Blog

What You Should Know About Field Testing?

Know-About-Field-Testing

What is field testing? How we can perform it without wasting any time because time is money. Right? In one context we can talk about the application that utilizes GPS and we need to test that in the field since in-house or lab testing could not serve the purpose. Comprehensive and successful testing requires the allocation of substantial resources and time.

It actually refers to recapping your application offering before presenting it to the customers. Field testing is a critical step in the recapitulation cycle, helping you find out the flaws in your offering. The purpose of the field testing is to minimize risk, by making sure that the offering works beforehand you deliver it to the customers.

Before beginning field testing, the tester should be equipped with the right tools and techniques and know the process. He should well plan what he is testing, what is the procedure, input/output data, and so on.

There are some points that should be considered while you plan for performing field testing.

First and foremost, you need Right Resources/Team members, so that complex testing tasks are executed seamlessly without wasting any time in the field.

Secondly, the testers need the right tools i.e. required hardware and/or software to perform field testing.

Third and the last thing that the testers should know is precise procedures or techniques to execute the field tests.

What you should know about field testing before hiring a performance testing company:

Important Elements of a Field Test:

First Release of an App

It allows testers to perform an in-depth field test of the app for the first release. When an app is ready to be released onto the Play Store, it helps the QA team to analyze the performance by using the app as a real user. 

Native App

A field test is mandatory for every release of a native app as they use the features of an iOS or Android user. 

When a new OS Version is Launched

Testers need to verify an app by using software testing tools whenever a new OS version is launched. They verify if the app is stable, compatible, and performs well against the new OS.

A Major Release for New or Changed Features

Testers ensure that the performance of an app is not affected when new features are introduced or existing features are updated. 

Field Testing is a Part of the Routine Testing Process

While conducting field testing for a mobile app, testers should treat the app like a routine test including regression and automation. Even if the app is stable or if QA teams have been working on it for more than 1 or 2 years do a field test each time when a major release happens.

Apart from that, there are some advantages and disadvantages of field testing.

Advantages

  • Tester is able to test in a real-world environment.
  • Tester uses real tools/devices and employs the best techniques during testing.
  • Tester is able to experience and report the bugs before delivering the product to the customer.

Disadvantages

  • Human Factor/Resource allocation
  • Time Consuming
  • Expensive

Sometimes beta testing is also called field testing but the main difference in beta testing and field testing is that beta testing is performed at the customer’s end by end-users and no resource from the testing team is involved in beta testing. These beta testers then provide feedback, which in turn leads to improvements in the product. Beta Testing is done before the software is released to all customers.

Such testing can be very time consuming and expensive as well, but most of the organizations ask for that as the applications work in real-time environment. Most of the times expert testers perform field testing to save time and get major flaws in less amount of time using the best tools and techniques. The tester should be well prepared to perform field testing otherwise it will consume more time than expected which will waste his time and effort as well.

Tags: