Creating Test Cases for Copilot Studio Workflows – A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction to Test Cases in Copilot Studio
Creating well-structured test cases ensures that Copilot Studio workflows:
✅ Function correctly across different scenarios.
✅ Handle errors gracefully.
✅ Work seamlessly with external integrations (APIs, Power Automate, etc.).
✅ Respond accurately to user inputs.
A test case is a structured document defining:
- What to test (Feature or functionality).
- How to test (Steps to follow).
- Expected outcomes (What should happen).
1. Understanding Test Cases in Copilot Studio
Why Are Test Cases Important?
❌ Without proper test cases:
- Chatbot workflows break unexpectedly.
- Users receive incorrect responses.
- APIs fail without alerts.
- Errors go undetected until production.
✅ With test cases:
- Early detection of issues before deployment.
- Improved chatbot reliability.
- Better integration validation with Power Automate, Dataverse, and APIs.
2. Types of Test Cases in Copilot Studio
| Test Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Test | Test individual components of the chatbot | “Check if the greeting response is correct” |
| Integration Test | Verify API and Power Automate integrations | “Check if the chatbot retrieves customer data from CRM” |
| Functional Test | Ensure chatbot behavior aligns with requirements | “Does the chatbot respond correctly to FAQs?” |
| Performance Test | Measure response times under different loads | “How does the chatbot handle 1000 concurrent users?” |
| Error Handling Test | Validate chatbot recovery from failures | “What happens if the API is down?” |
3. How to Write Test Cases for Copilot Studio Workflows
Each test case follows a structured format:
| Test Case Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Test Case ID | Unique identifier (e.g., TC001) |
| Test Scenario | A brief description of what is being tested |
| Preconditions | Setup required before the test runs |
| Test Steps | Step-by-step instructions to perform the test |
| Expected Outcome | What should happen if the test passes |
| Actual Outcome | What actually happened |
| Status | Pass/Fail |
4. Writing Sample Test Cases for Copilot Studio
Test Case 1: Validating Greeting Response
| Test Case ID | TC001 |
|---|---|
| Test Scenario | Validate if the chatbot provides the correct greeting |
| Preconditions | The chatbot is deployed and running |
| Test Steps | 1. Open the chatbot 2. Type “Hello” 3. Observe the chatbot’s response |
| Expected Outcome | The chatbot responds with “Hi! How can I help you?” |
| Actual Outcome | [To be filled after testing] |
| Status | Pass/Fail |
Test Case 2: Testing API Integration for Customer Data Retrieval
| Test Case ID | TC002 |
|---|---|
| Test Scenario | Ensure the chatbot correctly fetches customer data from CRM |
| Preconditions | The API connection to CRM is active |
| Test Steps | 1. User types “Get my profile” 2. The chatbot calls the CRM API 3. The chatbot displays user details |
| Expected Outcome | The chatbot displays correct customer information |
| Actual Outcome | [To be filled after testing] |
| Status | Pass/Fail |
Test Case 3: Handling API Failure Gracefully
| Test Case ID | TC003 |
|---|---|
| Test Scenario | Check how the chatbot handles API failures |
| Preconditions | Temporarily disable the API |
| Test Steps | 1. User types “Get my order details” 2. The chatbot attempts an API call 3. The API is down 4. Observe the chatbot’s fallback response |
| Expected Outcome | The chatbot says, “Sorry, we are experiencing issues. Try again later.” |
| Actual Outcome | [To be filled after testing] |
| Status | Pass/Fail |
Test Case 4: Performance Testing with Multiple Users
| Test Case ID | TC004 |
|---|---|
| Test Scenario | Test chatbot’s response time under high traffic |
| Preconditions | Load testing tool (JMeter, Locust) configured |
| Test Steps | 1. Simulate 1000 concurrent users 2. Measure response time for queries 3. Identify system slowdowns |
| Expected Outcome | Chatbot maintains a response time < 2 seconds |
| Actual Outcome | [To be filled after testing] |
| Status | Pass/Fail |
5. Automating Test Case Execution
Step 1: Use Botium for Chatbot Testing
1️⃣ Install Botium:
npm install -g botium-cli
2️⃣ Create a test case (greeting.test.txt):
# Greeting Test
# user: Hello
# bot: Hi! How can I help you?
3️⃣ Run the test:
botium-cli run
✅ Botium ensures chatbot responses match expected results.
Step 2: Use Postman for API Testing
1️⃣ Open Postman and create an API request:
- Method:
GET - URL:
https://api.crm.com/get-customer
2️⃣ Click Send and verify: - ✅ Status code = 200 OK
- ✅ Response contains correct customer data
✅ Ensures API works correctly before integration.
Step 3: Load Testing with JMeter
1️⃣ Install JMeter and create a Thread Group.
2️⃣ Configure HTTP Request Sampler to send chatbot queries.
3️⃣ Run the test and measure response times.
✅ Ensures chatbot handles high traffic efficiently.
6. Best Practices for Writing Test Cases
✅ Use unique test case IDs for easy tracking.
✅ Include clear preconditions so tests run smoothly.
✅ Write detailed test steps to ensure repeatability.
✅ Log actual outcomes to track failures.
✅ Automate repetitive test cases using Botium, Postman, or JMeter.
✅ Update test cases regularly after chatbot updates.