Beta Testing

What is Beta testing?

Beta testing is a critical phase in our system development life cycle, where the engagement team uses the beta template on a live engagement.

Once the Alpha phase has been completed and any defects identified during the Alpha Testing and Quality Assurance phase have been addressed, the Product Manager makes the project available to a limited number of predefined external clients, in order for them to field test the new release.

This is treated as a formal release with all the required user and marketing documentation. The Beta testing phase is usually two to three weeks with a request for beta testing feedback, based on the clients’ experience of the new features added and the defects addressed.

The focus of beta testing is on reducing the impact to users, often incorporating usability testing and scenario testing.

In order to ensure a successful beta phase, it is necessary to obtain buy-in from beta participants. Because beta testing takes place in a live situation, live obstacles have to be overcome, for example tight deadlines, client demands, inadequate records, differing skills levels, etc.