7 Key Challenges With Salesforce Automation Testing
Tags: testing
Published: 2022-10-17 12:40:38

Have you ever used Salesforce and wondered how to perform testing on it?

Our article explores the challenges businesses face when they need to test Salesforce. It highlights crucial tips when choosing an external partner to help with testing.

This article is for you.

### **What is Salesforce?**

Salesforce is a popular cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) tool. Businesses can use it to manage data, automate processes, and handle other tasks.

### **Who uses Salesforce?**

Major companies such as Amazon, Spotify, Accenture and American Express use Salesforce.

![companies which use salesforce](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/qd36al0jiftx7y5lh6jg.png)
 
It’s also a common choice for companies that need to conduct sales or marketing activities. Salesforce has become integral to many [organisations' technology stacks](https://www.weareroadmap.com/insights/the-evolution-of-the-tech-stack/). So, like any other software, Salesforce must be tested before it goes into production.
 
Many businesses don’t have the internal resources to perform thorough testing. This can cause bugs to be missed and discovered. This can cause difficulties for your organisation.
 
### **Challenges in Salesforce Automation**

[Salesforce automation testing](https://www.functionize.com/salesforce-testing) is vital for any business, as it makes processes run smoothly and helps ensure that any company complies with the Salesforce platform. 
 
However, performing testing on Salesforce brings many challenges.

**Related:** [3 Types Of Software Testing For Software Engineers](https://techwithmaddy.com/3-types-of-software-testing-for-developers)

#### 1. Frequent System Updates

![system-update](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9n9z454nq68f6y0fohay.png)

If you use Salesforce for business, you’re probably aware of the frequent system updates.
 
These updates usually add new features. So external testing companies must ensure their testing tools work with these changes.
 
For example, Salesforce recently announced its [Lightning Experience](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/lex_migration_introduction/lex_migration_introduction_whatis). This is a new user interface for the platform. Therefore, you should update any automated tests to run on this new version of Salesforce.

#### 2. Shadow DOMs

The Salesforce shadow DOM is a new feature in the platform. It allows you to create custom HTML and CSS for your pages. This is important because you must update automated tests to work with shadow DOMs.

An example of [Shadow DOM](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/component-library/documentation/en/lwc/lwc.create_dom):

```
<c-todo-app>
  #shadow-root
    <div>
        <p>Your To Do List</p>
    </div>
    <c-todo-item>
      #shadow-root
        <div>
            <p>Go to the store</p>
        </div>
    </c-todo-item>
</c-todo-app>
```
 
But updating your tests is challenging if you don't have coding knowledge. So, many companies hire Salesforce test automation engineers. They ensure that their automated testing tools are compatible with these changes.

#### 3. Heavy DOM Structure

We're still on DOMs. “DOM” stands for Document Object Model, and it’s a model of the document. It’s similar to the concept of class in Java. 

When Salesforce introduced Shadow DOMs, they said they'd update Salesforce for all platforms, but this hasn't happened yet. And there are many issues with the current version of Salesforce.
 
One problem is a heavy DOM structure. This makes it harder for automated testing tools to function correctly.
 
Test automation engineers must change their tests when Salesforce updates. This can be a significant issue if you have an older version of Salesforce. That's because it may not be compatible with new technologies like Shadow DOMs.

#### 4. Hidden Element Identifiers

Another issue affecting automated testing is the use of hidden elements in Salesforce. These are typically used to hide information from users. They require special CSS selectors that can be difficult for automated tools to find.


![javascript-framework](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/nayghh9lfl9ernmmrpjl.png)
 
It’s problematic because it's difficult for automated tools to find the element. Hidden elements also cause problems with other testing frameworks. These issues usually come with [Salesforce’s JavaScript framework](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/javascript-essentials-salesforce-developers).

#### 5. Dynamic Elements

Dynamic elements are challenging because they’re difficult to identify and change throughout the application.  

The Salesforce platform combines JavaScript and CSS to create dynamic elements like drag-and-drop interfaces.
 
For inexperienced business users, this can be a genuine concern. It’s easy to miss or overlook these elements and make mistakes in testing. This leads to inaccurate results. It can also lead to a failed test that incorrectly identifies an issue as resolved when it isn’t.

#### 6. Iframes

Iframes are frames within the application that can be opened and closed using buttons or links. But they’re not part of the Salesforce code itself.
 
Remember, you cannot control these elements when testing pages with iframes. You must get permission from your IT department before attempting to test them. If not, you could accidentally expose sensitive information on your company’s network.

#### 7. Highly Customizable

Salesforce is highly customisable. It offers different ways to build the same page. You must test these variations because they affect how well your application performs for end users.

![build1](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/crkwtlu1crre2m1gw0u0.jpg)
 
For example, let's say you have a page where users must create new accounts and add their information. Here, it’s crucial to test the different fields.
 
But without experience, it’s unlikely you’ll know the relevant and irrelevant fields. This leads to drops in conversion rates and other issues you could avoid with app testing.

#### How to Choose The Right Person to Help you Overcome These Challenges

Now that you know the issues you may encounter when testing, it’s time to find a solution. Many test types are available today, but they’re not all the same.
 
You should consider three factors to evaluate the right person: **experience**, **certifications**, and **online reviews**.
 
Experience is vital because it shows how long a tester has been in the field. It shows you the projects they’ve worked on and their track record.
 
When looking at certifications, ensure the person knows the latest industry standards.
 
Finally, looking at online reviews from current and past clients would be best. These tell you how the tester communicates with their clients. Thus, showing you what kind of personality they have.

#### Conclusion

There are several challenges that businesses face in testing. Ensuring the tests are thorough and follow [industry standards](https://www.tricentis.com/blog/un-bottleneck-salesforce-testing-update-process). Companies must hire testers who understand the details of building successful testing programs. This simplifies things and improves business processes.