As QA services teams work in hybrid mode, it is not surprising that remote testing technologies are currently in the limelight given how remote work has increasingly dominated professional lives over the past two years.
The main distinction between conventional usability tests and their remote counterparts is the facilitator's and participant's geographical separation. With the moderator watching from a distant location, participants in remote user experience software testing use and interact with the product in their own homes, offices, or other locations. Two types of remote usability testing techniques – moderated and unmoderated are available.
Except for the moderator and participants being physically separated, remote moderated usability testing is similar to in-person research. The preferred QA services applications for remote moderated testing are video conferencing technologies like Google Meet or Zoom. Typically, the test is moderated online, and the moderator may communicate with participants by phone, email, chat, or any combination of these.
Participants in a remote, un-moderated usability test are left to complete the task on their own. A recording of their session is made for subsequent tests. Although there is no participant-moderator interaction throughout the test, you can include prepared questions or tasks. After the test, you may also choose to email the queries.
Usability testing is not easy as testing companies get into unlikely situations while conducting usability tests like which tools should be used to perform these tests, and what is the entry and exit criteria. However, there are some new tools launched in the market that can ease the work. Here is the list of some useful tools that can help in remote usability testing with accuracy and ease:
Tools for usability testing are expanding in both capabilities and numbers. But which one is best for you? See for yourself by looking at this list of 8 fantastic platforms!
Smartlook
Smartlook is a user behavior analytics solution that enables website and mobile app owners to examine the activities of their users. It functions by keeping track of their visits and generating certain data that are intended to improve business profitability and user experience. When a client submits a problem to customer service, if the customer service agent thinks the request is about a bug or an interface issue, they send it to the quality assurance team. To fully understand what transpired, QA further analyze the issue and review the relevant video recordings of the customer. If QA is certain that it is a bug or a UX problem, they further report it, to the development team. Key features of a smart look include:-
- Session Recordings for every user and their interaction
- Heatmaps
- Compatible with websites and mobile apps
- Easy to setup
- It allows you to build funnels to analyze key user flows
Full Story
FullStory is a tool that monitors user activity within your app. User sessions are recorded and replayed, enabling developers and product owners to pinpoint areas where their programmer needs to be improved. The most common choices you'll find when looking into behavior analytics solutions are FullStory, Hotjar, and Smartlook.
While Hotjar cannot be used on mobile applications, Smartlook and FullStory are compatible with websites and mobile apps. Both Smartlook and FullStory support both React Native and native iOS and Android applications. Heatmaps and session recordings (sometimes referred to as session replays) are available on all three platforms. You may create funnels using Smartlook and FullStory to evaluate important user flows (such as onboarding and checkout) and determine conversion rates.
UserZoom
UserZoom has become the most comprehensive usability software testing tool in QA analysis companies nowadays. After acquiring such as Validately and EnjoyHQ, it makes Userzoom more efficient as it now allows you to have more participant options and the capability to bring about your research data in one tool. Talking about remote usability testing, one can recruit participants, get speedy insights, perform unmoderated and moderated testing, analyze session recordings, and collect actionable visions.
Having usability testing capabilities integrated with a research repository and qualitative data analysis tool through EnjoyHQ makes this user testing tool more desirable. Along with usability tests, UserZoom offers other analytics features such as usability bench-marking, tree testing, card testing, and surveys. Having so many features and capabilities makes UserZoom one of the best usability testing tools in the market. Using UserZoom you can perform various types of testing:-
- Usability testing (unmoderated)
- Interviews (moderated tests)
- Surveys
- Live Intercept
- Click Testing
- Card Sorting
- Tree Testing
UXCam App Analytics
This is not a standard usability testing tool because it is a qualitative analytics solution that exclusively offers numerous analytics methodologies for mobile apps. Additionally, the testers are not involved, but there is no cause for concern. It is still useful as a user testing tool. Unlike other in-person usability tests tools, UXCam offers the below benefits:-
- Observe real users
- Save time & money as per plan and execute tests
- Track user journeys over weeks, not a day
- Access all relevant insights on the dashboard
Along with additional features like heatmaps and conversion funnel analysis, it provides session recordings that you can utilize to view every user interaction. They all contribute to quickly identifying usability problems. The specific filter mechanism makes identifying particular user groups or sessions with frustrating behavior easier. Without affecting performance, UXCam is running in the background of your app. Instead of using data from a fake lab trial, users of the programmer utilize it in their everyday environments, giving you real-world data. UXCam is extremely easy to use and can be integrated into your mobile app in 5 minutes. And many organizations are using this tool for years due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness.
UserTesting
Due to a variety of factors, UserTesting and UserZoom have comparable fan bases. In the market, both are essential when it comes to usability testing. Except for interface and pricing variances, both applications provide identical functions. The user testing tool provides some of the best features that enable lag-free live chat with other users. You may document crucial moments in the process using the platform's video recording capability. As a result, identifying faults and fixing them following business requirements is simple. Moments may be captured and changed for greater performance by being recorded. In contrast, we can say that UserTesting allows you to “bring customers into every step of the process” and that makes it one of the picket QA services tools when it comes to remote usability tests.
MyCrowd QA
MyCrowd QA is an on-demand crowd testing platform for websites and mobile apps. It provides thousands of testers who compete to find bugs. Testers use their own testing devices as actual users and perform the task. So, this exercise comes up with actual or real-time issues. After that, it compiles and assesses the comments, then gives you the information and a final report. This flexibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness make this tool most lovable among organizations. The benefits of MyCrowd are as follows:-
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Cost-effective
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Test your app on every device
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Provide expert Crowdtesters
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Perform validation and regression testing
TestRail
Due to its release of standard features, TestRail is one of the traditional usability testing tools. User testing and segmentation options are popular, but TestRail provides a report that is frequently utilized by professionals. Users will find it easier to grasp and behave properly as a result.
Every tool has to be updated regularly since it enables them to incorporate new and better testing methods. Because it often releases new features, TestRail keeps its audience interested. This allows users to appreciate the tool and utilize it for a variety of purposes.
Usability Hub
Due to its consistent updates and cutting-edge features, Crazy Egg is one of the most well-known names in the market. Many Crazy Egg users are known to make use of the many reports that the application provides. To give testers a thorough report they can appreciate, the majority of reports concentrate on several test sessions.The user testing tool has options for high-quality heat maps. As a result, it is widely used by experts everywhere. The tool also has a scroll map feature that enables you to locate the participant's or user's interest zone. The heat map and scroll map reports provide you with information to create call-to-action buttons.
- Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses
- Availability of customized plans
- Efficient heat map and scroll map abilities
Wrap Up
Testing for usability is essential when creating apps and websites. You may use it to pinpoint important problems and learn how potential clients see your product so that you can make necessary adjustments and advancements before it enters the market. Software Testing has a price tag, like most worthwhile company endeavors, but it's an investment that enables you to produce a superior product. A variety of functionalities are needed for the user testing process. To properly find the outcome, it is therefore imperative to employ moderated remote usability testing methods. You may get a sense of the benefits and drawbacks of the top 8 remote usability testing tools listed above. It aids you in choosing the appropriate tool to carry out the necessary activities.
