DEVOPSdigest

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation across companies and created a paradigm shift — workers want more flexible, hybrid workforces.

With an increase in demand for remote enablement and collaboration tools, the business software industry is booming. The issue? Most business software and B2B tools get a lukewarm reaction from their users. McKinsey notes that a mere 30% of users perceive business software companies as customer-centric.

Testlio studied client data, testing benchmarks and industry reports to get at the root of business application success and found that 45% of business app users believe that providers are failing to deliver satisfactory consumer experiences.

Business software tools need to meet consumers with better products. Software testing with enterprise specific strategies can improve app user experience.

After research and examining real world case studies, we found these three best practices that translate the unique facets of business software testing into best practices that provide a competitive edge.

1. Increase testers per run

Runs are costly, especially when business software requires a 29% larger testing pool and 50% more testers per run compared to all other industries.

To maintain cost effectiveness and boost ROI while meeting testing pool metrics, focus on increasing the number of testers per run.

Test setup costs incur at the beginning of new runs. It's more cost effective to increase the number of testers per run rather than increasing the number of runs. This allows you to optimize coverage hours per run and decrease your run completion times.

2. Test between dev sprints

A standard business software testing cycle takes up to 12% longer to test and deliver results compared to all other industries.

This is problematic for high-velocity engineering teams that need to ship builds quickly. Plan your testing windows ahead of time, and outsource weekend and weeknight testing to freelancers or software testing companies.

Take advantage of a global freelance network and employ testers in different time zones. This decreases run times, loosens dev cycles, and incorporates global feedback/location specific expertise.

3. Recruit domain specific software testers

An average tester will give you average results; vetting testers for domain specific experience gets you built-in insight for better industry-specific results. To get the most robust team of testers that cover your needs:

■ Look for testers versed in QA best practices, testing methodologies, product goals, industry domains, and the app itself.

■ Build a global pool of on-demand testers in different time zones to provide 24/7 coverage and location-specific expertise.

■ Look for a diversity of real device/OS combinations per tester for complete coverage.

■ Ensure at least 50% tester consistency between runs for efficiency, speed, and product familiarity.

B2B software is a booming market, but you need to continuously sharpen your app in order to gain footing amidst competition. Users are demanding consumer-like app experiences across devices (web and desktop). A strong testing strategy can catch issues and ensure efficient, and effective workflows that meet user demands.