How to perform Beta Testing for Applications?

What is Beta Testing?

Beta Testing is a user acceptance test in which a group of users tests an almost completed application to assess its performance in a natural environment. This phase of the application development process aims to expose your application to a set of real-life users and gather feedback from them for improvement. After beta testing, the application is almost ready to be released for extended public use.

Beta testing makes use of customer validation to lower the risk of failure of the application. Even though beta testing can be capital-intensive and time-consuming, it is a fantastic way to eradicate technical issues with your new software application.

Beta testing of applications can be categorized into two main categories:

• Open Beta Testing: This testing method doesn’t limit the number of users in the beta testing process. Suppose an application is undergoing open beta testing; in that case, you can install it directly from the Play Store or submit a request to the company to get a file that installs the application on your computer. 
• Closed Beta Testing: This testing method limits the number of users in the beta testing process. If an application is undergoing closed beta testing, only the users invited by the software development company can install and use the beta version of the application. 

What is Alpha Testing?

Alpha testing is the initial testing phase that helps in the validation of the features and functionalities of a new application. The internal testing team conducts these tests near the end of the application’s development phase.

Beta tests are generally performed after the completion of Alpha tests.

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Alpha Testing vs Beta Testing

Below is a brief comparison of Alpha Testing and Beta Testing. 

It is estimated that the internet is accessed by more than 4 billion people globally via more than 9000+ devices that consist of 21 different operating systems and eight leading browser engines that support more than 100 different browsers. You can have more than 63,000 possible device combinations, operating systems, and browser combinations. This number is still rising as newer hardware and software models are launched. This is the level of market fragmentation at present.

These different combinations of device, operating system, and browser do not support the universal interoperability of your application. Hence, alpha tests need to be conducted on different combinations. If alpha tests are not performed for various devices, you can face the following issues:

• The UI design and visual functionalities of your app might not be the same across all devices.
• The features and functionality might not work as intended across all combinations of devices, operating systems, and browsers.

Some challenges encountered while performing cross-device testing are

• Lack of devices: It is not practical to buy a new device when you need to test your app on a different device. 
• Cost: To perform cross-device testing, you need to maintain the infrastructure of various combinations of devices, operating systems, and browsers. This cost of maintenance is high.
• Frequent updates: The browsers and devices regularly bring out news updates and versions. This causes the testing team to test the applications on newer versions.

BrowserStack’s App live offers more than 3000+ real devices to conduct seamless alpha testing of your applications remotely. Sign up, select your desired device and start testing your application for free.

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How to perform Beta Testing for Apps?

Beta testing is considered successful when the testing is completed efficiently, and all the reported bugs are fixed before the release date of the applications. Beta testing can be efficiently conducted with the following steps:

1. Fix the number and type of testers required

It is recommended to have at least 100-300 beta testers in case you are performing closed beta testing of an app. Also, you need to select the type of beta testers you require. Generally, there are two types of beta testers: Technical (for bugs) and Marketing (for awareness). You can also create a beta tester persona to select the required beta testers.

The beta tester persona is a chart that includes all the critical information about the target customer base. It is based on the target customer requirements and helps ensure that the feedback received by beta testers helps build features that meet the requirements of the target customers. 

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2. Set a time limit for testing

You must develop a fixed time frame for the beta testing phase. Limiting your beta testing time between two to twelve weeks is recommended, while most beta tests last for four to eight weeks. This time limit is based on your objectives, resources, tester limitations, time constraints, and other conditions.

3. Locate your beta testers

You should select the beta testers depending on the type of your software app and your target customers.  For example: If you are working on a fitness application, you should go for beta testers involved with the fitness industry. If you are developing an application for select countries, then you should get your beta tests from those demographics.

4. Release the App’s Beta Version

Once you have your beta testers ready, you can invite them to install the beta version of the application. The invite is generally sent using an app distribution tool like Google Play Developer Console, Testflight, AppBlade, etc.

5. Keep the testers engaged

You need to motivate the beta testers to use your App with all its functionalities to ensure the success of the beta test phase. This can be done by rewarding the beta testers with incentives when they spot a critical bug. 

6. Seek valuable feedback

You need to request your beta testers to submit detailed feedback on the App. This can be done by email or through the beta version of the App itself. You would want to call a few testers to get a detailed account of their experience.

7. Implement the changes

The feedback from beta testers will consist of suggestions and recommendations for changes in the application. You need to be selective and implement the critical differences in the App.

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How do Internal Testers Replicate Bugs that they Found while Beta Testing Apps?

One should note that if a critical bug is found during the beta testing of the application, the testers will have to replicate this bug and find a way to eradicate it. To reproduce the bug found during testing, you need to do the following:

Step 1: First, the internal tester needs to get answers to the following questions:

• When did the beta tester experience the bug?
• What feature was the beta tester using when he found the bug?
• A detailed account of the series of events that led to the bug.
• How was the network condition when the beta tester experienced the bug?
• Any other details that the beta tester considers essential.

Step 2: The internal tester needs to ensure that they are testing the exact scenario of the application as experienced by the beta tester.

Step 3: The internal tester needs to test the application on the same device as used by the beta tester to replicate the bug. 

Assume a user found a bug on iPhone 13 while testing X. Let us see how to replicate an issue and test it on BrowserStack.

• Signup and create a Free Account on BrowserStack App Live. 
• Go to App Live Dashboard and upload the same beta version of the App used by the beta tester. 
• Select iPhone 13 from a range of devices available 

• Replicate the actions to identify the issue.

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Best Practices for Beta Testing

Some of the best practices to consider for effective Beta Testing are as follows:

• Set clear goals in advance: You need to set goals for what you want from the beta testing phase. This would avoid confusion and help to achieve defined objectives effectively.

• Know the pros and cons of open and closed beta tests: If you want precise and reliable feedback, go for closed tests. But if you are testing huge software applications, go for open tests. We recommend you make a list of the pros and cons chart to decide this.

• Get your beta testers from multiple sources: Use multiple sources, whether online or offline, to source the beta testers for your application. This would bring in a diverse range of testers to track bugs.

• Take critical feedback positively: You should consider criticisms as crucial feedback on your App and take it with a positive note to improvise.

• Request for Detailed feedback: Detailed feedback usually improves your app’s performance. Try to get this feedback as early as possible to release the application on time.

• Award beta testers for critical feedback: Incentivising beta testers when they point out a crucial issue with the app is good. This will motivate the other beta testers to do the same. 

Beta Testing is an important phase in the application development process. It is an acceptance test used to gather feedback by exposing it to real users in a real environment. 

Beta testing is an indispensable part of the software development process. It provides an opportunity for some real-life users to test an application and detect any defects before performing a public release. It also tests customer satisfaction and gives you an early insight into the product.