Tag Archive for: BETA Testing

Incorporating User Testing Into Custom Mobile Apps

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Creating compelling custom mobile apps is only possible when incorporating an effective Beta Testing program. It’s a difficult but necessary step that will help you retain users and further grow your app in a competitive marketplace. 

1. What Is Beta Testing And Why It Matters

Whether you’re specializing in consumer or custom enterprise apps, you want to release quality products. But how do you know that you’re achieving this goal? Well, you’ll know if your app is truly high-quality when your users download it, evaluate it, and give you positive feedback. However, a rigorous Beta Testing process is essential to reach this point.

So what is Beta Testing, and how does it benefit the development process? Firstly, it allows you to gain an understanding of the user experience before releasing the final product. Secondly, you can test your app’s compatibility across browsers, devices, and operating systems. Thirdly, you can quash bugs and fix any issues that testers find before making your app available to end-users. Finally, Beta Testing commences soon after the Alpha Testing phase, and the app should be stable and at least 90% complete. 

2. How To Test Custom Mobile Apps Remotely

You may have an in-house group that handles Beta Testing. But you may not have the office space and resources available to have in-house testers. Furthermore, you’ll likely not have access to the wide range of devices to test your app on, especially when dealing with the Android platform. 

But you can solve some of these problems by recruiting remote users that can test your app. And you’ll need to incentivize these users with money, gift cards, or freebies to make it worth their while. Ensure that you’ve defined your goals and all actionable tasks, and communicate these clearly to your testers. Moreover, regularly hold video meetings with all remote testers to discuss their user experience in depth.

3. How To Choose Testers For Customer Mobile Apps 

Ideally, you’ll want to build a community of beta testers loyal to your brand and excited to help improve your products. And you’ll find many capable testers on social media and software collaboration platforms, such as GitHub. You’ll also need to decide whether to run a public or private beta program, with the latter better suited for custom enterprise apps.

Make sure to create a beta page where testers can learn more about your beta program. Let them know what type of app they’ll be testing, the duration of the test, what you’ll require of testers, what types of tasks you’ll assign, how they’ll submit bug reports and feedback, and what will happen when the beta test ends.

4. How To Gather And Analyze User Feedback

Use Google Forms or Survey Monkey to draw up surveys and Q&As for your testers to complete. If you need to beta test multiple custom mobile apps, create a beta program for each with an accompanying survey form. Then, ask your testers to fill the relevant forms after completing specific tasks.

You may also want to set up a Slack workspace, which will serve as your central feedback channel for all testers. Here, you can collate and analyze user feedback and manage your beta community.

5. How Often Should You Test Custom Enterprise Apps

Depending on the complexity of your app, the test period can range from two to twelve weeks. But even if you’re building a simple minimum viable product (MVP), make sure not to go below two weeks, as this won’t be a sufficient amount of time for Beta Testing. And the frequency of tests will depend on how often you release builds introducing new features that require testing.

Developing custom enterprise apps is a long and complex process. Contact us today to learn how NS804 can help with your mobile development and Beta Testing needs. 

How To Successfully Run a BETA

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BETA Testing Basics

Hard data is a powerful asset. As such, it can be difficult to gather. Yet, it’s integral to decision making. Especially leading up to product launches and app release. However, there are ways to compile insightful data that will help dictate the direction of a mobile app before it’s official launch. One of the best tools to gather this sample data is conducting a BETA test.

BETA testing generally consists of creating a series of small-groups. Then presenting those groups with an early version of the app (or the BETA version). When the small group concludes their trial of the BETA version, their feedback is then prompted and garnered. Importantly, these small groups should represent samples of the various target demographics included in the marketing strategy.

As enterprise apps grow in popularity, and the volume of mobile app development continues to increase, quality becomes even more vital. To deliver this quality in mobile apps and enterprise apps alike, the BETA testing process is crucial.

The Small Group Sessions

As mentioned above, the BETA version of the app is a skeletal version. Therefore, user design and user experience will likely be incomplete. However, the BETA should offer users a very similar experience to that of the end-product, as initially designed. That being said, it’s important to have an updated design plan aligned with the latest trends.

There is information that’s particularly important for developers to note from these small-group sessions. This information can be garnered in one of two ways.

Group Discussion

The first option regarding this process is an open and honest group discussion. The discussion is usually led by a facilitator. They can ask specific questions. Therefore the feedback is poignant when needed and open-ended elsewhere.

Individual Feedback Surveys

This is another tool. A tool to gather feedback. Instead of a group discussion, these responses are written. Written on a hard-copy survey that asks the testers questions. The questions are about various aspects of the BETA version.

After conducting the surveys, collect them. Then review them.

Utilizing Feedback

After collecting the feedback the small-group concludes. Then reiterate the process. After conducting a variety of small-group sessions with representatives from a spectrum of target markets, there is ample feedback.

Utilizing the feedback means comparing the various sources of feedback to each other. In other words, cross-reference the feedback from the various focus groups. This should reveal some trends.

Upon reviewing and cross-referencing patterns will emerge in the data. These patterns help make informed decisions regarding a range of important factors.

Marketing Strategy:

Not every app is for every person, and this is an important reality to face as a developer. BETA testing will reveal key insights into the most marketable target-demographics.

Additional Features:

Through BETA testing, users will define features they felt the app was missing. These notes are specifically helpful, as they can directly impact the end functionality of the app.

Unnecessary Features:

Similarly, users may identify features the app currently includes that they find unnecessary and suggest removing.

UX Direction:

Finally, as mentioned above, there should already be a design-plan in place – but BETA testing results will undoubtedly provide vital information that provides additional direction for the UX.

NS804 is dedicated to making mobile app design services more accessible than ever before. For more information on developing mobile or enterprise-level apps, and all the help you need – visit NS804 today.