User Acceptance Testing
Test your software solution every step of the build to get what you want and need.
What is user acceptance testing?
In software development, the standard definition of user acceptance testing (UAT) refers to the final phase of testing the new software and ensuring everything works correctly before launching the product live.
Performing UAT involves a group of users working in the staging environment to test and run through specific processes on the new software. As the users go through these processes, they will write feedback on how the software performed. Developers will use that feedback to adjust the software functionality as needed.
UAT is essential to the software development process because it will assure you — the user — that your software solution works correctly to run your business processes accordingly.
Spending 5-10% of project time on UAT can save nearly 30% of total project time.
What is UAT vs QA?
We will guide you through the UAT process and support you as you perform these tests on every part of the solution. The feedback you provide from running the UATs will guide us as we change the software to better fit user needs concerning your workflows, processes, and tasks.
QA is more of our internal checks and balances system to verify we deliver exceptional software solutions that work accordingly. Our business analysts and software developers run extensive and vigorous QA processes on every part of the build before and after every UAT as part of our standards of excellence.
If you research the UAT process, you’ll probably come across a term called “QA,” which stands for quality assurance. In software development, the QA process involves running systematic tests to figure out if a solution meets specific quality standards. While UAT and QA may sound similar, there are some distinct differences we want you to know.
UAT vs QA
When does this process happen?
UAT
Users (You)
QA
Developers (Us)
What are the goals?
UAT
Ensure the software does the right things to solve your specified business problems.
QA
Verify the computer code is error-free and secure so that your solution runs well.
Who performs this process?
UAT
Almost every sprint review.
QA
Before and after every UAT.
What are UAT best practices?
At Steelhead Software, we prefer to do UAT during nearly every sprint review as part of our best practices. We do this because we want you to control the direction of the solution development and further drive the iteration process.
By giving you something tangible to test every two weeks, we can get your immediate feedback on changing or improving the software as needed. This type of collaborative iteration helps us build the best software possible for your needs and to solve your business problems.
As part of our best practices, we will also invite you and your team to conduct some final UATs at the end of the build stage. Doing so lets us check the entire product instead of just the smaller sections you’ve been testing every sprint review. These final UATs let you and your team experience the entire solution and validate how the extra time investment has paid off.
Skipping UAT for software-made-to-order may seem faster initially, but it rarely goes according to plan.
What happens if uou skip UAT?
Imagine you've spoken with several software developers. Company A has promised that they can deliver your solution to your exact specifications with little involvement on your part. Company B has also promised to deliver a customized solution, but only if you’re willing to spend time collaborating with them and performing user acceptance testing.
You decide you want the software delivered without your team lifting a finger, so you go with Company A. They give you a price and tell you they can deliver your solution in three months.
After spending a lot of money and waiting around, the day has come to deliver your software, but there are problems:
The software solution has not been completed.
The existing features do not correctly solve your problems.
Company A is over budget on your project.
Skipping UAT for a transactional relationship of software-made-to-order may seem faster initially, but it rarely goes according to plan.
At Steelhead Software, we know from experience that the only way to get the software solution that solves your immediate business problems includes the following:
Constant communication
Ongoing collaboration
UAT process participation
In addition, this is the best strategy for getting software that works how you need it to work for your processes, adding further value to your business software investment.
What are the benefits of UAT?
As stated above, user acceptance testing is an essential part of the software development process that ensures you get an end product that works the way you need it to work to solve your business problems. But beyond the functional purpose of UAT, there are also significant business benefits to completing the UAT process.
Reduces overall costs
Instead of waiting to run UAT at the end of the software build process, running it every two weeks allows us to isolate problems more easily and fix them efficiently, saving you money.
Avoids project delays
Testing smaller pieces of the software build-in-progress allows us to pinpoint problems strategically and address them without greatly hindering your timeline.
Saves your sanity
Participating in the UAT process provides you with full transparency so you always know what's going on and don't have to worry about whether the build is on track.
Improves satisfaction
Performing UATs every two weeks allows us to ensure your satisfaction with the software build and verify that the software will solve your specific business problems.
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