What makes Quality Assurance a Success Factor for the Global E-Commerce Market?

Shortcuts should not be used to succeed in a billion-dollar sector. With e-commerce or online purchasing, competition has risen to the point where even little mistakes may quickly harm market reputation. Through a single application, it is critical to focus on what the consumer wants and is satisfied with.
What do you anticipate from an e-commerce platform as a customer? Some critical requirements are on-time product delivery, high-quality packaging, user-friendly app features, and a simple payment method. Surprisingly, all of these activities are linked to the e-commerce app, and any flaw in its performance immediately affects the consumer experience.

According to recent surveys and gathered statistics, here are a couple of exciting numbers that might amuse you.

84% of people will never make a purchase if they feel the website is unsecured

38% of the population will stop any form of engagement with a website if its loading speed is too much

What is the solution to rest this digital chaos within the e-commerce market? The answer to this is Quality Assurance (QA). It helps ensure better performance, usability, and functionality of a particular e-commerce portal.

Common Issues with E-Commerce Software Applications

Poor Compatibility

It is always beneficial to understand your customer base, particularly the type of browser they use. Knowing the global browser and operating system statistics is helpful. Websites may load differently in different browsers, resulting in an unexpected hiccup. You can avoid these problems by trusting efficient software testing services and making your website compatible with all of the new browsers that your customers may use. Using a tool like Google Analytics, store owners can easily determine the breakdown of different browsers used by their audience.

No HTTPS

It would help if you always used HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) to protect your e-commerce websites, especially when dealing with sensitive information. HTTPS is a must-have requirement in addition to providing critical security and data integrity for both your websites and your users’ personal information. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) not only provides customers with security and peace of mind, but it can also provide store owners with better SEO results.

Security Concerns

Security flaws are possibly the most damaging of all software problems. Without a doubt, customers will think twice about entrusting their data to the company. The long-term consequences of a security breach can be disastrous, which is why companies are often reluctant to come forward. Software QA employs various techniques, such as penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and other types of security, to identify and close any gaps in the website’s defense.

UI & UX Faults

Users are constantly switching to mobile devices in this fast-paced world. You’ll be able to find new bugs in the same set of code if you keep changing the test environment. As more people use mobile devices for transactions, make sure your website is mobile-friendly and works smoothly.

Ineffective Product Filtering

When we talk about ‘findability,’ we mean how well a search function can provide exactly what a customer is looking for with as little information as possible. Visitors should be able to find the products they want to buy easily. Customers are frequently dissatisfied and leave as a result of bugs in product filtering. For functional testing engineers, finding flaws in product search and filtering is a routine task. So that’s another area where software quality assurance can help an e-commerce website.

Slow Application Speed

Slow application caused by the network can lead to revenue loss and client loss. Keep track of your website’s speed on a regular basis and analyze the results to improve it. Examine the server and SQL logs to identify the cause of the website lag. Fix them later and document the impact on the website.

Role of QA in Delivering Improved E-Commerce Apps

The implementation of the QA approach involves a meticulous framework that helps identify numerous minor issues within a piece of software. It is frequently necessary to rely on the expertise of qualified professionals. Quality assurance consultants can also ensure that the e-commerce software meets industry quality standards without any fail.

Some of the prime features of QA optimal strategy for e-commerce apps include:

Real Case Scenarios- Use real-world scenarios when performing integration testing on a module. Create a user scenario, test the application, and share recommendations to reduce UAT (User acceptance testing) time in the later stages.

Functional Testing- This type of testing is concerned with the system’s inputs and outputs. It is critical to determine whether or not the system’s functions, both individually and in conjunction with other modules, produce the desired results.

Performance Testing- Performance testing is majorly concerned with a software app’s ability to deliver results under varying conditions. For instance, site speed, site performance, and load times under increased traffic are considered factors.

Security Testing- Since security breaches can be disastrous, the e-commerce software must be tested for vulnerabilities and improved where possible. It is critical to remember that security breaches can occur both inside and outside of an organization.

Usability Testing- This particular segment of the QA process focuses on streamlining user connection with the e-commerce interface. In simple words, it ensures how it is possible for users to receive an outcome in the quickest and most well-organized way possible.

Defect Reporting & Regression Testing- Create an RTM or requirement traceability matrix sheet together with map requirements and test scenarios. The latter step involves prioritizing test cases and confirming the checklist. These are the main points to keep in mind when performing regression testing. If the regression process is not handled properly, it will directly impact the overall testing budget. Defect reporting should assist in determining the impact on the overall software build.

QA Testing Checklist for E-Commerce Apps

If we dig deep and highlight the relevance of QA testing for e-commerce apps, there are certain important features that should be definitely tested.

Product Pages- Images, prices, descriptions, etc, should be properly displayed.

Login Forms- Data should be systematically collected and stored, and forms should lead to the appropriate pages.

Shopping Cart- Products should be automatically added to the shopping cart, price changes should be automatic, and vouchers, deals, discounts, and so on should be taken into account.

Multi-Channel Compatibility- With e-commerce becoming more multi-channel, it is critical to ensure that sites work across multiple channels, including mobile, desktop, and tablets, TV, IoT, and other things.

Transaction Page- The payment process needs to be double-checked for ensuring there are no significant errors and that all costs are included (shipping, VAT, etc.).

Integrations- Keeping a check that all third-party integrations work as per their requirements.

Databases- The process of storing and delivering information in databases must be carried out correctly.

Conclusion

Quality criteria connected to technological products are required to run a globally recognized and billion-dollar market! In the e-commerce business, quality assurance is the process of adhering to a systematic strategy that guarantees the product given to clients meets their expectations. E-commerce testing entails a detailed examination of product pages, shopping carts, checkout pages, and databases, as well as typical concerns such as weak compatibility and security vulnerabilities.

It is recommended to hire a professional QA company to sort the different aspects of your e-commerce application without any inconvenience.

Originally published at https://www.impactqa.com on June 15, 2021.