Improving Quality Assurance During The Software Development Process

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Quality assurance (QA) is a crucial part of the software development process. Regular testing ensures that applications are not filled with bugs and they operate as they should. Unfortunately, a lot of companies have trouble with their QA process because they think that throwing money or more people at the problem guarantees results. However, that’s not the way that it works and if you want to improve QA, you need to adapt your strategy and change the way that you approach it. Here’s how you can improve quality assurance in the software development process.

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Improving Quality Assurance During The Software Development Process

Improve Project Management

One of the biggest ways to improve QA is through project management. If you want to make sure that QA is working, you need to make sure that it’s an integrated part of the development process and not something separate from everything else. So many companies make the mistake of thinking of QA as an afterthought and that’s when the process suffers. Everyone has to have clear roles and responsibilities in testing as well as communicating with each other about what’s going on. It’s important that you have a good project management team to help integrate QA and ensure that it is a priority throughout the development process.

Implement Automation Tools

Another way that you can improve QA is through automation. With automation, it’s going to be a lot easier for people to do their jobs and test applications because they have tools at their disposal that make testing much more efficient. Using automation tools (like this one at testRigor.com) allows you to automate a lot of the time-consuming aspects of QA instead of testing everything manually. You can create detailed reports so you know exactly where the issues are and they can be resolved quickly and easily. Many people make the mistake of expanding their QA team instead of improving efficiency with automation tools. The problem is, more people complicate the process and increase the chances of mistakes. Automation tools solve this problem and save you a lot of time and money, while also ensuring that your QA processes are working as they should.

Test Throughout The Development Process

Another way that you can improve QA is by testing throughout the entire development process. Instead of waiting until everything is more or less completed and then testing, you should be constantly testing as things are added to applications. This ensures that new components and features don’t throw off the balance of what’s already been created and that there aren’t any crucial components that are overlooked. The more you test, the easier it is to fix issues when they arise and improve production quality. It’s always more effective to deal with small issues as and when they come up instead of trying to iron out complex problems at the very end of the development process.

Quality assurance is so important during the software development process and if you don’t get it right, the user experience of your applications will suffer. By making these simple changes, you can drastically improve QA in your business.

Delivering Packages To Your Customers: What You Need To Know

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Package delivery|Delivering Packages To Your Customers: What You Need To KnowAs a small or established business, getting your products to your customer is one of the most important things to get right. It won’t be as simple as letting the mailman take it, you will need professional solutions to be as effective as you can.

Consider How You Package Your Products

You will have a range of options when it comes to packaging your products. You will first have to think about if your product is perishable or not. It will also be worth considering the shelf life of your product in general, as this could mean you need unique packaging solutions, rather than a conventional box. Some packages will need to be packed delicately, meaning you may need to bubble wrap.

Consider How You Gather Customer Information

For you to get your packages to the right place, you will need to ensure you are getting the right delivery information. You will have a few options to consider, from giving customers the option to confirm their addresses as they input them, to you sending emails to them post-purchase for confirmation.

In some cases, your business may not have the time or systems in place to deal with all this on your own. That’s why businesses have started using innovative technology solutions that give not only address verification upon input but also with email services. For example, you could use Lob’s service to help automate address verification on a mass scale, giving you more flexibility and visibility when it comes to your business.

These sorts of systems help to save time with transforming outdated manual input, as well as verifying the locations to help ensure that the package will be sent to the right person. This will help save costs when it comes to not losing packages and improving brand reputation when a package arrived on time.

You may also need to think about if you keep customer information on record. Most businesses will do this with emails, allowing them to send order confirmations, as well as send digital newsletters to them later on to give them exclusive discounts to help keep their custom.

Consider If You Will Deliver In-House Or With A Partner

Whilst it is possible to have your in-house delivery service, it will most likely be more cost-effective to partner with an established delivery service. Even partnering up with a local delivery service could see you save costs. You should consider speaking to a few different delivery services to get the best quotes as well as times.

It’s not only important to look at delivery prices, but the times in which they will leave you and arrive with the customer. If a customer sees that it will take two weeks to arrive, whereas a similar product with a competitor will take a few days, then it is likely that they will choose someone else for convenience. This is why a delivery services reputation is also important, as if they mismanage your products and delivery times, it will be you that hears about it and suffers.

Ensure The Cost Of Packaging Is Worth The Sale

The cost of wrapping a product and get it to the customer is also worth thinking about. It could affect how much you will charge someone. In most cases, businesses will just ask that customers pay the delivery fee that they have to pay, but they may have extra fees that need applying to meet a threshold.

Some businesses will use packaging automation solutions that are essentially a set of machines that will mass package your products for you. This could give you a variety of different options, from using bags, boxes, or packets. It will also be important to consider if your package is being sent directly to a customer, or if it is being sent to another business to be sold again.

Consider How You Will Deal With Potential Returns

Your packages will not always arrive in prime condition even if you’ve tried your best. A package may also be sent to a customer with the incorrect contents. Either the wrong amount of product or the wrong product in general.

This means that returns in general are probably inevitable at some point for your business. You should consider inserting a how-to return guide on your website, or as a piece of paper within the package itself. Some businesses will even include a return package envelope to allow customers to return goods without needing to pay for the shipping themselves.

Create A Packaging Strategy

No matter what you do, it will benefit you and your business to create a packaging strategy of some kind. That means weighing up the cost versus the revenue, as well as how it will get to point A to point B. You should speak to members of your organization to find if they have any ideas, to find cut-saving methods and time-saving techniques.

5 Steps for implementing with Agile Test Automation development

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Agile Test Automation|5 Steps for implementing with Agile Test Automation developmentThere are many challenges in implementing Agile Test Automation development. Still, a few of these are worth noting: the productivity it provides, the increased ability to fix bugs faster with this approach, and the ability to avoid adding unnecessary code. Therefore, this article will detail five steps for implementing Agile Test Automation development and offer up some words of wisdom.

1. Set Reasonable Expectations: Setting clear expectations before beginning the project will help to ensure a successful one. The expectation for test automation is a little different than other software development projects, but it can be broken into the same categories:

  • First, estimate effort – how many hours per week does it take you and your team to build out this product?
  • Second, estimate the speed at which you can implement new features – how long should each sprint take for you to develop and deploy each component?
  • Finally, create an initial plan that accommodates these expectations, which can be tweaked as needed later on. If your test automation project is too aggressive or feels off-target, consider starting with a new strategy and approach.

2. Treat Automation as Software Development: Test automation is essentially the same as software development, with some unique challenges. One of the biggest challenges is communication, both from users to developers and from developers to customers. It’s important to understand as early in the process as possible who has input into a feature and how each group will be involved.

When implementing test automation, it’s essential to start with a solid foundation:

3. Assign Dedicated Resources for Automation: Using dedicated resources during development helps teams focus on test automation rather than building new features or resolving technical debt within existing ones. To set them up, understand the unique needs of your team and the unique ways they work.

  • Determine when and where you need dedicated resources (for example: if you have a code review process or another process that requires testing, that’s when you’ll need to put your developers on test automation.)
  • Identify which roles will be responsible for building the test automation. A feature is typically built in several phases: design, build, test automation, or a mixture of these stages.
  • Determine who will be the “head” of this group – this person is often responsible for recruiting new developers to fill these roles.
  • Establish communication guidelines or build an automation information hub. Ideally, this will be a place where all tests and features are documented and have regular communication about important updates.
  • Plan how to track your test automation progress, including metrics about hours and existing bugs.
  • Decide if you should use a manual testing tool in conjunction with your new test automation framework or if the framework will replace it entirely. Many of these decisions will come together during the planning phase of your project.

4. Pick a starting point: This is the most crucial step in implementing Agile test automation development. There are many ways to do this, but after picking one, it is best to teach yourself those things you will need to know next for your test automation development to continue successfully. Again, there are a variety of resources available and many different places on the internet where you can learn these things, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel here.

5. Make automation part of your definition of done: The more you can automate, the less work you will need to do manually. This is a relatively simple idea to follow- but it can be challenging to get started on when you have never done test automation before. Therefore it is important that you learn how automated tests are made as well as how to create them in an Agile manner. Additionally, testing should be incorporated into any other testing methodology used by your team, not an addition to it.

Conclusion: Your goal is to make automation part of your definition of done, and there are many techniques to help you achieve this. A few of them include learning and adjusting as you go along, communicating with others, and reusing code where possible.

Pipe Bending Across the Industries: 6 Practical Applications

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Pipe Bending|Pipe Bending Across the Industries: 6 Practical ApplicationsPipe bending is a metal machining process used to form pipes into permanent shapes. It’s one of the most common post-fabrication procedures, so many people take it for granted. However, pipe bending plays an essential role in manufacturing products for use across a wide variety of industries. Read on to find out about six practical applications for pipe bending.

Pipe Bending in the Aerospace Industry

The aerospace industry faces a lot of challenges because it’s very important to fabricate durable, strong bends that exceed standard specifications. Aerospace companies use pipe bending to produce everything from hydraulic and fuel lines to exhaust systems and even seat frames. Aerospace manufacturers need to work with industry experts like Webco Industries that can provide precision services to ensure that their parts meet industry specifications.

Pipe Bending in the Automotive Industry

Carmakers also use pipe bending to manufacture a wide variety of components, from interior parts to cranking fuel lines. They also need parts manufactured with great precision, but to complicate matters even further, automakers tend to have high-volume demands. Automotive pipe bending is used to make complex exhaust components, hydraulic lines, and other systems designed to fit into amazingly tight places.

Pipe Bending in the Heavy-Duty Truck Industry

Like cars, heavy-duty trucks feature a good deal of specialized piping. Small and precise radius bends are the order of the day, and heavy-duty truck designers tend to use heavier, more difficult-to-bend piping materials like 409 or 304 stainless steel to manufacture fuel lines, engine tubes structural components, and custom fabrications. Because many of the pipes used in heavy-duty trucks are especially large, they must be bent using specialized machines.

Pipe Bending in the Shipbuilding Industry

Shipbuilders use this machining process to create specialized parts designed for marine use. Pipe bending is by far the best way to manufacture hydraulic, fuel, and water lines and the massive exhaust systems used in large merchant vessels. However, even small ships usually feature multiple systems that utilize bent pipes.

Pipe Bending in the Construction Industry

Bent pipes are used extensively in the construction industry. They may be featured in HVAC systems as refrigeration pipes, as structural components in modern buildings, and as architectural accents. Although construction industry clients don’t tend to require the level of precision associated with the automotive and transport industries, they should still work with specialized metal manufacturers who can create bent pipes that will meet their specifications perfectly.

Pipe Bending in the Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas industries rely heavily on piping for everything from fuel extraction to safe transport. The pipes used in these industries must be able to withstand extreme environments and exposure to chemicals, which places some limits on the types of materials they can use to fabricate bent pipes. Whether fuel suppliers plan to drill offshore or at mainland oil rigs, they need to work with a metal fabricator capable of bending heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant pipes that will withstand the test of time.

Find a Metal Machining Company That Can Do It All

No matter what industry a client works in, it’s important to find a metal machining company that boasts a full array of pipe bending equipment that can process pipes and tubes of all sizes made from even the most durable materials. When in doubt, ask about the company’s experience working with similar clients to make sure they understand the exact industry standards and requirements.

Effective Ways To Lower Your Shipping Costs Substantially

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Effective Ways To Lower Your Shipping Costs SubstantiallyWhether you are a manufacturer, an online retailer, or a traditional retailer, or a small startup, you’ve probably already gotten on board with offering your customers delivery options to heighten customer satisfaction by enhancing buyer convenience. And while it’s definitely an excellent decision to ensure your customer has the convenient option of choosing deliveries, shipping expenses can add up and impact your financial wellbeing as a business.

Fortunately, there are a few straightforward and practical ways to lower your shipping costs effectively. And because lower shipping costs will benefit both your business and your customer base, there’s no reason not to consider these simplistic suggestions.

Buy Shipping Materials In Bulk

Buying your shipping materials in bulk is a sure way to save; whether you’re buying product stock or shipping materials, bulk buying will offer substantial savings. Most manufacturers of literature mailers, corrugated boxes, Gaylord boxes, and various other types of shipping boxes will provide a bulk discount. With that said, boxes are not the only relevant shipping materials you will need. You will also need box tape, bubble wrap, eco-friendly bubble wrap alternatives, and various materials.

When buying small orders of shipping materials, you will pay extra because the manufacturer must add in delivery fees, their own packaging fees, and a few other small additional costs. On the other hand, when you order in bulk, the manufacturer’s prices are driven down as they will only be sending off one large order instead of multiple smaller ones. This allows for substantial savings, which is why most manufacturers offer bulk buying discounts.

Choose Your Courier Carefully

Not all courier companies offer the exact standard cost for the same delivery. Unfortunately, courier charges can vary dramatically depending on the company. So, it’s never wise to settle on the first courier company you come across. Instead, you should compare your options carefully.

When comparing courier services to lower your shipping costs, you should also consider a few essential factors. Only considering the price means you may end up buying in on inferior service quality, which will harm your business’s reputation. So, be sure to evaluate the average courier service costs in your area, then slim down your options by reading through candidate courier company reviews from customers to determine professionality and quality of services. Next, you must also consider what delivery options the courier service has available. Your customers will enjoy a same-day delivery option, while standard shipping time frames should also be welcome. Basically, the more delivery options the courier service offers, the better for your customers and your business. Everyone likes to have options.

Go For Flat-Fee Shipping Rates

Once you have found the most suitable courier service for your budget, you must also determine if they offer flat-fee shipping rates. A flat-fee shipping rate can substantially drive down your delivery costs, as you won’t be paying per order, but rather one set amount for a bulk of orders. The only relevant consideration you will have to make before opting for a flat-fee shipping rate is determining how many monthly orders you can rely on.

If you don’t have enough sales per month, a flat-fee shipping rate will increase your shipping expenses. So, you must be sure you can rely on many monthly orders to take advantage of this payment option that most courier companies offer.

Let Your Customer Pay For Shipping

It may seem like a bad idea, although most retailers and manufacturers leave the shipping costs to the buyer. However, when doing this, you must be sure to provide your buyers with a variety of delivery options that allows them to determine which cost suits them best.

You can also consider allowing a free shipping option for orders above a certain amount, as this is common to enhance sales. Even though this offering won’t drive down your shipping costs, it will increase your sales, which can improve your bottom line.

Even if your customers are paying for shipping, you should still be sure to keep your costs low by buying shipping materials in bulk and offering quality delivery services. You will still need to appeal to your audience with superior options, so you must keep up with the market standards. Once you have found a supplier of quality shipping materials, selected a courier, and settled on a flat-rate shipping fee, you may even be able to profit from shipping if you can increase your customer base and your monthly sales. However, this will only be relevant if your customers pay for shipping costs or your shipping costs are worked into your product costs.