A look at Creed’s Quality Assurance Process
In the competitive landscape of digital solutions, quality assurance (QA) is a defining factor in delivering projects that truly meet client expectations and function seamlessly across platforms.
At Creed, QA isn’t a phase that happens after development; it’s an integral part of the entire project lifecycle. From web development to mobile app design, a rigorous QA process ensures high standards, enhances customer satisfaction, and prevents issues that could damage the client’s brand.
Here’s a look at Creed’s approach to ensuring top-notch quality assurance in every project.
1. Embedding QA from Day One
A robust QA strategy starts not at the end of a project but at the beginning. As an agency, the goal is to embed quality into every phase of the project. This begins with gathering and refining project requirements and includes establishing clear goals and benchmarks for quality.
During initial discussions, the team of developers, designers, and project managers collaborate closely to ensure everyone understands the objectives and complexities involved. This phase typically includes:
- Defining Quality Standards: Understanding the client’s brand, functionality requirements, and expected user experience to set precise quality standards.
- Risk Assessment: Identifying potential areas where issues are likely to arise, whether due to complex integrations, unique functionalities, or cross-platform demands.
- Developing Test Plans: Creating tailored test cases for functionality, performance, usability, and security, based on the project scope and requirements.
2. Implementing a Multi-Layered Testing Process
Creed typically follows a multi-layered testing approach, which enables us to cover every angle of quality. Here’s an overview of the types of testing often involved:
- Unit Testing: Developers conduct unit tests as they build the application to ensure each function performs as expected in isolation. This practice reduces bugs early on and ensures the core functionality is reliable.
- Integration Testing: This involves testing the interactions between various components to ensure they work seamlessly together. It’s especially crucial for digital products that rely on multiple APIs or third-party tools.
- Automated Testing: Automation allows repetitive tests to be run quickly, improving efficiency and enabling continuous testing as the codebase evolves. Automated tests are particularly useful for regression testing, ensuring new changes don’t disrupt existing functionality.
- Performance Testing: Performance testing measures how well the application holds up under heavy usage. For websites and mobile applications, load and stress tests ensure the platform can handle high traffic and maintain optimal speed.
- User Acceptance Testing (UAT): The final layer involves getting real users involved to validate whether the project meets their expectations and feels intuitive. This stage often includes end-users, stakeholders, and, in some cases, the agency’s internal team members for fresh insights.
3. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
When the project allows it, Creed leverages CI/CD pipelines to ensure quality checks are automated and consistent. CI/CD allows development, testing, and deployment processes to run smoothly in a unified workflow, enhancing efficiency and making it easier to catch bugs early. Key benefits of CI/CD in QA include:
- Early Detection of Errors: Automated builds and tests help detect and address issues as soon as they arise, minimizing the time and cost of fixing bugs down the line.
- Improved Collaboration: A centralized environment where developers, testers, and stakeholders can review progress encourages transparency and teamwork.
- Reduced Time to Market: By automating routine QA tasks, CI/CD accelerates the entire development lifecycle, allowing digital agencies to launch faster without compromising quality.
4. Leveraging Tools and Metrics
Quality assurance relies heavily on tools and metrics to measure and maintain high standards. Creed Interactive typically uses a combination of industry-standard tools and custom solutions to manage QA efficiently.
Popular QA tools might include:
- Selenium for automated testing.
- JIRA for tracking and managing test cases.
- Google PageSpeed Insights for measuring site performance.
- LambdaTest for cross-browser testing.
5. Collaboration and Communication
QA is most effective when all team members actively participate. Regular stand-ups, feedback sessions, and sprint reviews help everyone stay aligned on quality objectives and address issues collaboratively.
Communication with the client is also essential. By keeping clients informed about testing milestones, identified issues, and resolutions, agencies build trust and demonstrate their commitment to quality.
6. Post-Launch QA and Ongoing Support
The QA process doesn’t end with the launch. Creed’s approach to quality assurance includes post-launch testing and ongoing maintenance plans for support, as real-world usage can reveal unexpected issues. This stage may involve:
- Monitoring User Behavior: Analyzing data to identify user pain points or opportunities for improvement.
- Proactive Bug Fixing: Swiftly addressing any issues that arise in a live environment.
- Regular Updates and Maintenance: As platforms evolve, quality standards need to keep pace. Regular updates ensure compatibility with new browser versions, operating system updates, or changes in user needs.
Creed’s approach to quality assurance is a comprehensive, multi-phase process that prioritizes quality from inception through launch and beyond. By combining structured testing, automation, and team collaboration, we create high-quality products that deliver on their promises. The right QA strategy not only ensures a smooth launch but also cultivates long-term relationships with clients who trust Creed’s commitment to excellence.
Have more questions regarding quality assurance? Contact us today!