Irish companies can cut their software test costs by 25pc or more through outsourcing this function, a new report by Sogeti has revealed.
“Despite the enormous potential benefits, relatively few Irish organisations currently outsource the testing of existing or new software applications,” commented Daithi Holden, director of Test & Operations, Sogeti Ireland.
According to a survey of IT leaders conducted by Forrester, only 16pc of organisations currently outsource software testing, while 17pc will outsource to a third party in the next 12 months. Some 29pc are considering using a third party for this service, but a significant 39pc declare that they will not.
Forrester believes that the outsourced testing market is poised for rapid growth, with outsourced growth rates for testing services running at 50pc annually or higher in some cases.
“With IT spending under constant pressure and many CIOs increasingly facing budget freezes or cuts, outsourcing software testing can reduce the cost of internal resources required for testing and free these resources to add value elsewhere in the IT organisation,” the Sogeti report points out.
The report also highlights the dangers of poor software testing. “A single application failure at a crucial point in a process or transaction can be both expensive and complex to repair, as well as costing businesses millions in lost sales, customer goodwill and reputation,” it said.
By John Kennedy
