Crowdtesting is the term for a large-scale software trial that includes as many users as is feasible on the Internet. Crowdtesting is a method that crowdsourcing uses: Volunteer users are part of the crowd and provide their resources to check if the software has errors, usability, characteristics and vulnerabilities.
General information
Crowdtesting is used mainly in the area of web and mobile apps and IT services. These include online games and mobile device apps, but user software is also subject to these tests. While the conventional tests or tests are carried out directly with the developer, that is, internally, the crowdtestings have the objective of exploiting the intelligence of the masses.
The more end users participate in the test, the more eyes can detect errors and malfunctions. In particular, software designed for a wide range of users is usually beta-tested with hundreds of end users, sometimes also to simulate stress scenarios and ensure good performance.
Functionality
Crowdtestings are generally organized through communities that are directly connected to a team of developers and community managers. A company advertises a test and relays more detailed information to users. They can apply to participate or are already part of a group of selected evaluators. In particular, professional test providers have a large number of registered users who have earned a certain status by participating in various tests.
In general, companies can specify specific criteria that require special attention in a test. The testers cause reports or protocols after the practical test, which are sent to the community administrators or directly to the developers. Critical system bugs are fixed immediately, and upon selection, the developers make additional changes. This procedure can take several months, depending on the number of errors and the size of the test. In hindsight, testers often get paid.
Advantages and disadvantages
Crowdtesting is usually expensive and time consuming. Conventional tests that take place in isolated environments usually have the disadvantage that not all errors that are extremely important for the operation of the system are detected. On the other hand, crowdtesting has the advantage that many users discover a relatively large number of errors. Especially for sales-oriented apps and software, these errors can lead to lost sales. Crowdtesting makes software testing scalable by eliminating critical system errors prior to launch, thereby minimizing lost revenue.
Importance for SEO
For web-based apps and websites used by many users, crowdtesting can also affect search engine optimization. The accessibility of apps can be tested, which can have a positive effect on visitor statistics. If a web portal is already online, a crowdtesting can increase page views, traffic and time spent on the web. Crowdtesting can also contribute to ease of use and increase the overall quality of a website, which is probably seen by search engines as a positive sign.
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