Ran Rachlin, the esteemed CEO of Ubertesters, emerges as a true industry luminary. With a distinguished career boasting profound global experience across diverse sectors, Ran’s exceptional leadership and acumen have catapulted Ubertesters to the forefront of crowd-testing innovation. Through a combination of strategic brilliance and an unwavering commitment to excellence, he propels the company to new heights, setting the gold standard for global crowd-testing services.
As an accomplished senior executive, Ran brings a wealth of expertise in P&L management, general operations, and overall business leadership. His seasoned insights and ability to navigate diverse industries have nurtured a culture of excellence within Ubertesters, driving the company’s relentless pursuit of perfection in every facet of crowd-testing.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Can you please provide a brief overview of your professional background and experience in the industry?
From a very young age, I trained myself to become an effective leader with a global view. My first job was a sales position in a Hi-Tech Israeli company that sold products globally. My goal was to gain cross-cultural experience. Then, I moved to the USA so I could live and study (I did my MBA in the USA) in the ‘center’ of where things actually happen. I advanced in roles, holding several high-profile management positions, doing business on all six continents in different industries, and with several large companies. In 2014, I decided to leave the “safety” of corporate life and co-founded Ubertesters, a startup in the field of software testing.
Tell us about Ubertesters and its mission. What inspired you to join this company?
Ubertesters offers a complete software testing solution for digital products to help organizations beta-test their digital products prior to launching them. We do it by offering two complementary services: (1) a crowd-testing service of global, professional freelance testers for hire with devices (part of the “sharing economy” model) for the most flexible and cost-effective global testing under real-life conditions; and (2) offshore outsourcing services of remote QA experts on a full-time basis based in the company’s East European facilities.
We have a clear vision and mission statement that were created in the early days of Ubertesters as a company. Our vision is “to provide cost-effective, innovative, and quality testing services that exceed the expectations of our esteemed customers.”
Our mission statement can be summarized as “help digital organizations launch better, well-tested, bug-free products by enhancing natural best testing practices while providing exceptional customer service.”
In other words, our goal is to help digital consumers (the end-user) get a great bug-free product from our business customers for a better, faster, simpler, and no-frustration digital experience.
In 2014, I co-founded Ubertesters in response to the lack of a suitable software testing solution I encountered at my previous company. When we developed a mobile app, we struggled to find global testers who could test it across various devices, languages, and carriers. This led us to create the concept of “Crowd testing,” a community of freelance testers available to test any product for clients and report bugs. The advantage was that testers could work on their own time and earn extra income while testing.
How do you foster a culture of innovation and adaptability within your organization, considering the rapidly changing landscape of the finance sector?
To foster innovation and adaptability at Ubertesters, we follow these key practices:
(a) Embrace a growth mindset, encouraging our team to see challenges as learning opportunities. This mindset fuels innovation and encourages the exploration of new ideas. (b) Foster collaboration and open communication across departments to exchange ideas. (c) Promote continuous learning through training programs and knowledge-sharing sessions. We provide opportunities for skill enhancement through training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions. By staying updated on industry trends and technologies, our team members remain adaptable and forward-thinking. (d) Stay close to customers and market trends. We actively engage with our customers to understand their evolving needs and stay informed about the latest market trends. This customer-centric approach helps us identify opportunities for innovation and ensures our solutions remain aligned with market demands.
These practices cultivate a culture of innovation and adaptability, enabling us to thrive in the rapidly changing tech sector.
How do you prioritize customer satisfaction and ensure that the company provides exceptional service to its clients?
As the CEO of Ubertesters, ensuring customer satisfaction and delivering exceptional service to our clients is a top priority. Here’s how we achieve it:
1. Customer-Centric Approach: We adopt a customer-centric mindset, placing our clients at the center. Understanding their needs, challenges, and goals allows us to tailor our services to meet their specific requirements. We do this by actively listening to our clients, valuing their feedback and input. By understanding their needs and suggestions, we continuously improve our services to better align with their expectations.
2. Timely and Effective Communication: We maintain clear and open lines of communication with our clients. Promptly addressing their inquiries, providing regular updates, and ensuring transparency builds trust and fosters strong relationships.
3. Quality Assurance: We have stringent quality assurance processes in place to deliver exceptional service. Thorough testing, attention to detail, and adherence to industry best practices ensure that we consistently provide reliable and accurate results.
4. Continuous Improvement: We continuously evaluate our processes and workflows to identify areas for improvement. By proactively seeking opportunities to enhance our services, we can consistently exceed client expectations and adapt to their evolving needs.
5. Building Long-Term Partnerships: We aim to establish long-term partnerships with our clients, nurturing mutually beneficial relationships. By understanding their long-term goals and providing personalized support, we become trusted advisors rather than just service providers.
By implementing these strategies, Ubertesters ensures that customer satisfaction remains a top priority and that our clients receive exceptional service throughout their engagement with us.
What steps do you take to attract and retain top talent in the industry, and how do you encourage professional growth and development within your organization?
As the CEO of Ubertesters, attracting and retaining top talent is crucial to our success. Here’s how we achieve it while fostering professional growth and development within our organization:
1. Talent Acquisition: We employ a strategic approach to talent acquisition. We utilize a combination of internal recruitment efforts, industry partnerships, and targeted job postings to attract top talent.
2. Competitive Compensation and Benefits: We offer competitive compensation packages and attractive benefits to attract and retain talented individuals. We believe in recognizing and rewarding their contributions and ensuring they feel valued within the organization.
3. Professional Development Opportunities: We provide ample opportunities for professional growth and development. This includes internal training programs, workshops, mentorship initiatives, and access to industry conferences and events.
4. Performance Recognition: We have a robust performance recognition system in place to acknowledge and celebrate employees’ achievements. Recognizing their efforts and providing constructive feedback motivates them to excel and contributes to their professional growth.
5. Feedback and Open Communication: We encourage open communication and feedback channels within our organization. Regular performance evaluations, one-on-one meetings, and anonymous feedback mechanisms enable employees to share their ideas, concerns, and aspirations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
By implementing these steps, Ubertesters attract and retain top talent, while also nurturing their professional growth and development. We strive to create an environment where employees can thrive, contribute their best, and build rewarding careers.
As the CEO of Ubertesters, what is your overall vision for the company’s future and how do you plan to achieve it?
Ubertesters aspires to become the #1 global player in the field of crowdsourced testing within the next 3 years while driving innovation and delivering exceptional value to our clients. We will achieve this by continuing to grow through creativity, invention, and innovation, and by following these key elements: (1) Expansion and Market Penetration: Our target is to focus more on offering payment testing to clients that are struggling with testing global payment methods. (2) Global Reach and Diverse Testing Capabilities: Our plan involves further expanding our global community of freelance testers. By nurturing and diversifying our testing talent pool, we can offer comprehensive coverage across different regions, languages, and devices. This will enable us to meet the unique requirements of our clients and provide high-quality testing services. (3) Client-Centric Approach: We will maintain our focus on understanding and fulfilling our clients’ needs. Through active listening, regular communication, and building strong partnerships, we will continue to deliver personalized solutions and exceed their expectations. and (4) Offering customized automation testing: we will offer customized automation solutions tailored to the specific needs of clients. This involves understanding the client’s testing requirements, designing automated test scripts, and implementing automation frameworks that align with their technology stack.
By executing this comprehensive plan, we will position Ubertesters for continued growth, foster innovation, and solidify our reputation as a trusted partner for crowd-testing solutions.
What advice would you give to aspiring leaders or individuals looking to join the tech sector?
The most important advice is to “take Care of Your Team”. Trust your team and let them shine, but also be prepared to accept responsibility when things don’t go as planned. Help your employees advance their careers and always respect them by emphasizing collaboration and teamwork.
As a leader, maintain the ‘personal touch’ and speak often to your team.
Lastly, stay humble. Humility is not a weakness; it’s a strength. On the other hand, stay resilient and persevere even when facing difficult situations.
Website: https://ubertesters.com/
