What is e-commerce testing? 6 important e-commerce app testing techniques

Undoubtedly, e-commerce is one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving industries nowadays. It boomed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as most companies moved their services online to “save themselves”.

As a result, such an opportunity has greatly increased economic competition. Currently, online stores compete with local, domestic, and even international shops. What can companies do to attract and retain their customers? One of the processes that they can implement is the so-called e-commerce testing. In today’s post, we will explain what e-commerce testing is and why companies should do it. Read on to find out more.

What is e-commerce testing?

E-commerce testing can be defined as the process of testing various elements of a website or an application, which can be either manual or automatic (depending on your capabilities). Companies across industries usually test their websites and applications in crises (e.g., a drop in sales, data breaches, etc.) and before the peak season (to make sure everything is working properly).

However, the process should be conducted regularly to constantly improve the user experience. After all, its purpose is to check if online storefronts meet business requirements, work properly, and meet users’ expectations.

Types of e-commerce testing

Various elements can be examined during the e-commerce testing process and there are many types of testing for e-commerce apps:

• Functional testing – verifies that all processes and integrations work properly (e.g., adding products to a shopping cart, CRM or ERP systems),
• Performance testing – examines whether an application or site performs its function, for example, is accessible and fast enough even under heavy workload,
• Security testing – checking whether the site or application are adequately protected from hacking attacks,
• Compliance testing – checks whether the application or website meets all the legal requirements (e.g. privacy policy, terms of online store, etc.),
• Compatibility testing – ensures that the platform works well on various browsers, mobile devices, and operating systems,
• Usability testing – assesses whether an application or website is easy to navigate, user-friendly, and intuitive, ensuring a positive user experience.

Benefits of e-commerce testing

E-commerce testing should be an inseparable part of the website development process in the e-commerce industry, as it brings several benefits. First of all, it can help companies reach their business goals, for example, increase sales, improve conversions, build a reputation, and get new customers by:

• Reducing errors and problems – e-commerce testing plays a crucial role in detecting and fixing errors or preventing problems that can hurt a company as a whole (e.g., leading to losing funds, customer trust, and potential revenue),
• Improving quality – detecting integration and security errors, and then taking appropriate corrective actions makes the app better rated by both customers and Google,
• Enhancing customer experience – the better the quality of the website or application, the greater the customer experience, which translates into more conversions and increased sales,
• Performance optimization – better performance of a website or app in terms of its features, integrations, security, and speed is another element that affects customer interest.

Summary

Through the e-commerce testing process, you can learn what needs to be done to make your online store site or application not only functional, but also usable, secure, and efficient. By addressing the identified errors, you can increase sales, attract new customers, and ensure greater customer satisfaction, while reducing the risk of expensive problems.

It’s important, however, that this process is not just about improving the user experience or increasing user security, but also about adapting the platform to the changing market and technology needs. After all, flexibility and a rapid response to change are key to success in the competitive e-commerce industry.

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