6 Ways to Do Automation Testing Most Effectively

Aug 13, 2021 | 8 min read | Guest Post

Overview

Test automation has many benefits. Perhaps the most notable is that it reduces the time and resources spent on manual processes. The teams can achieve higher efficiency and greater accuracy in their roles.
The company also gets to save a lot by reducing the time it takes in developmental cycles. To get the most out of test automation, it is important to learn how to do it effectively.
We will share some effective tips in our article below. But first, let us start by understanding what test automation is all about.

Test Automation: What Is It?

Look at any automation testing tutorial, you will find one thing in common. It is the emphasis on how crucial testing is in the software development process. The teams must ensure that the final product is free of bugs or defects.
The only way to do this is to keep up with the testing at every stage. Without a doubt, testing can be time-consuming and difficult. It becomes even more tedious and repetitive when using manual or human testers.
Boredom or inattention to details can lead to costly errors. That is where automated testing comes in to help in a big way. The testers run tests using tools and relevant software.
Automating the tasks improves accuracy, speed, and efficiency. There is also greater reliability in the results.
Further, machines can run over larger test coverage areas, without needing human input. Automation frees up the teams to concentrate on other chore areas that require human skill.

Effective Automation Testing Techniques

Now that we have a good understanding of automation testing, let’s look at how to do it effectively.

1. Choose Your Test Automation Cases

It is important to note that it is not possible to run all tests using automation. A machine, for example, cannot provide information on user experience. For this, you still need human skills.
Determine the test cases you will run using automation tools. You will realize the greatest benefits for test cases that:-
  • You run quite often, meaning they are repetitive
  • Tests that use multiple data sets
  • Test areas that are prone to human error
  • Anything that you cannot perform using manual tests
  • Test cases that will run on different environments; including software, hardware, or configurations
Go through the testing scenarios and determine what needs automation testing. Remember the aim is to take care of menial tasks that may take up a lot of time.

2. Decide on the Type of Automated Tests

There are two basic types of automated tests to choose from.
Non-functional tests improve the performance, behavior, and functionality of the systems. It focuses on things like loading time, speed, and response time. The teams will set relevant parameters to get specific feedback. The tests include security, performance, usability, and compliance testing.
Functional tests provide feedback on the software development requirements. The drafting part begins right at the planning phase. The tests Include acceptance, unit, system, integration, and interface testing. The feedback from the tests validates what the teams set out to achieve.

3. Plan and Design the Automation Testing

Do not proceed with the automation testing without careful planning. Decide on what goes first because it will determine all other tests.
Break down the test cases into smaller blocks. Teams will face difficulties debugging or editing very large tests. It also allows you to assign specific actions that the automation tests need to perform.
To make it easy, prioritize tests depending on the outcome you need to achieve and timelines.
The aim of automation testing should be to ensure zero bugs in the software. Early detection allows for corrective action.
Combining test automation and continuous integration is the way to achieve this. The teams get feedback anytime there is an update or change. It allows for improvement in the quality of code at the point of need.
You get to avoid last-minute issues that will impact the user experience in the final product.

4. Choose the Right Automation Tools

It is critical to decide on the automated testing tools. To choose the best, have the following considerations in mind.
  • Start by understanding your overall requirements. These are the project scope and where you need support. What type of technologies or platforms are you testing on? Such include operating systems like iOS or Android. Also, are you running the tests for mobile, WPF or, C# applications?
  • Skill level of the testers. Automation should make life easy. Avoid very complex tools that will make the creation of automation tests difficult.
  • Decide on must-have features. The tool should, for example, allow for both manual and automation testing when you need it. It also allows for the creation of reusable test cases.
  • Have clarity on the actions you want to perform. Such include development and maintenance of scripts, test reports, close browser testing, and so on.

5. Create the Test Data

The data you create will determine the effectiveness of the automated testing tools. External data also makes it easy to reuse and maintain the test cases. You also get more efficiency when you need to test different scenarios.
The teams only need to input the new data onto the existing test scripts. They save time by not needing to edit what already exists in the automated test case.
With good quality data, teams achieve wider coverage over the application development cycle.

6. Run Periodic Reviews

Periodic reviews are critical in test automation maintenance. They let the teams know whether their test data is still valid or relevant. Using obsolete data or test cases will result in time and resource wastage.
The reviews also help identify scripts that do not work with the current applications. The application interfaces or UI may change depending on the build stage. These can be extremely frustrating for the team members.
The solution is to change the way the software locates or identifies objects. Instead of using location coordinates, the teams should give unique names to the controls. The names are permanent, so they do not change with every test run.

Final Thoughts

Test automation can be daunting at first. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to consider before investing in it. It’s good to know though that all the resources, energy, and effort put into the investment will be worth it in the long run.
Using the right strategies will increase the effectiveness of your test automation. Use the tips above and do a little more research because there is a lot to learn.
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