Beta explained source: Gov.UK
The objective of the beta phase is to build a working version of the service based on your alpha prototypes.
The version you build must be able to handle real transactions and work at scale.
You also need to keep improving your service and replace existing services or integrate with them.
What to do in beta
You need to do the following in the beta phase:
improve your service by testing it with users based on the user stories you created in the alpha phase
solve any technical or process-related challenges so that your service meets the Digital Service Standard
get the service accredited
make a plan for the launch of your service (get a GOV.UK domain name and start and end pages and arrange SSL certificates)
release updates and improvements into the development environment
measure the effect of any changes to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) you established in discovery and alpha, for example if you changed KPIs because of new data
test the assisted digital support model you designed for your service
The team you need in beta
Find out the team you need in beta.
Launching your service in beta
You must launch your service in private beta before you launch it in public beta.
Private beta
A private beta is a beta that isn’t open to everyone. You must restrict access. Don’t launch your service publicly in private beta – make it invite-only or launch it in a limited region.
A private beta allows you to:
have more control over the type of user that gets to use the beta
restrict the volume of transactions that go through the beta
start small and get quick feedback before rolling your service out to a wider audience
Public beta
A public beta is a version of your service that’s available for any member of the public to use.
You must pass your beta service assessment before you launch your service into public beta.
How long the beta phase takes
The length of time your beta takes depends on the scope of your project, but if you’ve got the right team in place it shouldn’t take more than a few months.
When you’re ready to move on to live
After the release of your beta, you need to keep iterating and improving your service.
Your service is ready to move on to the live stage when you’re sure:
it meets and can continue to meet the Digital Service Standard
you can support it and you’ll be able to keep iterating and improving it until it’s retired
What you need by the end of beta
At the end of the beta phase, you should have:
launched a private beta followed by a public end-to-end beta prototype
made a prioritised list of the work you need to do (a backlog)
made an ongoing plan for user research
found a way to measure your service’s success using new data you’ve got during the beta phase
tested the way you’ve designed assisted digital support for your service
built a working service that can be used in full by users