What do you do if you're a software tester facing the surge in mobile and web application testing requests?

When facing a surge in testing requests, prioritize based on urgency. Allocate resources accordingly and use automation tools for efficiency. Collaborate with the development team to focus on critical areas. Streamline communication for quick issue resolution. Maintain documentation and gather feedback for continuous improvement.

It’s always common that we think prioritisation of tasks means sorting the order of work and based on time we tend to complete some tasks and sometimes skipping the lowest priority task. Skipping any task which a tester thinks as not needed could be a business need or end user need. Hence the key here is to always stay connected with business and involve a review with product manager before skipping any task. In many projects, It’s always the regression testing was rushed and many times there has not been enough time given hence always involve RBT In your regression testing and if time is needed it’s good to be transparent in meetings and push your project to allot more time or call out risks transparently to business/stakeholders.

If you are getting outplanned request for mobile and web app testing for the same product then prioritization helps at functional level. If you are testing two different app in web and mobile then your resource level planning and prioritization matters. If its same app: Prioritize and plan different functionality test for web and mobile, dont test same functionality in both platform at least until you get breathing time. If its different app: Allocate resources to both the platform and reestimate the efforts. Make it clear with stackholders, teams about your availability for the testing.

If you want to manage the surge in mobile and web application testing requests, prioritize tasks, leverage automation tools, collaborate closely with developers and consider crowd testing or outsourcing to maintain efficiency and thoroughness.

Many times, Automation takes a back seat as test deliverables are considered time critical, so we are asked to test manually now, and automate later. This continues to create a mammoth backlog. Its critical for QA to assess metrics like Manual efforts per test cycle, and visualize the trends. Share this trend report of increasing test cycle time over the next year with the stakeholders. This would help all understand the role automation plays in the success of a project by keeping the test cycle time almost constant, while there is increase in test coverage. Freeing up human resources from manual efforts also means saving cost. Along with repetitive and time-consuming, prioritize manual tasks done by senior resources in the team.

!Automation is an unavoidable for deadlines . !Adjust the test plans based on automation task . !Automate the repetitive and manual tasks and establish the confidence at system under test status !Submit a progress and build a open communication network across team

What I have done in the past when creating manual test cases is to flag those that are repetitive and specific, making them good candidates for conversion to test scripts for automated testing. Then I would write and structure them using plain language coding which easily enables their conversion to an automated testing script.

Implement Test Automation: Identify repetitive test cases and scenarios suitable for automation. Implement test automation frameworks to automate regression testing, smoke testing, and other routine tasks. This can help accelerate testing processes and free up time for manual testing of critical functionalities. Collaborate with Development Teams: Foster collaboration between testing and development teams to streamline the testing process. Engage in regular communication to address issues promptly, clarify requirements, and ensure alignment between development and testing efforts.

Automation is the best bet to handle surge in testing requests. Try to automate all feasible test cases and leverage Gen AI tools to increase efficiency in test automation.

I agree the fact the knowledge to be expanded but it’s always good to start with current market needs. Example : AI/ML, cloud. Target an industry recognised certification in the area of your interest and market need and have deadlines to stay focused and disciplined.

If you are beginner level in either of one frameworks web testing and mobile testing vice versa . Broaden your testing knowledge based on your lacking frameworks Contribute to online open source project and sharpen the skills through independent way . Request the cross training programme at organisation itself to get training

Stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in mobile and web application testing. Invest time in learning new testing techniques, tools, and methodologies that can enhance your testing capabilities and efficiency. Additionally, collaborate with your peers, attend industry events, and participate in online forums or communities to exchange knowledge and experiences with other software testers. By continuously expanding your knowledge and skillset, you can stay ahead of the curve and effectively meet the challenges posed by the surge in testing requests.

Continuous learning improvement is key to staying ahead. We'd gather feedback from the previous testing cycles, analyze metrics, and conduct post-release reviews to refine our testing strategies and adapt to evolving demands.

Utilize Cloud-Based Testing Platforms: Explore cloud-based testing platforms that provide access to a wide range of devices, browsers, and operating systems. These platforms allow you to perform testing in parallel across multiple configurations, speeding up the testing process and enhancing test coverage. Implement Agile Testing Practices: Embrace agile testing methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban to adapt to changing priorities and deliver value incrementally. Break down testing tasks into smaller, manageable chunks and focus on delivering high-priority features with each iteration.

In the face of a surge in mobile and web application testing requests, effective collaboration is essential. Engage closely with developers, product managers, and fellow testers to align on project goals and deadlines. Utilize collaborative tools for seamless communication and real-time progress tracking. Automation can streamline repetitive test cases, reducing manual workload. Prioritize testing efforts based on risk analysis to ensure critical functionalities are thoroughly tested within the given timeframe. By fostering collaboration, utilizing automation, and strategic task prioritization, testers can manage the increased workload while maintaining high-quality standards.

Effective communication will pull off the quality rich product. Effective communication will lower the distance level among the teams and promote the strong team performance ??

Collaborating with different teams in the SDLC life cycle is key to ensuring a common understanding of the business requirements, and aligning gaps well in advance. Try writing a simple message in teams 1 to 1 instead of lengthy emails because sometimes it is very much efficient to talk in a simple mode of communication. Always look for various options to understand your team's view and share real-time feedback with your team members. Being transparent and respecting others' valid opinions is key to success.

La eficiente colaboración va de la mano con una comunicación efectiva entre el comunicador y el receptor. En ocasiones, uno puede no tener la necesidad inmediata de colaborar, pero es crucial que el grupo en su conjunto tenga una identidad colaborativa. Siempre es importante evaluar si nuestra participación es necesaria en determinados temas para evitar retrasos en los procesos. Esto implica estar consciente de cuándo es apropiado intervenir y cuándo es mejor dejar que otros sigan adelante, manteniendo así un flujo eficiente de trabajo y una dinámica de equipo fluida.

Collaborating efficiently with other team members, such as developers, product managers, and quality assurance professionals, can help streamline the testing process and ensure that testing efforts are aligned with business objectives. By fostering open communication and collaboration, testers can identify potential issues early, address them promptly, and deliver high-quality software products that meet customer expectations.

Totally! For example, smartphones such as iPhone 13 and Galaxy S22 offer different screen sizes and OS while tablets like iPad Pro and Amazon Fire add unique user interactions. Laptops and desktops, from a 13-inch MacBook Air to a gaming PC, help test various resolutions and hardware specs. Wearables like Apple Watch and browsers like Chrome, Safari etc also provide insights into how apps perform across different platforms and conditions. This diversity ensures your app is robust and delivers a seamless UX on any device or browser. If you don't have physical devices, virtual machines or device farms are beneficial for you to simulate various environments from your desk allowing you to test nearly real user conditions.

Managing the testing environments are crucial task for every testers. Maintain a scalable and reliable test cases for test environments. Request the prerequisites earlier as test commences

Having a test environment on various stages is crucial, Dev, SIT, UAT, Preprod/ORT, and Production. Every test environment is intended to be used for its purpose hence do not compromise to push testing directly in the upper environment. Always keep a checkpoint as follows. (Although it depends on your project strategize each environment based on business needed) Dev - Only unit tests SIT - Only integration testing in a connected env UAT- user acceptance testing ORT - NFT (non-functionals like Performance/Security) Prod - Business test/Post implement tests

To optimize test environments amidst increased testing demands, utilize cloud-based solutions for scalable infrastructure, implement containerization for easy deployment, leverage virtualization for diverse device/browser testing, and establish automated provisioning and configuration management to streamline setup and teardown processes.

Optimising test environments is imperative during a surge in mobile and web application testing requests. Establish a robust setup with access to diverse devices and browsers for comprehensive testing coverage. Leverage virtual machines or device farms to emulate various environments if physical devices are limited. Regularly update test environments with the latest OS versions and browsers to mirror real-world conditions accurately. A well-maintained test environment ensures precise testing outcomes despite increased testing demands.

If you're a software tester facing a surge in mobile and web application testing requests, manage stress by prioritizing tasks based on urgency and impact. Break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks. Communicate with your team to ensure everyone is on the same page. Take regular breaks and practice relaxation techniques to stay focused. Finally, seek support from colleagues or supervisors if you feel overwhelmed.

It is important to recognize how much you can contribute before a given deadline. Rushing through tests/writing code is a recipe for disaster and will only compound your stress. Keep in mind to organize, offload, take breaks, and mostly importantly never be afraid to ask for help.

Simple if you are stressed always take a break (a day or few will never be a problem) but also think about reducing stress in your break rather than increasing it :) Life is simple and do not take stress and does not worth it. Spend time with your family and especially with elders and children or the person you think is best. A quality time with right person is always essential for your stress free life. See work as work and not your life. Mistakes can happen in career but it’s important to understand how to rectify it. So not the end of world , chill out :)

Agree with this aspect, maintaining calmness and keep ourself stress relief is important for health life and performance. Take breaks, practice workstation yoga and music therapy etc can help to reduce the work station stress.

Managing stress is important for maintaining productivity and well-being during times of increased workload. Testers should prioritize self-care activities, such as taking regular breaks, practicing mindfulness techniques, and seeking support from colleagues and supervisors when needed. By managing stress effectively, testers can maintain focus, resilience, and performance in their testing efforts.

Another approach is to use managed services where you procure testing services to perform or support testing efforts. Or if there is no budget for this, try to get support from internal colleagues to have a team of testers and divide the work.

Testing is fun! Think of it like an adventure! In the jungle of tools, processes, requirements, etc. you can always find hidden gems, whatever that means for you: An overseen critical bug, new insights on system behaviour, ideas for enhancement or improvement of the product.

Stay flexible in response to changing requirements, experiment with fresh testing methodologies, and constantly look for ways to enhance your processes.

Risk based testing: If the deadline can't be met, then it becomes essential to drive your strategy to plug in the Risk based testing approach. While it is not possible to cover the entire scope, this gives a helping hand to push the certification to the deadline at a faster pace.