Key reasons for considering Performance Testing for eCommerce
Along with many online services, eCommerce too has found favour with customers due to its convenience, multiple options, and cost effectiveness. Customers are often confused when it comes to choosing one eCommerce store over others as each and every store more or less looks the same with similar features and functionalities. And among the many factors that can differentiate the leader from the rest is its performance when there is a sudden spike in the customer count. This is especially true during the holiday season when customers go on a shopping spree and put the eCommerce site or app under a lot of stress.
The sudden spike in the workload can lead the site or app to face downtime, disruption, server issues, and downright crash resulting in a bad user experience. And if not handled in right earnest, the bad user experience can lead users to move to other portals or apps by completely jettisoning the former. To salvage the situation or pre-empt such a scenario, the performance testing of the eCommerce site or app becomes important.
What is performance testing?
It is testing the responsiveness, reliability and stability of a software system when subjected to a certain threshold of workload. It checks and validates the features and functionalities supported by the software when put under stress. The application performance testing even tests the scalability of an application to ensure it meets the performance criteria when needed. A performance testing approach would include executing a range of tests such as load test, stress test, soak test, spike test, breakpoint test, configuration test, isolation test, and internet test.
Empirical evidence suggests that a dip in the performance of an eCommerce site or app can result in the following:
Decrease in customer   satisfaction
Loss in page views
Loss in conversions
Abandonment of the site
Key reasons for considering performance testing services
#1 Scalability: An eCommerce site or app should be able to function to its optimum level for a particular number of customers. The numbers should be decided after considering the possible load the site or app could experience depending on the geography, demography, range of products/services and server capacity. To ensure an eCommerce site/app functions seamlessly without facing any latency or downtime, it should undergo tests such as load and stress among others. These simulated tests will give the threshold up to which the application can handle the workload and the consequences of exceeding the same. By executing application performance testing before deploying the site or app for actual use, the stakeholders can ensure the features and functionalities of the software work to their optimum. The capacity of the eCommerce software should be scalable enough to handle the increased workload, as and when needed.
#2 Mobile optimization: The present trend among customers is to use smartphones for carrying out eCommerce transactions. So, apart from making the eCommerce site mobile responsive or the mobile app functional, it should be tested for its capacity to handle peak loads. This can be done by simulating the peak load by using a load generation software. Moreover, since a mobile works on a range of platforms, operating systems, networks, and screen resolutions, the challenge of testing an eCommerce app or site’s performance is immense. The performance testing strategy should ensure the app or site does not crash under peak load conditions.
#3 Day and service specific transactions: Certain services on the app or site are more intensive and widespread than others. For example, customers visiting an eCommerce site or app first carry out product searches. And only when they are satisfied with their search, they may end up buying one. Thus, the product search functionality should work seamlessly across browsers, devices, platforms and networks to drive conversions. The other functionalities like add to cart, payment gateway, and checkout should be validated for optimal performance as well. Also, tests should be conducted to ensure the site or app performs seamlessly on certain days of high usage (read Sundays and holidays.)
#4 Achieve ROI: The cost of building an eCommerce site or app can only be recovered if the site or app lives up to the expectations of the users. Although factors such as the pricing of products or the robustness of after sales services play an important role, the site or app should provide the best user experience. Remember, a satisfied client will spread the word around and can potentially bring more customers.
Conclusion
In view of the growing competition, business stakeholders should ensure their eCommerce sites or apps should function to their optimum. This calls for validating the features and functionalities of the site or app in handling peak workloads.
This Article is originally published at Medium.com, Key reasons for considering Performance Testing for eCommerce.
