How To Implement Test Automation?

 

What is Test Automation?

Test automation is a methodical process of running tests automatically without any human intervention. Test automation is known for its speed of execution. Those testing tasks that are repetitive and are difficult to perform manually goes through automation testing.

In order to achieve effective test automation, businesses should take care of the below key steps to get the full benefit of their test automation initiatives.

6 key steps to consider for successful implementation of test automation:

1. Analyze your current testing scenario: The testing team needs to ponder on the following questions:

·         What are the drawbacks of the current testing scenario?

·         What are the specific test cases that need to be automated?

·         The current approach towards testing and what needs to be changed or modified?

2. Defining a crystal-clear goal: A properly defined goal with all the action steps and timelines can work wonders for the smooth functioning of the entire automation testing process.

·         Firstly, the testing team must be clear about the current applications that are being tested.

·         Secondly, the team must have a vivid idea about those software applications that actually has to go through the test automation process.

·         It is the responsibility of automation testers to know which of the test cases should be left for manual testing, and which specific ones should be picked up for automation testing.

·         The automation tasks need to be assigned, tracked and measured (in terms of progress) accordingly.

3. Picking up the right automation tool: Depending upon the project requirements, the automation testing team must finalize the specific test automation tools.

·         It may be a single tool or a set of tools. The focus should be on those tools which are high in quality, efficiency, security and maintainability.

·         At the same time, the automation tools that are finalized must provide full justice to the testing environment of the project in demand. Extensions of the tool(s) along with training and support also need to be considered.

4. Filtering the specific test cases that need to be automated: In certain specific testing scenarios or most of the testing scenarios, all test cases need not be automated. Some are left for manual testing.

·         The test manager must have a thorough planning framework in order to pick only those test cases that best suits for automation testing process. The testing team must be very clear when it comes to shortlisting those test cases that are worth going through the test automation process

5. Execute Test cases: In this step, all the test cases that need to be automated are executed and then the outcome is tracked.

6. Report generation: A concise report is generated to ascertain as to which test cases were executed successfully and which of them needs to be executed again.