User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is an important software development lifecycle stage that ensures the finished product meets the expectations of the end-users and works in a natural environment precisely as it should. It is the final testing before software release into production and hence very crucial for the success of the entire project. Since testing UAT is effective with the consideration of some key issues, there is a need to successfully run UAT by recognizing the following things. Here are the critical factors to be considered while performing UAT:

Clear objectives and acceptance criteria

The first consideration of UAT is clear objectives and acceptance criteria. Objectives describe what is intended to be achieved by the UAT i.e., to ascertain whether the software meets user requirements, works correctly, and supports business processes. The acceptance criteria need to be specified clearly, quantifiable, and directly related to the business requirements. Clearly defining these parameters at the outset ensures developers, testers, and end-users all have one understanding of what to expect; therefore, misunderstandings and scope creep are minimized.

User participation and representation

UAT should be conducted by a broad range of end-users to represent diverse job roles and viewpoints within an organization. Their selection would be extremely vital because they serve as insight into how the software would be used. These should include users who can understand business processes and workflows; their feedback will be most valuable in pointing out issues that may not be obvious to developers or testers. Similarly, open communication and training should also be extended to such users to prepare them for their testing roles.

Realistic test environment

A testing environment as similar as possible to that of production is important in ensuring accuracy in UAT results. It should have similar configurations used in live environments, data, and network settings replicated within the environment. This will go a long way in highlighting performance problems, integration, or compatibility issues that may arise once the software is deployed. Other crucial factors concern the testing with real or production-like data since it provides testers with the ability to validate how the software handles actual scenarios and datasets, further ensuring the readiness of the software for launch.

Comprehensive test plan and scenarios

Thirdly, a structured test plan plays a major role in UAT. The plan should outline the scope of testing, objectives, timelines, resources, and responsibilities. It also must consist of various test scenarios that have to be covered, including standard and boundary ones. The integration of the test scenarios with the business processes. User workflows should be performed in such a way that each functional aspect is validated concerning the software. Also, test cases have to be prioritized concerning the impact on business operations. The higher the risk, the greater the functionality.

Opkey’s solution

User acceptance testing is a determinant of the achievement of business goals and user expectations from the software. UAT is not easy to manage given the breadth and depth and the demand for resources. That is where Opkey comes in. Accelerate your User Acceptance Testing with Opkey and achieve optimal test coverage with no compromise on scope or quality assurance.

With Opkey, experience an end-to-end test automation solution that simplifies and streamlines your UAT processes. Its no-code platform enables each team member to build automated tests regardless of technical expertise. Such tests reduce the burden on technical teams. Opkey’s Test Discovery technology identifies which business processes require testing. And ensures your UAT efforts focus on where they are needed most. Also, Opkey provides detailed reporting and analytics with clear-cut results logs. And screenshots that can be easily shared among the stakeholders.

Leverage innovative UAT solutions provided by Opkey and detect bugs much earlier, to ensure better user adoption. And finally, attain your business objectives more effectively.