Why Test Automation?

Why Test Automation

Automation testing has become the solution to many problems plaguing testers in the past. While a human’s presence is required in every aspect of manual testing, automation testing relies on the use of software to run a sequenced test script on various levels of the software, compare outcomes with set benchmarks, and generate test reports. It is best for repetitive and time-consuming tasks that require more effort when done manually.

Some benefits of test automation are:

  • It saves time and effort
  • It provides better ROI
  • It increases test efficacy
  • Improved team morale

Automation Testing Strategy

Automation Testing Strategy

To carry out successful test automation, teams need to build a good automation testing strategy.

Having a good test automation strategy will help businesses reach the expected outcomes, keep business in the open for long, and avoid major technological failures. The following steps will help you build an ideal testing strategy:

1. Establish test automation plan

The foundation of successful automation testing is to plan meticulously and define the scope of testing. Time-consuming, repetitive, and mundane activities are among the best to be automated. Elements of a successful automation testing plan includes:

  • Establishing test automation roadmap
  • Cultivate QA best practices
  • Continuous Integration and Test Automation
  • No to complicated and flaky tests
  • Documentation of process for better debugging
  • Use data-driven tests
  • Avoid GUI automation when there is an alternative presents  

2. Choose a test automation approach

A test automation approach serves as a guide for easy test development, from the coding standards to test reporting. In determining how a test should run, there is five primary test automation approaches: 

  • Linear Approach: This is the most basic kind of automation approach. Testers run each test case manually and record the report using an automation tool. Each step can later be replayed; hence, it is also called the record and playback. It is efficient in testing small-sized applications.
  • Module-based Approach: This approach breaks down test cases into several independent modules and creates separate scripts for each.
  • Test Library Architecture Approach: This approach allows for grouping steps within the test script into and stored in a library to be called upon whenever a function is needed. A library of standard functions can later be used to build modular tests.
  • Data-Driven Approach: This approach allows for the separation of data from the test scripts to be stored in external files. Tests can then be performed with a different set of data without rewriting test scripts.
  • Hybrid Approach: This is a combination of two or more approaches. It combines their strengths in an attempt to compensate for the weaknesses.

When choosing a testing approach, the basics to consider are the associated cost, test environment, technology in use, available skills, testing requirements, and reusability.

3. Acquire a testing tool

To select a testing tool that suits your project, testing teams should understand the project requirements thoroughly. This will help in choosing the tool that fits the preferred approach while complying with your requirements, budget, and team expertise. Different tools can be selected and then shortlisted based on other parameters such as performance, license fee, maintenance cost, training and support, tools extensibility, and stability.

A pivotal part of acquiring a testing tool is knowing how to select the right (not the best) tool. Checkout this complete guide on how to select the right automation testing tool.

There are several cost-effective testing tools that work perfectly for any applications like windows, website, native, and mobile web, at the same time, providing the expected results. Some of the right tools for your automation project are: 

  • Katalon Studio
  • TestComplete 
  • Ranorex 

To make the right selection, you should checkout review articles, such as Top 15 Mobile Testing Tools, Top 10 API Testing Tools, etc which may help you save time on your evaluation process.

4. Set up an automation environment

In this phase, you set up the testing environment and acquire the required hardware and software to execute the automated test cases.

Below is a short list of what must be done in setting up the testing environment :

  • Classifying the requirement of the test environment
  • Availability of necessary equipment
  • Availability of standard database
  • Environmental maintenance

If using data-driven tests, consider questions regarding data as a part of the environment:  Where to store test data? Will it work to use a copy of production data? Can production data be masked? Should the test cases clean up data on their own after use?

5. Design test automation

Test design and test scripts are essential parts of a testing process, and enough time must be given to them to produce a good outcome.

During this phase, the software functionalities to be tested are indicated. Conditions for testing are also identified based on the requirements of the test and test modules.

When writing automation test scripts, remember that a good test script should be well-structured, well documented, and reusable. Best practice to consider when writing scripts are:

  • Simplicity and transparency of test cases
  • Having users interest in mind
  • Avoid repetition of test cases
  • Stick to specified documents
  • Ensure full coverage
  • Document your test case well
  • Create an automated test that is resistant to changes in UI
  • Open to review

As much as there is best practice for writing scripts, there are also common errors when designing automated test cases/test suite:

  • Overlooking users perspective and functionality
  • Test cases that are too specific (not cross-functional)
  • Missing steps in the test cases

6. Execute automation test cases

This phase of the automation strategy deals with analyzing day-to-day activities of the testing and other procedures related to automation. Below are some factors to consider when executing test cases:

  • Test early and test often
  • Run and verify test cases multiple times for assurance before they are added to the regression suite.
  • Identify best practices that make test cases resistant to changes in the system which is being automated
  • Adopt pipeline orchestrator (such as Bamboo, Jenkins, TeamCity, TFS, and the likes) or a scheduling tool to execute test cases in parallel
  • Assign a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ status to test cases after execution for defined success criteria
  • Perform failure analysis if the status is ‘fail’

7. Results, analysis, and reusability

This is the last phase of the test automation strategy. The results of the test cases are analyzed and communicated with stakeholders.

The outcome of each automation test run should, therefore, be result-oriented and measurable. This will boost the robust automation suite and highlight the quality standards of the software before it becomes available for end-users.

Having a plan for how to analyze the failed test cases and resolve them

This is an essential part of test automation strategy that should be planned for. Having a well-defined process for analyzing and resolving the different test errors will help preserve time to move on to other tasks.

What are the common errors:

  • Test environment issues (notify the DevOps team)
  • A bug in an application under test (should be handled by the development team)
  • A bug in automation scripts (a task for the testing team)

How to assess test automation strategy and revamp it in the future

Documentation of outcomes from the software development should be captured for future reference. This will help revamp the automation strategy based on positive and negative outcomes and provide room for continuous improvement.

For basic definitions about test automation, please check Automation Testing 101.

Conclusion

Test automation is mostly considered because of its effective means of test execution. Successful test automation needs a well-planned strategy, which has been provided in this article.

We hope the information gathered from this article will help you make a sound decision to start your automation journey.