Functional Testing for Ensuring Failsafe Operation of SaaS Applications

SaaS software continues to gain momentum. Experts predict that its global market size will comprise $1.2 trillion in 2032. And it’s not surprising due to the multiple benefits it provides - from smooth scaling to decreased expenses.  

However, due to high software intricacy, it’s essential to verify its operation thoroughly to make sure no critical defects spoil the user experience or cause malfunction. Therefore, in this article, I’ll highlight the most crucial functional tests that can increase confidence in the software and contribute to achieving business goals.   

The Essence of SaaS Software  

From the get-go, SaaS-driven software is designed to be leveraged on the cloud infrastructure. For the target audience, this is very convenient, as it only needs Internet access and any computer, smartphone, or Internet-connected device to effectively utilize the software.  

Such software must place clients’ security at the core. Although a single instance of the solution is used for each client, sensitive information of all end users is separated and, thus, protected from accidental or deliberate intervention. In addition, these IT products don’t cause any inconvenience for users as all the activities related to ensuring the correct software functioning, providing upgrades, or averting downtimes are taken over by the provider. 

If businesses leverage SaaS software solutions, they can benefit in many ways, for instance: 

• Cost savings: There’s no need for companies to spend colossal sums on infrastructure, installation, maintenance, and other costly activities.  
• Instant implementation: Right after acquiring the IT product, clients can relish all the opportunities provided by SaaS software rather than potentially wait for weeks for the deployment of on-premises solutions. 
• Increased confidence: Due to automated data recovery opportunities, companies can be sure that all the information is secure. 

Why Functional Testing Is Beneficial for Saas-Driven Software

Despite the multiple advantages provided by SaaS products, it’s important to remember that, like any other software, such applications should be tested properly.  

Without meticulous QA verifications performed at the earliest SDLC stages, chances are high that defects can slip into the production environment; thus, negatively affecting software operation and even causing downtimes. The cost of such situations is immeasurable: apart from financial losses due to software unavailability, companies can lose end users who are overwhelmed with options nowadays and can simply choose competitors.  

Moreover, major or critical issues are much longer and costlier to fix post-release because of numerous interdependencies between software modules. This means that extra expenses are inevitable.  

Such software also often interacts with different external systems and presupposes multiple tailored functionalities for various clients, which only increases the risks of software defects.  

Functional verification is the most fundamental step in the quality assurance process. It serves as a shield against software defects, helps confirm that IT products’ functionalities operate in strict accordance with specifications, and makes sure that both business and end-user needs are met. 

Paramount Functional Tests To Drive Desired Business Outcomes

To confirm an IT product’s robust operation, QA teams must delve into specifications and business needs, interact with developers and business analysts, define the scope of necessary verifications, write test documentation, and leverage a staging environment to execute functional tests.  

Although there are 4 levels of sequential testing necessary before software launch — unit, integration, system, and acceptance — in this article I’d like to focus only on 3 of them, as unit tests are most often performed by developers.  

1. Integration Testing 

The operation of SaaS-driven applications can be improved with the addition of multiple functionalities that can be represented by separate modules ― chatbots, voice recording, AR/VR-based modules, reporting, scheduling assistants, and tracking productivity functionality, just to name a few. In addition, such systems are often interconnected with other external solutions, such as CRM, ERP, HRIS, and other software. Their cohesive and joint interaction must be established to avoid glitches or freezes.  

In this scenario, QA specialists run integration tests to verify interactions and data exchange between different software elements, such as microservices, databases, and external solutions, identify defects related to API interactions, and confirm that business processes that depend on the interaction of diverse software modules work error-free. 

During testing, QA engineers rely on manifold methods depending on the application architecture, size, software development methodology, and other factors. For instance, they can gauge all IT products’ modules at once, begin with high-level parts, or simultaneously verify modules of a wide variety of levels. 

2. System Testing 

System verifications play a crucial role as they help meticulously verify the operation of the entire product to confirm that all features and integrations work as they should, thus increasing the chances of smooth release and eliminating risks related to post-release expensive rework. 

During system testing of SaaS software, QA engineers should run several priority tests. First, I’d mention smoke testing. It should be done at the beginning of the testing cycle after a build has been deployed to a test environment. Thus, QA engineers check the main functionality of an IT product and identify critical and major issues that block correct software operation and testing itself. No further testing is performed, if the software doesn’t go through this stage successfully. 

I also cannot help but mention sanity tests that can follow smoke tests. QA engineers need to fulfill them to confirm that minor code changes haven't negatively affected the correct operation of SaaS software and make sure that separate functions work error-free without focusing on detailed testing of the entire IT solution. 

One more important aspect relates to end-to-end testing. This is an integral part of verifying the entire system as a whole, including components that end users don’t interact with, during which QA specialists utilize close-to-real user scenarios to validate the behavior of the SaaS software, from start to finish, data workflow throughout the system, the work of UI elements, such as buttons, navigational items, menu bars, notifications, forms for inputting data, and others. 

Moreover, code updates are indispensable for any software development process, as during the project functionality proliferates and features receive upgrades, patches, and bug fixes. The larger the product, the more often such changes are introduced. This is especially relevant for SaaS-driven software that is known for continuous updates. Although updates are vital for ongoing software enhancement, they can cause problems, especially if novel logic contradicts current software parts.  

Therefore, QA engineers should perform regression testing to neutralize problems and make sure no new defects have appeared after introduced modifications. During testing, specialists define possible code parts with the largest risk of being influenced and execute tests. 

3. Acceptance Testing 

Creating an IT product that fully meets end-user and business expectations is one of the main goals of any software development process. Even if the software operates error-free but doesn’t fully contribute to solving set tasks, there’s always a possibility that users will choose some other options presented on the market.  

Therefore, acceptance testing serves to identify issues and gaps in requirements fulfillment and should be done in as close to a real-world environment as possible. 

For instance, QA engineers make sure that the software is ready for deployment by conducting alpha testing in the development environment based on real-world user scenarios. Intended users or customers may also participate in this process. Afterward, QA engineers can also involve selected groups of real users who take part in beta testing fulfilled in the production environment. 

P.S. Handy Tips for Bettering QA Effectiveness

Usually, functional testing presupposes an extensive scope of verifications that need to be executed, especially considering that SaaS software is growing rapidly and updates and customizations appear on a regular basis. Relying on a manual approach only increases the chance of missing deadlines or compromising overall IT product quality.  

Therefore, companies can involve QA automation engineers to set up automated testing. With its help, software testing specialists increase the velocity of the QA process by performing more tests in less time, significantly boosting coverage, and increasing accuracy due to neutralizing the risk of human errors. Such scripts can be used repeatedly, which optimizes overall efforts even more.  

I’d also suggest that companies look closely at shift-left testing. Although expertise is required for its introduction and overcoming some challenges at the beginning, when done properly, it can substantially smooth software releases. This approach helps detect and address issues earlier in the development process when they are less expensive and easier to mitigate, which frees up the time for developers to focus on priority functionality. 

In addition, if existing QA processes do not bring the desired results, underperformance is observed, or testing costs continuously rise for no apparent reason, I’d recommend reaching out to QA consultants. They can identify reasons for current flaws and suggest steps for turning the tide.  

On the Way to More Future-Proof and Trouble-Free Software

Functional testing of SaaS-driven solutions with intricate logic is a crucial step that helps detect and fix issues early and in a cost-effective manner, ensures stable operation aligned with business and user requirements, and avoids user churn. Depending on the business needs, companies may rely on the most fit-for-purpose testing types, boost confidence in the developed software, and strengthen capabilities in a highly competitive market.