There are many advantages of usability testing including:

• feedback direct from the target audience to focus the project team
• internal debates can be resolved by testing the issue to see how users react to the different options being discussed
• issues and potential problems are highlighted before the product is launched

The business advantages of usability testing can be seen at the end of the project:

• it increases the likelihood of usage and repeat usage
• it minimises the risk of the product failing
• users are better able to reach their goals, which results in the business meeting its targets
• Disadvantages.Usability testing provides many benefits, but there are a few disadvantages in using this methodology, which should be noted. Firstly, testing is not 100% representative of the real life scenario, e.g. a mother will not have her two young children running around like she might have at home. Also, usability testing is mainly qualitative, so does not provide the large samples of feedback that a questionnaire might, but the feedback can be far more accurate and insightful.