Being open to innovation and adopting the latest market trends is imperative for any company’s success. In the software testing industry, automation tools have been the biggest breakthrough in the last several decades. They enabled an alternative to manual testing that speeds up the process and improves result reliability.
Features of test automation, help to run software testing without human intervention. Automation involves using scripts and codes to execute tests and collect results. Compared to manual testing, which requires human participation and can cause bugs and issues, automated testing ensures reliable results in a shorter time.
Does this make it a worthy addition to your working processes? Here are the main characteristics of automated testing and reasons for it to become a part of your software development projects!
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A Quick Overview of Differences Between Manual and Automated Testing
Manual testing is the traditional approach to checking software for bugs and performance issues. It involves an engineer analyzing targeted features to confirm they work properly. The biggest problem with manual tests is that they require a human to execute them. It’s not only slow but takes time they could spend on developing the software or finishing other tasks.
Automated testing enables running software checks without human participation. An engineer should start the test, and that’s where their task finishes. The computer does the rest and delivers the results once done.
Test automation is fast and reliable but not suitable for all situations. You need a clear determinant to decide the outcome and an expert to set the testing parameters. Exploratory and one-time tests are still better done manually, but that doesn’t compromise the massive value of automated tests.
Why Should You Consider Integrating Automated Testing into the Working Process?
Can investing in test automation be a wise business decision? Automated testing tools come with an upfront cost, but they provide a significant return on investment down the road. From a business point of view, here are some critical benefits of integrating test automation into the working process!
Minimize Concerns Regarding Software Quality
Automated testing helps perform more tests in less time. They also provide 100% reliable results since there is no human error risk, providing you set the parameters correctly.
Maximum accuracy means you won’t miss any bug or issue the test should identify.
It ensures you identify potential problems in an early development phase. Automated testing can help confirm you fixed them by running the same test again. Frequent checks are the best way to confirm the final software version comes with minimal or no performance problems.
Optimum Allocation of Resources
Let’s say you work on a feature to implement into the software solution. The initial version will be filled with bugs, and there’ll be issues in several subsequent attempts, too. Running manual tests on multiple occasions is time-consuming. These tests are repetitive and boring, making them more prone to human errors.
Test automation ensures maximum accuracy and time-saving. It enables using the same test on multiple occasions and frees up the tester to get involved in tasks that require intellectual engagement. Another benefit is that the machine can run tests around the clock. Even outside working hours, computers could process data specified by test automation tools. That makes automated tests the perfect fit for large-scale projects.
Run Tests on Different Platforms
The cross-platform and browser compatibility of test automation tools is impressive. But imagine if the same tester needs to check how the feature works across three browsers. It would take three times as many hours as required for a single test.
Test automation is a logical choice in these situations. The computer would run these tedious tests and report the results. Whether it’s different browsers, operating systems, or configurations, automated tests have you covered.
Stay on Track with the Schedule
A software development project usually comes with a tight schedule. If you see you are late and need to speed up, the first victim is software testing. You give up on performing detailed tests, despite the risk the full version could be full of glitches.
Automated tests help you stay on track with the schedule. You can have computers running the tests outside working hours and analyze the results when you return to the office. Freeing up testers also ensures they can complete other tasks. These all contribute to releasing the software on time and following the development schedule.
Final Thoughts – Is Automated Testing a Worthwhile Investment?
Test automation is a wise investment for almost any software development company. You reap the biggest benefits in the long run, especially if you are working on large-scope projects. Automated testing allows re-using the scripts, ensuring running repeated tests is simple as ABC. The results are completely reliable, and the tool sorts the reports to be ready for analysis.
Automated tests can check large data amounts at a fast pace, ensuring you discover most bugs at an early development phase. It helps the final version meet clients’ expectations, making test automation tools a smart addition to your working processes!
