Although every software development project has different requirements, goals, and unique customers in mind, the need to comprehensively test will always remain paramount. Not only will this help to make sure that a product works as it is expected to, but also that it is easy for customers to use.
Yet when a development team reaches testing phases, there can be a lot of moving parts to manage, including preparing the testers, readying a test environment, and developing a uniform method to manage requirements throughout the testing lifecycle.
Of all the testing phases, one of the most important—user acceptance testing (UAT)—can also be one of the most complex to structure. This is why having a testing management tool in place with the ability to access and leverage testing templates can help accelerate and strengthen your UAT testing.
So, just what are UAT testing templates and how can they help your team?
UAT Testing Templates
UAT testing templates encompass the documents that help your team capture and record:
- Individual and overall test case scope
- Test schedules
- Test case owners
- Test case results
- Testing checklists and procedures
UAT testing templates can also help your team to maintain consistency, ensure alignment with best practices, and gain efficiency by expediting the creation of the required documentation.
So, how can you tap into these benefits? Here are four key tips for creating and using UAT testing templates:
1. Simplify capturing results
Testing is hard enough as it is for your team, so make it easy for your testers to capture detailed feedback and test results. Your template should allow for attachments, such as photos, that can help to explain relevant feedback.
Want to take the results to the next level? TestMonitor offers an intuitive test tracking interface that captures the overall score, reflects if the tested software satisfies requirements, and makes it easy to compare test results.
2. Customize existing UAT testing templates to your needs
There is a lot of documentation involved in every phase of UAT testing, but there is no need to constantly reinvent the wheel.
Leveraging existing testing templates can not only help to ensure there is a clear, logical flow to the testing and prevent misunderstandings, but it can also speed up the preparation involved.
3. Clearly link tests to the overall requirement
Each test should have a clear link to a functional or non-functional requirement that was used during the development of your software.
For example, within TestMonitor, teams can easily:
- Provide test data, preconditions, and expected results.
- Upload screenshots and attachments to give testers the information they need to perform the tests.
- Link the test case to predefined requirements, risks, and applications to streamline management and data consolidation.
4. Facilitate ongoing communication
Your UAT testers likely have a lot on their plate. That is why having a mechanism built into your UAT testing template that enables communication between testers and testing managers can help to maintain an overall schedule and resolve any potential issues.
This can not only keep testing on track, but it can also help testers feel that they have resources available if they run into any problems. The end result is a more engaged testing team, a project schedule that more closely matches planned dates, and a more comprehensively tested product.
Take the Next Step
UAT testing templates are a great way to help your team both manage and expedite the complex testing process. Not only do they capture the necessary details of your testing efforts, but they also are a great way to ensure best practices and internal standards are woven into your testing. They are essential for facilitating communication and documenting all of the effort that has gone into the testing process.
Because TestMonitor is designed specifically to help teams with every facet of their software testing efforts, our solution has built-in UAT testing template creation and management functionality, complete with these four features and much more. These are just a few of the many advanced features TestMonitor has ready for your testing team right out of the box.
Ready to see more? Click here to talk with our team about starting a 14-day free trial.
