Test Automation And Challenges In Implementing It

By Author: TomWade
Total Articles: 34
Comment this article

Test Automation is capable of boosting productivity and enhancing software quality. But this occurs only when all the key challenges of test automation are overcome. It is wrong to assume that automation will substitute poor testing practices. In fact, poor testing practices with test automation are likely to make things even worse.
Some of the most common challenges of Test Automation are as follows:
- Choosing the right test automation tool: There can be no single solution which fits all software applications. Factors such as technical feasibility of the application, economic feasibility of the organization, user-friendliness, technical support of the tool, etc., all need to be considered thoroughly before choosing a test automation tool for a software application.

- Investment cost: Software testing automation is a substantial investment. The benefits of this investment can be seen only after months of dedicated implementation. Many firms do not step forward with this investment as they may not be ready with such a huge investment with little ...
... idea about its ROI.
- What is to be automated: Having a test automation tool does not imply automating each and every test script. A combined effort of manual and automated testing yields the best results. Hence, it is very important to understand what is to be automated and what is to be left for manual testing. Tests that need to be executed frequently are ideal for automation. Tests that require different data sets, greater precision and are difficult to be achieved through manual testing, can be considered for automation.
- A suitable automation framework: The technical feasibility, the functionalities to be tested, actions to be performed, and the validation types help to determine the type of automation framework. Some additional factors to be considered while choosing an automation framework are performance, maintainability and reliability. The framework should also provide for reliable reporting and be able to handle unpredicted events that can occur during testing.
- Setting realistic expectations: Testing can never be considered as complete. Testing is not a replacement for manual testing, rather it needs to be used in conjunction with it. Certain tests cannot be automated at all. The real value of testing comes from the information that it provides. Repeating the tests more frequently and increasing the number of tests more than required, does not yield better results.
- Resistance to change: The prevailing work culture of manual testing may not be open to the prospect of changing to the automated testing software. Many people may interpret is as a strategy for cost cutting and employee layoff. A mental resistance in new technology is not an ideal environment for it to succeed.
Conclusion
Test automation saves time. All challenges related to automated testing may not be mitigated, but once it is implemented, the return on investment is rapid. The benefits of test automation are numerous, but it may not be implemented based on reasons unique to each individual organization. Before implementing, it is necessary to perform a thorough research on its basic requirements and what can be done to establish it based on the available economic and technical resources.