Every year, the IoT market is growing at a tremendous rate. During the Covid-19 pandemic, IoT gadgets and supporting applications became especially popular because it made it possible to greatly simplify customer service. Today it is widely used in various industries, and new technologies are emerging. For your IoT application to work correctly, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive testing to identify the slightest errors that can negatively affect the operation of the device.
What Is IoT Testing?
IoT is a complex tool that consists of two parts – a sensor and software, through which data is transmitted. Thus, you need to check the operation of both elements.
When we talk about testing IoT devices, it depends on what functions it should perform. So, for example, if you are creating a watch that can measure temperature and blood pressure, you should check the measurement results with your device and traditional measurements (thermometer and blood pressure monitor). At the same time, research should be carried out in different age groups and under other conditions.
Internet of things application testing involves checking not only the interface but also the full functionality, security level, and connection methods, compatibility with different operating systems. It is a complex process that is almost impossible to perform manually with high quality.
What is automation in IoT?
If you want to ensure that your device and its application work correctly, it will be good to use automated tests. It involves the use of various tools that can identify minor errors that can cause harm in the future.
What is the primary purpose of IoT automation testing?
The main goal of Internet of Things devices testing is to identify the slightest errors in the operation of the software and your device. It is worth conducting automated testing from the first stages of development, allowing you to identify the slightest errors that can lead to more complex bugs later.
In addition, implementing automation with IoT devices allows you to create a business infrastructure for agile software development. Planning, managing, executing, and balancing agile methodologies and continuous software development projects is simplified through a dynamic approach to system development and automated testing. It also reduces the cost of software development, since fixing errors at the later stages of development is quite expensive and can disrupt project release dates.
Benefits of IoT Testing
Automation in IoT has several significant advantages:
- A unified strategy for testing functional and non-functional IoT needs;
- Improves user interaction;
- Speeds up time to market.
Thanks to testing, you can launch a high-quality product that will perform the necessary functions and be helpful to users. Recently, more and more companies are developing such projects; thanks to comprehensive testing, you can create a competitive product that will bring you profit.
Why is Test Automation Significant for IoT?
Manual testing can provide less code coverage than automated tests. IoT is an incredibly complex product where you have to take into account a considerable number of factors. Thanks to special tools, you can quickly and easily identify apparent and more difficult errors.
Which Industries Mostly Use IoT?
Many people think that IoT is mainly used in the healthcare industry, but practice shows that it is also finding its way into other sectors.
IoT in Healthcare
Thanks to IoT, the doctor can maximize the service. With this, they can monitor the patient’s condition remotely and check whether they are taking medication correctly without visiting the hospital. In addition, such devices can track the supply, search for drugs, and simplify disease prevention.
IoT in Finance
This technology allows you to collect information about users’ shopping habits quickly. It has led banks and other financial institutions to actively implement this technology, enabling them to provide a broader range of services.
IoT in Hospitality
Recently, more and more people have been using smart homes, smart cities, and smart cars. They allow you to maximize comfort by controlling temperature or air purity, reducing electricity or water consumption, and much more.
IoT in Retail
Smart stores help their owners increase profits through better customer service, as well as reduce warehouse maintenance costs. So, IoT can greatly simplify warehouse navigation and minimize energy consumption and carbon emission of carbon dioxide to the environment.
IoT in Transportation and Logistics
IoT allows for more efficient routes, which helps reduce transfer time and fuel consumption. In addition, with the help of this technology, it becomes much easier for logistics companies and their customers to track cargo to ensure that it arrives at its destination on time.
What types of testing are applied for IoT Devices?
If you are looking for solutions for IoT devices that will allow you to get a high-quality product, you should do several types of testing.
Security Testing
Unfortunately, IoT security leaves much to be desired in 90% of cases. To avoid customers’ data falling into third parties, it is necessary to conduct security testing. It simulates a hacker attack and shows the vulnerabilities of your software.
Connectivity Testing
Your sensor must have a stable connection to the device through which users will receive the necessary data (smartphone, host computer, and more). This connection must be uninterrupted. Testing is to verify the quality of such a connection.
Performance Testing
In the early stages, your software will be used by a limited number of users, but this situation will change gradually. It is crucial your application can serve numerous people.
In addition, as it is used, it will be forced to store a large amount of information. The server or cloud storage can work without interruption.
Functional testing
Your software must perform the functions it was supposed to. Functional testing allows you to check how well your software performs its tasks. In ordinary projects, they can be studied both by manual and automated testing. Still, in the case of IoT, it is better to give preference to automated tests since the architecture of the software itself is more complex here.
Compatibility Testing
Before releasing a project, check its compatibility with different operating systems and browser types. It will make sure that everyone, regardless of what device they use, will be able to receive your services with the highest quality.
Challenges of IoT testing automation
Automating testing for Internet of Things (IoT) systems can be challenging for several reasons:
- Complexity. IoT systems may include various components and devices that make automation more challenging.
- Interoperability. Clients are often interested in combining IoT devices into one ecosystem. Testing strategy and QA automation should take it into account.
- Security. Automating testing for safety can be difficult due to the constantly evolving nature of cyber threats.
- Scalability. It is not easy to automate IoT testing at scale, considering IoT systems can often be large and distributed.
It is a partial list of challenges and complexities you may face laying out and executing an effective IoT testing automation strategy. Rely on our 21+ years of experience in testing and QA to address these challenges at a required level.
