Complete Guide to Salesforce Testing and Automation

Salesforce is the backbone of many businesses today, managing everything from customer relationships to complex sales workflows. 

But with frequent updates, third-party integrations, and custom components, keeping your Salesforce environment running smoothly takes more than just hope—it takes a strong testing strategy. That’s where automated testing becomes essential.

To effectively test Salesforce applications, teams need tools that are flexible, intuitive, and designed to handle dynamic, ever-evolving platforms. 

This is where Sahi Pro shines. Its codeless interface, innovative record-and-playback features, and seamless integration into CI/CD pipelines make it a powerful ally for QA professionals and business users. 

In this blog, we’ll break down the essentials of Salesforce testing and automation—from key challenges to the best tools available—so you can build faster, test smarter, and deliver confidently.

What is Salesforce?

Salesforce is a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform founded in 1999 by Marc Benioff, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Over the years, it has become one of the most widely used enterprise solutions globally, serving organizations of all sizes.

With the basics in place, we can now delve into the concept of Salesforce test automation, a key technique to ensure your Salesforce environment functions optimally.

What is Salesforce Test Automation?

Salesforce test automation refers to using tools and frameworks to automate the testing of Salesforce applications. 

It ensures that custom workflows, integrations, and platform functionalities work correctly after updates or changes.

Salesforce is a dynamic and highly customizable platform with frequent releases, which makes manual testing time-consuming and error-prone. Automation helps overcome these challenges by offering speed, consistency, and broader test coverage.

Key Benefits of Salesforce Test Automation

• Faster testing cycles through the automation of repetitive tasks.
• Improved accuracy and consistency by eliminating manual errors.
• Broader coverage across various Salesforce modules and user roles.
• Continuous validation of workflows after each Salesforce release.
• Scalability to run tests across multiple environments and data sets.

Tools like Sahi Pro make Salesforce automation easier with seamless integration capabilities, support for dynamic UI elements, and minimal coding requirements—ideal for ensuring faster and more reliable test cycles.

Suggested Reads: Edit & Maintain your Automation Scripts in Sahi Pro

While we’ve seen how automation improves Salesforce testing, it’s equally important to understand why automation is especially critical in the Salesforce ecosystem. Let’s explore the reasons behind its necessity.

Why You Need Salesforce Test Automation

Salesforce is a complex platform that receives frequent updates, often impacting custom workflows and integrations. Automating Salesforce testing helps address key challenges:

• Ongoing Updates: Automated tests ensure new updates don't disrupt existing setups.
• System Integrations: Automation validates connections with external systems like ERP and e-commerce platforms.
• Core Functions: Automated tests maintain the stability of critical business processes like lead management and customer interactions.
• End-to-End Testing: Ensure cross-platform workflows function properly with automated testing.
• Business Continuity: Catch issues early to reduce downtime and minimize disruptions.

Incorporating Salesforce test automation into your workflow ensures that your platform remains stable and reliable, even with frequent updates and complex integrations. 

Now that we’ve covered the reasons for automation, let’s take a closer look at the different types of testing that are commonly performed in Salesforce, which can guide your automation strategy.

Core Types of Salesforce Testing

Testing is crucial to maintaining any Salesforce environment's integrity and functionality.  Let’s explore the core types of Salesforce testing and their significance.

1. Native Salesforce Testing

This uses built-in tools like unit tests and the Developer Console to validate Apex code, triggers, and integrations. It helps catch issues early during development and ensures platform stability with every update.

2. Manual Testing

Manual testing follows predefined cases to validate system, functional, regression, and integration behavior. While time-consuming, it’s essential for catching issues in real-world workflows and ensuring custom configurations work properly.

3. Automated Testing

Automated testing tools like Sahi Pro run tests quickly across browsers and environments. This speeds up release cycles, boosts accuracy, and reduces human error—especially for repetitive or large-scale testing.

4. Exploratory Testing

Testers creatively explore the platform to uncover unexpected issues. This unscripted approach is valuable for identifying hidden flaws and stress-testing features, especially in complex or highly customized Salesforce instances.

Tools like Sahi Pro enable faster test cycles, ensuring that updates or customizations do not affect system performance. 

Suggested Read: Different Types of Manual Software Testing

Understanding the types of testing is essential, but knowing the process behind these tests is just as important. Next, we’ll break down the Salesforce testing process to ensure a structured approach.

Conducting Salesforce Testing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Salesforce testing is essential for ensuring the smooth operation and integration of your Salesforce application. Here’s a step-by-step plan to guide you through the testing process:

1. Unit Testing

Unit testing in Salesforce focuses on verifying individual components, such as Apex classes and triggers, to ensure they function as expected.

Key Steps:

• Aim for high code coverage (Salesforce requires at least 75%, but aiming for higher coverage ensures reliability).
• Use assertions to validate that the code performs as intended.

2. Integration Testing

Integration testing ensures that different modules or external services interact seamlessly with your Salesforce application.

Key Steps:

• Identify all external systems or APIs interacting with Salesforce.
• Define test cases for each integration point.
• Use mock services or test environments for external systems to simulate interactions.
• Automate tests for repeatability and accuracy in complex integration scenarios.

3. System Testing

System testing validates the entire Salesforce application and checks if it meets the defined requirements.

Key Steps:

• Create test cases that simulate real user workflows across Salesforce.
• Execute these scenarios, ensuring all features are working as expected.
• Focus on covering different user roles and major workflows to ensure comprehensive testing.

4. Performance Testing

Performance testing evaluates the Salesforce application's responsiveness and stability under various conditions.

Key Tips:

• Use Salesforce Performance Assistant or Community Builder Page Optimizer to identify and fix performance bottlenecks.
• Test critical functions like page load times and search performance to ensure smooth user experience.

5. Security Testing

Security testing is vital to protect the Salesforce environment from vulnerabilities and threats.

Key Tips:

• Test authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms to ensure secure access.
• Check user access levels to ensure data visibility is properly restricted.
• Utilize Salesforce tools like Security Health Check and Salesforce Scanner to identify vulnerabilities and implement fixes.

6. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

UAT involves real users testing the application in a controlled environment to ensure it meets their needs and expectations.

Key Tips:

• Develop detailed UAT test scripts with clear steps, expected results, and criteria for acceptance.
• Involve end-users in testing to confirm the application is ready for production deployment.

7. Automation in Salesforce Testing

Automation testing in Salesforce improves efficiency by executing repetitive or regression tests without manual intervention.

Key Tips:

• Identify test cases suitable for automation, particularly those that are repetitive or prone to human error.
• Use tools like Provar, Tosca, or Cypress for automation, which interact with both the Salesforce UI and API layers.
• Regularly review automated test results and integrate improvements into your development workflow.

By following this structured approach, you can ensure your Salesforce application is thoroughly tested, secure, and optimized for performance before going live.

For seamless Salesforce test automation with minimal coding effort, try Sahi Pro. Its smooth features and integration into your CI/CD pipeline will help you streamline testing and deliver faster, more reliable results. Start automating today with Sahi Pro!

Suggested Read: API Automation Test Strategy Template and Tools

In the next section, let’s explore the Salesforce testing levels. 

Salesforce Testing Levels: A Quick Overview

Salesforce testing involves different levels to ensure the application performs correctly. Here’s a brief breakdown:

1. Unit Testing

Focuses on testing individual components of the application to ensure they work as expected.

2. Integration Testing

Verifies the interaction between various modules or external systems, ensuring smooth integration.

3. System Testing

Tests the entire Salesforce application to confirm that all components work together seamlessly.

4. Performance Testing

Assess the app’s speed and responsiveness under different conditions, ensuring it handles heavy usage.

5. Security Testing

Identifies vulnerabilities and ensures the app is secure against threats and unauthorized access.

6. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

End-users test the application in real-world scenarios to confirm it meets their needs.

7. Automation in Salesforce Testing

Automates repetitive tests to increase efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in testing.

These levels ensure your Salesforce app is reliable, secure, and ready for deployment.

While the testing process is vital, it’s not without its challenges. In the next section, we will examine some of the common hurdles faced during Salesforce testing. 

Challenges in Salesforce Testing

Salesforce is a customizable platform, but its complexity and constant updates create several testing challenges. Here are some of the main hurdles teams face when testing Salesforce applications:

1. Complexity from Customizations and Frequent Updates

Maintaining consistent tests is tough with three seasonal releases and unique custom setups. Automated tests must quickly adapt to changing code and configurations.

2. Challenges with Advanced Components and Dynamic Elements

Lightning components and other dynamic elements behave differently across environments. Traditional tools often struggle, requiring AI-based or image-recognition solutions for accuracy.

3. Integration and Testing Approach Challenges

Salesforce commonly integrates with ERPs, marketing tools, and more. Testing these links is complex due to data sync issues, API behavior, and varying compatibility. Balancing unit and end-to-end testing adds to the challenge.

Automating testing can help reduce errors and keep pace with Salesforce’s evolving ecosystem.

With Sahi Pro, you can easily automate Salesforce testing, ensuring faster, more reliable results. Try Sahi Pro today and optimize your testing workflow.

Suggested Read: Common Challenges in Salesforce Test Automation

Having addressed the challenges, let’s now look at how automation can address many of these pain points and make the Salesforce testing process more efficient and reliable.

Automation in Salesforce Testing

Salesforce testing is essential due to the platform's continuous updates and integrations. Manual testing can be time-consuming and error-prone, making automation a more efficient, accurate, and scalable solution. Here's a closer look at why automation is crucial for Salesforce testing and how to implement it effectively.

1. Why Automation Matters

• Efficiency: Faster test execution and quicker feedback during release cycles.
• Coverage: Broader testing across complex workflows and integrations.
• Accuracy: Reduces human error and improves test reliability.

2. Automation Approaches

• Code-Based: High control, ideal for technical teams.
• Low-Code: Balanced flexibility for semi-technical users.
• Codeless: Visual interface for non-technical users.

3. Choosing the Right Tools

• Salesforce Integration: Ensure seamless platform compatibility.
• Scalability: Adaptable to growing test needs.
• Cross-Platform Support: Includes browsers and mobile.
• Detailed Reporting: Track results and detect issues.
• Ongoing Support: Handles frequent Salesforce changes.

Sahi Pro offers seamless integration with Salesforce, enabling efficient test creation and execution for both technical and non-technical teams. With its intuitive features, powerful reporting, and easy integration with CI/CD pipelines, Sahi Pro helps ensure your Salesforce environment remains high-performing with each update.

Also Read: Web Automation Testing - An Ultimate Guide

Following industry best practices is essential to ensure that your automation efforts are practical. Let’s now explore the best practices that will help you maximize the benefits of Salesforce test automation.

Best Practices for Salesforce Testing

Follow these key practices to ensure stability, performance, and reliability in your Salesforce environment:

1. Comprehensive Test Case Development
   Cover all critical functionalities, including custom workflows and integrations, to catch issues early.
2. Prioritize End-to-End Testing
   Test complete business workflows across Salesforce and integrated systems for real-world reliability.
3. Automate Regression Testing
   Keep regression tests up to date to quickly detect issues after updates or new features.
4. Use Real User Profiles
   Simulate real user scenarios to uncover issues that may only appear in live environments.
5. Choose the Right Tools
   Opt for tools with broad Salesforce support (UI, API, performance). Tools like Sahi Pro streamline automation.
6. Maintain Flexibility
   Adapt your test strategy to keep up with Salesforce’s frequent updates and evolving features.
7. Engage Stakeholders
   Involve both technical and business teams to align testing with real user needs and business goals.
8. Train and Document
   Provide training and maintain clear documentation to boost efficiency and onboard new testers quickly.

By following these best practices, you can significantly improve the stability and performance of your Salesforce environment. 

Also Read: Creating a Test Automation Strategy: Steps and Outline

With best practices in hand, we can now move to a more practical application of what we’ve learned by examining some of the most common test scenarios you’ll encounter in Salesforce.

Common Salesforce Test Scenarios

Salesforce test scenarios ensure that all platform aspects function correctly, from capturing lead information to ensuring integrations work seamlessly. Below are some typical test scenarios you should consider to ensure comprehensive testing of your Salesforce environment:

1. Lead and Information Capture

• Validate lead creation via forms, emails, and integrations.
• Ensure accurate and consistent data entry.
• Confirm proper lead assignment and seamless conversion into opportunities/accounts.

2. Billing and Workflow Audits

• Test invoice generation, including taxes and discounts.
• Verify payment processing via tools like Stripe or PayPal.
• Ensure workflows trigger correctly and handle errors (e.g., invalid payments) without disruptions.

3. User Access and Integrations

• Check role-based access and profile restrictions.
• Validate third-party system integrations for smooth data exchange.
• Test OAuth and authentication for secure external access.

By testing these common scenarios, you can ensure that your Salesforce platform remains secure, functional, and efficient for your organization’s needs. 

Tools like Sahi Pro can automate many of these tests, providing faster feedback and reducing manual testing effort.

In the next section, let’s look at how you can select the right salesforce test automation solution for your business needs. 

What to Look for in a Salesforce Test Automation Solution

Salesforce developers and admins often work within highly technical interfaces, which can isolate the testing process within technical teams. While this works for those with deep technical expertise, it can hinder collaboration with other stakeholders. 

To bridge this gap, no-code, user-friendly test automation tools like Sahi Pro provide a platform where business process experts can collaborate directly with QA teams. 

When selecting a test automation solution, consider the following features:

• Ease of Use: Sahi Pro is designed with a user-friendly, no-code interface, allowing both technical and non-technical testers to engage with the testing process.
• Scalability: As your Salesforce testing needs grow, Sahi Pro adapts, handling complex test scenarios and expanding workflows seamlessly.
• Dedicated Support: Sahi Pro offers exceptional customer support, ensuring that you get the help you need to troubleshoot issues and optimize your testing process.
• Low Maintenance: The tool is easy to maintain, minimizing manual interventions and ensuring your testing processes run smoothly without disruptions.
• Cross-Technology Capabilities: Sahi Pro supports testing across multiple platforms and applications connected to Salesforce, ensuring end-to-end testing.
• CI/CD Integration: Sahi Pro integrates effortlessly into your CI/CD pipeline, enabling continuous testing and faster release cycles.

With Sahi Pro, testing Salesforce applications becomes more accessible, collaborative, and efficient, helping to deliver higher-quality releases faster.

Conclusion

Salesforce testing and automation are essential for ensuring your system’s reliability and performance. While manual testing plays a role, it’s no longer sufficient to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced development cycles. 

Automated testing offers greater accuracy, speed, and coverage, saving valuable time while improving overall efficiency. 

Sahi Pro makes this process simpler and more effective with its user-friendly, codeless interface and seamless integration capabilities. 

Book a demo today and discover how Sahi Pro can make your testing faster, more innovative, and more efficient.