How QA Saved Major Brands: Lessons from Airbnb, Netflix, Spotify & more

Delivering a flawless app isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a necessity for staying competitive. Some of the biggest companies we know have used QA to their advantage, not only to deliver a great user experience but to directly boost engagement, user retention, and ultimately, revenue. Here’s a look at five real-life examples of how solid QA practices helped top companies improve their app quality and drive success.

1. Airbnb: QA for Reliable Bookings and Host Trust

Airbnb, an online marketplace for booking stays and experiences globally, has a unique challenge of serving two groups—guests and hosts. Their QA team works to ensure that every interaction, from booking to check-in, is smooth and reliable. By investing in both automated and manual testing, Airbnb has built a platform that users trust, directly impacting bookings and revenue. (Source: Airbnb Engineering Blog

Takeaway: Focusing on user experience through QA can help build trust, a crucial factor for service-based apps.

2. Netflix: QA for Seamless Streaming Worldwide

The global success of Netflix, a streaming service offering movies and TV shows, heavily relies on its streaming quality, especially across different devices and connection speeds. Netflix’s QA team uses automated testing and chaos engineering to simulate various conditions, ensuring smooth playback and minimal interruptions. The result? Netflix remains one of the most stable streaming platforms, which keeps millions of subscribers coming back every month. (Source: Netflix Tech Blog

Takeaway: QA for performance consistency can play a major role in user satisfaction and retention.

3. Snapchat: Fixing Bugs in Real-Time to Boost Engagement

Snapchat’s rapid growth came with a massive influx of users, which caused a fair share of technical issues. The QA team introduced real-time bug monitoring and fixes to keep the app running smoothly. By quickly addressing crashes and bugs, Snapchat reduced churn and retained users, which ultimately improved engagement and ad revenue. (Source: Snap Inc. Newsroom and Snap for Developers)

Takeaway: Swift bug fixes can prevent churn, keeping users engaged and increasing overall app value.

4. Spotify: Device Compatibility Testing for a Flawless Experience

Spotify, a leading music streaming service, has a vast user base listening on various devices, from smartphones to car dashboards. Spotify’s QA team dedicates significant resources to testing compatibility across devices and platforms to avoid playback issues. This seamless cross-device experience has strengthened user loyalty, contributing to subscription growth. (Source: Spotify Engineering

Takeaway: Device compatibility testing can drive user satisfaction, especially for apps used across multiple platforms.

5. Uber: Automated Testing to Scale Rapidly

Uber, a popular ride-hailing platform, operates in hundreds of cities with various regulatory, network, and device challenges. Their QA team implemented automated testing to handle the high volume of code changes needed to support different regions. Uber’s ability to deliver a reliable experience globally has helped it attract millions of users and keep them engaged with a stable, responsive app. (Source: Uber Engineering Blog

Takeaway: Automated testing can help fast-growing companies maintain a high level of quality as they expand into new markets.

Wrapping Up: How QA Drives Quality and Sales

Investing in quality assurance isn’t just about creating a better app; it’s a strategic move for driving growth and boosting revenue. Small and medium-sized companies can take inspiration from these tech giants by prioritizing quality assurance as a key part of their growth strategy. From startups to tech giants, QA plays a crucial role in transforming a solid app idea into a high-performing, reliable, and profitable product. 

Ultimately, a great user experience begins with a flawless app—and that journey starts with a strong QA process and your next consultation with Mantis EVN’s QA engineers!