While automation significantly impacts software development components like faster releases, quick feedback to the development team, and frequent execution of the tests, some automation limitations need to be addressed by organizations to be more successful.?
Some of the common misconceptions include:-?
- The unrealistic idea of "Achieving one hundred percent, complete or total automation in testing" is impossible. Running automated tests with more data and configurations can increase the test coverage; however, increased test coverage does not guarantee 100% automation or better quality. The focus should be on functionality as it is crucial for business.?
- There is no need for manual testing - Automation testing is wonderful for predictable & repetitive aspects of testing the code, but it cannot replace human interference and intuition. Both automation and manual testing complement each other hence both are needed. In addition, there is the misconception that automation should be applied to "all" tests- Automated testing can free up time and encourages one to work better in some aspects. Still, manual testing is also required in some other elements as it helps to give accuracy.
- Automation is very expensive - Initially, investing in automation testing is indeed high, but it should be looked at as a long-term beneficial perspective.?In manual testing, testers need to spend more time testing it manually for an?extended period for which they could otherwise use the energy for other productive tasks. Thinking from this long-term perspective, investing in?automation will deliver better ROI in a few years.
- The higher defects detection rate in automation testing - It's common to see people expecting automated tests find more bugs as the test coverage is high. Often than not, it is not the case. In comparison, automated tests are indeed highly capable of finding complex issues and are also good at finding regression errors. The human intelligence of a tester can spot unexpected mistakes. At the same time, automated testing comparatively lacks it, so better to remember that automation testing only checks what they have been programmed to review by the person who wrote the script.
- Managing automation testing is easy - In Automation testing, the source code needs to be maintained regularly. It is a misconception that in automation testing, everything will be ready-made which is not valid. All the projects will not be the same to carry a similar code; hence, the code needs to be edited according to the development process and the project needs.
To conclude, there is no doubt that automation in software testing adds excellent value to the organization's projects. However, it is necessary to talk about misconceptions about automation as it helps organizations make well-informed decisions about their projects. Test automation is a long-term investment and an essential asset that needs constant monitoring and updating. This can be implemented skillfully if organizations hire people with expertise in automation. At QAonCloud, we are here to help you design the best-automated testing strategy with a dedicated testing team with constant feedback.?
