What is Automation Testing and Why is It Important?

Any business that develops software or applications as part of their operations will know just how competitive this market is. Organisations are under immense pressure to deliver innovative solutions and updates faster than ever before. But, speed without quality is a recipe for disaster. The only way to achieve both without any compromises is by automating parts of the development cycle. In this article, we’ll focus on one of the most important, automation testing.

Why is Software Testing So Important?

The primary reason for testing is early bug detection. While the application might be running smoothly initially, certain actions or factors could bring unexpected issues. For instance, using the same application on two different operating systems (e.g. Android versus iOS) might have a different user experience. One may be working perfectly, while the other could have various bugs. Similarly, the app might slow down and struggle to cope with large volumes of users. 

These kinds of issues don’t show up by themselves, so thorough testing is a necessity. If you release a software without proper testing, they will likely come out down the line, requiring expensive updates. Even worse, you may lose users to competitors due to the issues and, therefore, miss out on potential profits. Therefore, comprehensive testing is a non-negotiable part of an app development cycle. 

What is Automation Testing?

Testing an application manually for any interface issues or security risks can be a long-winded process. It relies on a developer meticulously clicking through an application and testing potential problems in the code. Automation testing, on the other hand, utilises specialised software tools to execute these tests automatically, before the application can be released to the public. It uses pre-written scripts to perform a number of actions, which then flags any discrepancies against the expected (desirable) results. 

Think of it as having a robot perform repetitive and time-consuming tasks, leaving your developers to focus on what their job actually is - developing great software. It’s not replacing manual testers but, rather, working in collaboration to achieve more with less time. 

Key Benefits of Automation Testing

Switching to automation testing introduces a whole host of benefits for any organisation. The most significant is, of course, the ROI (Return on Investment) through time and cost savings. While setting up automation may require an initial investment in tools or third-party expertise, it will pay back drastically long-term by reducing the manual hours spent on testing. 

This leads directly to increased efficiency and productivity. Automated tests provide rapid, consistent feedback to developers, accelerating the process. Repetitive tests that would take a manual tester hours can be executed in minutes with the right tools. As a result, businesses can achieve a faster time-to-market, releasing high-quality solutions quicker and gaining a competitive edge over the other players in the industry. 

Common Types of Automation Testing

Automation testing covers a wide range of different end-to-end testing needs. This includes regression testing, which repeatedly checks that new features haven’t broken any existing functionality, and load testing, which simulates real-world traffic in the software checking how it affects its performance and speed. Similarly, UI (User Interface) testing is all about making sure that the visual aspects of the app are user-friendly and intuitive. There are also general performance tests, which evaluate the overall speed and stability of the app under different conditions. 

Leading Automation Testing Partners

To automate all of these tests, you will need to use dedicated tools, such as Katalon, Appium, SoapUI, Postman, Playwright, TestIM, Pytest, Mabl, and others. However, these not only introduce additional expenses, but also require specific expertise and training. 

Therefore, many businesses choose to use an external partner who specialises in automation testing services and already has access to all the necessary tools. Here are some examples of leading providers for such services: 

• Qalified: Whether you’re developing a mobile or desktop application,  offer tailored testing solutions for your unique needs, including ROI assessment and analysis, intelligent testing, framework implementation and other end-to-end testing services.
• QualityLogic:  A US-based firm, QualityLogic offers expertise in creating custom test solutions and tools for complex software, with a flexible approach to ensure alignment with your budget and timeline.
• Testlio: Fusing its global network of expert testers with AI-powered automation, Testo aims to deliver fast and scalable quality assurance solutions, through seamless integrations and better resource optimisation.
• Infosys:  Infosys is a global IT consulting company that offers automation testing as part of its wider services, helping large enterprises define and implement their strategies as efficiently as possible. 

The Future of Quality Assurance

Software testing is not an option - it is a core part of software development. So, why not make it faster and more reliable with an automated solution? It’s a practice that will continue growing amongst businesses, but the ones that get there early will gain the biggest competitive advantage long-term.