You’re either the one that Creates the Automation or you’re Getting Automated. – Tom Preston-Werner
IT companies and organizations are compelled to not only ensure the quality of their manufactured end products, but also for guaranteeing continuous deployment as well as timely delivery. This tug of war between proficiency and speed is an important dilemma for organizations and is a major concern as most of them seek to adopt the Agile and DevOps methodologies.
The solution to these issues was believed to lay in adopting Automated Testing as a core strategy within the overall Software Testing process. So what are the benefits of Automated Software Testing which can help resolve the issues associated with Manual Testing.
How can the benefits of Automation Testing help in guaranteeing efficiency and productivity to business organizations? Let us find out.
In this blog, we shall look at the 10 crucial benefits of Test Automation in Software Testing. These advantages shall be sought to be understood especially in terms of the benefits of Automation Testing over Manual Testing.
Moreover, these benefits of UI Automation Testing, will be specifically explained in terms of their contribution towards the overall efficiency of the workflow.
What is Automation Testing?
Automation Testing is one of the strategies of Software Testing which involves the usage of Automation Testing Tools for executing automated tests case suites. As Development cycles run in a successive manner; it results in the execution of the same test suite in a repeated fashion.
The Automated Testing Tools help in recording test suites and re-playing it, whenever required. The Automation Testing framework and automated testing environment is carefully designed in a manner, which feeds data into the system and compares the actual outcome with the expected result, followed by generating a detailed report.
The aim of Automated Testing strategy is to reduce the number of test cases which are required to be executed manually. It does reduce the need for human intervention, but is not necessarily a replacement for Manual Testing.
What is Manual Testing?
Simply put, Manual Testing is the testing of software products manually. It is the conventional or the traditional method of testing products, before they are released into the market. Being manual, it relies upon the skills of human resources such as QA Analysts or testers who diligently execute test case suites (manual tests) and in the process, help in detecting possible defects and bugs in the product being manufactured.
These Manual Testers help in testing the functionality of a product and the whole process is carried out without the aid of Automation Testing Tools.
Top 10 Benefits of Automation Testing
Economical and Cost-Effective
This is one of the most important benefits of Automation Testing over Manual Testing. It is no denying the fact that the initial investment involved in implementing Test Automation, is definitely high. This happens to be a discouraging factor for many organizations; however, it is important to realize that Automation Testing is definitely economical and much cost-effective in the long run.
This is due to a number of reasons.
- Unlike Manual Testing, Automation Testing provides for reusability of test data scripts without any additional cost.
- It ensures improved quality of work as there is increased precision and less chances of human error.
- Once the process of Automation Testing is initiated, it reduces the requirement for human resources who are needed to monitor the execution frequently.
- There is a significant reduction in the amount of time required to accomplish the testing objective.
Continuous Deployment and Delivery
Fast development and delivery have emerged as integral aspects of the Agile model. This is greatly facilitated through Automation Testing as it helps in saving considerable time. By way of reducing human intervention, Test Automation provides for rapid completion of test execution as well as allows for repeated execution.
Moreover, one of the prime benefits of Test Automation over Manual Testing is the freedom to execute tests at any hour of the day and from any location. Thus, Automation Testing facilitates continuous deployment and delivery through:
- Lessening the need for daily execution of repeated and monotonous test cases
- Provides testers with enough time to come up with better test scenarios
- Frequent changes and quick updates to the app
- Reduces time-to-market launch
- Shorter Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Accelerating the Feedback Cycle
This is one of the widely acknowledged benefits of Test Automation in Software Testing. Since Automation Testing spurs the process of test execution, it also results in instant generation of test results and reports, allowing for immediate and quick response to any cases of lapse and failure.
This is especially useful in case of repetitive tests like Integration and Regressive Testing. Swift feedback allows for greater responsiveness and possibility of detection of issues, which can improve functionality.
- Frequent and swift feedback cycles are an intrinsic part of the Agile model
- Automation Testing allows for rapid execution of tests which in turn yields accurate results in short sprints. Thus, it accommodates the need for comprehensive, quick and flawless feedback by Agile teams
Higher Test Coverage
This is one of the quite logical benefits of Automation Testing. Test Automation reduces dependence on manual testers and allows for mechanized execution of tests on a continuous basis; by default it allows for the execution of a large number of test cases.
More tests implies greater coverage of features and requirements in every test cycle. This also increases the chance of identifying potential bugs and defects. Moreover, it wouldn’t have been possible to execute such a large number of test cases manually, which would have entailed the requirement of a massive team and ample amount of time.
Enhanced Accuracy with Increased Productivity
To err is human and it is not unexpected that even the best of testers and seasoned testing engineers can make mistakes in the process of Manual Testing. Thus, one of the most important benefits of Automation Testing over Manual Testing is 100% accuracy and precision.
Unlike humans who might miss steps, make errors or get tired; machines are free from these frailties. Hence, Automation Testing is helpful in running an automated test suite exactly in the same manner every single time, recording results in the same detail and producing the same outcome, every time they are run.
Reusability of Test Suite
As you think of what are the benefits of Automation Testing, the advantage of reusability of test suites is certainly an important point of consideration. Writing test cases can be an extremely tedious, exhaustive and laborious task. This implies that even the thought of having to write the same test cases over and over again can seem to be fearful. This is where the benefits of Test Automation in Software Testing come to your rescue.
It allows for writing of test cases one time and reusing it as many times as one likes. This is especially beneficial in case of cross-browser testing. Writing test cases every single time one is required to test an application on different devices or systems, can be a challenging task. However, Automation Testing removes this difficulty as the reusable automated test scripts can be used over and over again across different devices.
Early Detection of Bugs
Since Automation Testing helps in fast completion of execution of test suites, it does help in early identification of defects and bugs. Logically, it is understandable that earlier a bug is identified, more cost-effective and economical it is to fix the issue.
This is also because early on, these flaws are easily fixable and their impact is minimal. Bugs which somehow manage to reach the pre-production stage, are much harder to eliminate and they are quite likely to affect greater parts of the software product under consideration.
Saves Times and Reduces Errors
One of the major benefits of Automation Testing is that it helps save time. Performing Manual Testing can be extremely time consuming However, Automation Testing by way of providing for fast completion of test execution as well as reusability of test cases, helps increase the speed of development.
Moreover, as Automation Testing relieves the testers from the tedious burden of conducting repetitive tests like Regression Testing; QAs are able to devote their time and energy to more productive activities like deciding upon advanced testing metrics, executing tests which cannot be automated, writing new test cases and so on.
Moreover, by way of saving time, under Test Automation, the team is required to spend less time validating newly developed features.
Cross Browser Testing
One of the major benefits of Automation Testing over Manual Testing is easing the process of cross browser testing. Whenever a software product is being developed, it is indispensable to ensure cross browser compatibility by ensuring its smooth execution on all platforms and browsers. However, when this needs to be done manually, it is an extremely challenging task, as it entails the requirement of innumerable test cases, with each of them being required to be executed manually across hundreds of browsers and OS combinations.
On the contrary, one of the major benefits of Automation Testing is that it allows for running tests on an uncountable number of devices, operating systems and browsers, quickly and simultaneously.
One such Test Automation Tool which is highly beneficial in this process of cross browser testing is Selenium Grid. If you wish to know more about this tool, do read our blog on What is Selenium Grid: Everything you need to know about this part of Selenium Suite.
ROI Maximisation
Automation Testing is often associated with high costs; however, one of the major benefits of Test Automation in Software Testing is that the higher costs incurred in the initial stages, pays off in the long run, resulting in maximisation of Return on Investment (ROI). Automation Testing helps to boost ROI through:
- Faster results
- Reducing time-to-market launch
- Bug-free product
- High quality of end product
- Reduced dependence on manual testers/human resources
Conclusion
By the end of this blog, I am pretty sure that you must be in a comfortable position to promptly answer the question of what are the benefits of Automation Testing or what are the benefits of Automation Testing over Manual Testing.
While both happen to be different approaches to Software Testing, it is important to remember that Automation Testing is simply not a substitute for Manual Testing, in all scenarios.
There are certain kinds of tests like Ad hoc Testing or Exploratory Testing, which simply cannot be automated; while it would be futile to conduct Regression Testing manually. Thus, the benefits of Automation Testing over Manual Testing is circumstantial. While it is wise to automate certain tests; at other times, it’s best to rely on the expertise of manual testers.
If you wish to read more on the debate between Manual and Automation Testing, do read our blog on Manual vs. Automation Testing: Things to Know.
The benefits of Automation Testing are commendable and consequently Automation Test Engineers are in high demand in the contemporary scenario. If you wish to develop expertise in the usage of such prominent Test Automation Tools like Selenium and acquire skills of a developer cum a tester; do enroll for the SDET training course, by Syntax Technologies.
