The Upcoming Beta!!
Hey everyone,
I know its been a bit of a while since my last post. The Betchyu team has been incredibly busy building out our app. Here’s a quick update on our goings on! We have been in the middle of an intense sprint to get a beta test ready for the Iphone.
Its therefore valuable to explain what a beta test is and why we are doing it. A beta test is a step in the cycle of a software product release. Its the first version of the app that early adopters try out. The word beta comes from the Greek alphabet (first alpha then beta). The only reason we use Greek letters is because beta sounds much cooler than the letter B.
Building betchyu is a complicated affair! We need to do a lot of testing in order to make sure that the app is working well. Typically, alpha tests are conducted internally (among the inner team of people involved with the development). The purpose here is to ensure that the nuts and bolts of the app are functioning. Once the Alpha is completed, it’s time to add some aesthetic touches and go to beta!
A beta test is one that is opened up to a limited number of users. These are the BETA TESTERS! This test is the first opportunity that folks from the public sector to check out your product. Its pretty exciting to be allowed to test our an app that is in beta. The beta testers have a critical role in the development process. Their job… play around with the app!
The benefits of Beta testing cannot be understated. The Beta testers are a group of people who understand that the app is still pre-launch. They are therefore less likely to abandon your product the moment they experience a glitch. In fact, if you play your cards right, the Beta test creates a group of advocates for your platform. These individuals will have a sense of ownership over your app. They want you to succeed and can help to spread the word about what you are working on. You can use the beta test as an opportunity to forge long-lasting relationships with these users.
There are many other important benefits to the beta test. Most obviously, the beta testers can will help you ID bugs. Testers will use numerous devices, some of which might not be compatible with your app. They will try things that you did not think about trying. Its great to find these bugs out before you release your product it to the larger audience.
The last thing you want is to do is release an app, do a ton of marketing and outreach, and then find out that your app was not ready to be released.
Perhaps most critically, the Beta testers help you understand whether you are moving in the right direction. Are your assumptions proving to be true? This process prevent you from being caught off guard. Inevitably, there are going to be many considerations that you forgot to account for. The beta test is an opportunity to answer important questions. Most importantly, is this a product that people even want to use?
One of the best parts of the beta test is that it gives you control. You can reach out directly to those people who are really passionate and involved in your space and engage them directly. Moreover, the beta allows you can build up the app in a more gradual way, without having to worry about being overloaded with too much traffic and data.
We can’t wait to share our beta with you…. expect an update soon!
BETCHYU 