Definition
Crowdtesting is a relatively new term in the software world and refers to a software testing technique in which a set of people, commonly referred to as a “crowd,” are hired to test a particular digital product or service. Software tools are often used to coordinate testing and ensure the quality of the final product.
This testing method is effective at the marketing level for obtaining a wide range of feedback and user experiences, helping to identify errors that may not otherwise have been detected. It also allows developers and designers to get a clear picture of what the end-user experience is like, enabling them to make better design and functionality decisions.
Advantages of Crowdtesting
The following are some of the advantages of Crowdtesting:
- Wide test coverage: it allows a wide test coverage to be achieved in a short time, thanks to the large number of collaborators that can participate in the tests. In this way, it is ensured that the final product is compatible with different devices, operating systems and browsers.
- Cost savings: Hiring a large number of resources to perform software testing can be costly and is a more economical option, as a large number of people can be hired for a short period of time and a large number of opinions and tests can be obtained at low cost.
- Identification of real user problems: the feedback received from participating users is very valuable. Those opinions and experiences help identify real problems that users may encounter while using the product. In this way, the software development team can better understand the needs of end users and generate more successful solutions.
- Access to new international markets: offers the possibility of recruiting users from different countries and cultures. This is especially useful for products or services that are launched in international markets, as it can ensure that the software works properly in different languages and cultural contexts.
- Time savings: it can be an ideal solution for projects with tight deadlines, as hundreds of collaborators can be hired to perform tests in a short period of time. This way, the software development team can identify and fix bugs faster, and meet deadlines.
Crowdtesting examples
These are some of the companies that have used Crowdtesting:
- Amazon. The company uses it to test the performance of its platform on different browsers and devices, thus ensuring an optimal shopping experience for its users worldwide.
- Uber. La empresa lo ha utilizado para probar nuevas caracterÃsticas en su aplicación, como la función “Uber for Business”, que permite realizar un seguimiento de los gastos de transporte de los empleados. In this way, Uber has been able to improve its application and make it more useful for users.
- Waze. La empresa ha utilizado el Crowdtesting para desarrollar versiones beta de su aplicación y recoger comentarios de los usuarios sobre nuevas caracterÃsticas y funcionalidades. Thanks to Crowtesting tests, Waze has improved navigation accuracy and added features such as augmented reality view.
- Upwork. La compañÃa lo ha utilizado para probar su nueva plataforma de videollamadas, garantizando asà la calidad de la experiencia de los usuarios. Upwork también ha utilizado el Crowdtesting para probar su plataforma de traducción, que permite a los usuarios trabajar juntos en diferentes idiomas.
- Nike Training Club. The company has used it to gather user feedback on new workout routines and app features, such as live training sessions.
Crowdtesting Challenges
When implementing a Crowdtesting approach it is necessary to take into account the following challenges, ensuring that adequate measures are taken to mitigate your risks:
- Quality control: The quality of feedback may vary among collaborators.
- Confidentiality and security: Risks related to the confidentiality of information.
- Coordination and management: Managing a diverse team can be complicated.
- Technology dependence: Dependence on technology platforms for coordination.
- Variability in user experience: May result in experiences that do not reflect the behavior of the target audience.