Being a Salesforce tester means more than simply clicking through screens and recording bugs; it means taking on the role of quality gatekeeper in a rapidly evolving, highly configurable platform. Delivering seamless, safe, and scalable Salesforce solutions depends on your work, whether you’re testing Apex code, verifying automation rules, or making sure the appropriate individuals have access.
We’ll go over practical, tried-and-true advice in this blog that goes beyond the fundamentals. These pro tips are directly derived from practical experience with high-stakes production deployments, Agile teams, and UAT cycles. You’re at the perfect place if you’re prepared to step up your QA game, steer clear of typical traps, and establish yourself as a top tier Salesforce tester.
Let’s dive in and explore what separates good testers from great ones.
1. Hold Off on Testing During Sprint 0
Yes, you read that right, don’t start formal testing during Sprint 0. Instead, explore the org or website freely. Get familiar with the environment and document your observations. This will give you a head start once testing begins.
2. Keep Your Test Evidence Organized
Maintain a clean, structured folder system for all your test evidence. A well-organized repository allows developers, testers, and business teams to revisit past test results with ease.
3. Write Clear Test Cases and Ask Questions Early
Always document test cases clearly and concisely. If you have any doubts about user stories, don’t hesitate to ask questions to business analysts and solution architects; clarity upfront avoids confusion later.
4. Report Bugs with Detailed Information
When you log a defect, be specific. Include details like the environment, severity, priority, steps to reproduce, and expected behavior. A thorough bug report speeds up resolution and prevents miscommunication.
5. Raise Concerns in Daily Standups
Use daily scrum meetings to raise any concerns about risks, priorities, or critical bugs. Transparency in communication helps the entire team act quickly.
6. Prioritize P0 Test Cases During Smoke Testing
Always include P0 (high-priority) test cases in your smoke testing cycle. These are critical to validating the core functionality of the application.
7. Execute Test Cases Within Deadline
Make it a goal to complete all assigned test cases on time. Early completion gives you room for exploratory testing, which often uncovers edge-case bugs.
8. Immediately Report If Broken P0 Functionality Found
If a P0 feature doesn’t work, don’t wait, log the defect right away and notify the development and business analyst teams so it can be resolved quickly.
9. Log the Bug Before Consulting Developers
Don’t wait for confirmation from the dev team. If you find a valid issue, raise the bug first. Then collaborate with developers and business analysts for further validation.
10. Handle Doubtful Bugs with Caution
If you’re unsure whether something is a bug, avoid logging it immediately. Instead, tag the dev and BA team in Chatter or email, and ask for feedback. If you find a confirmed bug along with doubtful ones, include the uncertain issues in the same ticket to reduce the risk of rejection.
11. Be Thorough Because Testers Hold More Responsibility
Testers are the gatekeepers of quality. Missing a single step from a test case can lead to critical defects. If anything is skipped, raise it immediately and collaborate with developers for a fix.
12. Document Everything, No Verbal Discussion or Arguments
Always keep a record of important discussions in Chatter or official emails. This protects you and ensures accountability if questions arise later.
13. Report Lower-Priority Bugs Post Production Deployment
If you detect a P2, P3, or lower-priority bug in production (like a missing field), reach out to the development and BA team for further analysis.
14. Act Quickly on P0/P1 Production Bugs
If a major issue (P0/P1) goes live, raise the bug without delay and notify the relevant teams. Fast action is critical to minimize business impact.
15. Defects Reflect Team Performance
The number of bugs logged can reflect the effectiveness of both testers and developers. More valid bugs indicate sharp testing skills, while fewer bugs reflect strong development practices.
16. Perform Regression Testing Before Every Release
Salesforce environments change frequently, especially with triannual releases. Always perform regression tests to ensure new changes do not break existing features.
17. Validate Customizations and Configurations Thoroughly
Salesforce orgs often contain custom fields, automation rules, flows, Apex triggers, and more. Ensure every customization is covered in your test scenarios, including both positive and negative flows.
18. Use Sandboxes Effectively for Testing
Always test in a sandbox environment before production deployment. Use different sandboxes (Dev, UAT, Full Copy) for different testing stages to avoid conflicts and data corruption.
19. Automate Repetitive Test Cases
Automate stable and repetitive test scenarios using tools like Selenium, Provar, or TestComplete to save time and improve accuracy, especially in regression testing.
20. Use Test Data Strategically
Don’t just use static or random data. Create meaningful, reusable test data that mirrors real-world use cases. Set up test data quickly by using tools like Salesforce Data Loader or custom scripts.
21. Take Help from Salesforce Debug Logs for Deep Investigation
When a test fails due to an error or unexpected behavior, download and analyze the debug logs. These logs offer insights into automation, Apex errors, and workflow issues.
22. Test Across Profiles and Permission Sets
In Salesforce, not all users see the same UI or have the same access. Test every feature across relevant user profiles and permission sets to ensure security and role-based access control.
23. Track Test Coverage for Apex Classes and Triggers
Ensure that your Apex test classes provide at least 75% code coverage (as per Salesforce’s requirement), but aim for more where possible. Cover bulk scenarios and exceptions too.
24. Collaborate with Developers During Sprint Planning
Get involved early. attend sprint planning sessions to understand what’s coming and provide input on test efforts, possible risks, and dependencies.
25. Keep Learning, Stay Updated with Salesforce Releases
Salesforce introduces new features and deprecates old ones regularly. Follow release notes, Trailhead modules, and community forums to keep your knowledge current and relevant.
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