We searched the Top Software Testing Companies and found ourselves in some instances, but never at the top (see below). After reviewing these links, it appears that many companies who do software testing, create a ranking, and then modestly rank themselves as number one. We won’t mention any company names, nor have we linked to these companies for obvious reasons. As you know, those who think or act as if they are the smartest in the room, usually are not.

It’s been proven scientifically that most people assess their capabilities higher than they are. Dunning Kruger showed this in various studies whereby after obtaining knowledge, many think they are experts, and thus stop their learning, thus preventing them from going beyond Mount Stupid.

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Understanding What It Takes to Be a Top Software Testing Company

If not self-assessing themselves as number one, many websites that claim to evaluate software companies objectively provide a ranking combined with a list of services and clients but don’t provide any details on what goes into the ranking. Most of the others are in this category. We suspect that they put their name closer to the top depending on how much the companies pay them.

Thus, in terms of SEO, these companies surely do very well as they form circular references to themselves, and Google must think that if they assess themselves as number one, and they are also listed on many directories, they must be the best and therefore best search result to render for “Top Software Testing Companies”.

Unfortunately, in this day of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation, first impressions often stick and despite doing any further research, our cognitive biases make it hard to replace an initial thought. Many think that the best software testing companies are those at the top of the list (even if it is their list promoting their own company). They are number one in terms of playing the SEO game. Unfortunately, we let Google do our thinking for us in this modern world. Probably, many people who began using the internet after Google Maps became popular don’t know how to read a paper map.

Beware of Software Testing Companies That Claim They Are Number One

Except for Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, and Tom Brady, who can claim to be the GOAT, number one? At XBOSoft, we don’t think it’s right to claim to be number one without any given criteria. We’ve learned many things through the school of hard knocks. We are smart enough to know there is no number one. Once you get beyond thinking you’re an expert, you soon realize that you don’t know much at all. That has driven our company forward with its humbleness and honesty, in admitting mistakes, taking in new knowledge, and learning new techniques and tools on a continuous learning journey in the field of software testing. It’s all we do and it’s what we’ve been doing for over 16 years. peak of mount stupid

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At XBOSoft, we also don’t pay money to be on lists, nor do we pay money to win software testing firm awards. Perhaps we could do these things to get to the top of Google search results, but it just doesn’t seem right. Instead, we have built our company one satisfied client at a time. We let our clients do our advertising for us. So when you’re out there searching for a software testing firm to partner with, we challenge you to think carefully through the criteria for evaluating software testing firms.

Read carefully. If they claim to be number one, questions to think about or ask include:

  • How were they evaluated?
  • What are the criteria?
  • Who did the evaluation?
  • Do they have a vested interest in the outcome? 
  • Is the party that did the evaluation an independent entity or affiliated with the ‘winner’? 
  • Is payment needed to get on the list of companies? 

Criteria for Evaluating Software Testing Companies

We find that our clients come to XBOSoft and stay with XBOSoft (some for over 15 years) for 7 key reasons:

  1. Relationships built on transparency and trust – Notice we list this item first. That’s because we walk the talk. We’re transparent in the work we do, telling you what we think about your software’s quality and testing requirements, which may not be what you want to hear. When it’s not ready for release, we’ll let you know, and vice versa. On the other hand, if you tell us you want more resources on the project, and we don’t think it’s necessary, we’ll also give you an honest answer and tell you that we can do the job with fewer resources. Just ask any of our clients.
  2. Partnership rather than a vendor – Due to our close working relationships with our clients and showing them through our actions that we treat their software as if it were our own, doing whatever it takes to get it to the end users with the highest quality possible, our clients treat us as partners rather than vendors. One of our clients even gives us year-end bonuses as if we are full-time employees.
  3. Long-term employees – You may wonder why this matters. Ask our clients who have been with XBOSoft for over a decade why they trust XBOSoft to get the job done even better than their employees. Due to the turnover of many typical outsourcing companies, you may end up training people over and over or getting newbies who don’t really understand your software well and thus can only execute very simple test cases, let alone be responsible for test design. At XBOSoft, because of the long tenure of our team members, you get a team of specialists not only in testing but in your software features and functions for the long term.
  4. Fair pricing – At XBOSoft, we don’t play the “we’re cheaper than they are game”, and then charge you for 197 hours per person-month leaving you wondering what got done with all those hours when they are charging you by the hour. Instead, we charge you a flat amount each month and do whatever it takes to get the job done.
  5. Excellent communication – You’ll always be aware of the value we provide and what we are contributing. All of our clients take note and appreciate our availability and flexibility in different types and modes of communication to fit their schedules. From instant messaging methods to zoom and teams, we are accustomed to communicating at our clients’ desired frequency. Sometimes clients want to talk every day and sometimes once a week or once a month. 
  6. Hands-on get the job done attitude – As mentioned, we do what it takes to get the job done, and you don’t have to worry about an overtime bill at the end of the month. Our team members work as if it’s their software as one of your straight salary employees. During regression testing or getting ready for release, we all know that this often means over time, and we’re there to help you get the job done. And, as you can imagine, with long-term employees, we’ve seen just about every problem there is, and have the hands-on experience to get things done.
  7. Deep experience and technical expertise: Of course, all software testing firms will claim that they have the best expertise, but when the rubber meets the road and you have difficulties optimizing a framework, technology, or process into the context of your organization, rather than a cookie-cutter application, only those that have been in the game for a long time like XBOSoft who have done it many times before can offer you options with pros and cons.

Given these criteria, we rate ourselves at the top of the list. If you’ve dealt with a software testing firm and had a bad experience, it’s probably one of these criteria listed above that led you to your dissatisfaction. If you have others that should be on the list, please let us know. Even if one of the directories for Top Software Test