- August 7, 2024
Enterprises are required to repeat software tests during software development cycles to enhance quality. Sometimes, they need to repeat these tests every time the source code is modified. Performing these tests manually is costly and time-consuming, and this is where automating software testing becomes important. Test automation engineering can be run over and over again at no additional cost, as it is much faster than manual tests. It also helps to save time for the enterprise.
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Valuable Benefits of Test Automation for Enterprises
Automation in software testing increases both the depth and scope of the tests which results in improving overall software quality. Automated testing tools have the capability to examine the internal workings including the data tables, file contents, memory contents, and other internal programs to determine that the software behaves as expected. Other benefits of test automation engineering are deemed important are as follows
Testing Improves Accuracy
There is a chance that even the most conscientious tester will make mistakes during the manual testing process. Automated tests, however, can perform the same steps precisely every time and remember to record the results as well. Software testers are free from repeated manual tests and thus have more time to deal with complex features and also create new automated software tests.
Automation Can Handle Huge Workload
A company with a large software and QA department will only be able to perform a controlled web application test with a limited number of users. Automated testing can, however, simulate thousands of virtual users interacting with a network.
Early Bug Detection
Software developers can use automated tests to quickly identify problems in the software before sending it to the QA department. These tests can be run automatically when source code changes are noted and will also notify the developer on time. Such features help developers save time and improve their confidence.
Reusability of the Test Suite: Reusable Testing Framework
Once the analysts have created a test suite, the automates can be reused for other software applications to save time and resources. They are also capable of giving better insights compared with manual testing when some tests fail. Apart from offering insights into the application, they also demonstrate the quality of memory contents, file contents, data tables, and other program states.
Quick Delivery To Market
Automated testing enhances test coverage and allows the analyst to add more features to improve testing quality. Automated testing enables developers to write in-depth tests with complex use cases. It also curtails the feedback and testing cycle, thus allowing enterprises to market their products faster.
Importance of Automation Testing in Software Development Lifecycle
Even repeated and rigorous manual testing during software development cycles results in defective products. Somehow, bugs manage to creep in and reappear in the software, even with best practices in place. Test automation engineering is thus an effective way to enhance the speed, efficiency, and coverage of software testing.
In the digital market, enterprise software is an integral tool for the successful running of the business. Thus, it is natural for the software to undergo comprehensive testing before deployment for public usage. Given the complexity of cross-platform apps and the cross-device compatibility required of them, automation testing is the only way for enterprises to execute extensive and reliable enterprise software testing.
It assesses the business critical performance of the app of the website tests features and modules that are complex to test manually, and verifies how a function operates in isolation. Test automation engineering also assesses how the several components of the app work in liaison with each other. Performance tests evaluate the scalability, stability, and availability of the software under different load and traffic conditions.
Implementing Test Automation Engineering Best Practices
Test automation engineering is beneficial for a number of reasons, and adhering to best practices in automation testing can help businesses deliver the maximum return on investment. It will also help them reduce their development cycles and improve the quality of the software. The following are some best practices that can help improve the software quality.
Prioritize Test Cases to be Automated
It is actually not possible to automate all the testing, and it is mandatory to determine which test cases to automate first. By deciding on which test cases to automate, it is possible to avoid repetitive tests that run for multiple builds. It is possible to eliminate errors and perform tests on multiple data sets. It is mandatory to start with a test automation plan, as it helps to identify the initial set of tests to automate. This will also serve as a guide for future tests.
Select the Right Tool for Test Automation Engineering
Selecting the right tool to test automation is the second most important best practice to follow. Before choosing the tool, it is mandatory to test it for the support it offers for the platform and the technology it follows. It is beneficial to choose tools that are flexible for testers of diverse skill levels and choose tools that are rich in features to create automated tests seamlessly.
Create Quality Test Data
That data that is entered in the input fields while running test automation is generally stored in an external file. This might be a database or a text source, XML files, excel sheets, etc. Using such external data will actually make the automated tests highly reusable and also easy to maintain.
Create Automation Tests that are Resistant to Changes
The automation testing with keywords and scripts completely depends on the application under test. The user interface of the application can change between builds, especially in the earlier stages. Such changes can affect the test results or there are chances for the automated tests to not work with the future versions of the application. It might be useful to provide unique names for the controls, making the automated tests resistant to UI changes. This also makes sure that these automation testsing work, without having to make changes to the test itself.
Conduct Early and Frequent Testing
In order to get the most out of automation testing, it is mandatory to start testing early. By doing so, testing will be able to start detecting the bugs and they will also be able to resolve them instantly. This also helps in saving a lot of time and money, rather than fixing bugs at the later stage of development.
Generate Quality Test Report
The QA teams should get ample time to prepare the test reports. It is important to set up the best and the most adequate reporting infrastructure along with the right tools to generate high-quality and detailed reports at every single test. It might also be beneficial to group tests against certain parameters such as tag functionality, type, results, etc.
Transform Your Testing Process with TestWheel’s Test Automation
At TestWheel, our automation testing platform can fast-track web and mobile app releases. Our team of experts developed the test automation application, especially for the enterprise’s testing process. Our application supports agile testing methodologies to minimize redundant manual efforts. Additionally, TestWheel performs cross-browser app testing and integrates test automation strategies with leading-edge frameworks and other tools to mitigate risks. From a comprehensive assessment to formulation of automation strategy and effective testing process, TestWheel is the ideal choice for a range of enterprises. Join now today and streamline your testing strategy.
