The hottest software testing trend of this year is test automation. It has become a key enabler of many sophisticated development and deployment processes. Adopting test automation, for example, has become crucial for businesses deciding to implement Agile and CI/CD DevOps methodologies. So, let us look at the main advantages of test automation and why automation in software testing is essential.
Cost Savings
Contrary to common belief, automated testing is less expensive than manual testing. Manual testing does not allow for the implementation of repetitive tests. In fact, the expense of manually testing your application increases with time. On the other hand, test automation is less expensive in the long run since, once created, you can reuse test scripts 24/7 at no additional expense. Indeed, the initial cost of implementing automation will be high, but it will pay off quickly.
Keep in mind that the level of automation implementation determines the size of the automated testing return on investment (ROI). The higher the number of automated test cases generated and used, the greater the ROI.
Faster Development and Delivery
Test automation will allow you to save time. Automated tests are completed quickly and can be run multiple times. In other words, you do not have to wait weeks to rerun the tests — just a few hours would suffice.
Automated testing accelerates development by allowing for faster test execution and repeatability. Here are seven benefits of using automation to rev up the testing process:
- Shorter development cycles
- Frequent releases
- Quicker app updates
- Faster time to market (TTM) delivery
In other words, transitioning from manual testing to automation will shorten your waiting time and boost your development.
Increased Productivity
Because test automation does not require human involvement while running, you can test your app at night and collect the findings the following morning. Software developers and QAs can spend less time on testing since automated tests can repeatedly run on their own. Essentially, automation allows your engineers to focus on vital jobs. Everyone knows that improving existing app functionality is not as exciting as adding new features.
More Accurate Tests
You are more likely to have bug-free releases with test automation. Because it requires minimal human intervention, test automation is more accurate than manual testing. The problem is that a human tester can make mistakes at any step of the evaluation process — but the machine will not. Because generated test cases are more accurate than human testers, removing human errors reduces the risk of failure.
High App Quality and Performance
Because of the extensive test coverage, automated testing ensures excellent app quality and performance. You can run thousands of automated test cases simultaneously, so you can quickly test your app across multiple platforms and devices. Use cloud-based device farms if you want to maximize test parallelism and concurrency. They can help you cover the needed OS and hardware configuration variants.
Furthermore, with test automation, you can create many test cases, including complex and lengthy ones. This is something you will never be able to achieve if you opt to test your app manually.
Immediate Feedback
Another benefit of test automation is immediate feedback. With quick test execution, developers get test findings instantaneously, allowing them to respond quickly if a failure occurs. Forget about deciphering the code written three weeks ago!
If your app is already on the market, immediate feedback is instrumental. Manual testing will only slow down the process if you need to fix some bugs quickly. Test automation, on the other hand, will allow you to make quick updates to your app. As a result, test automation improves team responsiveness, user experience, and customer satisfaction.
CI/CD and DevOps Implementation
If you want to implement Continuous Delivery and DevOps practices, you can not ignore test automation because automated testing is essential to both. Every developer’s commit to the source code must be tested in the CI/CD pipeline, and there is no other way to do it efficiently than with test automation. Once you have implemented automated testing, you will find it easy to transition to Continuous Testing and Delivery.
Wrapping Up
Overall, test automation is unavoidable if you want to optimize your workflow and use the most up-to-date development methodologies. The fact is that the benefits of automated testing will only continue to go up as more effective tools emerge and testing frameworks mature. Model-based testing, predictive analytics, robotics process automation, and API testing automation are some new areas that automated testing has recently conquered.
So, if you do not want to be left behind in technological growth, start implementing test automation today. It will accelerate development and delivery, make CI/CD easier to implement and improve test efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. The best thing is that you will get these benefits without losing the app’s quality or performance.
If you want to maximize the benefits of automated testing, contact us today!
