crowdsourcingut

Crowdsourcingut is a term used to describe applying crowdsourcing principles to user testing (UT) in software development. It aims to gather usability feedback, functional observations, localization checks, and bug reports from a broad, external tester base. The concept treats UT as a crowd-based activity, extending traditional QA with diverse real-world testers.

Typical workflows post a testing brief on a platform, recruit testers through screening, assign tasks such as navigation tasks or exploratory tests, and reward participants by task or time. Tools like screen recordings and bug trackers are commonly used, and quality control may include qualification tests, calibration tasks, and moderation to protect data privacy. Results are usually integrated into bug-tracking systems and product backlogs to inform development decisions.

Benefits of crowdsourcingut include access to large, diverse tester pools, faster feedback, realistic usage data, and potential cost savings compared with traditional lab testing. Challenges involve variable test quality, privacy and data protection concerns, language and cultural bias, and the need for careful task design and governance to prevent fraud or exploitative pay. It is typically viewed as a complement to internal QA and UX testing rather than a standalone replacement.

The term has gained usage in modern software testing discussions, where crowdsourcing serves as a scalable source of user insights for mobile apps, websites, and connected devices. It is commonly employed to inform usability improvements, bug triage, localization validation, and performance testing, contributing to iterative product refinement.