Enterprise software solutions such as ERP and CRM are crucial for business success, but their effectiveness relies on successful adoption by end-users. User acceptance testing (UAT) is the final testing phase conducted by those using the software regularly, ensuring it meets their requirements.

UAT is a testing process that evaluates a system based on user needs, requirements, and business processes to determine if it meets acceptance criteria. This testing phase enables users, customers, or authorized entities to decide whether or not to accept the system. By allowing intended users to evaluate the software before implementation, UAT allows them to determine whether it aligns with their current business process implementation methods.

As you’re now aware of the importance of UAT, another challenging question is how to do it within the stipulated time. The answer is by using automation. Most manual testing uses traditional Excel sheets shared on the cloud or local environments. While this method is better than no testing, it’s considered outdated, and it’s time to upgrade your projects by incorporating test automation tools.

Top 3 Automation Tools for UAT
Here is a list of automation tools for UAT testing:

Selenium

Selenium is a very popular open-source test automation tool. It can also be used for UAT. Selenium allows you to create test scripts for web applications in different programming languages such as Java, Python, and C#. These scripts automate manual and repetitive steps such as data entry, form submission, and navigation. Selenium can be integrated with various testing frameworks like TestNG and JUnit to create more robust and scalable test suites. This allows UAT testers to manage and run tests across different environments easily. Selenium also provides detailed test reports highlighting each test case’s status, including any failures or errors that occur during the testing process.

Selenium is undoubtedly a great tool for UAT, but there are also certain limitations. Selenium is primarily designed for automating web applications. Thus, it offers limited support for non-web applications like desktop or mobile apps. Another drawback is that programming language knowledge, such as Java, Python, or C#, is required to create and run automated tests. Since UAT is performed by end users, i.e., non-technical folks, using Selenium isn’t a viable solution.

Opkey

Opkey is a leading no-code test automation platform suited for UAT of 14+ ERP applications like Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Salesforce. The biggest selling point of Opkey is that it offers features like scriptless automation. It means that business users can create and execute test cases without requiring any programming knowledge. The learning curve is low; even non-technical users can operate Opkey with minimum training. Opkey supports parallel testing and can also test mobile, desktop, and web applications. It supports different operating systems, mobile devices, and browser combinations.

Other advantages of using Opkey include faster test case creation and execution, improved collaboration between business and IT teams due to native integration with test management solutions, and enhanced test coverage and accuracy. The autonomous self-healing capability of Opkey ensures effortless test script maintenance. The only downside is that it is available with commercial licensing.

TestComplete

Another popular UAT automation tool is TestComplete. It supports multiple scripting languages such as JavaScript, VBScript, Python, and C++, allowing testers to create and run automated tests for web, desktop, and mobile applications. It also provides detailed reports on test results and supports collaboration and integration with other testing tools.

Since TestComplete is a commercial tool, it can be expensive, especially for small businesses or startups. The learning curve is steep and non-technical users need to put effort into using it. Maintaining and keeping test scripts up to date can be time-consuming and require dedicated resources. TestComplete may not support all platforms, operating systems, or technologies, which could limit its effectiveness for certain projects.