UAT vs Usability Testing: Can UAT Really Replace Usability? (2024)

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is a critical phase in the application development process where the end-users validate whether the product meets their requirements and expectations before it is deployed. It involves real users testing the software in a simulated or actual environment to ensure that it functions as intended and meets the specified business needs. UAT typically occurs after system testing and before the final release, allowing stakeholders to identify any issues or discrepancies and provide feedback for necessary adjustments. The primary goal of UAT is to confirm that the application is ready for production and meets the needs of its intended users.

Usability testing is a method used in user-centered design and software development to evaluate a product's ease of use. It involves observing real users as they interact with the product to perform specific tasks, while collecting qualitative feedback on their experiences. Usability testing helps identify usability issues, such as confusing navigation, unclear instructions, or inefficient workflows, enabling developers to make necessary improvements to enhance the overall user experience.

There is a distinct difference between testing for bugs – UAT, or beta testing – and measuring how well users are able to interact with a design, or usability testing.When comparing UAT vs uability testing, it's crucial to recognize the unique purposes each serves in application development.

While it is important to capture how well the site technically functions in beta, it is also imperative to determine whether the product truly meets the needs and expectations of normal people and improves the customer experience.

Picture yourself preparing for a performance of the Superbowl half-time show. Think of UAT as an “inspection” of the lights and stage and UX testing as a “dress rehearsal.” You need both if you want things to go smoothly. If only UAT testing were performed, our dear entertainer can have the perfect acoustics and lighting but be thoroughly confused as to where to stand on stage and how to accommodate her fly dance moves in her specially-made outfit.

In this clip from the HBO showSilicon Valley, the software engineers contact their other programmer friends to test a newly developed product. The idea is to get feedback from fellow engineers who will try to break the beta version of the software and weed out any functionality issues. The product receives glowing remarks.

When the product goes to a focus group, however, it is torn apart because it is not user friendly. The user interface is impossible to navigate (the users report that they were “totally freaked out” by the UI), and the developers hadn’t picked up on this because they were too close to the code and technical side of development to think about user flows and the customer experience. As the character Monica says, “You are trying to sell the product to regular people, but you never put it in the hands of regular people.”

Take this as a cautionary tale: UAT does not replace usability testing – an important part of UX best practices. However, both processes do have their place and time in digital product development.

Let’s look more closely at how they compare to each other. If we were performing a UAT on a purchase funnel, we would want to ensure the SSO is functioning properly, that the product is being added to the cart, that security measures have been set up for payment and that product access is working bug-free without much regard to the target audience, like the programmer friends in the Silicon Valley example. Examples of questions to ask the tester: Can you click this button? Can you hover over this drop down?

Which comes first? Ideally, usability testing is an activity that happens throughout the project lifecycle. However, as the project gets closer to the beta testing stage, it would be wise to complete UAT and fix any issues before running the next usability test. This would reduce the distractions – such as bugs and errors – in the site when it is sent to the participants so they can focus on usability testing tasks.

Knowing when to conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) vs Usability Testing is crucial for ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the app's functionality and user experience.

In summary, conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) towards the end of the development lifecycle when the app's features are fully implemented and involve actual end-users to validate functionality. On the other hand, conduct Usability Testing iteratively throughout the development process to assess the app's user experience and interface design.