Epicentre News » Complete confidence in a complete system and process: End to end testing services
Complete confidence in a complete system and process: End to end testing services
These days, when you take a project on, you may well find yourself building a multi-faceted entity. Perhaps there’s a website, a CMS, databases pooling information, a mobile version or even a mobile app that talks to the CMS, various marketing tools such as Facebook apps... we could go on.
One of your primary concerns will doubtless be, 'how can I be confident that all aspects of my product perform and present as they should?' This is where end-to-end testing can help.
So, what is end-to-end testing and what does it involve?
Traditionally, end-to-end testing is an approach to testing which examines an entire system or process as a fully-integrated whole at all points through the development lifecycle. In today’s testing world this technique can be more broadly applied, for example to a cohesive group of products that communicate with each other – such as a mobile app that allows students to study e-learning on the go which logs their progress on an LMS.
1. Consultancy
Any reputable testing house should offer you this crucial first step, begining with a discussion on the most appropriate test strategy to give you confidence in your products’ quality whilst bringing the most efficiency and reusuability.
2. Functionality
Ensure the functionality of your core system or product is sound as early as possible. This will save expensive headaches later and will inform all side-products and systems. Good testers can start finding issues even at the requirements gathering stage.
Functionality tests should then move to any offshoot products – perhaps a marketing-led app for smartphones which will promote your core offering or a large system that needs to integrate with existing systems.
3. Build reusable test scripts
Whenever possible, build a range of regression scripts. Whether manual or automated they will ensure more efficient, repeatable tests. This will also ensure that your developers can reproduce and fix defects more efficiently.
4. Compatibility testing
You’re probably delivering to multiple platforms. Not only do you have to test for compatibility with Windows, Mac and Linux OS alongside the multitude of popular browsers available for them – and perhaps in multiple languages – it's probably necessary to include mobile platform compatibility.
Epicentre can help you manoeuvre though the minefield of devices, operating systems, inputs and more. Check our top 5 mobile stats piece in this newsletter.
5. Integration testing
If you’ve disparate products or systems, they may well need to talk to one another.
Presuming steps 1-3 have had positive outcomes, now’s the time to ensure that the mobile version talks to the PC versions, that the database talks to the CRM system, that the Facebook app talks to the website and so on (aka systems integration testing or SIT).
6. Load, Stress, Performance and Scaleability testing (LSPS).
Ensure your product and its environment is able to handle your expected user base.
You’ll want to be sure your code doesn’t present bottlenecks that make the product fall over, or that your hosted environment or cloud is big enough to handle all those users on the system at the same time. Or perhaps you need to ensure that executive mobile app performs as expected in a loaded environment.
7. Penetration and security testing.
Security flaws not only risk your product's uptime, they also risk potential loss of confidential information – or worse. If you’re not confident in your product’s ability to keep the right people in and the wrong out, your brand’s reputation will be at risk and the lawyers may begin rubbing their hands with glee.
Many people pay lip service to penetration testing by using quick and dirty approaches. Don’t. Epicentre recommends you use an accredited, qualified agency that gives you real confidence.
8. Service or Support Desk.
What if something unexpected occurs post -release? As anyone who works in IT will tell you, the only thing you can be sure of is that you can't be sure of everything. As a result it's vital to be ready to respond to the unexpected – and that is exactly what post-delivery support is available for.
How can Epicentre help?
Epicentre can assist you throughout the entire process described above, or selected elements – there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Our team stands ready, able and willing to support you throughout the difficult and thorny paths of development, with a full suite of testing and support offerings that can be tailored to meet your every need. We are also the only UK testing company with an in-house support desk – who have access to all of the knowledge built up throughout testing; an invaluable asset.
Email marketingenq@epicentre.co.uk to find out how Epicentre can guide you through the end-to-end testing process.
