Manual testing has certain limitations. For example, the pace of modern software development requires testers to work almost around the clock to keep up with industry demands, while QA Testing & Automation can significantly reduce these limitations.
Aqlix embraces automation while also recognizing the value of manual testing. Therefore, our testing strategies combine automation and manual testing to meet diverse app development needs. This approach helps deliver reliable software that is thoroughly tested and ready for users.
1. Tests Run Faster Than Any Manual Process Could
Speed is the most notable advantage of automated testing. A large application can consist of thousands of operations. Testing each operation one by one takes lots of time. Most automated tests run the operation checks in less than a minute.
Speed changes the development standards. It allows developers to test more exhaustively. Features that previously got developed under time pressure to be tested now get the exhaustive testing they deserve.
- Faster regression cycles: Automated suites complete in minutes or hours instead of the days manual testing often requires.
- More frequent releases: Faster testing removes one of the biggest bottlenecks standing between development and deployment.
2. Automation Catches Bugs Humans Tend to Miss
Manual testers can’t handle sophisticated, multi-faceted bugs. Automated testers can tackle edge cases in features that are used infrequently and on rare occasions. They can do so with no decrease in efficacy or efficiency.
Consistency allows testers to focus on areas of the application that get used more regularly. Bugs become easy and cost-effective to fix during custom software development, as opposed to being left undetected until after the application is deployed.
- Consistent test execution: Each execution of the automation removes the inconsistencies based on the individual performing the manual testing.
- Earlier bug detection: It is much more efficient to find bugs during the development stage rather than deploy the application to the client and then have them find bugs.
3. Teams Spend Less Time on Repetitive Verification Work
Running the same test cases release after release is necessary but rarely the most valuable use of a skilled tester’s time and expertise. Automation will let testers focus on tasks where more subjective testing like usability or edge cases, is required.
Automation will not make testers less important. Many teams actually gain more productivity after implementing an automation strategy. Testers will have more time to do more testing due to the repetitive tasks that take a lot of time now being automated.
- Less repetitive manual work: Having automation lets testers avoid the mundane task of long nights of repetitive tasks.
- More time for exploratory testing: Focus can shift to tasks that require more creativity and judgment, which testers are able to provide.
4. Automated Testing Fits Naturally Into CI/CD Pipelines
Software is tested and deployed multiple times a day with continuous integration and deployment compared to once every few months. The volume and frequency of software builds have made manual testing infeasible.
Automated tests are integrated with CI/CD tools and run when code is committed. Cloud & DevOps Services can support efficient deployment and continuous delivery. Before, the problem would be discovered many days or weeks after a defect was introduced. Now, the problem is discovered much quicker, in just a few minutes. Rather than one large testing cycle, tests are run automatically against every code build.
- Continuous verification: Testing happens as soon as a code build is available and does not need to wait for a testing window.
- Faster feedback for developers: Developers work on the code when the issues are discovered so the context is still available.
5. Long-Term Costs Drop Significantly Compared to Manual Testing
Manual testing requires staff time for every single release, where the cost scales directly with the number of releases. In contrast, the cost of maintaining an automated test suite is nearly static after the initial cost is absorbed.
Ultimately, this change of focus improves software iteration time and reduces the cost of each release cycle. The automation spend is usually recouped in the first few release cycles.
- Lower cost per test cycle: After the first investment for automation, each test execution costs almost nothing.
- Reduced cost of late-stage bugs: Automated test cases find issues early in the development cycle, resulting in a huge reduction of bug costs.
Conclusion
Automation only means moving repetitive tasks from humans to software. Most value is gained by freeing humans from mundane tasks to focus on tasks that require creativity and innovative problem-solving. This balance is what the leaders in the digital economy have grasped to gain a clear competitive advantage.
Aqlix IT Solutions has carved a niche wherein we direct our focus to specific areas of risk and employ the optimal combination of automation and manual review where it matters most. Having testing as your release blocker should be a good enough reason to call us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is automated software testing?
Automated software testing involves the use of tools and scripts to execute test cases with little to no human involvement. The goal is to determine if the software does what is expected of it with the least amount of time spent.
Does automated testing completely replace manual testing?
Automation will never take the place of manual testing. Web applications and software still require manual testers to assess their usability, as well as conduct exploratory and adversarial testing.
Is automated testing worth the upfront investment for smaller projects?
Automated systems work best for applications that require frequent updates, such as web applications that are constantly changing. Smaller applications that are less frequently updated do not need automation in the first couple versions.
How does automated testing fit into a CI/CD pipeline?
The point of automated testing is to speed up feedback to developers. Instead of issues being discovered after a build is complete and a drawbridge is burned, automated testing looks for issues upon completion of a code check-in. Issues are found earlier and make it easy for developers to resolve.
How does Aqlix decide what to automate versus test manually?
Aqlix decides which test cases lend themselves to reliable automation as opposed to the test cases that require human intervention. Overall, the goal is to strike an efficient balance between coverage and automation effort.
