Why Is It Important To Test Your Mobile Apps?

In today’s world, the number of mobile users is on the rise. According to a recent survey, mobile users are expected to reach a figure of 7.26 billion by 2023. Currently, there are apps for every mobile device and purpose. It is critical to ensure that an app runs flawlessly across all devices and operating systems. An ever-increasing number of operating systems and regular updates even make the task of testing your mobile apps more challenging and simultaneously necessary.

Why is there a need of testing your mobile app?

The following figures will help you understand the importance of mobile app testing.

An app crash may cause almost 71% of uninstallations
More than half of downloaded apps remain unused because of various reasons
More than 70% of users often reject their apps as they take time to load
When an app fails to offer the expected experience, around 29% of users discontinue the app immediately

Note, that mobile users take seconds to abandon and delete the apps that crash, freeze, and load slowly, of over a poor user experience. Once an app is installed, it is time-consuming to fix the errors, re-submit the app, and wait for the users to download it again. So it becomes vital to test the apps' functionality and performance before launching it.

How to test your mobile apps?

You can test your mobile app by performing various types of testing, specifically for its functionality, consistency, and usability. Remember that 'one size fits all', doesn't apply in mobile app testing. Every product has a different need, and every business has to fulfill it in one way or another. Still, we can point to the following testing types followed by the top mobile testing companies.

Usability Testing: This is the best way to evaluate the simplicity of an app. This test in particular, provides realistic situations of app use to individual users and helps them offer easier acceptance. It fulfills users' needs and delivers a consistent UX across various platforms. Usability is also important when it is based on direct input from an end-user.

Performance Testing: It evaluates an application’s performance under various workloads and circumstances. This testing also resolves performance constraints prior to an app being launched. The bottlenecks inside the system and the operations that can halt the performance, are targeted during this type of testing.

Security Testing: Security is one of the paramount importance for every mobile app owner, making it essential to focus on security testing for mobile apps. There are many apps that demand the personal information of the users during various transactions. So, it is critical for users to know the security constraints and ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their personal data.

Compatibility Testing: It is often a non-functional testing that helps verify the functioning of a mobile app on various operating systems, devices, and network settings, and is tested according to internal hardware requirements. Compatibility testing is also necessary to check a mobile app on various devices, browsers, and networks, including various other factors.

Localization Testing: This is a testing type where certain local aspects, according to certain geographical locations, are taken into consideration. It is also important to test a mobile app for its responsiveness to unique cultural and linguistic elements. For example, local currency, usage of local time, date formats, and other local regulations are some of the factors that have to be considered before launching an app.

Functional Testing: This testing is primarily concerned with the core goal of an app. It ensures that all the functionalities offered are highly responsive and meet the industry’s standards. This testing also establishes that the particular app is fully capable to be successfully launched and installed on the user's mobile.

Latest trends in mobile app testing

Ever-evolving technology has made it compulsory for companies to test their apps. The brands have become more cautious towards app quality, resulting in new trends in mobile app testing. Some of these are:

Performance automation testing: It helps ascertain that the primarily used functions of an app are at optimum. Various automation tools are used to perform this test, including Espresso, Calablash, and Appium.

Using AI and ML: Companies are also using various AI and ML-based app testing tools available in the market. Moreover, DevOps helps in speeding up automation testing and offers continuous feedback, further easing the rectification of bugs.

Implementing CI/CD: Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery is yet another app testing strategy that makes the testing process more systematic and efficient right from the scratch.

Testing in the cloud: Choosing the cloud for mobile app testing is critical as it doesn't need hardware and makes you free to test multiple devices simultaneously.

Key Takeaway

Mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives and are the most efficient mediums to reach your potential customers, leveraging your business activities. If you can provide a flawless customer experience through appropriate testing methods of mobile apps, it is easy to increase your customer base. eComStreet helps you test your mobile apps establishing your brand as customer-friendly.