In the software testing field, automation is gaining traction as a way to streamline processes and reduce manual work. It’s not just QA engineers who stand to benefit from testing automation; anyone who develops software can use these tools to save time, streamline processes, and reduce costs. Read on to see how you can implement software testing automation in your company. Testing is an essential part of the software development process. Manual tests are time-consuming and require a lot of effort from your development team. In an ideal world, every piece of code that leaves the QA department has been tested by another set of eyes first. But in the real world, there are simply too many lines of code for manual testing to be feasible.
What Is Software Testing Automation?
Automated testing is a process in which software performs certain tests without human intervention. In other words, computers are executing your tests and providing you with the same kind of feedback that manual testers would. You can define the parameters of a test (such as the software version, browser, and the number of users), and then the computer performs that test and checks the results against your defined parameters. In short, it’s a way to create a more efficient process with less human error.
Benefits of automated testing include: Reduced costs due to less manual effort and resource requirements, more efficient testing processes, reduced risk of human error, increased coverage of testing, and the ability to standardise processes across teams. Automated testing can be applied to any part of the software testing lifecycle where there’s a tedious or repetitive task that can be automated. These include things like validating the functionality of a website or application, checking that everything works as intended, and validating that the design meets the requirements of the business.
Why Should You Care About Automated Testing?
Managing the testing process can be cumbersome. For example, you may have to create a new test plan for every new feature that your team is developing. This can lead to a bloated testing process that may be lengthy and difficult to manage. It may also be inefficient because you may be testing features that you don’t really need. That’s where automated testing comes in. Automated tests are created once, and then they can be reused for every subsequent project going forward. You don’t need to create a new test plan for every single feature. Instead, you can reuse the test plan and simply modify the parameters of the test to fit your new requirements.
Manual vs. automated testing
Manual testing is when people execute the tests. This could be your QA engineer, a business analyst, or anyone else who’s responsible for validating the software works as intended. Automated testing and manual testing aren’t mutually exclusive. You can run both at the same time. In fact, you should. Automated testing is meant to replace manual tests so that your engineers can focus on designing new features and validating the new code meets the requirements of the business. Manual tests are meant to verify that the designs meet the requirements of the business. They can also help you discover new bugs in the software while it’s still in the development phase.
Which Parts of Your Process Should Be Automated?
To decide which parts of your testing process need to be automated, you first need to determine your testing strategy. You must also take into account your company’s resources, budget, and timelines. Do you have a large backlog of bugs to fix? Are there certain features that could be improved to increase user engagement? These are all testing priorities that can be addressed with automation. When choosing which parts of your testing process to automate, consider these factors: How often the test is run, how long it takes to complete the test, and how many resources are involved. If a manual test is run once a month, you may want to consider automating it. However, if a manual test is run every day, it makes more sense to keep it in the manual testing bucket.
Which Tasks Are Best for Software Testing Automation?
Managing the backlog – Instead of relying on engineers to manually prioritise the backlog, you can use tools that automatically assign points to every item based on their severity and impact. This will allow your team to focus more time and energy on testing the new code.
Planning the testing schedule – If you’re using Agile development, you’ll have a testing calendar that features all the tests that need to be completed before you can release the new code. You can use testing automation software to maintain that calendar and prevent team members from missing the testing deadlines.
Scripting the testing process – Many testing tools and test management software platforms allow you to write custom scripts so that you can automate repetitive manual tasks. For example, if you have to manually log into a browser every day to test a new feature, you can create a script that logs into the browser for you.
Integrating with other tools – Many testing tools are integrated with other business tools, like project management apps, CRM systems, and other essential company software. This can play a key role in your testing automation strategy.
Conclusion
Automated testing can save you time, money, and provide better coverage across your testing process. However, don’t implement automated testing without considering your testing strategy, project budget, and timeline. Before you invest in any testing automation software, make sure that it’s compatible with your existing tools and supports the testing tool ecosystem your company uses.