By Ray Parker
Software testing is not an easy task, as testers have to deal with repetitive tasks that require attention, record keeping and deadlines. QA testers are overwhelmed by the short deadlines and fast releases of software applications. It makes testing more challenging for them. When new features are added to an application, it needs to be tested from various aspects.
Manual testing involves repeating a testing task quite a few times in different browsers. Whether it is a mobile or website application, whenever changes to the code are made, the testing procedure will have to be repeated again. Testers begin right from the beginning to test slight changes made in the application. Thus, manual testing requires a lot of time, money and efforts. During these repetitive processes, the human factor is usually lost. Since finding bugs is crucial for successful software, thus achieving quality user experience is really important. Testers often overlook bugs due to time-constraints which build pressure to get the work done in less time. Thus, an automation testing company aims at automating all processes that require the least human intervention. This works in the best interests of the QA teams because they can focus more on other aspects of the software development lifecycle.
Automation testing is a great gift to software testing that saves time and money. It allows organizations to invest more in automated solutions rather than in hiring manual testers. It is often mistaken that automation will replace the need for QA testers which is not completely true. There are modules of testing solutions, that only manual testers can handle. Thus, instead of working in different testing modes, testers combine manual and automation testing to achieve the desired results. Automation testing is just a way to certify an application and that it cannot be applied to just any testing process that requires any subjective judgments. Such testing activities can only be performed by manual testers, where machines fail to provide solutions. So, we can never say that automation is the solution to all repetitive testing activities and it is also false to believe that manual testers would no longer be required for measuring applications.
There is a lot that automation testing has to offer, especially to increase the productivity of the QA teams. Whether it is a time-consuming testing task or a repetitive one, QA teams need to decide which tasks require manual testing and which can easily be automated. This division of work between various tasks unleashes the true potential of automation testing. QA teams will no longer be threatened to be replaced by automation. In fact, they will come up with solutions that make their lives easier. Just like any testing technique, automated testing comes with its advantages and disadvantages. The good news is that the benefits are definitely greater than the extra time required in manual testing. It is imperative that with the right combination of manual and automation testing, testers and developers can make great progress in achieving quality products.
Author Bio:
Ray Parker is a senior marketing consultant with a knack for writing about the latest news in tech, quality assurance, software development and travel. With a decade of experience working in the tech industry, Ray now dabbles out of his New York office.