Decoding the 202 of Salesforce User Acceptance Testing

The Salesforce ecosystem is as complex as it is customizable, making quality assurance more important than ever.

But how do you ensure that the platform works well in real-world situations and adheres to your organization’s business requirements?

Enter – User Acceptance Testing!

According to a survey on User Acceptance Testing (UAT) usage, many respondents state that UAT, is critical for any application delivery project, with 88% of respondents stating UAT is key to achieving quality objectives^[i].

However, Salesforce is different from other CRMs. In fact, its unique features and terminologies are not applicable when testing other CRM tools.

But what is Salesforce UAT, what makes it different, and how to get it right? We’ll answer these and more in this crisp read.

Understanding Salesforce User Acceptance Testing

With Salesforce UAT, you can confirm or deny that a desired version of the CRM is in sync with the business needs before deployment.

UAT ensures that the end-users and/or clients have the opportunity to explore the CRM from a business standpoint within the Salesforce UAT sandbox.

Decoding the Salesforce Testing Process

Testing Salesforce is critical for smooth and efficient project deployment. The testing process of Salesforce is similar to any other web-based application.

Two types of Salesforce testing are:

• Salesforce Functional Testing
• Salesforce UAT Testing

Salesforce Functional Testing

This phase of software testing takes place post-development. Here, you analyze each new feature thoroughly, check for bugs, and ensure that the new functionality works. Also, you must identify if the new development works with the existing features. Functional testing in a Salesforce UAT sandbox ensures that your new app works as planned, all while preserving your existing architecture and security model.

Salesforce UAT Testing

Once functional testing is wrapped up, you’re ready for UAT to roll out. In this phase, the tester works through different processes and uses the new functionality in a real-world business case. This helps to verify that the user only sees the elements they need to see. It clarifies any requirements that weren’t clear in the initial design and ensures no design elements are overlooked.

Types of UAT Testing

With a Salesforce UAT login, testers can initiate test cases with which they can analyze the usefulness of Salesforce for their business before making it available to the end users.

The types of UAT you can expect to run when implementing Salesforce are:

• Black Box Testing
• Alpha Testing
• Beta Testing
• Operational Testing

Who Should Be Involved in UAT?

To execute Salesforce UAT successfully, you require multiple stakeholders from the get-go. We’ve listed key roles across departments that are necessary for effective Salesforce UAT sandbox testing.

1. Testers

Salesforce UAT relies on end-users to test the system and ensure that Salesforce is ready for the production environment. If end-users are not available, Salesforce UAT can be carried out by those with extensive domain knowledge and familiarity with business requirements for Salesforce.

2. Project Manager (PM)

A PM serves as the owner of the Salesforce UAT sandbox. The PM manages the process, establishes the next steps for development cycles, and makes final decisions. They serve as a bridge between testers and business owners by keeping everyone updated on the status of tests.

3. Business Owner

The business owner is also called project sponsor. This role is responsible for validating the project’s requirements and ensuring that the Salesforce test plan aligns with the goals during Salesforce UAT. They weigh in on the decision-making process when defects are found.

4. Software Development Team

The developers step into the Salesforce UAT process whenever bugs and defects are identified within the UAT environment. Once documentation is received, the development team can review the issue and provide a resolution so that the UAT is Salesforce-compliant for the production environment.

The Role of Scenario Testing in User Acceptance Testing

UAT can assess user experience with a certain device, like their mobile phone or laptop. Or it may be to emulate daily business activities to ensure Salesforce digital workflows align with how users work in the real world.

Within the arena of software testing, scenario testing is a key part of any UAT campaign so that brands can uncover a variety of bugs or anomalies that can impact CX.

Scenario testing enables QA teams to create test cases that assess every function within important customer journeys that users take when navigating a digital product.

For instance, In the eCommerce industry, scenario testing can help uncover bugs that can negatively affect functions such as checking in-store inventory or signing up to receive an email when an item is back in stock.

When to Execute Scenario Testing?

As a good practice, you must carry out UAT campaigns as early and as often as a general testing principle. However, there are some specific situations that are better suited for scenario testing.

• For development projects that employ the agile method.
• After apps/sites are launched and there is an unexpected/sudden decline in website or app KPIs.
• Before critical marketing campaigns to uncover any bugs that can limit the results of the campaign.

UAT Best Practices for Your Salesforce Project

If a project’s UAT is not planned and executed well, this could potentially cost thousands of dollars to fix critical defects. Here are some best practices straight from our Salesforce QA experts.

• Choose the appropriate UAT feedback tools to document feedback in an objective manner.
• UAT testers should get clear expectations on the reason of user acceptance testing.
• Strike a balance between writing test cases containing sufficient detail and allowing UAT testers the flexibility of testing the system.
• Open communication channels between UAT testers and the development team to set expectations upfront before testing begins.

Conclusion

UAT is an integral part of modern software projects to empower stakeholders to improve overall user experience and identify whether their business needs are being met.

UAT can, of course, become complicated depending on your business needs and level of Salesforce customization. So, keep these best practices in mind, and you’d be on your way to Salesforce quality assurance excellence!

Looking For Ways to Get Salesforce UAT Right? Talk to Us!

Statistics References
^[i] Origsoft