Learn Everything There Is to Know About Performance Testing and Challenges With a SaaS Application

  • By Stephenie Peterson
  • 29-12-2021
  • Technology
challenges with a saas application

The Software-as-a-Service concept is still ablaze, and it will continue to adapt and evolve in the years ahead. Cloud computing enables companies to provide software in an uncomplicated, uncluttered manner. "Nothing to download, nothing to install," as the adage goes. While not every SaaS application is a web application, most of them are, which is why this section will focus on them.

Users simply submit their payment card information and voilà!

This ease is somewhat of a double-edged sword, however, because development and quality assurance teams are held accountable on a continuous basis. There is a significant difference between weekly deployments and annual deployments (as was common with on-premise).

SaaS application development company testing presents testers with some distinct problems and opportunities. Many of them need a higher level of technical proficiency, while others emphasize the development of soft skills. Here are the areas where QA engineers for SaaS systems should focus their efforts to improve quality.

The SaaS model naturally creates competition

when everyone said, "There's an app for that"? Now it appears as though we can confidently state, "There is a SaaS for that." The SaaS model has a plethora of advantages for providers.

They can deploy software more affordably because everything is hosted in the cloud. Indeed, they can build, implement, and sell virtually anything online as a one-man show. The entry hurdle is really low.

Simultaneously, this model is more user-friendly. They can board within minutes. What do you think? As a result, they can also churn in a matter of minutes. Users are readily misled by another tool they learned about from a coworker or discovered through a Facebook advertisement. While it is somewhat more difficult for a complete business to switch products than it is for a single user, it is still significantly easier than if the product were sold in one huge sum (rather than as a subscription), because that model demands a larger commitment and produces "lock-in."

Thus, SaaS has raised competition in every software area, requiring businesses to be even more diligent about providing a high-quality experience at all times.

Less testing of software elements but more demand on software testing
Certain aspects of SaaS apps do not require testing since they do not exist:

Client-side or server-side installation
Multiple version support
Diverse platforms and backends are supported.

Even if software testing for SaaS has fewer features and components, there is really a greater requirement for testing. This is due to the frequency of releases and the expectation of customers for speedy solutions. If something isn't working, a user is likely to return a few hours later with the expectation that it will work.

Test cycles have to be short, fast, and partially automated
Speed is crucial in the creation and testing of SaaS applications. The agile methodology addresses the issue of speed by breaking releases down into much smaller components and testing as early in the iteration as possible.

Due to the fact that short cycles enable upgrades to reach customers much more quickly, QA engineers are continually challenged to innovate in order to stay on-cycle with development.

Unit testing, simulating incomplete components with service visualization, and automating regression testing and essential service calls all enable QA to execute concurrent tests rather than waiting till the end of a cycle - a big killer in the SaaS world.

QA can help validate the ability to scale

Not only can performance testing verify the application's reliability for its current user base, but it can also help establish the platform's scalability.

Communication is critical inside a company. Is there a new promotion that is likely to attract a large number of users? The quality assurance team must be aware. The throughput of multiple workflows must be evaluated, as well as the overall system's capacity.

Testers must become experts in customer experience
Due to growing competition, the success of a SaaS platform is determined by the total customer experience, not simply the user experience. The user experience of the app must be fluid; it must be intuitive, simple to navigate, and pleasurable to use.

However, testers must consider the user experience as well. Is the experience as a whole consistent? Is the app living up to the brand's promise? This can be seen in the in-app support experience, the user interfaces to copy and brand voice on any explainers, walk-throughs, or in-app messaging, as well as any external emails or notifications prompted by the app.

Testers must not only evaluate these elements' pass/fail status, but also their utility to the consumer.

Actual (not theoretical) usage should drive test prioritization
By collecting and analyzing client data, quality assurance teams may determine which browsers and versions they need to support. Diverse browsers are used in various parts of the world and by a diverse range of audiences. Identifying those that are popular within your own user group is critical for concentrating testing efforts.

Utilizing real-world user data is crucial for optimizing the real-world user experience. Testers should use accessible metrics such as performance and error rate to identify issue areas for testing.

Additionally, it is possible to discover users' favorite features, which enables testers to prioritize regions that require the most attention while building automated scripts and/or personally investigating.

Overall platform goals: keeping it lean or time to grow?
Whatever type of application QA engineers are testing, it's critical to grasp the platform's business objectives, to know what it is and is not, and to know who it serves. However, given the level of competition and the ease with which providers might pivot, it is critical that any changes or enhancements be made in total harmony with the organization's overall goals.

Understanding when the timing is right to maintain a small footprint or expand capabilities helps increase the likelihood that QA efforts contribute the maximum amount of value.

 

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Stephenie Peterson

Stephenie Peterson is a technical content writer and editor who generally write technology-based blogs and articles. She has a few published pieces under Mobile applications, and Data science consists of proven techniques, future cost, and benefits. Looking into the current, Sophia is writing her first full-length article on SaaS Apps.

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