E–commerce Software Testing Guide
Internet shopping has become our most common activity in just a few years. According to the Statista website, retail e–commerce sales amounted to approximately 5.2 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide in 2021. This figure is forecast to grow by 56 percent over the following years, reaching about 8.1 trillion dollars by 2026.
However, this is not surprising. With the development of smartphones and applications for them, the world of online shopping has become accessible. Just a few clicks on your device -– and the item or service you need is in the cart.
Although, to make everything as easy as it seems, developers must make their e–commerce platforms as safe, convenient, and high–quality as possible. And this, in turn, imposes significant obligations on the test team -– because a customer shouldn't encounter any bugs on their way to a purchase. A good e–commerce site is like a storefront of a shop. If a buyer comes in, there is a chance that they will buy something. That is why it is essential that the page or application works without errors and successfully interacts with the client.
What exactly needs to be tested in e–commerce?
The essence of e-commerce application testing is to check the product with the main types of tests that can validate the application's suitability for use. The major ways to test an application here are:
However, retail sites are very dynamic. There are new deals, products, bestsellers, sales, etc. It means the site doesn't stay the same for too long. Thus, it can become overwhelming for many users and developers, as well.
Functional testing
This type of testing serves to verify that the product meets the functional requirements. In the case of e–commerce, functional testing should check:
Usability testing
Here we look at the product from the point of view of the end user.
Usability testing determines how straightforward and convenient the interface of a page/application is from the point of view of the consumer. About 60% of online store customers will leave your site if inconvenient. That's why an e–commerce software capable of offering the most enjoyable shopping experience will win the market.
During the usability testing phase of e–commerce software, it is essential to go through all the areas on the path to purchase. The quality assurance engineer must ensure that each product is easy to find, that the sections contain enough information to make a purchasing decision, and that the item selection process is straightforward.
Security Testing
Security is a top priority for e–commerce sites and apps.
The list of e–commerce security requirements includes server security checks supported by firewalls and proxy servers, confidentiality and integrity of communications between parties, proper authentication and authorization, and secure payments.
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Examining security risks in user code, network infrastructure, and security policy is essential in the security testing process.
Performance Testing
Google says that 53% of mobile site visits are abandoned if pages take longer than 3 seconds to load. You wouldn't want to invest huge budgets on an e–commerce site and lose everything just because the site couldn't handle the traffic load.
Performance testing of e–commerce software involves testing the response speed of a website/application. It also includes load testing, which simulates the peak load of traffic.
Such testing, for example, can be very relevant before national holidays or world events like Black Friday.
Database testing
Some things are hidden from end users but are still crucial for your e–commerce site. Take databases, for example. Testing their repositories, internal processes, and data table compliance verifies that the database is consistent and its data do not contradict each other.
Mobile Application Testing
Mobile e-commerce app testing is essential to ensure that the mobile app meets the expectations of your customers. Testing a mobile application gives an understanding of whether it works on devices with different operating systems under possible loads and user actions.
The critical point here will be the availability of real devices for testing. Testing on an actual machine always gives you the highest accuracy of results. At QATestLab, we have more than 350 real devices to conduct the most accurate and complete testing of mobile applications.
A/B testing
The essence of A/B testing is to determine which version has the maximum impact and affects business performance.
A/B testing removes guessing whether the end user will like the product and makes it possible to make decisions based on actual data.
You have to choose the version that shifts your business performance in a positive direction. Implementing changes to this winning variant on your tested page(s)/element(s) can help optimize your website and increase your ROI.
Conclusion
In 2022, the ability of companies to work effectively in crises comes to the fore. The principle "Keep it simple and straightforward" (KISS) remains relevant. In addition, to stay afloat and even more so to win in a very competitive environment, you will need to invest in quality. But you will get more from such an investment.
E-commerce QA services can be a great support for your business and ensure user loyalty.?Testing can be done by both the in-house team and the vendor. And so, if you need an independent testing contractor we at QATestLab are always happy to give a hand. We could help even if you need a short-period help. Contact us anytime and let's create an excellent shopping experience for your customers.
Chief Technology Officer | R&D Leader | Software Architect | Innovation & Growth
1 年Kristina, thanks for sharing!