In 2022, the UK has over 60 million eCommerce users, with over 82% of the population buying goods online. Internet sales continue to take up a significant proportion of the retail market, which means that it’s now becoming more and more important for businesses to have an online retail presence. However, running an eCommerce site is not easy, and software engineers face a range of challenges when developing and improving eCommerce sites.Test automation, the process of executing tests automatically to compare the predicted outcomes against the actual outcomes, is a key part of managing eCommerce sites to ensure the site keeps up with customer demand and ensures a seamless user experience.However, test automation for eCommerce websites presents a unique set of challenges that must be addressed in order for software testers to ensure the quality and reliability of the website. Failing to execute adequate testing can cause significant problems for the business and customers and can seriously hinder the growth of the eCommerce site.
What are the challenges that software testers face?
Relevance of the testing processTest automation can help software testers ensure that tests are relevant to the current state of the system. This requires testers to be familiar with the system design, its components, and how they interact with each other. With this in mind, testers need to be familiar with the eCommerce software being used and be up to date with the latest training or updates for the software,
Team collaborationIn order for test automation to be successful, software testers must collaborate closely with developers and other stakeholders. This enables testers to ensure that tests are being written correctly and efficiently. When communication within teams is misaligned, this can create challenges in the test automation process.
Maintaining a consistent test environment A consistent test environment is necessary for effective test automation. Software testers must ensure that all components used in tests are up-to-date and configured correctly. In the fast-moving eCommerce world, this can be difficult to capture.
Third-party integrationseCommerce websites often rely on third-party services such as payment gateways or shipping services. Testers must ensure that these integrations are configured correctly and that tests take into account any changes made to them.
Product and service changes As products and services change over time, software testers must update tests accordingly. This requires testers to have a solid understanding of how the system works and how changes will affect it. It is also then important to have clear information for all product and service updates which could impact the testing process.
Keeping up with changes in the environmentTest automation requires testers to regularly monitor changes in the environment, such as new features or bug fixes. This helps ensure that tests are up-to-date and relevant.
Limited visibility of the eCommerce systemDue to its complexity, an eCommerce system can be difficult to understand from a testing perspective. Software testers must have a comprehensive understanding of how the system works in order to identify potential issues before they become problems.
Difficulty in simulating the user experienceIt can be difficult to accurately simulate user experience with automated tests due to their limited scope. Software testers must use tools such as user interviews and analytics to gain insights into how users interact with the system.
Investing in automation toolsAutomation tools can be expensive, but they can also provide significant cost savings in terms of time and resources. Software testers must carefully evaluate which tools are most appropriate for their needs.
Navigating the challenges of testing automation in the eCommerce industry
Test automation for eCommerce websites presents a unique set of challenges that require software testers to have an in-depth understanding of the system design and the eCommerce set-up. There are many challenges that can come through test automation in this field, but addressing these challenges is essential for software testers in order to ensure the quality and reliability of an eCommerce website.By understanding these challenges and utilising appropriate tools, software testers can ensure that tests are relevant to the current state of the system and that all components are configured correctly.To support software testers, both training and tools become essential. At TSG Training, we can support software testers with a range of online and in-person training options. From our one-day
Introduction to Test Automation course to help those starting in the field to the
ISTQB Advanced Test Automation Engineer Certificate Course, which ensures engineers will have all the information and support they need to design, develop and maintain automatic testing solutions.To find the right training solution for you and your team, TSG Training is happy to talk you through our range of courses to find the ideal course that will progress your knowledge and career in the field. Talk to
our team here.