Using excel sheets or any other manual process for tracking and organizing defects is no longer a viable option owing to the rapidly evolving landscape of the software industry. Organizations are adding new features and multiple dimensions to the software applications to keep up with the customers’ demands and stay ahead of the competitors. However, this, in turn, complicates the scope of the projects which requires the use of technologically advanced and sophisticated tools.
There is nothing worse for a software company than to release a product that is riddled with defects. Even though bugs are an inevitable part of the software, it is important for the quality assurance managers to capture them and resolve them on time, as they can wreak havoc on the most innovative of ideas. Therefore, the adequate application of defect tracking tools from the early phases of development is of utmost importance for the company since they can’t afford to leave the defects and issues unchecked.
Some of the most important features and aspects in defect tracking tool for robust project management include;
Integration with other tools – Effective testing of software means that there is more than one tool being used by the company. Thus, it is crucial for the defect tracking system to seamlessly integrate and sync with the existing tools and support any new software tools as well. This ascertains that information and data from multiple sources is added to one platform so that it can be easily accessed by all teams.
Easily customizable workflow – With the help of defect tracking software, managers have the ability to customize workflow and processes to suit the requirements and needs of their business. This is critical because it places the power of creating workflows and designing operational processes in the hands of the people who understand the details of the problems, instead of a standard template. This feature in the defect tracking system is especially beneficial because the team members and managers are empowered to map the workflows according to their understanding and can change and update it with the progression of the project.
Better traceability and visibility – In addition to improving the teamwork and collaboration efforts, managers also have better visibility of all issues, their progress, and who they are assigned to. Through this feature, they are able to determine how much work is left and what can be done to manage the workload capacity more effectively. Classifying the issues properly makes it easy for the managers to trace them back to the relevant feature, component, or case.
Streamlining the process – the ability of the defect tracking system to filter the issues as per to any requirement, and prioritize them accordingly paves the way for robust project management. It also allows the team managers to streamline their workflow and processes in order to boost productivity and efficiency. This, in turn, leads to a lower probability of defect escape rate while fast-tracking the delivery of the product.
