When a software beta is released, users can usually be placed into two distinct groups: early adopters that are excited to try out the shiny new features, and those who would prefer to wait until the full release occurs. In this situation, neither user is more correct than the other. In fact, they can learn quite a bit from each other to create a great software experience.

1. Check Out The Shiny New Features

This one is the most obvious. When major changes occur, software developers like to release things as beta first so that they can get feedback on what they’ve changed. Inside those changes are features that they feel will provide a huge benefit to their users.

Often times, those major changes are things that the average user might not even realize that they’ve been wanting. By giving these new changes a try, they’ll be able to see what they like about them and provide valuable feedback that can usually make a huge impact on the final release.

2. Find All The Bugs!

Software development goes through many cycles through the course of each release. Greatly simplified, it usually goes something like this:

1. Come up with new ideas.
2. Figure out which ideas to implement in a release.
3. Build the new ideas into a new version.
4. Test out the new version internally.
5. Release development, alpha, and beta versions.
6. Fix bugs that were found inside those early versions.
7. Release a final version.

By running testing a beta version and providing feedback to the developers if you encounter bugs, you’ll be not only helping yourself and the software company to fix issues, but you’ll also be helping others that might encounter the same issue.

All of the internal testing in the world can’t possibly account for every possible scenario, especially when humans are involved. By testing beta software, you’re making it better for everyone.

3. Eliminate Environmental Variables

 

This is especially important in things like WordPress plugins where there are an infinite number of variables to account for. From themes and plugins, to hosting and WordPress versions, there’s a lot that can go wrong with any code running on your site.

Although most companies will account for as many variables as possible when developing changes that will impact existing users, nobody could ever be able to truly if there’s an issue that can arise from the infinite possible combinations of other things running on any particular site.

By testing beta software on a development site (we would never advise you to run a beta on a live site) and doing your own testing, you’ll be able to determine if your site might be an edge case that encountered an unexpected bug.

If you encountered issues, not only would you know to be careful when upgrading to the next major release, but you’d also be able to provide feedback early enough to have the issue completely resolved when the time for release comes.

4. Easily Educate Others

If multiple individuals rely on a particular piece of software to get their job done, it’s usually best to know what sort of issues they might face in a new version. This is especially true if you have people who are less technically-abled who will need to adapt to certain changes.

By testing beta software ahead of time, you will be able to easily identify questions and concerns that might arise from others. Maybe a button changed or a menu item moved somewhere else. If you’re already aware of the change, you will be able to prepare those who might be impacted before there’s any confusion.

5. Become More Productive

When new software versions are released, they’re packed with new goodies to take advantage of. With business software, this is usually in the form of better, faster ways to do things.

By taking the time to test new beta versions before they come out, you’ll have the ability to adapt your workflow to something that works best for you, instead of sticking to an old workflow that might be slower. If there’s a fast way to do it in the new version, why keep doing it the old way?

On the other side of the spectrum, maybe your old workflow has been completely replaced by something new that doesn’t seem to quite cut it. By testing out the beta before it’s released, you will be able to provide your valuable thoughts to the creators and potentially cause the product to better match how you do things.

Is Beta Software Right For You?

The answer isn’t always immediately apparent, but in most cases, you should be doing at least some form of early testing before fully upgrading to a new version. Whether you’re a small business trying to rapidly get things rolling or a large enterprise that needs absolute stability at all times, giving beta software a try, even briefly, is usually a good idea. After all, you never know until you try!