Testing is crucial for any ecommerce business, especially if you’re using the Shopify platform. It’s vital to ensure reliability and high performance. Shopify testing minimizes errors, ensures maximum uptime, and provides a seamless shopping experience for customers. In this blog, let’s explore Shopify testing types, automation, approaches, and tools.
Checklist For Shopify Testing
Here’s a fundamental checklist for Shopify testing:
Homepage
- Ensure header links direct to the correct pages.
- Verify well-organized categories with no redundancies.
- Check the data mining system for accurate data.
- Examine links, menus, and buttons over banner images.
- Test carousel images for functionality.
- Confirm the accuracy of footer links.
- Validate that social media icons lead to the appropriate pages.
Search Result Page
- Check if products are searchable by name, brand, SKU, or keywords.
- Ensure that clicking on a search result redirects to the product detail page.
- Verify the relevance of search results.
Product List Page
- Test filter options for different combinations and discrepancies.
- Verify correct sorting.
Product Detail Page
- Ensure images are the right size, zoomable, and load quickly.
- Validate the correct population of product specifications.
- Confirm clear visibility of the product price, with discounted prices marked.
- Check the functionality of breadcrumb navigation.
Shopping Cart Page
- Test adding products to the cart.
- Verify cart quantity increments when the same item is added.
- Confirm accurate calculation and display of pricing, quantity, tax, and discounts.
- Implement location-based taxes.
- Check functionality for deleting, removing, and saving products.
- Verify the correct functioning of discount coupons, gift cards, and vouchers, considering expiry dates and duplicates.
- Ensure products remain in the cart if a customer abandons it and logs in later.
Checkout Page
- Validate the functionality of every payment option.
- Ensure secure storage of card details for future use.
- Check for a smooth experience for guest checkouts.
- Verify accurate retrieval of wallet information, balance, and financial details.
Order Success Page
- Confirm the accuracy of information related to purchased products, delivery, amount paid, and shipping address.
My Account Page
- Ensure the My Account page for registered users contains their profile information, saved addresses, order details, recent transactions, and wallet information.
Transactional Emails
- Test event-based email triggers for flawless operation.
- Verify emails are received within defined time limits.
This checklist covers the fundamental aspects of testing for an ecommerce website, including one powered by Shopify.
Read Also: Shopify Store Development
What to Test for Quality Assurance in Your Shopify Store
It is important to conduct thorough testing to ensure the quality of your Shopify store. The extent and frequency of your tests play a crucial role in protecting your website from potential issues.
Here’s a practical guide on what to test, which you can prioritize based on your initial situation:
Critical Functionality
Start by testing the essential processes that directly impact your revenue. This includes tasks like adding items to the cart, the checkout process, and payment. Less critical features, such as filtering options for small webshops, can be tested later.
Plugins and Integrations
Since your Shopify store likely connects with various platforms like CRM systems and payment gateways, it’s vital to test these integrations to ensure data migration is accurate.
Cross-Browser Compatibility
Understand your target audience and their preferred web browsers. Test your site across these popular browsers to ensure a seamless user experience.
Cross-Device Compatibility
With the increasing use of mobile and tablet devices for online shopping, focus on testing your site’s functionality and responsiveness on different devices, not just desktops.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Your users may access your store from various operating systems (e.g., Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, Linux). Test your platform’s performance across these different platforms, as behavior can vary.
Load Testing
If your site experiences sudden spikes in user traffic, ensure it can handle the increased load. This is particularly crucial to avoid downtime during peak events like Black Friday.
Performance Testing
Slow-loading pages can deter potential customers. Use performance testing to ensure that new features and updates do not negatively impact your website’s loading times.
Different Approaches of Shopify Testing
There are different approaches to Shopify testing, each serving a specific purpose:
Functionality Tests
This type of testing evaluates the core features of your store, such as checkout, product search, and payment processing. It also uncovers potential bugs or errors in these functions.
User Interface Tests
These tests focus on the store’s interface, checking for faults and errors. They assess page responsiveness, page load times, and other user interface aspects.
Security Tests
Security testing is essential to ensure the store is protected and is safe from data breaches and hacker attacks. It involves testing security protocols and related aspects.
Performance Tests
Performance testing examines how well the store performs under various conditions and loads. It includes assessing its performance during peak periods with a high volume of users or when numerous products are added to the shopping cart simultaneously.
Automation Tests
Automation tests use scripts, tools, or dedicated Shopify automated testing solutions to perform testing tasks automatically and periodically, streamlining the testing process.
How to Test the Shopify App
To test your Shopify App, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Partner Dashboard.
- Within your Partner Dashboard, navigate to the “Apps” section.
- Click on the name of your app to access the App overview page.
- In the “Test your app” section on the app page, select a store.
- Choose the development store you wish to use.
- Click the “Install app” button to initiate the testing process.
How to Test Shopify Workflow
To test your Shopify workflow, follow these steps:
- Activate the workflow.
- Generate an event that triggers the workflow. For instance, if you’re testing the “Collection Created” event, create a new collection in the Shopify admin.
- Monitor the Activity page to confirm the successful execution of your workflow.
How to Conduct Shopify Testing Manually
Conducting Shopify testing manually involves a significant amount of hands-on work, including the thorough testing of individual features and components.
This process involves testers carefully examining every aspect of the store to detect any potential errors or issues. While it can be time-consuming and repetitive, it is essential to ensure the proper functioning of all store components.
Manual testing demands a deep understanding of the technical aspects, as testers need to interpret results and troubleshoot any problems they encounter.
However, it’s important to note that manual testing is susceptible to human error, which could result in false positives or overlooked issues.
How to Automate Shopify Testing?
Automating Shopify testing streamlines the process, conserving time and effort, all the while guaranteeing the store’s optimal performance.
You can automate Shopify testing by leveraging tools like Selenium, Cypress.io, and similar options. These tools are adept at executing automated testing tasks, encompassing UI tests, performance evaluations, security assessments, and more, on a variety of browsers and devices.
Moreover, you’ll find numerous SaaS solutions in the market that facilitate automated testing for your Shopify store.
Recommended Read: Ecommerce Testing Tools
Examples of challenges experienced by Shopify merchants
Example 1: Glorious: The “Add to Cart” function is not working in the Shopify store.
Source: Twitter (GLORIOUS)
Example 2: Dubby: Experiencing issues with the checkout functionality in the Shopify store.
Source: Twitter (DUBBY)
Benefits of Shopify Testing
Testing your Shopify store is a crucial step in establishing and managing an online business. It not only ensures the smooth and efficient operation of your store but also provides valuable insights into the user experience and opportunities for enhancement.
Let’s explore the various benefits of testing your Shopify store.
Seamless Customer Experience
Testing guarantees that all features and functions work smoothly, creating a seamless customer experience.
Bug Identification and Resolution
It helps you discover and address any bugs or issues before they can adversely affect your customers’ experience.
Enhanced Reliability
By increasing the reliability and stability of your site, you can boost customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Improved Search Engine Optimization
Testing enables you to optimize your site for search engines, resulting in better search engine rankings and increased traffic.
Opportunity for Optimization
It allows you to pinpoint areas for improvement and optimization, ultimately increasing conversions and revenue.
Cross-platform Compatibility
Testing across different devices, browsers, and screen sizes ensures optimal performance on all platforms.
Competitive Advantage
Staying ahead of the competition is possible through the identification and implementation of new features that appeal to your customers.
Shopify Testing: Testing your Store
Shopify testing is an intricate process that demands meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive evaluation of various aspects of your online store.
By thoroughly examining each component and functionality, online store owners can ensure that their store operates seamlessly and provides a top-notch shopping experience to real customers.
- Shopify testing encompasses a range of critical elements, from checking the accuracy of test credit card numbers to examining the behavior of payment methods and gateways in a test environment.
- The importance of a comprehensive guide cannot be understated, as it allows store owners to navigate the complexities of Shopify testing with confidence and precision.
- Efficient testing is essential for online store owners to avoid issues like failed transactions and error messages, which can deter potential customers.
- Through Shopify testing, you can not only identify and address potential problems but also gain a deep understanding of how your online store performs under various scenarios.
Ultimately, the ability to harness Shopify’s test mode feature, third-party payment providers, and test credit cards is of great importance. These tools and methods enable store owners to optimize the entire payment process, making it reliable and secure for real customers.
FAQ
What is Shopify Testing?
Shopify testing is a comprehensive evaluation process performed by experts, including store owners, developers, and Shopify specialists.
The goal of this testing is to meticulously examine and confirm the proper functioning of all components within a Shopify store.
This ensures that the online store operates as expected, delivering a seamless and efficient shopping experience for customers.
Is it possible to test Shopify for free?
If you’re interested in exploring Shopify before committing to an active monthly plan, you have the option to sign up for a free trial. Your free trial period starts upon your initial registration, not when you begin building your store.
How to activate the test mode for Shopify payments?
To activate the test mode for Shopify Payments, follow these steps:
- Open the Shopify app and tap the “…” button, then select “Settings.”
- Under the “Store settings” section, tap “Payments.”
- In the “Shopify Payments” section, click on “Manage.”
- Within the “Test mode” section, choose “Enable test mode.”
- Finally, click “Save” to confirm your selection.
What is the purpose of conducting test orders on Shopify?
Test orders on Shopify are essential for verifying that the online store’s checkout and payment processes work correctly. It ensures a seamless shopping experience for real customers.
How can I create a Shopify test order?
To create a Shopify test order, you can enable the “Shopify Payments test mode” in your store settings. This allows you to simulate transactions without actual money changing hands.
What is the significance of Shopify test payments in the testing process?
Shopify test payments are crucial for emulating real transactions on your store without processing actual payments. This ensures that your payment settings are configured correctly.
Can I test different payment methods on Shopify?
Yes, you can test various payment methods, including credit card payments, cash payments, and more to verify that they function accurately.
How do I confirm the success of a test purchase on Shopify?
A successful test purchase on Shopify results in a test order with accurate information. You can review the order processing to ensure that the transaction was processed correctly.
What is the role of test results in Shopify testing?
Test results are used to verify the functionality of your Shopify store’s payment systems. They confirm whether transactions, purchases, and order processing work as expected.
How can I enable the test mode for Shopify Payments?
To enable the test mode for Shopify Payments, navigate to your payment settings and select the “Enable test mode” option. This allows you to conduct test purchases without affecting real orders.
Are there different ways to test payment methods on Shopify?
Yes, you can test payment methods in various ways, such as simulating real transactions, configuring different payment providers, and examining the payment settings.
What are some best practices for Shopify testing in terms of payment methods?
Best practices for Shopify testing include testing different payment providers, verifying the accuracy of test purchases, and ensuring that error messages, email notifications, and discount codes function correctly.
Why is it important to test real transactions in Shopify?
Testing real transactions in Shopify allows you to validate the payment processing system and check for any potential issues or discrepancies that could affect actual customer orders.
Why is testing for thriving transactions important for Shopify store owners?
Testing for successful transactions is crucial for Shopify store owners to ensure that the payment processing system works accurately, providing a seamless shopping experience for customers.
How can I improve the conversion rate of my Shopify store?
To enhance your Shopify store’s conversion rate, consider testing and optimizing various aspects, such as payment methods, checkout processes, and site performance.
What is the Shopify Payments section, and why should I test it?
The Shopify Payments section is where you configure payment methods. Testing is important to verify that payment processing and transaction management work flawlessly.
Are there alternative methods for free shipping testing on Shopify?
Yes, you can test free shipping by configuring different shipping settings, discount codes, or third-party apps to ensure that customers can enjoy free shipping when eligible.
What are the best ways to test different payment methods on Shopify?
The best ways to test payment methods on Shopify include conducting real transactions, checking the accuracy of test purchases, and ensuring that all error messages, email notifications, and discount codes function correctly.
