High-quality content, particularly videos, gets all sorts of love from users. This content ranges from sports, news, and television series to smartphone-recorded videos. The advent of Over The Top (OTT) platforms has transformed the way individuals engage with content. A study by AlliedMarket Research forecasts the global OTT market to surge at a CAGR of 29.4% over the next ten years, touching the $1,039.03 billion mark by 2027
Through platforms, viewers consume their favorite shows at their convenience, breaking away from the constraints of time-tabled programs and device-specific programs. They can play via numerous devices, including Smart TVs and smartphones.
While OTT platforms endow digital viewers with myriad advantages, OTT automation testing becomes necessary. Ensuring high-quality streaming and impeccable app performance is paramount, irrespective of the device, location, or network utilized to access them.
OTT Automation Testing- A Brief
OTT testing with automation involves software and tools that help automate tasks such as running scripts, comparing expected and actual outcomes, and generating test reports. Testing with automation on all devices is crucial because viewers access OTT platforms – like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video – on many screens.
Market leaders in the OTT industry, like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, use auto-testing to ensure a seamless user experience. There is an interesting anecdote about Netflix using chaos engineering to test their platform.
They created a tool called “Chaos Monkey” to break their production environment intentionally. By creating a self-induced system failure, they could pinpoint weaknesses and improve resilience using the power of testing with automation.
The leading OTT platforms are
- Amazon Kindle Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime
- Chrome OS
- Xbox
- Android TV
- Samsung TV
- Sony Playstation
- And more
OTT Automation Testing Involves
- Functional Testing:– Testing UI, encoding, video player, and streaming of the OTT app
- Performance Testing:– Testing automation companies do this test to check whether the app can handle high traffic without crashing or slowing down.
- Compatibility Testing:– To ensure the app is functional on different devices and operating systems.
- Location Testing:– Assessing performance and content availability for different locations to ensure consistent content delivery worldwide.
- Live Stream Testing:– This is for media, entertainment, and sports companies to avoid technical failures during live streaming that can turn off viewers.
- Browser Testing:– Verifying platform functionality/compatibility across web browsers.
- Localization Testing:– OTT automation test of localization features, such as language support, time zones, currency, and cultural adaptations.
- Network Testing:– For evaluating OTT streaming services under various network conditions. Testers consider slow network connectivity, latency, high bandwidth, and other network conditions during network testing.
- Security Testing:– Covers testing for protecting users’ personal information on the OTT platform.
- Integration Testing:– Ensures that different functional modules of an app function properly when used together.
Why Is OTT Automation Testing Necessary?
Unlike manual testing, automation tests for OTT are less prone to human error, save significant time, and increase the speed and efficiency of your testing process. However, you should remember that automation testing only partially replaces manual testing.
Efficient Testing
Automation tests allow tests on numerous devices simultaneously, reducing time and effort. Testers can quickly find the problems, thereby improving the efficiency of the development cycles.
Cost Effective Testing
With automated testing, there is decreased dependency on manual work. Manual testing is more than just time-consuming; it may lead to human error, leading to considerable costs in the long term.
Automation reduces human mistakes and extra resource requirements, streamlining the testing process.
Comprehensive Test Coverage
The vast difference between automation and manual testing is the coverage. OTT Automation testing can enable testing under various scenarios and test cases. And that should always be the case for OTT developers as it guarantees extensive testing coverage.
It aids in pinpointing potential flaws and compatibility problems across many devices.
Speeding Up The OTT Launch
Testing with automation shortens the overall testing time. There is no recurring test further facilitating swifter OTT application deployment. It assists businesses in quickly penetrating the market and achieving a competitive advantage.
Scalability And Flexibility
Automation differs from manual testing, where scaling down always involves allocating more resources. You can effortlessly expand to include many devices and platforms through automation. These frameworks offer the flexibility to adjust and incorporate modifications in the OTT application without extensive reworking.
Trusted Test Results
Testing by the best QA automation testing services companies guarantees consistent, dependable test outcomes, disposing of the variability caused by manual testing. It provides accurate test execution and data-driven confirmations, improving the dependability of the testing process.
Automated test scripts carry out test cases consistently and accurately, curtailing the chance of human mistakes. It enables thorough OTT application functionality verification, leading to superior test precision.
How To Do OTT Automation Testing? Key Considerations
Define Your Testing Objectives
Precisely list the particular elements of the OTT application that require testing. Once you highlight the principal functionalities, performance indicators, and compatibility needs, the testing process goes.
Setting Up The Testing Environment
Get vital OTT testing tools/frameworks after thorough research or seeking help from automation testing companies. Establish the necessary hardware and software specifications for all devices under examination.
Have A Detailed Test Plan
Divide your testing procedure into achievable phases. Describe the test scenarios, encompassing inputs, projected outputs, and required preconditions or dependencies.
Choosing The Relevant Test Automation Tools
Research and select dependable automation tools aiding OTT testing on diverse devices. Confirm that the tools can manage your OTT application’s exclusive features and functions. You seek help from test automation consulting in choosing the right tools. Here are the top three automation tools for OTT.
Selenium
This powerful tool supports multiple languages such as Python, Java, C#, etc. It has a large support community, which can be very helpful when encountering bottlenecks.
Appium
If you are targeting mobile devices, Appium can be a great choice. It supports Android and iOS testing and works with any programming language supporting HTTP requests.
BrowserStack
We’re already familiar with the utility of Appium in carrying out over-the-top (OTT) auto-testing on specific devices. However, another area of focus with OTT testing is the vast variety of OTT platforms, each with distinct operating systems, unique designs, and so on.
Therefore, top automation consulting companies use this cloud testing platform like BrowserStack, which plays an indispensable role by providing the ability to test a broad range of devices available on the market.
Primarily used as an OTT Testing tool, BrowserStack is currently compatible with Android TVs and FireStick devices.
Developing Test Scripts And Automation Frameworks
Compose test scripts using a coding language congruous with your selected automation tools. Construct a sturdy automation structure that eases test implementation, results reporting, and error management.
Conducting The Test
Carry out the test scripts on various devices in your testing space and oversee the test implementation process. Gather appropriate data and logs for further testing.
Concluding The OTT Automation Test Results
Assess the test results to ascertain the victory or defeat of each test scenario. Spot any flaws or problems and chronicle them accurately and succinctly.
Generate a detailed test report encapsulating the results, including any noted disruptions or threats. And distribute the report among developers, QA teams, project leads, and other stakeholders.
Subsequent Testing For Improvement
Incorporate the knowledge gained from the testing process into subsequent iterations. Persistently refine your test scenarios, automation scripts, and overall testing approach.
Remember, well-maintained test automation requires regular updating as you add features, fix bugs, and make other changes to your platform. You’re not only looking for issues in your apps or site but also making sure your test automation continues to do its job correctly.
Endnote
Perfecting your OTT platform’s performance across all devices is critical in an age of diversified digital media consumption. Studies show the average user will only be patient with a sub-par app or site for a short time. OTT Automation testing helps ensure an optimum viewing experience across different devices by simulating user interactions and real-world scenarios.
Once you have your core elements sorted – the proper framework, the range of devices, and the network conditions – you can start with your testing. Make sure to prioritize and organize your tests based on typical user behavior and actions that are key to your platform’s performance.
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