For the last decade or so, agile methodologies have gained popularity due to its high level of productivity in delivering a much better end product compared to other development methods. The iterative approach, rapid feedback cycles, and adaptive mindset have revolutionized the way projects are executed. Whichever development approach you might choose, testing always comes around. Due to the nature of Agile methodologies, automation testing has stepped up as being a handy tool, allowing the agile models to scale up and be competent.
In this blog, we’ll be digging underneath the surface of automation testing in the realm of agile methodology, especially in the software industry. From improving efficiency and accelerating development cycles to ensuring high-quality deliverables, software test automation services empower the development team to unlock the true potential of agile practices.
Agile software development methodologies
Agile software development methodologies, such as Scrum, Kanban, Extreme programming, Lean development, and Crystal development, aim to streamline the development and testing process. Scrum, for instance, involves parallel development and testing activities conducted within sprints.
Each sprint in the agile process releases a set of features, with continuous development and testing ensuring speedy releases. However, in modern agile and DevOps scenarios, manual testing alone is insufficient to achieve fast and high-quality releases. Businesses are now favoring automation testing and leverage cutting-edge tools to streamline testing in an agile environment.
The four factors in agile automation testing
Test scripts reusability
Automated test cases offer the advantage of reusability, allowing test scripts to be run multiple times at any given time or day. This reusability significantly reduces maintenance costs by eliminating the need for extensive updates. By minimizing human errors and saving costs, the application of test reusability proves highly beneficial.
Optimal test coverage
Test coverage enhances the effectiveness of software testing. Software Testing Automation is instrumental in expanding the breadth and depth of tests, as it eliminates the excessive human manual works. Testers can develop test suites for each application feature, including internal programs, data tables, and memory contents.
Through the utilization of automation testing, complex test cases can be executed automatically, leading to improved and expedited test coverage. This reduces the workload for manual testers, allowing them to focus on other critical responsibilities.
Faster test execution
The test automation process greatly enhances the efficiency of the development process. By conducting testing in parallel with development, all identified bugs and issues can be addressed promptly. This approach, often referred to as the ‘Fail Fast’ method, enables early detection and resolution of defects in the software development life cycle (SDLC), resulting in time savings.
Ideally, if automated testing is performed starting from the initial unit testing phase, defects can be identified and fixed early, rather than dealing with them later on. Additionally, continuous testing significantly reduces the time-to-market for software products. This allows developers and testers to save time and deliver high-quality products more quickly.
Cost-effectiveness
During the initial phase, the cost of test automation implementation can be overwhelming due to the extra upfront expenses related to training, tool acquisition, and setup. However, once the test automation is established, costs shall be reduced over time as the automation process continues.
Moreover, the advantage of test automation is that test cases can be repeatedly executed without incurring additional expenses whenever necessary. This enhances the overall speed and efficiency of software testing activities without incurring extra costs.
Benefits of implementing test automation in an agile environment
With the importance of test automation to agile we have mentioned above, it is undeniable that implementing test automation in an agile environment brings a multitude of benefits for businesses. There are some of the key advantages you should know:
- Parallel testing enables the execution of the same scripts on multiple devices simultaneously.
- The use of test scripts enhances the reliability of testing to a significant extent.
- Test automation facilitates faster implementation of agile software development practices.
- While the initial costs of test automation in agile may be high, the return on investment (ROI) is ultimately greater.
- Specific test scripts can be reused multiple times to identify software bugs.
- Test automation is a cost-effective and efficient approach to implementing agile methodologies, ultimately improving software testing activities and enabling the delivery of high-quality products in less time.
Conclusion
By implementing automation testing, quality assurance teams are empowered to automatically execute test cases whenever new code is deployed to the code repository. This not only saves time but also enhances the scalability of agile development activities, especially when coupled with suitable tools, expertise, and a well-defined automation testing roadmap.
To achieve high-quality products with accelerated time-to-market and improved return on investment (ROI), it is advisable to leverage the test automation services offered by a cutting-edge testing services provider. Their expertise in next-generation testing will enable you to enjoy all the benefits of automation, resulting in superior outcomes for your software projects. SHIFT ASIA – one of the leading software testing service companies established in 2016, will be an advisable alternative for every business in providing the first-rate software testing automation services. With comprehensive solutions suites in the software industry and the specialist resources, SHIFT ASIA’s experienced teams strive harder everyday to support their clients to achieve their goals and objectives.