Strategic Planning for Effective Software Test Automation
Test automation is a testing method that is widely used in software development projects, but not everyone understands its specifics. It is important to note that automation is not essential for every project. Sometimes, implementing test automation can lead to unnecessary expenses. Alternatively, there may be a genuine requirement for automation, but if the approach is incorrect, it can still become a financial burden. To ensure that test automation is beneficial, it is crucial to start by answering two questions: “Do you genuinely need test automation?” and “Why do you need this test automation service?” Even if you possess the right tools, infrastructure, and expertise for automated software testing, a flawed testing approach can still result in needless costs. Therefore, to derive the full benefits of test automation, it is necessary to follow the right strategy and have realistic expectations. When done correctly, test automation can help produce higher-quality software more cost-effectively and quickly.
Test Automation Pyramid and Shift-Left Testing Approach
Automating tests can be a great way to save time and improve efficiency. However, it’s important to be strategic when deciding which processes to automate. Automation software won’t tell you which tests to automate, and not all testing can be done automatically. Therefore, it’s important to carefully plan your test automation strategy.
When designing your strategy, start by identifying the areas that need to be included in automation. Keep in mind that this work isn’t just about quality assurance — it can benefit many different parts of your organization.
One helpful way to approach test automation is to use a pyramid model or shift-left testing. By starting with automated unit tests, then integration tests, and finally UI and exploratory tests, you can catch defects early and reduce costs.
It’s also important to prioritize tests based on ROI. This will ensure that you’re getting the most value out of your automation efforts.
At the end of the day, you’ll likely still have some manual testing to do. However, by strategically automating tests, you can save time and improve the quality of your software.
Correct Test Selection and Prioritization for Automation
Risk-based testing is a method for prioritizing tests based on their importance and potential risks. Components that could cause serious consequences if they fail are considered “risky” and given priority. When prioritizing, focus on integrations, user habits and scenarios, and the parts that serve the main purpose of the business.
Before choosing what to automate, decide on a few test case goals. Identify the most critical areas for customer satisfaction, the most harmful errors to prevent, and the desired added value from automation. You will need to clearly define goals throughout the product lifecycle. Also, consider the entire business when making test case target decisions. This way, every department can see the desired results from software test automation.
It’s important to note that just because you’re able to automate a test, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should do it immediately. It’s crucial to identify which tests are most important for long-term continuous integration (CI). If a particular issue doesn’t cause a critical problem, you might think that there’s no need to automate the test for that issue. However, it’s important to remember that you’ll end up wasting time and money by automating a minimal problem. Instead, you should focus your efforts on automating repetitive or high-risk tests. Lastly, it’s important to keep scalability in mind when developing and maintaining test automation.
Manual Tests and Scenarios That Cannot Be Automated
Some software tests require user feedback, which cannot be automated. For such tests, manual testing remains the best option. However, for recurring scenarios, you can use test automation. If you have a one-time test, it is better to stick with manual testing instead of writing an automated test script, which wastes time and resources. On the other hand, repetitive and time-consuming tests should be automated as much as possible. Automated tests enable you to quickly detect any negative impact of new features on existing ones. Therefore, regression, smoke, and sanity testing should be prioritized for automation across all product versions. Therefore, some tests must be performed manually.
Continuous Improvement and Scalability: Test Development Process
When developing tests, it is important to consider minimizing the time spent on them. While elaborate and time-consuming tests may provide the desired results, they can be difficult to use and maintain in the long run. It is crucial to balance the efforts put into creating and maintaining the tests for their long-term sustainability.
As you work to automate software testing, make sure you maintain clear communication across channels. Those in your testing, product, and engineering departments must understand each other’s goals and work. Any miscommunication can result in additional costs requiring more time and resources for possible mistakes.
Conclusion
To ensure success in automation initiatives, it is important to set specific goals and expectations. Each area of automation should result in quick quality improvement that can be measured. Avoid the misconception that everything can be automated and instead concentrate on sustainable, maintainable, and cost-effective automation projects by prioritizing the requirements. This approach will enable more effective use of test automation, leading to a greater contribution to the software development process.
