Software test automation is a powerful technology with significant business benefits.
In this article, we explore the key benefits to help you understand when it makes sense for your organization to incorporate automation into your test planning strategy.
Purpose of Automation
The purpose of automated testing is to detect software defects by eliminating the need for a human to manually run tests. In this case, the test expert creates a case to be tested and uses a tool to build a software robot that will automatically run the tests, so they can be run 24/7, multiplying the amount and scope of testing. It does not require human intervention for each new execution, since the test simulates human interaction with the software.
When to automate?
When we talk about automating software testing and digitizing processes, many companies say, “I’ll pass, it’s not for me yet,” but miss the opportunity to make great strides and increase efficiency in their operations.
It is time to automate your testing:
- There are repetitive processes.
- There are large flows that require updates and regression testing.
- You have complex cases that are time consuming.
- There is a need to run multiple tests.
- There is a need to minimize human error.
- Critical components must be tested.
- Need to test on multiple platforms.
Working under DevOps methodologies. - Resource capacity is not sufficient to meet established schedules on time.
How to automate?
There are several ways to do it. Some are open source, some are licensed, and some are simpler and friendlier than others.
The trend is to use agile solutions that are easy to use, scalable, and easy to change. It is true that automation generates ROI when it is performed repeatedly over the life of the project. With some tools, any change to the application necessarily requires maintenance of the automation and the use of specialized resources, which can be costly. However, to solve this problem, technologies have emerged that allow a more democratized use assimilation and facilitate the creation of automations to people with little or no programming knowledge.
There are very powerful tools that are zero code, such as STELA, with AI engines. This is a solution that, in addition to simplifying the creation of automations through drag and drop, gives a longer useful life to the automations, maximizing their profitability. It does not require great commitment in the construction of robots, nor does it require specialized technical personnel, nor does it require exhaustive or frequent maintenance when applying artificial vision techniques to recognize elements on the screen even when they change position.
Why automate?
There are many benefits to automating software development and release. We highlight the most important ones:
- Increased test execution capacity: It is possible to execute a large number of tests in a short period of time. They can be run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when the test team is not in the office. They can be run in parallel and on different servers, maximizing their capacity.They also allow for greater case coverage, resulting in very thorough and accurate testing of functionality and more tested conditions and scenarios.
- Continuous integration and DevOps. DevOps is an important trend in modern software development. It aims to streamline the software release process in order to respond quickly to business needs. In this sense, automated testing is essential to speed up the entire delivery process, as it allows early critical tests to be performed before the release to production.
- Increases quality and reliability metrics: Automated testing is ideal for detecting regression, integration and functional defects, among others. The role of the test leader or manager becomes crucial and more participative, reporting and informing in time and with greater precision about improvement opportunities and detected defects, so that the software meets the established quality standards and delivers reliable versions.
- Significant time savings: Automated testing multiplies the capacity of testing teams. They greatly minimize the execution of manual tests, requiring the latter only in special scenarios; on the other hand, they allow a greater number of tests to be executed, without the need to increase the number of people dedicated to testing. The work team is much more efficient and productive, making the execution of software testing profitable.
- Improves resource productivity and job satisfaction. By optimizing time and freeing human resources from repetitive tasks, productivity is gained and their motivation is improved, since they will be more willing to perform other types of tasks that continue to contribute to the improvement of the business. By using a tool such as STELA, resources will have greater participation, the construction of automations is so simple that on average there is a 60% increase in productivity. Evidence and reports facilitate the work. Each person will be able to maintain and reuse the automations, scaling their capabilities and contribution to the projects.
- Repeatable Software Testing. The work involved in developing an automated test is rewarded by the large number of times it is run. In cases where the test requires little maintenance because the software is stable, the benefit is practical because the test is effortless. For regression testing, automation is ideal because the tests can be run again and again as the software evolves, ensuring consistency and that everything that worked in the previous version will work in the new version.
- Increased accuracy in fixing software defects. Automated tests make it easier to accurately diagnose the defect found. They provide the evidence in a series of reports, with some tools it is possible to obtain a video that allows to analyze in depth the situation and the step by step of the detected error. By using different data sets in the same test case, it is possible to be very accurate in diagnosing problematic situations.
All of these benefits provide significant time savings, optimization, and results for companies that choose automation as one of the pillars of their testing strategy.
Automated testing is an excellent way to make the production of functional software that responds to a cost, time and cost effective testing strategy viable.
WHAT SETS STELA APART
- No programming.
- Its excellent price.
- Automated construction with simple language: Drag and drop.
- A single license for multiple users and for all platforms: mobile, web, Windows desktop, Oracle Forms, Java Swing and SAP Business.
- Ease of use, very short learning curve.
- One click execution.
- Support and training always available in English.
- Used by all industries: Government, Banking, Fintech, Healthcare, IT, Logistics, Retail.
- Artificial Intelligence that helps you create robots and auto corrects robots when application changes
