In today’s fast-paced digital world, delivering high-quality software swiftly is more critical than ever. However, traditional manual testing methods are often inefficient. Test automation offers a way to cut down test cycles and speeds up feedback on software quality. While it promises quicker releases, improper implementation can backfire.
This article examines common obstacles in test automation and presents five actionable steps to enhance your test automation strategy. By following these guidelines, organisations can optimise their test automation efforts, ensuring faster and more effective software deployment.
Common Challenges in Test Automation
Creating an effective test automation strategy is not straightforward. Several common issues often arise. For instance, leadership may pressure teams to move quickly, leaving little time for properly setting goals. Investing in automation engineers and tools is not enough. It’s essential to define clear objectives. Focusing too much on GUI automation can also lead to many broken tests.
Matching the test automation approach with the team’s skills is often overlooked. This creates problems. When automation tasks are mixed with regular testing, they often get pushed aside. This results in low coverage and wasted resources. In many cases, companies spend more on maintaining scripts than they did on creating them. Future developments might also complicate GUI-related scripts. This is due to the rise of low code/ no code platforms and coding assistants.
Step 1: Define Your Test Automation Goals and Objectives
The first step in planning a test automation strategy is to set clear, measurable goals. This helps in choosing the right approach and tools. The main aim is to detect defects early and reduce risks, which boosts confidence in release candidates. Automated tests in build processes quickly find bugs, giving developers rapid feedback.
Key goals for test automation include reducing risks, enhancing release confidence, delivering high-quality software, saving time, and faster application releases. Clear goals help stakeholders understand the benefits of test automation. This fosters team support for the initiative. For example, a Fortune 100 client aimed to triple their release frequency. Despite challenges, clear goals helped the teams to collaborate effectively.
Realistic expectations are vital. Test automation can speed up the release of high-quality applications. However, unrealistic expectations often lead to failure. Therefore, understanding both the potential benefits and limitations is essential.
Step 2: Manage Your Automation Initiative as a Strategic Program
Automated testing should be treated like a software development program. It needs significant initial investment, skilled personnel, and commitment. The skills needed for designing, implementing, and maintaining automated tests may not be available in-house. This affects how quickly automation can pay off. A detailed plan and defined metrics are vital. They help leadership measure the return on investment.
A dedicated test automation team ensures focus and coverage. Managing these projects requires dedicated effort, significantly enhancing the chances of success. Many organizations focus on daily tasks like testing enhancements, fixing bugs, and conducting regression tests. Often, testing teams are small and fully occupied. This leaves little room for automation projects, leading to their decline.
Start with a dedicated team. Once there’s enough coverage, move to a decentralized approach. This way, automation becomes a part of the regular testing process.
Step 3: Selecting the Focus Areas for Automation
When choosing automation focus areas, prioritize applications based on business importance, stability, release frequency, and quality of existing test cases. This helps in planning an effective strategy. Choosing the right set of tests is crucial. Mike Cohn’s automation pyramid can guide test selection. It suggests a hierarchy of tests for better maintenance.
Many automation efforts start with senior leadership pressure. This often leads to a focus on UI automation, which can be flashy but impractical. Decisions made without a systematic approach lead to selecting tests for features that soon become outdated. Despite the rise of APIs and Microservices, API tests are often overlooked, even though they are easier to maintain.
Establish clear criteria for test selection. Strike a balance between UI and API testing. This ensures a more effective automation program.
Step 4: Selecting the Right Set of Tools
Choosing the right automation tools is crucial. It should align with your team’s skills. Determine if your team consists of technical testers or functional experts who may not be coding experts. Scripted tools like UFT, Test Complete, Playwright, or Cypress suit technical testers. Meanwhile, codeless tools like Tricentis Tosca or Opkey might be better for functional testers.
Also, consider your automation roadmap, technology compatibility, tool costs, and advanced features like self-healing. If there’s already an investment in RPA, tools like UiPath Test might be beneficial. Each tool has its pros and cons. What’s suitable for a Fortune 100 company may not work for a startup.
Before purchasing or implementing a tool, carry out a proof of concept. This ensures you pick the right one and avoid future headaches.
Step 5: Establishing a Framework for Ongoing Automation
Creating a sustainable automation framework involves several key practices. Use version control for scripts and avoid environmental dependencies. This allows tests to run in any environment at any time. Regular maintenance is crucial; tests should be easy to understand and maintain.
Treat tests as first-class artifacts, giving them the same care as code. Define clear processes for the ownership and maintenance of test assets. Proper handover from the test automation team to the maintenance team is necessary.
In one case, a healthcare application project faced numerous script issues, like hard-coded values and test data dependencies. The customer decided to discard the existing scripts and start anew with a better framework. Proper processes and governance are essential for sustainable automation.
In summary, a well-planned and strategic approach to test automation is vital for improving software quality and delivery speed. By embracing the five actionable steps outlined, organisations can define clear goals, manage automation initiatives, focus on the right areas, select suitable tools, and establish sustainable frameworks. These measures ensure that test automation is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with business needs. Implementing such a strategy can significantly enhance a company’s ability to deliver quality software rapidly, meeting the demands of today’s fast-paced digital landscape.
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