UserTesting and Retool: Complete Integration Guide 2024

 

Integrating Retool with UserTesting

 

Integrating Retool with UserTesting involves setting up a bridge between your data visualization and operation tools with your user testing platform. This integration can enhance usability testing workflows by making user testing results available in a more dynamic and actionable format within Retool.

 

Prerequisites

 

• A Retool account with the ability to create and manage applications and resources.
• A UserTesting account with access to API credentials necessary for integration.
• Basic knowledge of creating API connections and using Retool's interface to build applications.

 

Setting Up UserTesting API Access

 

• Log in to your UserTesting account and navigate to the API settings area. You need to generate the API key and secret for accessing UserTesting data.
• Ensure that your UserTesting account permissions allow API access for fetching data necessary for your Retool applications.

 

Creating a Resource in Retool for UserTesting

 

• In your Retool dashboard, select “Resources” from the left navigation menu to start creating a new resource connection.
• Click on “Create New” and choose “REST API” as the source type. This is because UserTesting provides its data through a RESTful API.
• Fill in the endpoint URL for the UserTesting API. This will typically follow UserTesting’s standard API structure, like https://api.usertesting.com/v1/.
• Configure the authentication by selecting the appropriate authentication type. Use the API key generated earlier by setting it in the headers or via basic auth, depending on what UserTesting requires.
• Test the connection to ensure that Retool can successfully reach UserTesting's API and fetch data. Adjust headers and authentication settings as necessary if the test fails.

 

Building a Retool Application for UserTesting Data

 

• Return to your Retool dashboard and click “Create New” to build a new application. This application will serve as your visualization and operation platform.
• Within the application builder, create a query to access UserTesting data. Choose the REST API resource you just setup and define specific endpoints like user tests, results, or sessions that you want to fetch.
• Configure your query parameters and headers to match the UserTesting API's requirements, ensuring that any necessary parameters (e.g., test IDs, dates) are dynamically set according to your needs.
• Run the query in the builder to validate and preview the data, ensuring that it retrieves correct and expected data sets from UserTesting.

 

Displaying UserTesting Data in Retool

 

• Utilize Retool's drag-and-drop interface to place components like tables, charts, or custom components, setting them to display data fetched from your UserTesting queries.
• Apply filters or transforms to refine the data presentation, providing actionable insights directly from the user testing results.
• Create interactive elements so users can select or modify parameters to dynamically refresh user testing data as needed.

 

Enhancing the Integration with Additional Features

 

• Add additional queries or components within Retool to handle more complex user testing reports or aggregate data from multiple testing sessions.
• Integrate additional UserTesting API features like result submissions if your workflow includes sending data back to UserTesting.
• Set up triggers or conditions in Retool that respond to changes in user testing data, alerting stakeholders or automatically updating visuals.

 

Testing and Deploying the Integration

 

• Thoroughly test your Retool application to ensure it properly integrates UserTesting data, maintaining smooth operational flow and accurate real-time data reflection.
• Adjust any query or component settings as necessary based on test results, ensuring optimum performance and usability.

 

Hosting and Sharing Your Retool Application

 

• Determine whether you want to share your dashboard publicly or keep it restricted based on user permissions within your Retool account settings.
• Deploy your Retool application, making it available to your intended audience or team members for their analysis and decision-making processes.

 

By following these steps, you can effectively integrate Retool with UserTesting, providing a cohesive tool that leverages user testing results within your organizational workflows.