Business In The Cloud: How To Perform Testing For SaaS

SaaS is short for Software as a Service, but you must understand that already. Every cloud-based solution that works mostly online via web browsers can be described as a SaaS. Such applications are convenient, available anytime, simple to access and come with a type of payment option.

SaaS is only one of the varieties of cloud services. Together with PaaS (Platform as a Service), DaaS (Desktop as a Service),  IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), and other solutions managed by similar logic, they are coupled by an umbrella term XaaS (“you-name-it as a service”). But let’s concentrate on one of its kinds for now.

SaaS solutions are very different in terms of their features and purpose. We are speaking of:

• email services (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.);
• office suites (Office 365, Google Suite, etc.);
• CRM systems (HubSpot, Zoho, etc.);
• cloud storage services (Dropbox, IDrive, etc.)
• and many more.

The functionality and complexity of SaaS differ from product to product. But there’s one thing they have in general: only software of high quality has an opportunity to become widely used. That’s where QA comes in.

Why Is SaaS Testing Essential?

According to LinkedIn research, 55% of people are sure that remote work doesn’t influence their chances to thrive in the industry. Annual research on the state of remote work by Owl Labs reveals that 80% of full-time workers assume to work from home at least three times per week after the quarantine. 23% of full-time employees are even ready to take a 10% cut to work remotely at least some of the time.

The traditional office life isn’t going to revert to its previous mode. Hence, businesses recognize the value of SaaS implementation.

Flexible infrastructure, no physical restrictions on system access, and overall functionality make SaaS a must-have answer for those who intend to keep up with competitors. Also, flexible subscription choices and pay-per-use models make SaaS a cost-efficient solution.

But apart from the potential advantages, product owners should recognize that every SaaS is a system with complex architecture. It connects many app servers, codes, databases, networks, client devices, etc. To be sure a product gives the expected value, it is necessary to have a proper quality review before release. And it doesn’t matter if you include this part with in-house QA resources or include outsourced software testing services. Just remember that it should be a professional team specializing in QA, not only developers or enthusiastic stakeholders.

Reasons For Investing In SaaS QA

1. Every new SaaS is a custom solution based on particular business requirements. And like any product built from scratch, it requires a thorough inspection.
2. SaaS works as a Distributed Control System, all elements of which should communicate perfectly with each other. You cannot assure this without running integration tests.
3. A SaaS application embraces various features – access via web or mobile devices, various types of user access, document editing, and so on. A provider requires to ensure all these features work as supposed before offering a product to real users.
4. SaaS solutions intend to optimize business processes and enhance user experience. Potential SaaS users come from various backgrounds and have several levels of proficiency with office software. Thus, it is essential to build an intuitive user-friendly product.
5. Cloud security is always of high priority for clients. By picking a SaaS, a business decides where to save lots of sensitive data, including commercial information, patents, financial reports, development strategy, etc. You should present solid proof of SaaS being secure.

Types of Testing Your SaaS Needs

In a way, SaaS application testing is a regular procedure. Of course, a QA team designs a custom testing strategy and test plan based on the project specifications. However, they use techniques and types of testing that can be applied to a wide variety of other software products.

In general, a testing strategy emphasizes the following points:

• Functional testing is a close examination of E2E business workflow and features against product specifications.
• Load testing:  that software can handle an expected average number of users at all times.
• Performance testing incorporates different types of tests – in particular, stress, spike, soak, volume, and scalability. Their goal is to learn how a product behaves during user spikes, data collection, and various other load conditions.
• Network testing is a checkup of multiple network bandwidths, protocols, threats, connectivity, and system behavior in these situations, etc.
• Interoperability testing involves SaaS apps integration with payment systems, other office apps, various user environments, and platforms.
• GUI testing concentrates on the graphical interface and all the frontend elements of a software product.
• Compatibility testing assures cross-platform support. The user experience should be equally smooth despite the hardware (device) and software (OS, browser, etc.) a person manages to access the system.

Then comes product support. Testing doesn’t certainly stop after the first release. A QA team works with new characteristics, runs regression tests, gives tips on product scaling as it evolves.

Popular SaaS Testing Tools

At some point, you will require to implement test automation on the project. Dealing with high functionality and numerous users, following up with updates and quality standards are the jobs that need significant resources. That’s when automated testing appears in handy. If you’re looking for test automation tools to exercise, here’s a list of suggestions:

• Appium – an open-source tool for automated testing of mobile applications. It needs little memory for processing and is easy to use.
• Katalon – a licensed tool that comes with a free version. It gives full platform support, speedy functioning, and smooth Agile and CI/CD integration.
• TestProject – an open-source E2E automated testing tool, originally designed for mobile app, website, and API testing.
• Postman – an integrated platform for API development and testing.
• BrowserStack  – a service that gives access to thousands of real browsers and devices for cross-platform testing.
• Ranorex  – a complex solution for cross-platform automated testing.
• Experitest – a SaaS QA testing tool that operates well for performance testing.

If your team is new to automation, begin your tool research with this list. You can also reach out to discuss the features of test automation for your product with TestUnity. We can help you set up both automated and manual testing methods from scratch.

Also Read: VDI Vs. DaaS: What Is The Difference, And Which Is Best For Your Virtualization Needs?

Bottom Line

There is an easy rule software providers should remember: high-quality testing equals high-quality SaaS. Given the demonstrated effectiveness of cloud solutions and current circumstances, the SaaS market will keep growing and becoming more competitive. Functional and secure software products will be one step ahead of the competitors that don’t take testing seriously.

At TestUnity, we strive for the highest quality in every project, and our professional QA specialists are ready to ensure it. Contact us if you’re looking for a dedicated team to enhance your product’s quality.

TestUnity

Testunity is a SaaS-based technology platform driven by a vast community of testers & QAs spread around the world, powered by technology & testing experts to create the dedicated testing hub. Which is capable of providing almost all kind of testing services for almost all the platforms exists in software word.