Test automation is a crucial part of software development and quality assurance, as it can help ensure that software is reliable, efficient, and effective. However, many developers and testers new to automation make the same mistake: they try to automate everything at once.
While automating all testing processes at once might seem like an efficient and effective way to get started with test automation, it’s a recipe for failure. Here’s why.
What Automation Is Not
Automation cannot magically solve your testing problems. Instead, you can use this tool as support for your testing. It’s important to understand that not all testing processes are suitable for automation, and not all automation efforts will produce the same results. Therefore, it’s essential to be selective about what you automate and how you go about it.
Poor Manual Testing Is A Problem
Having a solid foundation of manual testing is essential before you start automating. Automated tests are only as good as the manual tests that they’re based on, so if you don’t have a solid foundation of manual testing, your automated tests will be unreliable and ineffective. Additionally, manual testing can help you identify which tests are best suited for automation and which you can leave to human testers.
Don’t Automate Everything
Trying to automate everything at once is time-consuming. Starting small and building on your achievements is crucial. Focus on automating the most critical and repetitive tests first, and then expand your automation efforts as you gain more experience and confidence. By doing so, you’ll see the benefits of automation more quickly, and you’ll be able to iterate on your efforts more effectively.
Not An Experienced Team
Automation requires you to take out time, invest in resources, and have expertise. It’s essential to ensure that you have the right people, processes, and tools to support your automation efforts; this includes having a team experienced in automation and software development and access to the necessary tools and infrastructure. Without the proper support and resources, your automation efforts will likely fail. Avoid these mistakes when starting with test automation:
Automating Everything At Once
Trying to automate every aspect of your testing processes can be tempting. However, automating everything without assessing which tests are suitable for automation can lead to wasted time and resources. Instead, identify the most critical and repeatable tests, and automate those first. This way, you can test the waters of automation without becoming overwhelmed and create a solid foundation for further automation.
Not Having A Clear Strategy
A lack of a clear strategy can lead to confusion and misalignment among team members. Before starting your automation efforts, have a clear plan that outlines your goals, timeline, and desired outcomes. This strategy should be communicated to everyone involved in the automation effort so that everyone can work towards the same goals.
Not Having A Skilled Team
Compared to manual testing, the skills needed for test automation are distinct. Invest in a competent team to steer your automation initiatives. Having people with little to no experience in automation can lead to mistakes, delays, and the inability to leverage automation effectively for your testing efforts.
Not Prioritizing Test Maintenance
Automated testing must undergo continuous upkeep for continued efficiency and relevance. Automated testing must reflect any changes in the software or its requirements. Failure to prioritize test maintenance can lead to unreliable test results and wasted time and resources.
Not Leveraging The Right Tools
There are various options available for automation testing tools, and each has both benefits and drawbacks. Make sure you select the right tool for you and your team’s requirements; this means assessing the features and capabilities of different tools and considering the level of support and integration with other tools you may need.
Not Properly Documenting Your Tests
It’s essential to document your automated tests so that they can be easily understood and used by other team members; this includes documenting the test objectives, expected results, and any necessary test data. Failing to document your tests properly can lead to confusion and lost time when trying to understand and maintain them.
Conclusion
If you’re just starting with test automation, you must avoid trying to automate everything simultaneously. Instead, build a solid foundation of manual testing, being selective about what you automate, starting small, and ensuring that you have the proper support and resources. These guidelines will help you automate your tests with ease.
Additionally, investing in a software testing platform will also help you. Leveraging the expertise of QA automation tools can help you develop a successful app. HeadSpin is such a platform. Users can connect to real devices and run tests on multiple environments. The HeadSpin AI gives comprehensive insights into the app’s performance, highlighting glitches and providing steps to fix these errors. These actionable insights will improve error recognition and fixing times, improving time-to-market.