function, but if users cannot easily find what they need, no one will use your product. Your QA Analyst will find and bring attention to the areas of your website or software could cause problems for the user.

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Brand trust – User trust in your company depends on a high-quality product – errors slipping through the lines are embarrassing, but can also be very costly financially. A seemingly innocuous mistake could cause a block that renders your service or product inept and useless. Simple mistakes can cost big money, and having a dedicated employee focused on maintaining the highest standards of quality can save your company from lost clients and a negative brand image.
UX improvement – There’s always room for betterment and your QA Analyst can suggest improvements throughout the project’s lifespan. Very rarely is the original design of anything perfect and, using their UI/UX training, your QA resource can help brainstorm new solutions, designs, and functions.
Organizational influence – The basis of Quality Assurance is thorough testing and documentation, since without documenting each step, problems cannot be identified or fixed. When working with a specialist, your team will have to properly track any bugs or problems, so they can be tested and resolved. A QA Analyst immediately instills organization for every developer and employee working on the project. Plus, you have another voice to help you project manage the specific details.

Don’t automatically assume that your team doesn’t need a Quality Assurance Analyst because of size, location, or project type. A QA specialist can offer support through the entire project lifecycle, and improve communication and organization for your team.

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