When a company starts to blossom, adding tools to the mix for software teams is a typical move. A company may need code editors, test automation tools, cloud space, and updated project management software. But when a software team keeps adding tools without an overarching strategy in place for those tools, they might go overboard.
Having an abundance of tech tools isn’t always an advantage. And tools can interfere with how effectively a team functions. Read on to learn more about why software teams and software testers might lose productivity to tool and environment sprawl.
Understanding Tool Sprawl
Too much tech can lead to a problem known as tool sprawl. Teams may add different subscriptions or platforms, for instance, leading to tools that overlap in their purpose. With so many software testing platforms, cloud services, and other tech tools in the mix, it’s easy to reach a point where managing everything becomes impossible for businesses.
Further, when teams aren’t communicating about tech needs or acquisitions, it’s hard to provide consistent oversight. Data may sit in different silos, and every team will use different workflows and organizational structures.
Likewise, with environmental sprawl, a lack of control across SaaS environments can lead to security problems and software performance glitches. Ideally, testing and production environments should be unified to create consistency before systems go live.
Creating Extra Work
Software teams don’t need extra work. But when they’re adding redundant tools and failing to keep a unified system, extra work comes with the territory.
If a team uses several testing platforms, for instance, individual team members will spend more time transferring information from one system to the next. Or they may deal with technical glitches for multiple systems, when overseeing one system would be far easier.
Further, with each new tool, team members will need to learn how to use it. And with updates to the tool, employees will need to stay current. Not all employees may need access for security purposes, either, meaning that oversight is critical.
As team members toggle from one tool to another, they’ll lose focus and efficiency. They may be entering details into a project management system one moment and navigating to a testing dashboard the next. All of the clicks and mental redirects can amount to delays and concentration issues that cost time and money.
Review Your Tools
Teams can take control of tool and environment sprawl by conducting a periodic tool audit. Teams shouldn’t feel pressured to get rid of useful tools. Rather, they should use the process to find places where tools fulfil overlapping functions.
Teams should ask what purpose each tool they have serves. They should look at who uses a given tool, and the investment cost that goes into using it. If a tool doesn’t mesh with existing workflows, it might not be worth the cost.
Limiting the number of tools can lead to lower costs. And team members may have an easier time learning and managing a smaller set of tools. Ownership is key as teams work to avoid overinvesting in software testing tools that clutter their workflows.
Maintaining Documentation for Tools
Ultimately, teams need to know which tools they have through a well-organized documentation process. Teams need to know what a tool does, as well as which employees need access to it. One person should oversee the documentation process to ensure it doesn’t fall through the cracks.
If a problem arises, teams should have protocols in place for support, as well. Maintaining documentation for glitches can help teams get more effective assistance.
When software teams rely on multiple platforms, cloud environments, and connected systems, ongoing IT support can also help address access issues, system disruptions, security concerns, and infrastructure problems that interrupt development and testing workflows. For businesses in San Francisco, USWired’s IT support can provide technical assistance alongside the internal processes teams use to manage their tools and environments.
Avoid Tool and Environment Sprawl
Software teams may not even realize they’re dealing with tool and environment sprawl. While investing in new tools to streamline processes isn’t bad, investing in redundant tools is. With regular audits, access management, and continual oversight, teams can keep their tools in check.
Instead of constantly repeating tasks and switching from one tool to the next, teams can be more efficient with their time. Trimming test automation tools can enable software teams to focus on software testing and enhancing what they offer.
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