5 Benefits of Using Test Automation Management Tools

Software testing has come a long way with the introduction of automation. Today, automation testing has taken the QA process to an all new level by bringing in speed, higher levels of accuracy, greater test coverage, higher ROI, and faster time to market. Some forms of testing that were extremely time consuming or impossible to execute manually, are easily possible now, thanks to automation. Today, there are automation tools that do more than just execution, as they are also designed for complete test management, such as QARA Enterprise and Zephyr. These tools are heaven sent for QA professionals as they manage the entire process, from coding to execution, allowing the QA professional the time to focus on more important areas.

In today’s times of extreme competition and short attention span of the users, test automation management tools are what is needed for the consistency in the reliability of software releases. The most common as well as one of the biggest challenges that QA professionals face, is the short deadlines for release of software. The time constraints often results in low test coverage or higher expenses or compromise in quality. This in turn can lead to customer dissatisfaction or even product recalls. All of these challenges can be easily avoided with the following steps:

·        Having foolproof testing strategies to maximize test execution within the time frame or deadline.

·        Using more advanced testing tools to minimize errors and make the process faster.

·        Making a good assessment of the requirements of testing – what are the desired features, the target users, expectations from the software, etc.

·        Having an effective process for the monitoring of test performance and also maintenance of test cases.

All of the above can be achieved using a test automation management tool. This is the reason a tool like this can be the most rewarding investment that software development firms can make today. The following are the 5 key benefits of a test automation management tool.

1] Reduces Post Release Maintenance

Once the software has assured high quality right at the time of release, the need for post release maintenance reduces significantly. A high quality software would also need less troubleshooting and have less numbers of unhappy users. This reduces the hassles of the firm, as they can dedicate entire time and resources to work on the next release or update.

2] Speeds up the QA Process

When time is a constraint, speed becomes extremely important and that applies to QA. When deadlines are short, it becomes essential to build the highest quality software in the shortest time and this is where a test automation management tool can help.

3] Reduces the Costs

The faster the time to market of a software product, the lesser the costs. Also, a high quality software built using a well-managed test process using a test automation management tool, ensures no post release expenses, which also contributes to lower costs.

4] Ensures Consistent Deployment

With a test automation management tool, the QA process is completely streamlined, which makes it possible for consistent deployments of the software product that are reliable and of the highest quality. Consistent reliable builds are the way to go when it comes to staying relevant in a highly competitive market.

5] Standardization of the QA Process

A test automation management tool comes with a framework, which means every step of the QA process is pre-defined as a part of a process. Hence, anyone can use the tool to give the best results, and there is very less scope for errors. This is one of the key benefits.

The benefits are many, which make test automation management tools so popular with QA teams today. These tools also integrate with other popular platforms to offer more functionalities to the users, without the need to switch between platforms.