Test automation is one of the significant components of software development. In QA automation, the system runs tests on several devices simultaneously. Furthermore, it helps developers find enough time to develop tools for new test cases and implement code reviews in an effective manner.
At the same time, since test automation is one of the pivotal components in the software development process, we should know its possible drawbacks as well. Indeed, they appear in the automation testing process. Therefore, knowing them would certainly help the development team to address and work proactively to solve the issues in advance.
What are the Common Challenges in QA Automation Testing?
Automation testing may go awry if you don’t consider the following challenges. Here, we list a few automation pitfalls and their solutions. Let’s dive!
Selection of Testing Tools
Automation testing does not give the right results if your choice of tool goes wrong. Therefore, selecting the testing tool becomes crucial. Also, you should consider third-party integrations to take advantage of the testing cycle. The development team must research while also considering the budget they have. One way is to understand and analyze the tool requirements as per the application under test (AUT).
Further, they can also check expert testimonials or gain insight into a particular tool from those who have already used the test framework you plan to select. Also, consider the business and technical needs before selecting a testing framework. One significant solution is to identify the project requirements and the available resources.
Identifying the Right Skills
We have already seen that automation testing works well by selecting the right tool. Also, automation testing requires manual intervention to create initial test scripts. Most of the test automation tools work the best when there is manual assistance by which companies can easily design and manage automation frameworks. Furthermore, skilled assistance helps in fixing any unexpected technical problems. Therefore, identifying people with robust automation skills is needed.
Sometimes, this might not be easily implemented in many organizations as it involves investment, particularly when they need to scale up in a short period. In such cases, businesses can use low-code or no-code solutions. As you know, low code/no code solutions do not require extensive technical expertise or coding skills. On top of it, you can align with your tech stack with the language supported. It further helps you easily find the most appropriate individuals with the necessary skills.
Considering Real User Conditions
QA automation may be subjected to inaccuracies if you do not consider real user conditions during testing. Often, testing on simulators comes with drawbacks as they only mimic real-world conditions. Therefore, it is wise to use real mobile devices rather than emulators. Indeed, testing on physical devices is expensive. It attracts investment to set up a device lab with the appropriate infrastructure.
However, you can use a cloud service provider by which you can gain access to several thousands of real-device browser operating systems for testing. Furthermore, you can perform QA automation testing on multiple real browser-operating system combinations. It ensures that your mobile applications and websites are optimized for use in real-world environments.
Prioritizing Test Cases
Shorter release cycles imply that there is less time for testing a product. When more tests are added to the QA automation testing, the tests become delayed, and there is a chance of failure. As a result, it may lead to changes in timelines and release cycles also change accordingly. Therefore, it is paramount to prioritize test cases to enhance efficiency. You need to adhere to test case prioritization when the number of test cases is huge and when it requires finishing within a short time.
Nevertheless, prioritizing test cases is an arduous task as it needs to align with the quality standards and savings in time and resources. That being said, it should not compromise the stability of the application when there is limited time. The real problem is that if there are several tests, prioritization demands much time and effort. The development team has to run manual tests, identify bugs and fix them. Prioritization impacts bandwidth as well. However, using TestNG, a Java-based, open-source test automation framework, allows you to execute multiple test cases in the order they need to be followed.
Final Remarks
QA automation comes with several advantages. Also, it possesses some limitations which can be sorted out easily. Indeed, one must carefully consider a few significant aspects before considering using automation testing practices. For example, as read above in the article, some additional investment, a skilled development team, and efforts in the early stages of its setup. But at the same time, it is worth the investments and effort you put in. With the help of automation testing in software testing, businesses can certainly release products much faster with utmost reliability.
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