ECommerce
Key Aspects of E-commerce Platforms for Quality Assurance
Have you ever shopped online? Oh, sorry, wrong question. How
often do you shop online? How many e-commerce apps are installed on your
smartphone? We are sure that the numbers are high for both the answers as
online shopping has become an integral part of our lives. From groceries to
furniture to every basic necessity, just a few clicks on the phone and you have
it delivered at your doorstep easily. This e-commerce industry is the biggest
opportunity for startups and business owners. If you are also planning to build an ecommerce app, into it, then let us warn you that it is not going to be an easy task. Your
platform has to be ready for changing landscape and equipped with an efficient
catalogue that can convert the traffic into sales.
According to experts, there is a direct relationship between
returns and product description, photos, and details. The better the site is,
the better your business will be. With proper images and description, your
users can make an informed decision, adding value to your business. So, how to
attain this? The answer is, that it must go through quality testing. Yes, with
a comprehensive
testing service, you can get rid of all the bugs and work on poor
format. You can be assured of a secure website and test its compatibility with
all the platforms.
To guide you through the process of quality testing of
e-commerce store, we have listed the most important factors that you must
consider. Have a look:
Homepage
The homepage is the first impression of any e-commerce
portal and it has to be impeccable to attract more users. There will be a lot
going on here, from image slides to ads and banners and more. Moreover, there
will be significant information on this page that is further linked to
different pages and categories on the portal for navigation. Hence, it is
important that it loads faster and the content should be displayed correctly on
every device and browser with correct screen resolution. You simply cannot
compromise on the quality of the homepage, thereby, hiring quality testers
before launching your website. These experts ensure images and content are
appearing smoothly without hampering user experience. They also test
functionality and interoperability of this page along with various other small
details and visual elements.
Shopping Cart
Yes, shopping cart is one of the last steps in online buying
but it is the most critical factor when it comes to quality
assurance. While developing an e-commerce web application, separate
efforts and resources are invested for the functionality of a shopping cart,
including adding and removing products, payment options, product list view,
delivery options, personal detail requirements, and more. Therefore, many tests
are conducted at a different level while creating a shopping cart feature for
quantities, total items, display, etc., to ensure that the whole transaction
takes place smoothly. Also, website developers have to be sure that there is
the same buying procedure throughout the online store and for this, there needs
to be constant reviewing. Honestly, this part can make or break your fate in
the e-commerce world, hence, everything has to be flawless when customers
commit to purchasing.
Search Options
No user has enough time to go through every product and then
zero in on the one that suits their demand. Thus, online stores have introduced
search bars where potential buyers can write their query and get precise and
accurate results. If the search algorithm successfully works and displays
products that users are looking for, then it can enhance the sales, else the
platform can fall flat. So, it is important that your e-commerce portal has a
search option that can give relevant results within a few seconds. For this,
the primary factors that need to be tested are sorting, filtering and
pagination. The displayed products should match with the searched keywords and
must include its information, image, price and customer reviews too. Here
should be various search options, such as based on brands, size, price,
ratings, and more. Apart from this, testers should confirm the number of
products per page without any duplicates.
Images
We are talking about online stores where the only insight
into products is images. Clients look closely at those pictures, analyze them,
zoom in for better analysis and then decide whether they want to spend money on
it or not. Also, these images make it easier for them to recognize if this is
the product they are looking for or not. So, you cannot take any risk while
finalizing these visual factors. When you seek an e-commerce
development solution, do not forget to emphasize the quality of
pictures. They shouldn’t be blurry or vague but high-quality and fast to load
on any device or browser so that the platform offers better exposure to
products and increased CTR. Remember, too graphical, cropped or blurry images
can confuse the audience and deceive them to buy the wrong product, leading to
higher return rates. On the other hand, genuine, clear and attractive images
can lure them to buy the product instantly.
Payment Gateway
As this stage involves money, it is certainly a crucial part
of any online business. While making the purchase, users need to mention some
personal information, including contact details, card number and more. Any
loopholes or technical glitch while making payment and it can take a toll on
your brand and hamper your reputation. We understand that you need to get card
details for online payments but make sure that it doesn’t get stored anywhere
and there is a time limit for login sessions. In case the session expires, users
should be logged out completely and any failed transaction or unauthorized
attempts should be reported immediately. Hire QA service providers to ascertain
that the payment gateway is secure and safe without any chances of cyber theft
or infringements. The payment history should be saved and verified for future
references. Any refunding or sending mails should be confirmed with the
registered number.
Security and Vulnerability
When a user makes an online purchase, there is so much that
is stored on the platform. It includes some irrelevant details and also some
personal information. If the website is not completely secured and protected,
these details can reach in the wrong hands and can have some serious
consequences. Hence, website developers and domain
testing experts constantly keep an eye on every little detail and
aspect of an e-commerce application. Apart from the name, address, email
address, phone number, buyers also have to mention their card details and as a
business owner, it is your responsibility to keep it safe. Make sure that the
testing team has conducted tests for ethical hacks, SQL Injections,
registration, payment gateway, etc. There must be different layers of quality
testing before it is launched on any app store.
Mobile Responsiveness
There was a time when e-commerce platforms were restricted
to only laptops and personal computers. However, soon, these portals came up
with mobile applications which made the competition fierce. Now, if you are not
available on smartphones, you probably don’t exist at all for most of the users
out there. So, go with the mobile-first approach for your online shopping
store. For this, you have to connect with mobile and web development
company that can work on your project effectively and create
responsive designs for browsers as well as applications. Well, simply building
the platform is not enough. They will also check its compatibility with all the
devices and operating systems, adjust text and visual content according to
them, ascertain loading time, and more before finally delivering the final
product to you. This step will pave the way for your online business and make
you a well-known name amongst online shoppers.
Final Thoughts
The competition between e-commerce stores is already tough
and to mark a prominent position among them, you have to come up with something
unique and innovative. Hence, prefer spending money on hiring reliable software
testing services rather than offering coupons and vouchers to lure customers.
Rest assured that enriched user experience and quality application will work
wonders to your business than any other trick. It will also convert visitors
into paying customers, thereby, taking your business to new heights. Also, as a
business owner, you have to make sure that you review the performance of the
portal even after its launch and take corrective measures in case of any issue.
Wow, that’s much easier than I expected it to be, thanks for showing this.