Without validation, you can never know whether the software meets the demands of your primary audience, and if it meets the requirements specified in software specifications.
There is a way to know the performance of your software – you can roll it out to the public and gather their feedback. But without the validation phase, it can turn out to be a major disaster.
Besides, validation is exactly what is mentioned above; only, the user base is controlled. So, you can know everything you need to about your software from the feedback of a few users and make your adjustments before officially rolling it out.
Ahead we will quickly look at the processes and the activities involved in the validation phase of software development.
Why Is The Validation Phase Fundamental In Software Development?
Why validation phase is considered so fundamental in software development is because it lets you get real feedback from actual users. This helps the development team to identify any problems in the software such as bugs in the program, difficulty understanding the UI, or functionalities without which the software seems incomplete.
All this happens before the deployment phase, so the company doesn’t suffer any liability or marketing issues later in the advertising phase.
What Outcomes Can You Identify Through Software Validation?
Software validation involves a series of processes that can conclude vital metrics for you such as:
i. User Needs And Expectations
You can conduct user interviews which is an incredible way to get feedback from actual users. You can ask them about their needs and expectations from the software, and if they had encountered any problems while using it.
ii. Usability
With giving access to the software, you can observe how they are interacting with it. During the interaction, you can identify if the software interface seems confusing or difficult-to-use for them.
iii. Performance
With performance testing, the developer team can identify any potential bottlenecks by varying software loads under different conditions. A slow or unresponsive software seriously impacts the user experience for the worse.
iv. Security Vulnerabilities
Breaches in software programs can cost $4.35 million in losses, and on average! So, it is absolutely crucial to rigorously test software against vulnerabilities before deployment.
Read also: https://www.dbix-class.org/how-to-interview-software-developer-candidates-like-a-pro/
2 Major Categories Of Validation Phase
The validation phase can be divided into two main categories.
| Feature |
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) |
System Testing |
| Purpose | To ensure the software meets user needs and expectations. | To ensure the software meets the requirements specified in the software requirements specification (SRS). |
| Who Performs It? | A small group of users representing the actual users after the deployment phase. | A team of testers unfamiliar with the software. |
| When Is It Performed? | After the development phase and before deployment. | After unit testing, i.e., after introducing each functionality or feature. |
| Why Is It Performed? | To test the usability as well as the functionality of your software. | To test for the correctness and completeness of the software. |
Final Thoughts
The validation phase is not just an ordinary checkpoint in software development; it is a crucial cornerstone that ensures your software’s success.
Without the validation phase, you risk launching software that falls short of the user’s expectations.
With a controlled environment, you can smartly sidestep costly mistakes by gathering invaluable insights from real users before officially launching your software.
It’s a proactive step that can save you from disasters and you will thank yourself later for going through this arduous but instrumental process.
The article was written in cooperation with the experts of SoftKraft – Software Projects Outsourcing
