QA Best Practices come in many different shapes and sizes. Ultimately, each company has its own best practices for software testing based on factors such as the available resources, tools, and skills of its QA team. Additionally, each project is unique. When it comes to apps, some require a very strict QA process, while others apps, on the contrary, can bypass some of the most demanding standards.
Leaving aside the unique characteristics of each project, at Koombea, we’ve noticed that there are a set of Quality Assurance Best Practices that every app must follow. This holds true no matter the industry an app is in or the complexity of the project. For Quality Assurance teams and your organization, these best practices become sort of a mandatory checklist to consider.
QA testing is one of the most important aspects of any app development process. This helps guarantee software quality, helping reduce the negative impacts of bugs, and ultimately, user churn. Although Quality Assurance will not guarantee by itself that your users remain loyal to your brand, it will definitely help reduce pain points. Your QA team should keep this in mind at all times.
In this post, we discuss the importance of Quality Assurance in the app development process, as well as some of the QA Best Practices we’ve learned throughout our years as an app development company. Sharing them with your QA team is a great start to reduce potential bugs and improve the quality of your app.
The Importance of Quality Assurance Best Practices
QA Best Practices can make an important difference when it comes to the success of your application. There are many things that can go wrong throughout the different stages of software development. Because bugs in apps are very common, guaranteeing software quality is a must.
Whether you have an in-house QA team or a third party who does this for you, it is essential to make it clear to them that the QA process is a major part of your app’s success. No matter how good your development team is, software development is never complete if the necessary test cases are not considered.
Addressing Bugs
Software testing allows you to find potential bugs in your app, and this helps you retain users. Additionally, it can help you save time and money. Keep in mind that it is often more expensive to fix an app once it goes live than to address its issues while it is still in the software development stages.
Lastly, addressing bugs helps you minimize potential damage to your brand. Users tend to be very picky when it comes to the apps they use, and if they notice that your app is constantly crashing or presenting errors, they will immediately associate its poor quality with your company. This is something that you definitely need to avoid.
The Right QA Process for Your App
When it comes to implementing a robust QA process, different aspects of your app matter. For example, the QA process for a Retail app is not the same for a MedTech one. The latter will require greater attention to detail and probably a more rigorous QA testing approach. Make sure your QA team understands this so you can consider the right test cases depending on your app’s requirements.
Before you decide what specific test case your app needs, consider the following:
- How much time do you have before releasing your app?
- What QA testing tools does your QA team have access to?
- What are the right acceptance criteria for your app?
- Do you have a clearly defined and structured test plan?
These questions will help you structure your QA process. They will also help you decide what the right QA testing strategy is for your app. In other words, they will help you decide between different QA testing alternatives like regression testing, continuous testing, and automated testing, just to name a few.
Quality Assurance for Web App Development
Users for both web and mobile apps are increasingly becoming more demanding with the quality of their apps. When it comes to web app development, it is important to look out for the particularities that a web app has.
Keep in mind that web apps run mostly on a browser, although with the rise of PWAs, it is also becoming more common for web apps to run some components directly on users’ mobile devices.
Consider these aspects to fine-tune your QA process and establish your software testing goals accordingly.
Quality Assurance for Mobile App Development
Quality Assurance Best Practices for mobile app development are becoming very demanding. There are a lot of apps out there, and none of them want to be left behind. One of the most important aspects to consider for a mobile app is preventing its UI from displaying incorrectly through different screen sizes.
Also, depending on the OS your app uses, you will need to have different acceptance criteria. Your QA team needs to clearly understand this in order to establish the right test plan throughout the QA process.
8 QA Best Practices
Establishing a robust QA process through Quality Assurance Best Practices can take some time, but in the long term, it will definitely pay off. Although each app project is unique, these are some of the most important QA Best Practices:
- Choose a QA testing methodology that your QA team feels comfortable with and at the same time helps you achieve your software quality goals. This will help you structure your QA process in a feasible manner. Being ambitious is great when it comes to software quality, but be realistic about what you plan to do and are able to achieve.
- Establish clearly defined acceptance criteria with your QA team. Make sure to understand what the Quality Assurance goals are and why they matter. Avoid the QA process from becoming too mechanical to the point that your team’s observations and common sense are left out of the loop.
- It is okay if your QA team does not have all the answers to the problems they encounter. Let them embrace a beginner’s mind and reach out for help when they need it. Expert project managers can help you figure out what your QA process needs in order to improve.
- Don’t wait until the end of the development process for your testing process to begin. On the contrary, implement Continuous Testing. The sooner your testing process starts, the more bugs you will be able to address. Let your QA team be involved in the early stages of your software development project.
- Communication between the members of your QA team and other areas of your project is crucial. Avoid silos as they are one of the main obstacles for any software development project.
- When defining your test cases, make sure to consider different devices. Don’t just assume that your app will run perfectly on every possible device. Having a fully functional and equipped device lab is a valuable asset. If you cannot afford one, consider finding a QA partner who does.
- Invest in your QA team, so they are always up to date with your industry’s standards. Make sure they have the right skills demanded by your industry and its users. Certifications aren’t just a nice thing to have. They are a great way for your QA team to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.
- Ideally, your QA team should be made up of QA Engineers, not QA analysts. The former has a more robust skill set when it comes to software quality testing. This might seem like a minor difference, but it can have a major impact on your software development process.
These best practices are only the beginning of a long way towards implementing a robust software testing process. As you start implementing them, you will most likely realize what works and what doesn’t. Leave room for exploration but always keep your goals in mind.
Iterate quickly based on your QA team’s feedback and let them know that their opinion matters. This will give them the confidence to bring up important issues when they show up. Ultimately, a successful testing process requires a strong QA culture throughout your software development team, not just your QA team.
Upgrade Your Testing Process
Guaranteeing software quality is essential to the success of your application. There is a lot to consider, but don’t let this demotivate you. Getting it right might take some time, but it is one of the smartest decisions you can make.
Consider finding an external QA team if you feel that software testing is not at the core of your project and your organization’s capabilities. Any experienced app development company will surely be capable of offering you the right Quality Assurance services you need.
Don’t think twice when it comes to Quality Assurance. Best practices matter. Your users will notice the difference, and so will your bottom line.
