As a web performance and testing leader with over 12 years of experience, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of thorough cross browser testing before launching any website or application.
With the ever-growing variety of browsers and devices in use today, lack of compatibility testing can truly make or break your product‘s success.
However, with the multitude of automated testing tools out there, how do you zero in on the ideal solution tailored to your needs?
In this comprehensive guide, I share my insider tips and expertise to arm you with the knowledge to pick the right cross browser testing tool for your team.
Understanding Your Unique Cross Browser Testing Needs
Much like building a house, you need to first understand the requirements and lay the blueprint before starting construction. Some key aspects to analyze:
Types of Testing Required
What kinds of application testing do you need to account for and what issues should be flagged?
- Functional Testing – Validating business logic and workflows
- UI/UX Testing – Checking design compatibility across devices
- Layout Testing – Identifying responsiveness issues
- Compliance Testing – ADA, WCAG conformity
Global Browser Market Share Trends
What target browsers should you test for based on real-world usage?
![Global Browser Market Share Statistics]
As per StatCounter, Chrome, Safari and Firefox made up 83% of global desktop and mobile browser usage in 2022. Other relevant browsers like Edge and legacy platforms like IE11 should also be covered.
Common Browser Compatibility Pain Points
What weaknesses should your tool automatically flag during testing?
- Inconsistent navigation on Firefox vs Chrome
- Display errors – page layout, overflow text on Safari
- Certain features like geolocation, not working on browsers
Strategies for Efficient Testing
How can you optimize and avoid repetitive manual testing efforts?
- Perform sanity testing across browsers, deep dive on priority platforms
- Re-use and repeat cross browser test suites, amplify with tools
- Implement parallel testing across browser-device combinations
With clarity on your unique requirements, let‘s look at the key aspects to evaluate when choosing among the various offerings.
Key Evaluation Criteria for Any Cross Browser Testing Tool
All solutions are definitely not equal when it comes to the depth of testing support across browsers. Here are the core parameters you need to scrutinize:
1. Testing Coverage and Depth
- What browsers and versions are supported? Prioritize solutions with coverage for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari – on both desktop and mobile
- Is testing possible across desktop, tablet and mobile devices? This ensures consistency across form factors
- Full legacy browser support – especially IE 11 – is table stakes given enterprise adoption
- Can tools simulate real-world conditions like network throttling, geolocation to detect context-specific issues?
- How many concurrent tests can be executed in parallel? Select tools with high scalability for simultaneous testing.
| Testing Coverage Checklist |
|---|
| Desktop Browser Versions – Chrome, Firefox, Safari latest and 2 older versions |
| Mobile Browser Versions – iOS Safari last 3 versions, Chrome Android |
| Legacy Browser Support – IE 11, IE 10 |
| Devices – Apple iPhone & iPad last 3 OS versions, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel |
| Real-World Testing – Network profiles, Browser profiles, Location simulation |
| Concurrent Testing Volume Support |
I recommend going beyond basic browser and device support and checking how much you can test at scale under real user constraints.
2. Scalability and Seamless Integration
- Can the system help managers visualize real-time analytics dashboard for test status?
- How easily can you integrate cross browser testing into your SDLC workflows – commit stage, build verification etc.?
- Does the tool have public REST APIs that make it easy to build custom add-ons and plugins?
- For enterprise-grade solutions – options for high availability, zero downtime and on-premise installs are preferred
Ensure what‘s under the hood can continue to power your evolving needs.
3. Ease of Use
Your team should be empowered to instantly start testing with minimal ramp up time on the tool‘s usage quirks.
- Browsers and devices should be accessible instantly without configuration
- Allow bulk test upload via repositories instead of manual additions
- Intuitive visual reporting dashboards, ability to filter and compare test runs
- Simple onboarding, learning plan and contextual help for ramp up
Complex tools lead to scarce adoption. Evaluate something lean yet powerful.
4. In-Depth Analytics and Reporting
Actionable insights to pinpoint browser coverage gaps and drive optimization – not just data dumps!
- Visual summary of test pass % across browsers and devices
- Historical reporting to identify problematic browser versions
- Page speed and error tracking – JS errors, 404s, resource loads
- Compare analysis – variance across test runs, drift from baselines
- Ability to export raw test data
Remember – what gets measured, gets improved!
5. Reliable Customer Support
Any tool is only as good as the team that stands behind it.
- 24/7 live customer support via chat, voice and email across regions
- Ticketing system for feature requests and product updates
- Active community forums and blogs for knowledge sharing
- Product tours, documentation and contextual in-app assistance
Testing unfamiliar platforms often needs real-time expert aid which should be accounted for.
6. Cost Optimization and Overall ROI
Balancing capability with value – across a few lenses:
- Pricing model – free trials, monthly and annual packs, enterprise quotes
- Cost saving calculators to determine ROI basis manual testing efforts saved
- Support for burst testing needs with flexible credits system
- Utilization trends and optimization guidance to maximize ROI
Continuously evaluating operational efficiency parameters ensures cost structures evolve in line with testing needs.
Shortlisting the Ideal Solution for Your Needs
With an understanding of key aspects to consider, let‘s look at best practices to evaluate and shortlist automated cross browser testing tools:
Step 1: Prepare an RFP Documenting Testing Requirements
Bring together all test leads and managers to prepare a detailed RFP capturing:
- Types of testing, browsers, devices and use cases needed
- Volume metrics – number of concurrent tests, execution frequency
- Must-have capabilities like real device access, custom reporting etc.
This document acts as the blueprint for tool evaluation.
Step 2: Create a Scorecard for Comparison
For apples-to-apples analysis across tools, create a scorecard to rank them on:
- Capabilities covered – browser, devices, network simulation options
- Effectiveness – reports, analytics, customer support
- Ease of integration – with popular dev tools like Selenium, Appium etc.
- Affordability – TCO models accounting for tester productivity
Grade tools out of 5 to quantify assessments instead of just visual color coding.
Step 3: Evaluate Proof of Concept (POC)
Instead of promises in slideware, validate capabilities with real testing cycles:
- Conduct risk-free 30-day POC on shortlisted products
- Execute actual test suites you run to audit functionality, reporting firsthand
- Document areas of delight or friction for UX, integration etc.
- Interact with support teams to validate responsiveness
POC trials answer questions left unaddressed during paper RFP discussions.
Getting Organizational Consensus
Given cross functional teams involved in application testing, getting all stakeholders on the same page is key for rapid, unified adoption.
Here are some tips on securing organizational alignment:
- Emphasize congruence with long term browser test strategy in all communication
- Socialize benefits specific to each tribe – QA efficiency, dev productivity etc.
- Address concerns around budget approvals, data privacy etc proactively
- Incentivize usage via gamification during initial rollout
With the right approach, gaining consensus to standardize on an automated cross testing platform pays dividends for years down the line in accelerated releases.
Maximizing ROI from Your Investment
Getting the best bang for buck from your cross browser testing tool relies on:
1. Streamlining integration during roll-out
- Prioritize integration with current CI/CD and test pipelines
- Leverage professional services to customize for unique flows
- Start with full manual testing, transition to hybrid leveraging automation
- Closely review early test reports to refine configurations
2. Expanding test coverage iteratively
- Start with base browser/device list, expand quarterly 10-15%
- Use analytics to determine problematic platforms warranting inclusion
- Shift left – execute sanity testing starting code commit stage
3. Optimizing utilization and costs
- Consolidate tools with overlapping capabilities under one hood
- Pool test credits across teams to allow bursts as needed
- Assign specific device packs to tester groups based on scenarios
With mindful adoption, testing tools deliver 3X productivity gains within a year for most teams as per research.
Key Takeaways
I hope this guide served as a detailed yet intuitive handbook to pick the automated cross browser testing solution that best aligns with your application needs – both for today and years down the line.
- Start with documenting your unique functional testing requirements
- Shortlist 2-3 offerings basis key parameters like capability depth, scalability, support
- Validate firsthand with POC trials before purchase signoff
Standardizing on the right test platform pays dividends across release velocity, quality and customer satisfaction metrics.
As a test expert who has evaluated over 100+ tools during my career, I would be glad to offer any personalized recommendations or clarifications. Feel free to reach out to me directly at __.
Happy testing!
