What impact does integrating testing earlier in the development process have?

Integrating testing earlier in the development process significantly reduces costs and timelines. This proactive approach allows teams to identify defects and issues while they are still fresh in the developers' minds, making them easier and less expensive to fix. When testing is conducted early, it facilitates immediate feedback, enabling teams to make necessary adjustments as they build rather than waiting until the end of a project. This can prevent costly last-minute changes or reworks, which often arise from late-stage testing when issues are much harder to address.

Additionally, early testing fosters better communication and collaboration among team members, as everyone is more aligned with the project's goals and quality expectations from the beginning. This integration of testing into the development cycle helps streamline processes and can lead to quicker delivery times because the team is constantly validating their work against the testing criteria throughout development. As a result, earlier testing ultimately promotes a more efficient workflow, leading to reduced overall project costs and timelines.