"Salesforce Testing Guide: Tools, Types, Best Practices (2025)"
A Complete Guide to
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Salesforce is powerful, but its true potential is unlocked only through robust testing. This guide breaks down how to ensure your CRM functions flawlessly, securely, and efficiently. First, let’s understand where Salesforce originated.
Salesforce develops cloud software that helps businesses with sales, customer service, marketing, and more.
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A system designed to help businesses manage, analyze, and improve their sales pipeline and customer relationships. It is often part of a broader Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
What is Salesforce Testing?
Salesforce Testing is a critical practice for any business that customizes or scales its Salesforce CRM. With regular platform updates and the flexibility of custom development, even minor changes can impact major business functions. Salesforce Testing verifies that everything in Salesforce works correctly after changes or updates — including custom code, settings, and connected systems.
Since Salesforce is cloud-based and updated frequently, regular testing ensures nothing breaks and business processes remain smooth.
Salesforce Testing Lifecycle
Beyond unit tests, a comprehensive lifecycle ensures robust application quality. This process guides a feature from initial concept to deployment and maintenance.
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By testing thoroughly, businesses keep operations smooth, data secure, and users happy.
Types of Salesforce Testing
Salesforce testing encompasses various types, each focusing on different aspects of the application to ensure comprehensive quality.
Functional Testing
Verifies that the system behaves as expected (e.g., lead conversion, opportunity stages).
Regression Testing
Ensures new changes haven’t broken existing functionality, especially after updates or deployments.
Unit Testing (Apex)
Salesforce requires at least 75% code coverage for Apex classes and triggers. Unit tests validate custom logic written by developers.
Integration Testing
Tests if Salesforce interacts correctly with external systems (ERP, APIs).
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
End-users validate that the system meets business requirements.
Security Testing
Validates roles, profiles, field-level security, and sharing settings to protect sensitive data.
Interactive Guide to Apex Unit Testing
An interactive walkthrough of the Salesforce Apex testing framework.
- The Test Class
- Test Methods
- Test Data Creation
- Execution & System Methods
- Assertions: Verifying Results
- Code Coverage Requirement
Why Salesforce Testing Matters
Without thorough testing, any Salesforce instance is exposed to significant business risks. Interact with the cards below to understand the core threats and why they cannot be ignored.
Broken Workflows
Bad Data
Failed Connections
Frustrated Users
Security Risks
Manual vs. Automated Salesforce Testing
Manual Testing
Pros:
- Ideal for exploratory and usability testing
- Requires human intuition and visual verification
- Lower initial setup cost
Cons:
- Time-consuming and prone to human error
- Difficult to scale for large regression suites
- Inefficient for repetitive tasks
Automated Testing
Pros:
- Faster execution with higher accuracy
- Repeatable, scalable, and ideal for regression
- Allows testers to focus on more complex scenarios
Cons:
- Higher initial investment and setup cost
- Requires scripting knowledge and maintenance
- Less suitable for highly dynamic UIs
Salesforce Testing Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Selenium | Open-source UI test automation |
| Provar | End-to-end Salesforce testing |
| Copado | CI/CD and automated testing |
| Testim | AI-powered test automation |
| Apex Tests | Unit testing for custom logic |
Best Practices for Salesforce Testing
Adhering to these best practices will significantly improve the quality and efficiency of your Salesforce testing efforts.
- Understand your Salesforce usage and processes.
- Test all custom code thoroughly (Apex, workflows).
- Repeat regression tests after each update or change.
- Automate repetitive tests to save time.
- Test both Lightning and Classic interfaces if both are used.
- Always test in sandbox environments before production.
- Perform testing regularly, especially after Salesforce seasonal releases.
Challenges in Salesforce Testing
- Frequent Updates: Salesforce releases three updates annually, which can cause unexpected issues.
- Complex Customizations: Custom code and workflows require careful testing.
- Integration Issues: Connecting with external systems can be complex.
- Limited Test Data: Realistic data is often missing in sandboxes.
- Multiple Interfaces: Need to cover both Lightning and Classic UIs.
- Security Rules: Profiles and permissions affect test results.
- Time-Consuming Manual Testing: Without automation, testing is slower and error-prone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How often should Salesforce testing be performed?
A: Testing should be ongoing, especially before and after deployments, and after Salesforce’s three annual release cycles.
Q2: Can Salesforce testing be fully automated?
A: Not entirely. While regression and functional tests can be automated, exploratory and UAT testing usually require manual intervention.
Q3: What’s the difference between unit testing and functional testing in Salesforce?
A: Unit testing targets individual code units (like Apex classes), whereas functional testing validates entire business processes end-to-end.
Q4: What are the best tools for Salesforce test automation?
A: Popular tools include Selenium, Provar, Copado, and Testim, each suited for different testing needs.
Final Thoughts
Salesforce testing is more than a technical task—it’s a strategic process that protects your CRM investment and ensures smooth business operations. By adopting best practices, leveraging automation, and fostering a culture of quality, your Salesforce platform will consistently deliver value. Need help building your Salesforce QA strategy? Subscribe to our blog or leave a comment with your questions — we’re here to help!