How to Implement Software Testing and QA for E-Commerce

Posted on December 11, 2023

Global reach, expanded market presence, and sales opportunities 24/7. These are some of the key benefits e-commerce business owners get when launching an online store. But going online is only the first step. Identifying and resolving technical issues and bugs is crucial for a seamless customer experience. Thus, any online store should be tested.

Online store testing is an ongoing process that helps e-commerce businesses adapt to dynamic market conditions, improve user satisfaction, and ultimately drive long-term success by staying ahead of the competition.

Types of testing for e-commerce

When testing an e-commerce solution, several types of testing are essential. In particular:

Functional testing
Usability testing
Security testing (OWASP Top 10)
Performance Testing
Accessibility testing
Database Testing
Mobile Application Testing.

Warming up with general test cases

General test cases are about checking the typical functions of an e-commerce website. For example:

Navigation testing to ensure that it is intuitive and frictionless.
Review of search and filtering options to make sure that users can easily identify peculiar products, filter search results by brand, reviews, and ratings, etc.
Image checks to verify the quality and relevance of images within the specific content page.
Do not forget about the recommended product options. Do they synchronize with the customer’s search history? Will the customer see the suggested products after completing the purchase?
Of course, the product details page is critical for every online store. To keep it short, ensure the accuracy of product information, images, and multimedia, availability of product variants and discounts, adding to cart/wishlist, selection of product reviews and shipping options.
Shopping cart functionality, like product adding and deleting, correct calculation of taxes and shipping costs, and, finally, coupon codes, vouchers, and gift card preferences. This is one more vital area to focus on during the “warm-up testing activities”.
The payment page is last but not least in our outline of general test cases. It’s pivotal to assess the availability of payment modes and their correct functioning, as well as evaluate the checkout process and transaction security.
By the way, can your customers view purchase history and order details? Is it possible to cancel the order after placing it? Plus one aspect is to be inspected during the online store testing.

Delving into a comprehensive e-commerce audit

An e-commerce business owner might select an e-commerce audit for the online store if he/she aims to:

Quickly pinpoint bottlenecks in the primary purchase-sales paths that have an immediate impact on sales and conversion rate.
Receive unbiased feedback and specialized expertise in the QA sphere for e-commerce, along with a systematic, tried-and-true approach for an accurate audit process.
Obtain an audit report along with a structured action plan for upgrading functional, usability, and accessibility areas of the online store.

Logically, the question about what such an audit covers may appear. Typically, we at OKQA would advise to focus on the following:

1. First and foremost is functionality assessment. We have already mentioned the key aspects that should be covered in the general test cases section above. However, it’s necessary to highlight that testing should be conducted within the primary purchase-sales workflows and from the end-user perspective.

2. Customer experience audit to review the alignment of design and typography, main UX flows for navigation and interfaces, adaptability for mobile devices, major browsers, and OS. You’ll be stunned by how many usability issues can be unveiled and how easily you can enhance engagement and conversion by building the right scenarios for user actions.

3. Security and stability audit that includes accessibility review, OWASP Top 10-based security testing, and basic performance review.

Conclusion

The positive impact of software testing on e-commerce goes far beyond immediate gains. This is a long-term investment in improved customer engagement, boosted brand loyalty, and competitive advantage through exceptional shopping experience.

Now, it’s your turn to decide whether it is worth trying. What option would you choose?