A Comprehensive Guide To Mobile App Testing Automation

 

 The global market of mobile apps is growing more than ever. The number of smartphone users has surpassed 6 billion. This number can increase by several hundred million in the next few years. And CAGR is expected to reach 8.6% between 2023 and 2033.



With the growth of technology, mobile app businesses are becoming smart. They have high expectations with zero tolerance for bugs and performance issues. A report says that 25% of apps were used only once after development.

Every mobile company has to consider its users and their needs before designing and developing any feature-rich app. They have to ensure that the apps developers are developing are user-friendly and give customers a great user experience.

If users' experience is not good, they will not consider buying or using the apps created by your company.

One of the main reasons behind mobile app abandonment is poor user experience. It can be because of confusing UI/UX designs, bugs, slow load time, etc. To ensure that the app you are building meets the user's needs and performs seamlessly on iOS and Android, you must run testing continuously. However, mobile testing is a complicated process, and mobile automation tools are helping businesses to make the process easy.

Moving further in the article, we will discuss best practices that help you select the best framework for mobile app testing.

Difference between Manual and Automated Mobile App Testing

Manual Mobile App Testing: In manual testing, developers test the features, functionality, and compatibility of the application against different test cases and across multiple devices.

It is a time-consuming, intense, and prone to human error process. Also, it becomes difficult to scale the functionality if applications become more complex with regular updates.

Automated Mobile App Testing: In automated testing, developers or testers use specialized tools to manage and control test cases. It is a time-saving process, as test cases take less time.

It works seamlessly for large projects that involve repetitive and continuous testing of pre-written scripts.

It is an ideal testing tool that offers the advantage to run multiple tests across different components and mobile frameworks simultaneously. Automated testing uses an Agile development testing process, which focuses on continuous, early, and iterative testing to find and fix development issues.

Not only that, it tests the performance in the early stage of development and improves the quality and efficiency of mobile app testing.

Businesses should consider the test cases that will be able to answer the questions such as:

Is it possible to automate this test case?

Will automating this test case save me time?

Is automation going to improve the quality and performance of the app?


A step-by-step guide to Mobile Testing Automation
 

Step 1: Setting up mobile automation testing goals

Software testing is one of the most crucial steps in the app development process. It helps you understand whether the app is working as required or not.

If the app is working great, it is known as positive testing. However, if an app works unexpectedly or shows errors, is called negative testing.

Now the question is, how can you test mobile apps?

The mobile app development process is similar to that of mobile app testing. Developers can leverage the potential of unit tests. They help developers ensure that their applications run smoothly and meet all their needs.

Step 2: Plan test cases

The types of test cases that can help you in the development process are outlined in the Agile testing matrix/testing quadrants.

Testing is an integral part of Agile sprint and must be done at every step of the development.

As you can see from the matrix, business-facing or customer-facing tests in quadrant 3 (Q3) require a lot of manual testing. However, Q1 and Q2 are open to automation. For proper automation, the test case must be:

• Repeated often or must be repetitive
• Involve time-consuming data entry
• Subject to human error
• Low risk
• Easily measured/objective

But if in any case, your test case relies on subjective feedback e.g. UI/UX, or requires many steps, it is likely not to good fit for automation.

It is recommended not to write automation codes for the cases where you need to test only once. Automation is a time-consuming process, so it must be written only for the cases where developers need to run the test cases again and again. Now let us discuss the types of test cases, that are most common to use to automate mobile app testing.

> Types of test cases to automate

1. Unit Testing: Unit testing is an Agile testing process. It checks the quality and efficiency of features added or developed by the developers and is called the white box test, the smallest unit of testing. It ensures that each feature works properly from both a technical and design perspective. Developers run these tests on both iOS and Android to check the dependencies. Unit tests are cost-effective and can easily check the operation and functionalities of the features added. Also, these tests ensure that your application has a solid foundation and seamless user experience.

Let us see an example: When a signup or login functionality is added to the app, developers run the unit tests to check if the app is working as required or not. They may consider looking at the field length, characters, error messages, login, sign-up field, or whatever field or functionality is needed to check.

The need to automate unit tests: The main focus of unit tests is on remote codes which use more frameworks. These codes are then tested on multiple mobile frameworks and unit tests check if the codes are working as required or not. Unit tests are easy to run and help in fixing issues quickly.

2. Integration Testing: Mobile app development is not simple. You can encounter cases where few functionalities do not combine or if somehow combined, they can generate errors. The integration tests check the system-wide performance and check if all the units in the development are working properly or not.

Let us see the example: Consider that you are creating a login functionality for a user. You need to combine the functionality with the database authentication. The integration test will do this for you. It is a process that connects with the database to verify authentication works. But it does not verify that you reach the next step which can be the welcome page or login error screen.
 

The need to automate integration testing: Integration testing has dependencies like databases, but the tests are simple and focused and ensure that newly added functionalities do not cause performance bugs. 

3. Functional Testing: Functional testing is a form of black-box testing. In this type of testing software system is tested to make sure that the system meets the functional requirements. This includes checking the database, client/server communications, user- interface, APIs, and more. It checks the outputs, accessibility, performance, and error conditions of the tests.

Let us see the example: Functional testing takes care of the desired outcome: Was the login successful? Did the welcome message appear? Is the input correct? Does the user get the reset password option? Does the error indicate that the files entered are wrong? Every test case and scenario is considered. 

The need to automate functional testing: Functional testing measures the performance against a predefined requirement and is easy to automate as the mobile app evolves. But the complex functions are not captured using functional testing.

 
Step 3: Choose a test automation framework

After test case identification, you need to choose the right automation framework. It is an integrated system that is responsible to make rules for automation for your test. This is the best way to review and create your tests. With that, let us look at the six top frameworks for mobile app testing automation.

> Types of mobile automation framework

•  Linear automation framework: The linear automation framework is also known as the record and playback model. It is a linear model and incremental and ideal for simple applications or unit tests.
  
  
• Modular-based testing framework: In a modular-based testing framework, scenarios are created and the modules can be combined to create larger testing scenarios.
  
  
• Framework for testing library architecture: This framework is similar to the modular-based testing framework, but instead of modules, developers group common tasks into functional groups. These functions are then stored in a library, which can further use as a reference to create test cases. This framework makes it easy to reuse test cases.
  
  
• Framework data-driven: Data-driven framework tracks the data. In this, the tests may remain the same but the data might differ. It is highly effective in pulling data out of external systems.
  
  
• Keyword-driven framework: Keyword-driven framework is also known as table-driven. It pairs with the external test data in tables such as Excel and allows the creation of a table-driven framework. Even though the different test scripts can use similar keywords, the framework can take a lot of time to set up.
  
  
• Hybrid testing framework: A hybrid testing framework refers to two or more of the above frameworks. These allow teams to create an ideal test environment.

Step 4: Select the right automation testing tool

Mobile automation testing tools help developers create scripts using a test automation framework.

It is crucial to select the right automation tool, even if the developers do not have detailed knowledge of all the frameworks. Having a basic understanding of the frameworks can help you choose the right tools for the job.

The factors to consider when choosing a mobile app testing tool.

•     OS support (iOS / Android / Windows).
•     Types of tests supported: unit tests, regression tests, functional tests, etc.
•     Cost and scalability.

Here are a few top mobile testing tools to choose from:

•     Appium
•     Google Espresso
•     XCTest and XCUITest
•     Quantum
•     Robotium

 
Step 5: Run tests on virtual and real devices

It is crucial to run the test cases on virtual and real devices to check the robustness of the apps. The virtual and real devices include the OS and the hardware, respectively. Developers can run the test case on multiple ranges of mobile devices and configurations. And app testing should be done on the gadgets that are used by customers on daily basis. These gadgets include the latest iOS gadget, top Android telephones, and more.

 
To conclude:

A great mobile app is a blend of designing and testing and offers an excellent interface, visuals, and seamless user experience. Hence evaluating the app's performance, functionality, and scalability is crucial for any mobile app business. Test cases are critical for any development process, and developers can start creating them before the development process of the mobile apps.

It allows you to test your mobile app quickly and efficiently and is a highly time-saving process. You will be able to know the issues in advance and will be able to fix the bugs on time and make sure that you create great and organized test cases. It helps you integrate feedback faster and focus on improving the apps, which can help your business grow globally. Also, it is necessary to take the help of professionals who are well-versed in developing mobile apps and test cases. They can help you make user-friendly apps that can help you get more sales and increase your revenue.

So, if you are searching for the perfect and the most reliable mobile app services, ToXSL Technologies is here to help you. We have experts who have helped many customers globally by creating the most user-friendly, responsive, high-quality, and bug-free apps.

 

 

How Project Management Software Improves Team Productivity?

 

The success of a project is directly proportional to the success of a company. A way to deliver a project successfully is to have great project management planning and coordination among teams. But is this enough?

Regardless of your team size, it is crucial to have a proper channel for managing projects. Successful project management is a necessity for businesses. To ensure a great project, Project Management Software are playing a vital role and has become the essential pillar of teams.

The importance of Project Management Software

Project Management Software helps teams and managers in improving their productivity. Now, let us shed some light on how Project Management Software improves team productivity.

•     Cloud-based Solution
•     Workflow tools in one place
•     Team Collaboration
•     Accountability
•     Documentation
•     Budget Tracking
•     Progress Tracking

The elaboration of the above-discussed points:

Cloud-based Solution: Cloud-based solutions have gained priority among businesses in all industries. Also, with the increase in remote teams, it has become better and safe to collaborate using cloud-based technology. These solutions have shown massive improvement while collaborating with teams around the globe. Also, cloud solutions are economical, easy to implement, and facilitate flexibility and scalability.

Get workflow tools in one place: There are various tools used by businesses, such as communication, task management, file transfer, and more. These tools sometimes lead to lots of chaos. This is where project management tools come to the rescue.

A project management tool helps you manage things in a better way. It is a one-stop solution for managing things, combining tools, and saving time. Using project management solutions helps you in the:

• Project Planning: Map your tasks and describe task steps clearly. It helps you plan the project, and sticking to it leads to great results.
• Task Management: Manage, create, and assign tasks properly and helps you with deadlines and status reports.
• Time Tracking: Track spent time on tasks and time-sheets seamlessly and know where the changes are required.

Team Collaboration: Team collaboration is the crucial element behind the success of each project. The project management solution helps in cross-functional collaboration to provide a seamless way for teamwork. It helps teams communicate with the right people on the right project and ensures that everyone on the team is on top of productivity.

It allows teams by letting them:

• Share Files: The software quickly shares files, documents, and other information with every team member.
• Seamless Communication: Provides seamless communication among team members and allows them to communicate quickly the issues.
• Customer Data Sharing: This allows you to organize the contact information that you wish to add and link projects and invoices.

Accountability: Accountability is the major aspect to watch when it comes to team productivity. The team members working on project management tools keep getting updates about the tasks without any extra external effort. The project management tool keeps every member updated with the progress and keeps track of it. It helps every member to stay aware of the deadlines and helps them progress towards the goals. The managers can assign tasks and set deadlines. It helps businesses get their work done on time and keeps the team productive.


Documentation: Documentation is the most important element of a project. No project is considered done until it is well-documented. Every step needs to be documented well, and team members can upload all the documents to Dropbox and Google Drive for additional document storage. The project management software makes it easy for the team to access, read, and arrange the documents related to the project.


Budget Tracking: Budget is the first thing that comes to mind while developing and managing projects. Managers, team leaders, and freelancers have to manage the cost and stay on budget. With project management software, budget management has become easy. The software helps you track the expenses and set the budget. It helps you to estimate the expenses and stay on track.
 

Progress Tracking: When working on projects, there are many issues that a team can face. Another essential aspect to see is that there can be many issues that can be seen. So, it becomes important to have a clear track of what everyone is doing and the progress.

 

To Summarize:

Tracking and productivity can vary according to the teams. The management must ensure that all the issues are removed so that the project can progress seamlessly. You can centralize the tasks using a project management tool and can keep an eye on the performance of the team. This helps you track the performance of every employee and help you make better decisions for productivity, and help you analyze better.

If you are looking for customized Project Management Tools, contact ToXSL Technologies. We offer the best services and solutions to our customers while ensuring quality.
 

To know more, visit: https://toxsl.com

Reasons Why You Need A Mobile App For Your Business In 2023

In recent times, mobile apps have gained massive popularity among all sizes of business owners and have become another way of handling and tracking businesses.

As per Statista, 42% of small businesses use mobile apps to run their business. A few mobile app trends say that 37% of small businesses have apps for both iOS and Android devices, while 35% have only an Android app.

Mobile apps have become an integral part of our lives and are used in every industry to enhance the client experience, including bars, restaurants, flower shops, doctors, and other community-based services.

Crucial Reasons Why Mobile App for Business is Necessary:

You might have encountered many questions.

“Do I need an app to run my business?”

Or

“Does having a mobile app help increase the traffic?”

And thoughts like “My business is small, so I do not need an app”, and many others.

So, we are going to discuss a few crucial reasons which will clear any such doubts and why mobile apps are every business’s need.

Builds Strong Brand:

You no longer need to rely on business cards, flyers, and banners to enhance your brand’s image or awareness. Now, mobile apps offer an amazing and the most convenient way to be aware of your brand. Also, mobile apps have a push notification feature that let customers stay more engaged with mobile apps. Such functionalities help companies stay in front of their customers with proper settings and customers. Having a strong brand image can help you attract new customers.

Enhanced Customer Connection:

Who does not like customers talking well about their brands?

Having a great client-customer relationship can change the game of your business in terms of popularity and revenue. An interactive app can provide a seamless experience and sustain reliability that can attract a lot of customers to your brand.

Also, it is seen that brands with mobile apps are considered to be the most trustworthy brands by customers and usually see more traffic on their websites.

Enhanced Return On Investment:

“Exceed your customer’s expectations. If you do, they’ll come back over and over.”

Developing mobile apps as per industry requirements, by keeping customers’ needs in mind can help you retain customers. Doing so can increase the number of downloads and increase revenue.

Research says that increasing retention by 5% can increase revenue by 25 to 95%. Offering great loyalty programs can grow and boost purchases. Also, you can reward discounts or free items to retain customers.

Data Mining:

“Data is the new fuel.”

Proper data analysis can tell the future of your business and help you grow in many ways. Data analysis can help you know where your marketing strategies are lacking and what needs to change. Also, it can help businesses blend data from the mobile app and other sources. Doing so can help them know their customer’s choices and preferences better.

Develop a Multichannel Approach:

A multichannel approach allows businesses to achieve more sales, drive traffic and integrate digital touchpoints. It let businesses provide smooth cross-device shopping, i.e., customers can browse and purchase products from any internet-connected device they want.

Minimize Costs:

Earlier billboards, posters, brochures, flyers, and newsletters were used to promote a brand, and businesses had to pay more money to agencies. But mobile apps help you eliminate the expenses that are involved in brand promotion and advertisements.
 

The industries that must have a mobile app for business

To improve your business operation, you need to have access to your products from various devices. It is a necessity of every business.

So, if you are planning or already have business in the following industries, you should consider creating the mobile app first.

Car Business: Car businesses can opt for mobile apps for rental, repair, and maintenance.

Travel and Tourism: Travel and Tourism businesses can develop apps for searching for hotels, resorts, ticket booking, and more.

Healthcare: Businesses involved in healthcare can develop mobile apps for consultations, medical appointments, calling a doctor, and more.

Delivery Services and Stores: Delivery Services and Stores businesses can develop apps for product catalogs, orders, and more.

Fitness and Beauty: Businesses related to fitness and beauty can opt for the apps like scheduling appointments, online registration, etc.

What are the disadvantages of not having a Mobile App in 2023?

Now that we have discussed the reasons behind the importance of a mobile app. But it is crucial to be aware of the downside of not having a Mobile App in today’s industry.

Not having an app can be a huge hurdle in the growth of your business. It can make you lose the opportunity to gain new customers and also can keep you behind the competition. Not having an app can let you:

•     Miss out on the abundant opportunities to enhance your customer reach.
•     Most of your competitors will have a huge advantage over you.
•     Missing a chance to stay live 24*7.

Having an app keeps you visible among your customers globally and keeps you connected with them. While not having an app that encourages or excites your customers about your product keeps you away from potential customers and growth.

Final Words:

Now that you have learned a lot about the benefits or disadvantages of a mobile app for business, what should be the next step?

 The next step is to plan and develop a mobile app for your business. And, if you already have, it is time to check whether the app has the potential to beat your competition or not.

But, it can be hard for businesses to know what kind of app they want, so they should consider taking the help of professionals.

Professionals help you understand your business need and develop the exact app that can drive you toward success.

So, if you are looking to develop the best, most interactive, innovative, and cost-effective mobile app for your business, we are here for you.

We at ToXSL Technologies, our expert team of developers, develop and deliver the best customized mobile app and have helped many businesses grow globally.