Staying ahead of the curve is invaluable in the technology world, and as Salesforce experts, we at Provar know this all too well. We also know that testing isn’t just important. It’s absolutely critical for mitigating risk and keeping your Salesforce environment and business processes safe from end to end. We’re all about delivering top-notch experiences to our customers, and that means making sure every little bit of our business, from start to finish, runs like a well-oiled machine.

That’s why we decided to do what we do best — test — on none other than ourselves! We used our very own Salesforce test automation solution, Provar Automation, to test our website, www.provar.com, for inefficiencies and bugs. Our team of engineers, fueled by a passion for innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence, led the charge in the hopes that the following case study would help businesses across the globe see what they can do with a strong test automation solution, and what unwanted issues can be kept at bay.

Provar Automation allows you to create, run, and debug tests both inside and outside of Salesforce. It has a litany of powerful features, from interactive test authoring to dynamic test data generation with smart autocomplete. It has been the go-to solution for automated Salesforce testing since 2014.

And speaking of staying ahead, this background on what’s to come wouldn’t be complete without a shoutout to ProvarLabs, our very own think tank where innovation thrives. These folks make up an internal Provar team that is all about cooking up the latest and greatest ideas and tech. They’re the visionaries behind this internal case study and the reason we can anticipate our customers’ needs before they even know it themselves.

So buckle up, because in this case study, we’re doing things a little different than the successes we’ve covered in the past. This case study will cover how Provar’s commitment to innovation, backed by Provar Automation and the brainpower of ProvarLabs, keeps our website running like a dream — and how you can use this knowledge to audit your own business.

The Challenge

While Provar has earned its stripes as a leading test automation solution for Salesforce, the truth is, its capabilities extend far beyond the realms of just one CRM. From API automation to web services and everything in between, Provar is a juggernaut when it comes to tackling diverse testing scenarios.

In the context of our own website, www.provar.com, we faced a familiar challenge: ensuring that every aspect of the user experience remained flawless. To tackle this important requirement head-on, we turned to Provar Automation to automate several critical scenarios as part of our regular regression testing process.

First and foremost, we needed to ensure that our website was free from any broken links. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating for users than clicking on a link only to be met with a dreaded 404 error. Additionally, we needed to verify that all URLs were redirecting correctly, preventing any potential mishaps caused by incorrect redirects.

We also wanted to confirm that auto-redirect URLs were landing users on the correct page, eliminating any confusion or frustration. Ensuring that the content loaded on each URL was as expected was another crucial aspect of our overall testing goal, guaranteeing a seamless browsing experience for our visitors.

Furthermore, as a business deeply integrated with Salesforce, we needed to validate the smooth flow of data from our website to our own Salesforce environment. This involved rigorous testing of lead creation processes, ensuring that every interaction with our website seamlessly translated into actionable insights within Salesforce. This includes forms such as contact boxes and white paper downloads.

Finally, we wanted to test to ensure adequate website performance. Utilizing Provar Automation’s tagging and SLA features, we meticulously monitored loading times and performance metrics to make sure our website met the highest standards of responsiveness and reliability.

The Process

Implementing automated tests to address the challenges outlined above required a structured and systematic approach, but luckily, Provar Automation helped us rise to the occasion. Leveraging its versatile capabilities, we devised a comprehensive process to ensure thorough testing coverage of our website.

Identifying Test Scenarios

We began by identifying key test scenarios critical to the functionality and user experience of our website. These included validating menu options present on the main page of Provar, ensuring smooth execution of various field interactions such as hover, click, set, clear, and asserting assertions, among others.

Utilizing Provar Automation’s Features

Provar Automation’s extensive set of features played a pivotal role in our testing process. We explored different types of locators available in the solution, including ProvarX, ByName, ByCSS, ByLabel, ByJavascript, and ById, to ensure robust and reliable element identification with minimal script maintenance.

Automation Implementation and Validating Web-to-Lead Interactions

With the help of Provar Automation’s easy-to-use, intuitive capabilities, we proceeded to automate a series of critical scenarios on our website. This included validating links and sub-links under sections such as About, Products, and Resources. Additionally, we automated the login/logout process for the University of Provar and the submission of the “Contact Us” form, which served as the starting point for web-to-lead interactions. This is a vital test for any business looking to validate the success of its marketing strategy, as it’s not enough to just bring visitors to your website — you must find a way to keep them and encourage them to take action, as well. A good strategy in this area will help you store, score, qualify, and route customer information to the appropriate department, and your testing strategy should ensure efficiency within this process.

Script Development and Execution

Our team meticulously crafted Provar Automation test scripts to replicate user interactions and validate desired outcomes. This process is simple, and once scripts are created, they can be reused across various aspects of the business, saving time and maintenance. We leveraged Provar Automation’s intuitive interface to design and execute tests seamlessly, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all identified scenarios.

Iterative Refinement

Testing is an iterative process, and we continuously refined our automated scripts to enhance efficiency and accuracy. We fine-tuned test scripts, adjusted locators as necessary, and expanded test coverage to address evolving requirements and feedback. Luckily, our test scripts went off without a hitch and this process was straightforward and easily maintainable.

Integration with Continuous Integration (CI) Pipeline

To streamline our testing process and promote continuous integration and delivery, we integrated the Provar Automation tests mentioned above into our CI pipeline. This allowed for automated execution of tests in parallel with future development cycles, facilitating early detection and resolution of issues.

We were pleased to see that our website was working as expected and that no broken elements were identified, but just because no errors were found does not mean this testing process was fruitless. In fact, it is quite the opposite. We are not only thrilled that our efforts have resulted in an excellent user experience for our website visitors, but also that we can remain confident in it continuing to work seamlessly thanks to the automated tests our team put in place, regardless of forthcoming Salesforce or Provar updates.

How You Can Use These Results to Audit Your Own Business

Now that we’ve walked you through our journey of using Provar Automation to meticulously test and refine www.provar.com, you might be wondering how you can apply these insights to your own business.

Here’s how you can leverage our experience to audit your own operations.

Identify Critical Test Scenarios

Start by identifying the key functionalities and user interactions on your website or application that are critical to your business success. These could include form submissions (web-to-lead iterations as discussed above), navigation flows, or data integrations.

Explore Automation Tools

Investigate automation solutions like Provar Automation that offer robust capabilities for testing across various platforms and environments. Look for features that streamline test creation, execution, and maintenance, ultimately saving you time and resources.

Craft Comprehensive Test Scripts

Develop detailed test scripts that replicate user actions and validate expected outcomes. Ensure that your scripts cover a wide range of scenarios to provide comprehensive test coverage.

Iterate and Refine

Testing is an iterative process, so don’t be afraid to refine your test scripts based on feedback and evolving requirements. Continuously improve your automation framework to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Integrate with CI/CD Pipelines

Integrate your automated tests into your continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to enable automated testing throughout the development lifecycle. This allows for early detection and resolution of issues, minimizing the risk of bugs making their way into production.

Monitor and Maintain

Regularly monitor the performance and reliability of your automated tests, and proactively address any issues that arise. Keep your test scripts up to date with changes to your application or environment to ensure ongoing effectiveness.

By following these steps and leveraging the insights gained from our experience testing our own website, you can establish a robust testing framework that safeguards the integrity and functionality of your digital assets. And remember, just like we’re here to help you navigate the testing landscape, Provar Automation is ready to support your testing needs every step of the way.

Want to learn more about how Provar Automation can help your business continue to run smoothly through Salesforce updates, internal customizations, and everything in between? Set up a demo with a Provar expert today!