There are approximately 7.2 billion mobile phone users in the world as of 2022. As a result, the mobile phone industry, and consequently, the mobile application industry, is booming. More and more businesses, institutes, organizations, and enterprises are introducing mobile apps to their models to provide better customer service or to reach a wider audience. As per a report by Statista, an average customer spends $ 40 on mobile apps over a year. This has become a race for businesses to launch mobile apps before their competitors. And to this end, many businesses are skipping the performance testing phase.
What is Mobile Application Performance Testing?
A performance test is different from a functionality test, which is generally used to determine whether the app functions in the way it’s supposed to. In contrast, performance testing is used to check factors like app speed, stress testing, scalability, user-friendliness, and so on.
Why Do You Need to Conduct Performance Testing Separately?
It ensures a better customer experience.
Mobile application performance testing is used to determine the performance of the application, which will affect the user experience of the customer. This will be the deciding factor on whether or not the user will continue to use the app or abandon it completely — making this a make or break point for the business. Approximately 90% of users stop using mobile applications if the apps have poor performance.
2. Performance errors are more common than expected.
One part of mobile app performance testing, which will be discussed later in the article, is network testing. Most applications require either an internet connection, GPS, or other forms of network connections to work. However, network speed is not the same in all places. The app performance is severely hindered if the app does not have a good network connection. The app has poor loading speeds, hangs, or shows errors. As a result, the customer experience is poor, and they are unlikely to continue using the app.
3. Post-launch testing is not the same as pre-launch testing.
While a business can opt to launch their app before performance testing and then conduct the test afterward, there are some problems with this. For example, the first few users who will use the app before the testing will feel the app does not meet the mark. As a result, they may give poor reviews. Customer reviews are heavily relied upon when choosing new apps or services. Other users who view the app in the Play Store or iOS Store may choose not to download it simply because of these reviews.
These are a few reasons why performance testing should be conducted for mobile applications. Since mobile apps are designed to improve customer experience, they should cover all aspects of the user experience.
What Should Mobile App Performance Testing Include?
Mobile app performance testing should include these things:
Network and Connectivity Testing
Network and connections are the most important things in any mobile application. They ensure more services can be provided in the app. Network and connectivity testing includes testing the app’s performance in various conditions. For example, does the app provide the same performance if it is put on airplane mode? Developers should test whether the app continues to function normally if the network connection is slow or the bandwidth is low.
2. Location Testing
Apps that include GPS features should also test the reliability of the function. How accurate is the GPS? For example, if a food delivery app has poor GPS performance, the customer may not be able to place their order properly, which may lead to confusion. The order may not be delivered properly, which is a poor experience for the customer.
3. Device-specific Testing
Most businesses do not launch an application only for mobile. Generally, the same framework is used for mobiles, tablets, smartwatches, smart TVs, and other similar devices. And while all these devices may be capable of supporting the app, they do not all have the same functionality. For example, the camera of a mobile phone varies significantly from that of a tablet or a TV. As a result, developers need to consider the characteristics of individual devices before making the launch.
4. User Journey Testing
The user journey for any app starts when the user first downloads the app to when they uninstall it. Many factors can encourage a user to continue using the app or uninstall it. And they all fall under the user journey. By thoroughly testing and analyzing the user journey on the app, developers can determine pain points where the customer faces problems that lead them to abandon the app. Without this testing, the problem may be glaring from as early as the signup page, which shows the user they need to enter a complicated captcha.
5. Fragmentation Testing
Fragmentation testing involves testing the compatibility of the app with different versions of operating systems. Android and iOS release new versions every year. However, throughout the year, new release point updates are launched to solve bugs or errors. Fragmentation testing should be done to ensure the app is compatible with each of these updates; otherwise, the app may not work for all customers.
These are the five performance tests that are critical for all mobile applications. In the end, these factors play a major role in helping a user decide whether they will continue using the app or not. While most developers design unique performance testing plans, they should be centered on these five tests to ensure the app provides the best performance to the customer.
Why should performance testing include automation testing?
Automation testing is another important criterion for mobile app performance testing. This includes testing the usability of the mobile app. Automation testing checks whether the application is able to provide the required features to the user. The primary focus of automation testing is to determine whether the user can perform the tasks that the app is intended to do.
Where Can I Get My Mobile Application Performance Tested?
Having understood how critical mobile app performance testing is, it would be wise to choose only the best partners to help you solve your problems.
Like other businesses, if you too are looking for mobile app performance testing solutions, Mindfire Solutions can be your partner of choice. We have a team of highly skilled and certified software professionals, who have developed many custom solutions for our global clients over the years.