In the modern, competitive world, the art and science of business development have begun to undergo a sea change. More and more organizations have started to rely on the transformational power of technology in order to streamline routine operations, improve overall productivity, enhance brand value, and thus, increase company revenue. So much so, that technology has turned into the primary enabler of a product or service’s functionality, durability, design, price, and reliability!
However, when it comes to meeting customer needs and fulfilling their expectations in a detailed, and diligent manner, technology cannot work in silos. It has to be assisted by a systematic and methodical process whose basic objective is to prevent any conceptual, strategic, technical, or structural flaws, even before they happen!
Do you know what this process is called? – Quality Assurance!
What is Quality Assurance?
Quality Assurance, often abbreviated as QA, is essentially a quality management process that maintains the desired level of service/product quality by paying strict attention to each stage of production, distribution, and consumption. This process, fundamentally, aims to sustain production consistency, advance work efficiency, and boost customer confidence – both internally and externally. For most practical purposes, quality assurance functions as a self-certified guarantee that each development phase of the product/service has been thoroughly analyzed, and all necessary protocols of standardized control have been properly met.
As a business, if you too want to gain a decisive edge over your competitors, here are a few simple ways by which you can leverage the dynamic QA process and use it effectively to your advantage –
Process Integration
In the contemporary business landscape, each process is well-defined, iterative, and agile. Every task has to be performed within a precise deadline, and with rising competition, many of these deadlines are getting shorter. Under such circumstances, the integration of quality assurance throughout the length and breadth of the business process architecture can literally work wonders! QA can ensure consistency across the conception, execution, and delivery phases, thereby limiting unnecessary delays and preventing needless reworks. As a result, high-value products and services can be offered in the shortest possible time.
Cost Reduction
Imagine a situation where, right after your product or service is launched, it begins to face numerous problems. Customer complaints start to filter in, and ultimately, users abandon your ship even before it has properly set sail. The truth is, without a quality assurance process to back you up, this scenario is most likely to turn into a grave reality! But with proper QA at your disposal, you can easily bring about an optimal alignment between customer expectations and product creation. With diligent QA, great amounts can be saved, and the expenses associated with return and redressal can be reduced to a bare minimum.
Experience Enhancement
Let us consider that as a new startup, you have recently made a website. But, despite the best of your efforts, your site is taking way too long to load. Do you think your prospective customers would prefer to wait or revisit your site again? The answer is clearly in the negative. A delay of even one-hundredth of a millisecond in your load time will cause your conversion rates to drop by as much as 7%. These are precisely the kind of situations that QA can easily get you out of. With QA, a smooth, intuitive, and seamless user experience is guaranteed. This helps users take away a positive memory and develop long-term loyalty for your brand.
Productivity Improvement
Quality assurance makes your product/service more robust, stable, and reliable. Your employees don’t have to deal with the sudden issues of providing quick-fix solutions to customer grievances. Neither do they have to conduct frantic researches or indulge in time-consuming, complex procedures to fix the problem. Instead, with QA embedded deep within their workflow, they can operate smoothly while keeping their attention focused on what is really important – building, refining, and streamlining a product or service. Doing so doesn’t just enhance their operational capacity, but it also improves their overall output and productivity.
Emergency Management
Last but not the least, QA works as a highly effective tool in managing corporate emergencies. This is because the quality assurance process in its entirety does not leave any room for defects, flaws, or errors – especially in areas that are delicate and sensitive. Therefore, when an exigent situation like a communication breakdown, database exploitation, or system blackout arises, the well-oiled organizational machinery is equipped to deal with it in a much smarter way. Such quick response and tactical management of emergency situations go a long way in helping enterprises distinguish themselves from their competitors.
In other words, with quality assurance powering your workflows, your core competencies experience a great rise. As a result, the credibility of your organization, its brand reputation, customer confidence, and market competitiveness, witness a massive amount of spontaneous improvement.
In Closing
According to the World Quality Report, the QA budget of every organization should ideally be at least 25% of its total development costs. This is because the quality assurance process would require a good amount of continuous financial input if it is expected to maintain a reasonable level of product/service quantity, efficiency, and quality.
Therefore, it is extremely critical for enterprises across the world to invest both time and capital into creating a culture of assurance-based commitment that strives to identify weaknesses, correct errors, prioritize prevention & thus, eradicate even the slightest chance of failure. Such a professional QA culture would not just offer businesses a fresh development perspective, but it would also provide them with the opportunity to intercept potential defects and avert serious failures.
So, what are you waiting for? Jump on the QA bandwagon and improve your competitiveness now!
To know more about quality assurance, its mechanisms, tactics, methodologies, and solutions – click here.