Three key challenges with UAT execution are tedious test documentation, complex workflows, and clunky defect management.
But when thinking of ways to simplify UAT testing, most people think of “automation” first.
However, UAT business processes, collaboration, workflow, and defect management must be automated. But for visual user interface (UI) element testing, most companies still rely on manual testing.
Automating Documentation
Key It’s critical that business users document each step in their UAT process–especially when issues arise. But requiring them to document issues by copying and pasting into clunky spreadsheets is not efficient. Users are required to document each of their steps. Reporting a defect by “cutting and pasting” on a spreadsheet for later reproduction becomes even more painful. Multiply this challenge when this information is fed back to the developers, who might not reproduce the flaws. And business users often end up spending more time reporting on their UAT testing than actually performing the testing.
- Tools for UAT testing provided with the right testing strategy where documentation is part of the testing process. The right solution will effortlessly document every test execution, without any manual effort needed from business users. This frees up testers’ time and accelerates their overall progress, without compromising the quality and coverage of their work.
Automating Workflows
For your key business users, UAT workflows with multiple dependencies often feel like running a blind relay race, which proves challenging due to their complicated nature. Users often end up spending too much time figuring out what needs to be done, rather than actually doing the work.
- Testing automation platform should include features such as automatic sequencing of manual tests, easy transfer of tasks between key users, centralized progress tracking, and central defect management that speed everything up and accelerate the execution process, taking the guesswork out of AUT workflows.
Defect Management
Defect tracking and management become critical activities as most of the defects are discovered during the UAT phase, arguably the most critical aspect of UAT, as developers use this data to address issues so that applications can be pushed to production. But because UAT testing is typically a monotonous process with complicated collaboration channels, this proves difficult.
- Tools for UAT testing should automatically identify application bugs & issues, and determine the effect that one bug has on the rest of the application. Additionally, it should automatically communicate the defect with the respective test recording to the appropriate technical teams.
The testing tool with defect monitoring and identification can easily figure out the impact of a single defect on your project and define the level of influence on your testing activities. It will also automatically communicate the defect with the respective test recording, for effortless reproduction.
UAT Evaluation and Monitoring
Since key users are the ultimate customers of the updates, UAT becomes the most critical part of your big, happy testing family. After all, it is only through real-life scenarios that change can be truly tested and qualified.
Either way, there’s no doubt that UAT should be done alongside your overall test project, so you have visibility into the entire project, from initiation to applying changes.
UAT imposes unique challenges, such as multiple users involved in testing each business process. The right testing solution should ensure smooth workflows and the transfer of testing tasks between key users.
With Opkey, accelerate your packaged application UAT testing while achieving 100% testing coverage without compromising on quality.