Most answers to the question “What is CRM testing?” are inaccurate. CRM testing isn’t just about “verifying the app functions according to requirements, locating and fixing issues, and making sure it fulfills business goals.” It’s much, much more.
Proper software testing accompanies your project from the moment it even aims to go into development. It encompasses:
So, let’s take a look at what CRM software testing is really about and how you use it to make your product thrive in one of the most competitive industries.
Having software that functions perfectly is no longer an achievement. Your team needs to be agile when testing CRM apps. They need to continually shift their perspectives to create something that’s actually positively unexpected. To make a gem, you need to polish all sides.
In a way, a CRM is like a colonial organism. It unites thousands of smaller creatures (software modules) for advanced functioning. Each element works in tandem with others for better chances of survival. Typically, a CRM has hundreds of modules, like sales, marketing, and customer service. And without pristine collaboration between them, each feature perishes.
Integration testing helps establish this collaboration. It ensures productive communication and data transfer between CRM modules and external systems (e.g., email, calendar, marketing automation). And by making sure your app is an active part of this team of components, you secure:
Functional testing centers on validating each CRM feature. Since such applications have plenty of functionalities, if one of them is broken, the rest might follow suit. For example, without lead capture, lead management just wouldn’t run. Alternatively, it could produce inaccurate data or results. And, arguably, the latter is worse as you’d be operating under the assumption that all is fine.
With functional testing covering various functionalities, you can be sure in:
Sometimes, user interface (UI) testing is underappreciated. The interface is just the surface. Nothing difficult there, right? Well, a good UI has the potential to increase conversion by 200% and 94% of users see a well-designed app as more trustworthy. Plus, UI CRM testing isn’t as much about how your platform looks.
It also focuses on ease of use, intuitiveness, and learnability. Many businesses will thank you for allowing their team to quickly grasp your software. They don’t have to hold meetings and workshops or spend days training personnel.
UI testing checks everything look and feel-related, from clarity and consistency to elements like buttons and forms. It grants your project:
A CRM’s user pool is quite varied. It can be utilized by anyone: sales representatives, marketing professionals, customer service agents, etc. And you can’t assume that everyone will prefer the same device or OS. Thus, to offer comfortable and efficient operations, a CRM should support different environments.
That’s where compatibility testing comes in. It checks how your product works across various browsers, operating systems, hardware configurations, and devices. In turn, your project will have consistent UX and optimized compatibility, securing:
Typically, businesses start using CRMs to deal with the increasing workload. That means that an average company relying on this software has upwards of 100 agents interacting with the system. Plus, with more work comes more data. And your solution should be able to handle it as well as support potential information deluge.
Performance testing for a CRM plays the role of an endurance trainer. It evaluates the CRM’s speed, responsiveness, and scalability under various user loads and data volumes. It also makes your system resilient when it comes to activity surges, minimizing the chances of downtime. As a result, you get:
Cyber incidents are still the number one risk for companies. Hackers develop along with technology and keep finding new ways to potentially destroy your livelihood. But malicious actors aren’t the only thing you should worry about. Over 70% of all breaches involve an internal human error. Given that CRMs store a lot of customer data, one slip – and your reputation is gone.
That’s why security testing should be among the top priorities for your CRM QA. It helps locate vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your system and enforce strict access rules. And for the best effect, you should consider ethical hacking. This service proves to be the most potent when it comes to cyber resilience as it precisely mimics real attack vectors.
A proactive security testing strategy will definitely make your CRM stand out with:
Simply put, your CRM’s usability defines how enjoyable it is to use. And since nearly 90% of people will leave your product after one bad experience, we’d say it’s pretty important to secure immaculate UX.
Usability testing checks three main aspects:
People rely on a CRM day to day for hundreds of actions. And they’d really appreciate the lack of confusion and frustration when doing their job. So, investing in CRM software testing that prioritizes user-centricity is the ideal way to keep your consumers’ professional routines cheerful (and your app extra profitable). Thus, with usability testing, you get:
CRMs are very complex systems. Their development and testing is a lot of effort and time spent on perfecting your product. And sometimes, your team might get lost in all of the action. To make sure that the work done was actually done well on a bigger scale, it’s better to take your app through a “final exam” of sorts.
Acceptance testing verifies that the CRM meets the initial requirements and is ready for deployment. It looks at your product from different angles:
Briefly, acceptance testing is a kind of “one last test” to see if the product’s ready to delight your audiences. But this “one last test” can be carried out routinely, not just at the end. It’ll help you understand whether your development strategy works. It’ll also give you a few perks:
These testing types will be the backbone of your testing efforts. But you can, rather, you should expand it with other tests based on your needs and resources.
For instance, exploratory testing will help you find obscure, unexpected issues, further advancing quality. Accessibility testing will make your app enjoyable and productive for all users, including those with disabilities. And this will drastically expand your user pool.
Overall, as a QA company with over a decade of experience, we definitely say that putting extra effort into your product will always pay off. People tend to notice when you go the extra mile for them. And they might just reward your hard work with loyalty and willingness to pay just a bit more.
Now, let’s go into the technical aspects of testing a CRM application. Having a general guide will give you direction. But we don’t like being stingy with the details. So, we’ve prepared a checklist that includes precise tests you should run for a marvelous app.
Just keep in mind that this checklist is nowhere near to being complete. It just contains examples of test scenarios and functionalities to look into. In practice, the checklist document will be much longer and more detailed.
Integrations let your CRM basically use other systems’ features, amplifying its value. For example a person could send emails or schedule meetings right from your platform without switching between apps. This is incredibly convenient for users. But this also allows your consumers to spend more time with your software, bonging with it, in a way.
At the core of QA for CRMs is functional testing. That’s the thing that makes your platform come alive. Yet, functional testing has a very broad meaning – to check if the features work as intended. And as you know, a CRM has hundreds of them. So, your team needs to know how functions should be tested in the most efficient way.
For instance, creating reusable test cases, building strong test data management procedures, and making use of CRM automation testing are great ways to speed up QA processes.
UI testing shouldn’t be about your CRM but its users. And that includes company employees and regular people who rely on your platform to communicate with needed services. Whether a person wants to leave a complaint or analyze a potential lead’s profile, every action should be simple and pleasant.
CRMs are the kind of systems that’re expected to be available 24/7. Consequently, a person may use it 24/7 in the sense that they may interact with your platform in rather atypical ways. A person navigating the CRM can be on vacation, en route, or with a broken designated device. So, they may rely on alternative environments and hardware to do their job.
In other words, your software needs to be reachable and operational for a range of devices, be it an old-school PC or a high-end smartphone. Surely, CRM applications testing doesn’t have to cover all possible configurations. But you ought to secure compatibility with the most popular and targeted options.
Nearly 50% of consumers will leave a webpage if it takes over 2 seconds to load. How do you think this percentage changes for a mission-critical system? That’s right. Your CRM needs to be lightning-fast to satisfy modern consumers. It should also be able to handle hundreds of people performing complex operations on it concurrently. That’s why your performance testing services should be on point.
When testing CRM applications, cyber security is often separated from the overall QA process. That’s due to the fact that security testing is an impressively intricate discipline. And it needs special attention and care.
Today, 80% of consumers value usability above all else. People don’t even question if your app works flawlessly – that’s a given. What can really entice users is how fun your CRM looks and feels. And let’s be honest: usability is the first impression that decides your software’s future. If a person doesn’t like how something looks or works (even if it indeed works perfectly), they won’t feel the butterflies in their stomachs. And that’s the effect you want to have.
Of course, complex systems like CRMs have some leeway in terms of usability. But do you want to be just like “most intricate software,” or do you want to be completely unlike “most intricate software”?
Make usability your distinction and pride. And hire QA engineers who know how to achieve that.
We’ve noted before that acceptance testing is like the final exam for a project. But it’s not the “final milestone.” Quite the opposite. It’s your chance to get a lot of the most comprehensive feedback on your product. Acceptance tests essentially simulate real-world applications of your CRM. Though QA specialists commonly cover it, for the best effect, we recommend involving actual users from different departments (sales, marketing, customer service) to participate.
Remember that this CRM testing checklist isn’t “perfect.” It isn’t because it’s not complete or tailored to your software. This is just a baseline and a guide. Yet, for optimal coverage and quality, you need to create a test suite that handles your app’s needs. So, focus on your situation and resources for strategic, productive testing.
CRMs are elaborate systems that need elaborate testing. That is if you want good results. That’s why we also need to talk about the impact of your team on project success. You might have lots of resources and time, a shrewd strategy, and a state-of-the-art tech stack. Yet, all of this would be useless without the people who can put it to good use.
It’s QA engineers who execute testing. And if you lack skilled experts, you run the risk of all your efforts being in vain. So, let’s discuss what can go awry without experienced specialists and what you might need to prepare for.
It’s easy to miss crucial test scenarios without experienced QA engineers. They specialize in thinking outside the box and identifying obscure edge cases or complex user workflows. Entrusting testing to developers or less skilled QA agents leaves hidden defects waiting to pounce, causing disruptions and delays down the road.
Detailed and comprehensive test cases are the foundation of efficient testing. But without QA specialists, you might end up with vague, poorly defined test plans. This leads to ambiguous testing, where bugs can easily slip through the cracks. Imagine a scenario where a test case simply says, “verify lead creation functionality.” A proficient QA engineer would break this down into specific steps, including testing:
Testing often involves creating and manipulating data. Without proper expertise, you risk introducing errors during this process. Imagine accidentally corrupting customer contact information or lead details. This can compromise the entire testing process and lead to inaccurate results. Trained QA engineers understand the importance of data integrity and have the skills to create clean, reliable test data.
Migrating customer data to a new CRM can be a complex task. Non-experts might struggle with data formatting or compatibility issues. This can cause errors, delays, and even data loss during the migration process. A skilled QA engineer can anticipate these challenges and develop a robust data migration strategy to ensure a smooth transition.
A CRM that doesn’t integrate well with existing systems is a recipe for disaster. If you lack dedicated QA resources, you might overlook crucial integration points, leading to data inconsistencies or functionality issues. Imagine a scenario where sales reps can’t update marketing automation tools with new lead information due to a faulty integration. This can create a frustrating experience and hinder overall business processes.
RBAC testing verifies that users can only access authorized data and functionalities. Without proper expertise, you risk security breaches or hampered UX due to incorrect access permissions. Experienced QA engineers would know how to divide user profiles for better RBAC test cases. They would also shorten testing time by efficiently managing test data.
Load and performance testing are essential for ensuring the CRM can handle real-world user traffic. Inexperienced QA might not adequately test performance, potentially leading to slowdowns or crashes. Imagine Black Friday sales causing your CRM to grind to a halt, preventing sales reps from closing deals.
Security testing requires specialized knowledge to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. Without skilled QA, you might miss critical security weaknesses. This exposes sensitive customer data to security threats, putting your business at risk of breaches and compliance issues.
A clunky and confusing UI can quickly kill user adoption of your CRM. Without dedicated usability testing, you might overlook design flaws that hinder user experience and productivity. Imagine a CRM system with a poorly designed layout or confusing navigation, leading to frustrated and unproductive employees.
Whenever you introduce new features or bug fixes to your CRM, it’s crucial to ensure they don’t break existing functionalities. Companies without proper QA resources might inadequately test regressions, potentially introducing new issues with each update. This forces you to constantly play catch-up fixing new bugs.
Today, the tech ecosystem is incredibly diverse. And your CRM needs to work flawlessly across various devices and browsers. Companies without dedicated resources might miss compatibility issues, prompting a feeling akin to “you don’t care about me, then I won’t care about you.”
Bugs happen. The key is to identify, prioritize, and resolve them. Without a dedicated QA team, you might struggle to track bugs effectively, leaving them unresolved and impacting user experience. Imagine a mountain of bug reports piling up with no clear path to resolution. A good QA team will implement a system for efficient bug tracking and work with developers to ensure timely fixes.
Keeping test documentation up-to-date is essential for consistent testing practices. Without dedicated QA, you might find it hard to keep test cases and procedures current, potentially leading to unreliable testing results. And using outdated test cases that no longer reflect the latest functionalities of your CRM will simply create a false sense of security.
In-depth reporting and analytics testing help companies understand CRM usage and identify areas for improvement. Without QA expertise, you might not even get the chance to advance. Yet, proficient QA engineers will give you valuable insights into user behavior and system performance. These wisdom nuggets from specialists who make quality their mission will surely make your app shine.
Continuous testing and monitoring are the drivers for proactive problem identification. Without dedicated QA, you can fall into a reactive mode, fixing problems only after they arise. Imagine waiting for customer complaints to roll in before discovering critical issues with your CRM system. A proactive QA approach can help you identify and fix problems before they disrupt your business.
Some time ago, everyone thought that machines and AI would replace humans. But here we are, almost a century after these concepts’ invention, and humans are still the apex minds. Technology is a tool. A weapon in a person’s guiding hand. Of course, we don’t know what the future may bring. But until the robots’ uprising, your best insurance against business flops is experienced professionals.
And before you eagerly jump into developing your marvelous product, build a team that can make your daring dream a reality.
Now, we’d like to give the stage to our QA experts. They’ve completed over thousands of projects, so they know first-hand what a successful CRM testing is about. Let’s take a look at the insights they have to offer.
QA Madness specialists have over a decade of experience. Nearly all of our experts are ISTQB certified. So, you can be sure that the above tips will have tangible effects on your CRM. And if you need help implementing them – we’re here to help.
Now that we’ve covered the beautifully complex testing processes a CRM needs, let’s talk about those who simplify it all – CRM testing tools. Below are the options with a proven track record. And some of them our team uses daily as well.
Remember that choosing a CRM testing tool is a tricky task. And you shouldn’t underestimate its power. We recommend focusing on two key aspects of a tool:
Overall, try to select options that can properly handle your requirements and that fit your QA engineers’ skills. You don’t want your crew to struggle with a non-user-friendly or difficult-to-learn tool.
CRM testing is a testament to the indomitable spirit of quality engineers. They deal with insanely complicated apps. Yet, they’re the ones who make world-famous platforms possible. And that’s why our best tip for making your CRM remarkable is to get a team who dreams big and does even more.
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