What You Should Know About Field Testing?

What is field testing? How can we perform it efficiently without wasting any time, because time is money, right? In one context, we might be discussing an application that uses GPS, and it needs to be assessed in the field since in-house or lab methods wouldn’t serve the purpose. Comprehensive and successful evaluation requires substantial resources and time.

It refers to reviewing your application offering before presenting it to customers. It’s a crucial step in the review cycle, helping you identify any flaws in your offering. The goal is to minimize risk by ensuring everything works as expected before delivering it to users.

Before beginning, the evaluator should be equipped with the right tools and techniques and have a clear understanding of the process. Planning is key—knowing what is being evaluated, the procedures to follow, input/output data, and other relevant details is essential for success.

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.

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

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 Process

While conducting it 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:

Advantages

• Tester is able to test in a real-world environment.

• Tester uses real tools/devices and employs the best techniques.

• 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 tests are also called field tests, but the main difference is that beta assessments are performed at the customer’s end by end-users, with no involvement from the test team. These beta participants provide feedback, which leads to improvements in the product. Beta assessments occur before the software is released to all customers.

This process can be very time-consuming and expensive, but many organizations request it because the applications operate in a real-time environment. Often, expert evaluators conduct field reviews to save time and identify major flaws quickly using the best tools and techniques. The evaluator should be well-prepared; otherwise, the process can take longer than expected, wasting both time and effort.