Beta is a version of an application that is not yet complete and is being tested at the moment. It does contain all the useful features and is available to users but it can undergo major changes after the testing.
Beta versions are tested by those who did not work with the product closely, for example, customers or other tech-savvy users of the company. Alpha versions that come before that are tested by in-house developers.
Reasons Why Beta Testing Is Extremely Important In the Development Cycle
Developers Tend to Overlook Things
If you work with something close, you are likely to not notice a lot of things and see the product as already perfect. A fresh point of view is needed.
You Have to Test How the Product Works in Different Environments
Developers usually have a limited amount of testing environments. The first round of customers has way more diverse environments that can help to detect compatibility issues
It Is a Possibility for Non-Tech Testing
It may be difficult to assess usability if you know the IT product inside out and has a great background in working with tech. Non-tech users may find designs and navigations too complex and claim that the software is not intuitive.
