Testing is an essential component of the software development process, resulting in a better, more user-friendly platform that’s developed at a faster rate thanks to automation. So what is automated testing? And how does automated software testing impact the development timeframe, cost, quality and overall user experience for your platform?
What is Automated Testing?
Automated testing scripts are tools that are developed to go through a software platform, mimicking user actions and other functions in a systematic manner. The objective is to verify functionality, ensuring that the platform operates as expected. This technology actually represents a form of process automation. You’re using technology to replicate and automate a process that would otherwise be performed manually by a human tester.
In cases where automated testing tools identify an anomaly, an alert or flag is issued and developers are alerted to the finding. Once identified, the problem can be addressed and remedied.
Automated software testing tools can go through a platform, performing testing in a thorough, prompt and highly-efficient manner, resulting in decreased development costs and a shorter development timeframe. More sophisticated software testing tools can even deploy a fix for some of the problems it encounters, resulting in a more robust, well-developed platform that progresses through the testing phase at a rapid clip.
Increasingly, developers are combining this form of process automation with artificial intelligence to arrive at a technology that more accurately replicates the actions of a human user. This leads to automated testing capabilities that far exceed what was previously possible, both in terms of the type of anomalies that are identified and the manner in which those anomalies are handled or repaired.
The Benefits of Automated Testing Tools
Automated software testing essentially replaces the manual QA testing process, which can be both tedious and time-consuming. This frees human team members to focus on higher-level aspects of the software development process. These automated testing tools not only improve testing efficiency and overall quality of the platform that’s in development; they also shorten the development timeframe, leading to reduced development costs. Here’s a look at a few key benefits of automated software testing.
Benefits
Explanation
Greater Testing Coverage
With automated software testing, you can test all aspects of a new platform, whether it’s a mobile app, an enterprise software platform or a high-tech Vision Pro app for Apple’s new visionOS. What’s more, automated testing allows for multiple rounds of testing and testing to a degree that would be cost-prohibitive if you were to rely primarily on manual testing.
A Shorter Development Timeframe
Automated testing scripts can perform testing at a very rapid pace — a speed that would be impossible for a human to match. This allows for more expansive testing, in addition to allowing for repeat rounds of testing to ensure maximum quality. Beyond this, it can take time for human testers to identify a bug or glitch, leading to a protracted development timeframe. The sooner an issue is identified, the sooner it can be remedied.
Eliminating Human Error
Even the best, most experienced QA testers can miss a bug, glitch or other anomaly. Automated testing scripts are highly efficient and they eliminate human error from the equation, leading to the development of a more stable, glitch-free software platform.
Reduced Development Costs
Automated software testing tools reduce development costs because they effectively shorten the overall development timeframe. This comes in addition to freeing human team members to focus on higher-level tasks that cannot be automated. The result? Improved quality.
Automated testing is commonly used in conjunction with more traditional manual testing. A development team may opt to perform both automated and manual tests of a new platform to ensure the best possible quality and UI/UX.
Harness the Power of Automated Testing, AI and More
Today’s most innovative companies — 7T included — are combining automated testing with artificial intelligence (AI) to arrive at even more efficient testing scripts, with the power to deploy repairs and fixes as issues and anomalies are identified.
At 7T, we leverage today’s best automated testing tools, resulting in a highly-efficient development process and platforms that meet and exceed our clients’ expectations. Combine this with our problem → solution approach to development and you arrive at an innovative solution that leverages today’s best technology in a manner that aligns with your company’s business strategy.
7T is based in Dallas, with additional locations in Houston, and Charlotte, NC. But our clientele spans the globe. If you’re ready to learn more about automated testing and our innovative Digital Transformation processes, contact 7T today.
