The Case Against QA and Software Testing

The Common Mistake That Costs Companies Millions

You’ve built a software product that could change your industry. You’re excited to launch, confident that everything is working smoothly. But soon, the problems start rolling in. Customers report bugs. Features don’t work as expected. Your development team is constantly patching issues instead of moving forward. The launch that was supposed to be a success turns into a nightmare.

This happens more often than you think. I recently reconnected with an agency executive who had fallen into this trap. Two years ago, they decided to handle software testing in-house to save money. It seemed like a logical choice—why not have their employees test the system?

Fast forward to today: That decision has cost them far more than they saved. Their software was unreliable, and customer trust eroded. They tried outsourcing for cheaper QA services, but that only made things worse. Testing wasn’t aligned with their actual needs, and the software continued to break down at critical moments.

Finally, she reached out to me. They didn’t just need testing—they needed a strategy. They needed someone who could ensure their software worked before customers found the issues.

This is not an isolated case. It’s a cycle I see all the time. And it’s why I don’t sell traditional QA and software testing. Because traditional QA is failing businesses just like yours.

The Broken QA Model: Why It Doesn’t Work

Most companies think about QA the wrong way. They assume that just having a QA team—whether in-house or outsourced—will prevent software problems. But the truth is, bad QA is just as harmful as no QA at all.

Here’s where businesses go wrong:

1. They try to do it in-house. You wouldn’t hire an untrained mechanic to fix your car. So why would you rely on employees with no testing expertise to catch software problems? That’s exactly what the agency did, and it backfired. Bugs slipped through, customers complained, and their brand suffered.
2. They outsource to the lowest bidder. Companies often assume QA is a commodity and go for the cheapest option. But what they don’t realize is that cheap testing often means rushed work, no real strategy, and testers who don’t understand the business. Instead of solving problems, bad testing creates more of them.
3. They assume QA is a one-size-fits-all solution. Every business is unique. Every software system is different. Yet, most QA firms apply the same cookie-cutter approach to every client. This leads to gaps in testing and a false sense of security.

The Lie Companies Are Sold About QA

You’ve been told that QA is a necessary step. That hiring a QA team will automatically make your software better. That running a bunch of test cases means your software is “ready.”

But here’s the truth: QA without strategy is worthless.

Most testing teams are just running through checklists. They’re testing features in isolation instead of looking at how the system actually works in real-world scenarios. They’re focusing on passing tests instead of ensuring your software is truly ready for your customers.

If QA isn’t helping you launch with confidence, then what’s the point?

What You Actually Need: A Strategy for Quality

So, my approach has always been: What is the best and most efficient use of time to get to where we need to go?

The reason my philosophy is like that is simple—there are always hiccups, obstacles, and limitations in different environments. Software development is unpredictable, and the only way to navigate that unpredictability is through strategy. Everything comes down to risk management and efficiency.

You don’t just need testing. You need an approach that guarantees your software is reliable before it reaches customers. That means:

Understanding your system, not just testing it. It’s not about checking if something “works.” It’s about understanding how real users interact with it and what could go wrong.

Preventing issues before they happen. Traditional QA finds bugs after they’ve already been coded in. A better approach prevents those bugs from ever making it into production.

Customizing the process to your business. Your software isn’t generic, so why would your testing be? A real quality strategy is tailored to how your system works and what success looks like for your business.

At the end of the day, it all comes back to strategy. The goal is always the same: What is the best and most efficient use of time to ensure success? That’s how real quality is built.

Why I Don’t Want to Be Just Another QA Company

I don’t sell QA services. I help businesses launch software that works. There’s a big difference.

At BadTesting®, we do things differently:

We analyze your software from the perspective of real users. Our goal isn’t just to check a box—it’s to ensure your system delivers a seamless experience.

We integrate with your development process. Testing shouldn’t be an afterthought. It needs to be part of the strategy from day one.

We tailor our approach to your business. Your challenges are unique, and your testing strategy should be too. We build a quality process with systems that align with your goals, so you can launch with confidence.

If you think QA is the answer to your software problems, you’re asking the wrong question. The real question is: How do you ensure your software is built right from the start?

That’s what we do. And if you’re ready for something better than traditional QA, let’s talk.

At BadTesting® our mission is to look for the bad stuff. The problems and risks that, if left unchecked, could bring significant harm to your business. We catch issues before they lead to lost revenue or dissatisfied clients.