To make a mobile
app popular and profitable in the longer run, businesses must get its user
interface (UI) and user experience (UX) tested thoroughly. The businesses
further need to test the app using real devices and under real user conditions.
Most businesses use emulators and simulators to assess the application’s
functionality and performance across a variety of devices without investing in
real devices. But the emulators often fail to provide detailed information
about the application’s performance on a specific device or in a particular
user environment. That is why; it has become essential for enterprises to
explore ways to test the mobile app under real world conditions using various
devices, platforms, users, networks and test configurations.
Exploring
Options to Test Your Mobile App under Real User Conditions
Field
Testing
The field
testing model requires businesses to deploy testers in field. The deployment
will enable the testers to assess the mobile app across a wide range of
networks and service providers. For instance, the testers can assess the
application’s functionality and performance under a number of network
connections including 2G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi and cellular. Likewise, they can test
the application with no or poor network connectivity, switch from one network
to another, and identify the hot spots and dead spots.
However, the
testers have to use user scenarios and mobile persona additionally to effectuate
field testing. These two techniques will help testers to make the tests more
realistic and obtain more reliable test results. As a fictitious identity,
mobile personal represents a group of users who will use the mobile app. When
the testers are familiar with the targeted users of the app, it becomes easier
for them to simulate their actions and behaviours realistically. Further, they
can create a variety of test ideas by keeping in mind the targeted user group.
On the other
hand, user scenario, as a narrative, describes the usage of the mobile app, and
how it fits into the lifestyle of users. The testers have to identify scenarios
according to individual members of the targeted user group. They can further
customize the user scenarios based on mobile persona. On the whole, the testers
need to combine mobile persona and user scenarios to understand how different
users will use the mobile app, and test the app effectively in various
contexts.
User Testing
As its name
implies, the real world testing model involves real users in the mobile testing
process. A business can release the mobile app to diverse users to get it
evaluated on a wider variety of devices, platforms, networks and environments.
Further, the feedback and suggestion received from real users will help the
enterprise to deliver a high quality mobile application. Each business also has
option to choose from a number of user testing methods. Some of these methods
involve selected end users, whereas others emphasize on in-depth auditing of
the application’s usability and user experience.
A business can
always save money by getting the application tested by people selected
randomly. The randomly selected users will use the application, and share their
views and feedback. Despite being informal, the testing technique helps businesses
to get relevant test results. Also, an enterprise has option to share the
mobile app with diverse users through an online platform, and get the usability
testing performed remotely. It can further pay the tester for the bugs
identified by him, or provide a detailed survey questionnaire. The developers
can evaluate the feedback and suggestions shared by the remote users, and take
the required actions to make the mobile app flawless.
A business also
has option to get the mobile app testing by a seasoned user testing
professional. The professional will audit the application’s usability and user
experience thoroughly, and provide his feedback along with identifying the
defects. The enterprise can further deploy different user testing professionals
to get the app tested based on diverse thought processes. Alternatively, the business can also invite
end users to visit its in-house usability lab and test the mobile application,
while being observed by the user testing professional.
Many enterprises
nowadays opt for crowd-sourced testing to identify all flaws in an application,
with reduced testing time and cost. But a business has to consider several
factors while making the application available to real users for testing. It is
always important for the business to pick the right real world testing option,
and implement a custom strategy by keeping in mind the pros and cons of the option.
