Automation Mistakes: Avoiding Your Next Failure

Quality Assurance processes today thrive on software test automation techniques. Automation has been a revolutionary tool for the testing community simply due to its effectiveness and reliability. Test automation is the practice of utilizing special tools to carry out pre-configured tests automatically. These tests are required to determine the performance, reliability, and functionality of an application. Automation also allows for regression tests to be conducted at much higher speeds and accuracy.

Test automation is end-to-end automation of a spread of tests and support functions associated with performing such tests. QA engineers who are well-versed in writing automation scripts usually find it easier to utilize test automation effectively. However, with the emergence of codeless defect tracking automation tools, even non-technical testers can perform a large number of functional and non-functional tests with a touch little bit of training and with greater ease. Successful test automation allows businesses to:

  • Decrease their time-to-market
  • Manage and optimize the cost of operations
  • Increase their ROI
  • Maintain applications free of bugs and errors
  • Achieve high levels of customer satisfaction
  • Roll out frequent and timely updates

So while end-to-end test automation can be seen as the one-stop solution for most, why do many businesses struggle to succeed at its proper implementation? Today, we’ll be discussing some of the most common mistakes you can avoid, turning your next automation into a success.

  1. Too much automation implementation isn’t required
    Anything in excess can soon prove to be detrimental to the entire effort. This is why QA technicians need to keep a lighter approach when it comes to test automation. And while the temptation to automate all types of tests may be strong, knowing when to pick your battles is key. Strategize where the implementation is required and only proceed once its requirement is truly needed.

  2. Trying to achieve 100% test coverage well before needed
    Each test must function independently of the previous and therefore the next. This ensures that the whole testing activity goes unhinged albeit a few of the tests fail to execute on their own. The thought is to preserve the pliability of agile testing.

  3. Putting all your eggs in the Single Ever-Expanding Test Case basket
    Do not place your bets on one test suit. it's important to remain narrow and focused. The test suit should specialize in testing the functional or non-functional aspect it had been intended for. When using the test automation tool, it's important to thoroughly examine your test suit-supported client requirements. Simply, rushing in to try and align everything into an expanding test suit will complicate the activity.

  4. Not being trained on the appropriate tools of use
    Utilizing incorrect tools or the proper set of tools without proper training results in failure in your overall test automation execution. To attenuate the time of coaching for your employees, a codeless defect tracking tool (product reference ) can further simplify the task of getting superior outcomes.

  5. Not implementing a DevOps approach to testing workflow
    Test Automation and DevOps often go together. it's important to foster a culture of openness between multiple teams and departments. When roles and accountability of various members within the team are clearly outlined in a transparent manner, it becomes easier to unravel complex challenges in a much quicker timeline. This is often crucial to stay at pace with the speed and scale of test automation.

To build and maintain a successful and functional application, test automation and its robust implementation is a factor you should consider. By ensuring that your test automation strategy accounts for the right set of tools, coverage over a vast range of environments, and includes detailed test cases, you can guarantee the avoidance of the most common pitfalls occurring today.

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