Best Practices to Follow when Using Automation Testing Tools

Automation testing has revolutionized the world of software testing in so many ways. Today, every organisation out there wants to implement automation in their QA projects. However, implementation of automation is not as easy as it seems, as there are many factors involved in making it successful. What's more, investing in an advanced test automation tool like Eggplant, QARA Enterprise or Telerik Test Studio, is just the first step. Once the QA team has a test automation tool, the next plan of action is to use it in a way that the output is maximized.

Many organisations believe that implementation of test automation is possible within the blink of an eyelid. However, there are several factors involved in making automation a success. It's all about taking the right steps and doing things the right way to taste success. When implementing automation using the right automation testing tools, one should take note of the best practices to follow that will help bring the best results with minimal effort.

To begin with, the QA team should be aware of what to automate and what not to. It's common knowledge that not every scenario should be automated. While regression testing for example is ideal for automation, test cases involving the user interface are best conducted manually. Striking the right balance between automation and manual is the key to effective results.

Adding to the previous point, one must know that the test cases that are ideal for automation are the ones that are predictable, repetitive and not to forget, easy to automate. After all, automation testing tools are designed to make the task easy and so the ones that are difficult to automate are simply not worth the time and effort.

When investing in automation testing tools, it is advisable to hire a team instead of having a single person operate the tool. Involving the entire QA team is a good idea because it keeps them in the loop and every member of the team is aware of the entire process. Another Important point worth mentioning here is that every member of the team has his or her own expertise which can help in making the automation process a success. Also, if the team only consists of manual testers who are switching to automation, then it's a good idea to hire an automation expert who can guide the team in achieving the desired results and goals.

This one is a point that's really important. No team can achieve the desired goals without the right test automation tool. This makes it crucial to select the right tool in order to achieve the desired results. Different automation testing tools have different features and the right tool is one that caters to the specific QA requirements of the team.

With the advent of Agile Technology, it has become absolutely essential to start testing early in the product development life cycle. This is a Good practice that QA teams must follow. The reason for this is that the earlier in the product lifecycle that one is able to detect bugs, the more cost-effective it is to resolve. This also prevents ugly surprises coming up later in the development cycle or even after the product is released.

Last but not the least, when implementing automation using automation testing tools, it is very important to divide the responsibility among different members of the team, based on their skillset. Not every individual in the team would be good at every aspect of QA. Hence, the work should be distributed such that it makes the best use of the skills of every individual in the team.

Thus, it can be safely concluded by saying that when using automation testing tools, it's important to be informed of the right approach. The best practices mentioned above, if followed diligently, can help the team to overcome challenges and get the best results. It's all about planning well in advance and implementing the right strategies that works.