While there is increased adoption of automation, functional testing remains important. It is clear that software testing is all about discovering information related to quality so that the stakeholders can make strategic information-driven decisions. Be it manual testing or automated testing; the testers have an opportunity to bring value to product evaluation.

Six steps that testers can take to maximize test automation ROI 

  1. Reviewing each message

Typically, tests are designed based on the requirements documents and test cases. Still, new test cases can come up during usage. Testers can add value by keeping track of all the messages coded into the software product and the error and warning messages. Making a list of such messages can prevent gaps, some of which could be from the legacy code. 

  1. Reviewing UX

Generally, product teams build the product and then attempt to stabilize the code after reaching a certain growth metric. Releasing the product quickly takes precedence. It is during the stabilizing phase that inconsistencies become noticeable. So, a UX review of the entire application becomes imperative, including the text, icons, features, critical flows, etc. Here, it is vital to bring the users’ touchpoints into the review. 

  1. Competitor analysis

When testers are stuck in silos, they remain wrapped within the company’s product line. A good policy would be to learn all about the competition through their fact sheets, demos, blog posts, and then compare the strengths and weaknesses against your company’s product. The focus must be on usability, performance, accessibility, and security over and above the product’s functionality. 

  1. Using tools effectively

Apart from the automated functional checks using tools to create test data, there are several other ways to use tools, including replicating production data, mocking functions, detecting patterns, etc. Tools can be a boon if you know how to use them effectively. 

  1. Anticipating risks

Testers are, by skill or nature, capable of picturing scenarios where the product may fail. Anticipating risks can help create probable disastrous situations and help them write code accordingly, saving time and effort from the beginning. 

  1. Collaborating with the customer support team

There is nothing like feedback from the customer as to the usability of your product. What works well for the developers may prove harder for the user until they get the hang of it. Customers’ input as valuable data can be a key differentiator. 

With all of the above being said, and while it may be true that testing can be done manually, it is also very time-consuming and labor-intensive. Enterprises that run a large number of scripts and have them tested regularly find greater value in automation.

How test automation adds true value 

We live in a digitally-enabled world, and most enterprises have moved on to automated testing instead of relying on manual testing alone. It has been proven often that automation improves all phases of testing, such as developing scripts, executing tests, and defect monitoring through a results analysis process. 

Bringing automation into testing ensures that enterprises follow a reliable and consistent test methodology. It also brings about better quality and testing accuracy. With the added code-current strategies, you have continuous delivery and reduced testing time and effort. 

To discover how our Test Automation Framework enabled frequent releases and reduced manual efforts for a leading Enterprise Information System.

Automation in testing brings several value additions that accelerate business growth and boost the bottom line, such as:

  • Automation makes testing a quicker process, improving operational efficiencies by a large margin. AI-led test automation empowers enterprises to conduct tests at high speed and provide error-free solutions.
  • Automation helps repeat the tests exactly, regardless of which tester runs the script. You get consistent results as it runs the test exactly as it is.
  • No more tester fatigue as automation prevents re-entering the data manually and repeatedly. Instead, testers can work on different test scenarios. 
  • As automation offers system-wide visibility, it is easier to track the progress of a change event, detect defects, and compare with other projects or previous performance of the same test.
  • Automation adds significant value by letting you start regression testing and schedule it for after work hours. It is particularly useful when you are running a large volume of tests.
  • Test automation helps you link-test scripts by setting them up in a queue. In short, you can automatically test the end-to-end core business processes.

Needless to say, automation adoption is a key component to staying competitive. Integrated ML-based reporting that provides real-time data adds the most significant value as it helps detect and correct errors that may be easier to miss in manual testing. Enterprises, large, small, or mid-sized, can benefit from automation in testing their products, as it puts power into the hands of the developers and QA teams. With the added advantages of Agile methodology and leaner teams, enterprises can channel their time, money, and resources into growing their business. 

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