Software testing is an essential component in the software development process and will remain a priority, says Yaron Sinai, CEO and founder of Elementool. Software testing tools provide a reliable and efficient method for oversight and tracking of the software development process.

 

Elementool offers a range of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) project management tools for help desk, bug and defect tracking, test tracking and time tracking. The company recently released a new Web-based project management tool called Test Case that helps testing managers organize and control the testing process. By offering the products as SaaS, Elementool relieves the companies of the financial burdens involved in hosting and maintaining project management software.

 

Technology Marketing Corporation recently caught up with Sinai to discuss various aspects of software testing. Our exchange follows.

 

TMC (News - Alert): What are the new challenges in software testing market?

YS: As the economy is shrinking, IT departments are looking for a quick budget fix.  As this is happening, it’s easy to overlook the long-term savings of a SaaS solution for testing management, in favor of the quick fix that comes from eliminating a monthly charge.  SaaS providers will need to be actively and continuously proving their usefulness to users, and will need to remain flexible and responsive to client needs and requests.

 

YS: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is revolutionizing the IT industry, allowing IT companies and development teams to reduce overhead and increase efficiency.  SaaS shifts the responsibility and cost of developing, updating, maintaining, securing and hosting an application to the provider, letting the users focus on growing their businesses and products.  The SaaS market is poised to continue expanding, indeed Elementool expects to continue growing our client list, as moving business and project management software off-site increasingly becomes a necessity for businesses.

 

YS: Elementool has just released our Test Case management tool, which allows testing managers to oversee the testing process by assigning tasks to team members, and viewing detailed reports on test case status.  We also have a series of Web-based document tools in the works, which we hope to roll out in BETA to Elementool clients, in the next month.

 

TMC: How is the new Test Case different from your previous offerings?

YS: Like all Elementool offerings, the new Test Case tracking tool can be linked to other Elementool applications, such as issue tracking, enabling IT teams to access all development tracking tools from one interface.  However, Test Case addresses a different and crucial element of the software & application development life cycle – software testing, prior to release.  This tool breaks out the different steps involved in a test case, and allows the testing manager to assign tasks, track testing progress, link any bugs found to the issue tracking tool, and set reminders to ensure testing is completed on schedule.

 

TMC: How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?

YS: Elementool offers a range of SaaS project management tools, all of which can be integrated, for complete product oversight from one interface. Additionally, Elementool is constantly updated with additional features and tools, based on client feedback.  As a Web-based service, users may access the tools and information on an as-needed basis, meaning the service may be canceled when not in use or once a project is completed. 

 

YS: Elementool’s Web based project management tools are used by clients internationally, on a daily basis, as part of their project development and testing process.  Among clients that utilize Elementool project management software are Fortune 500 companies, big five consulting firms, international banks, automotive manufacturers, business Web sites, IT consulting companies and software start-ups.  Essentially, any company with more than 1,000 employees has an IT project or IT team, making them a candidate for Elementool’s SaaS project management tools.

 

TMC: Is recession affecting software testing market?

YS: The recession is affecting all business markets, some positively and some negatively.  Software testing is an essential component in the software development process and will remain a priority.  Particularly in times of recession, it’s essential that a company release the best product that they possibly can into the market – in order to protect both the reputation of the company as well as the users that rely on the systems produced.  Software testing tools provide a reliable and efficient method for oversight and tracking of this process – a need that will remain and even increase in a down economy.  SaaS has the added benefit of relieving companies of the financial and time burdens involved in hosting and maintaining project management software.  With Elementool companies can save up to 20% in their software development costs. Many companies that are looking to cut costs are interested in solutions like Elementool that will help them to better manage their project management and testing process on a strict budget.

 

YS: Companies are more aware of the need for using software testing solutions such as Elementool that can improve their product testing process. They also tend to move choose SaaS solution over traditional software products because they understand the benefits of using such services that offer fast deployment and lower costs.

 

TMC: What is your most prospective industry/market? Why is it so?

 

YS: Many of our customers are from the financial market. Companies in these markets are usually large corporations that have many IT projects to run. Some of these organizations like StateStreet Bank, Deutsche Bank, Zurich NA and Prudential have been using Elementool for a few years and have recommend Elementool to their business partners, based on their positive experience.  As a result, Elementool has been consistently expanding our customer list in the financial market.

 

TMC: What’s next?

YS: Elementool will keep expanding its market share and to reach new customers. We also plan to release new tools this year that will provide our customers with a better and wider solution and will keep improving the current tools that we have based on feedback that we receive, in order to meet the growing needs of our clients and their businesses.

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