4 Reasons Why Test Automation Fails

Automated testing tools are expected to make things faster and easier for IT companies. There is a common belief that automated testing will contribute to the software quality and make things easier for the programmers. However, the reality is that 64% of the time, automated testing or pre-scripted tests fail to deliver as per the expectations, and the business goes back to manual testing.

A good understanding of the challenges, expectations and underlying concepts will help your business to maximize benefits of test automation tools. Here are the main reasons why your test automation may fail to deliver.

1. Unrealistic Expectations
Whenever a tool or a product fails to perform as per the expectations, it is quite obvious that we blame the tool. However, we need to check if our expectations of the tool has been correct/accurate. Here are some typical unrealistic expectations heaped on automated testing tools –

• Now that we have invested in this tool, we will get immediate ROI.
• We have purchased a leading pre-scripted testing tool that will do everything at the click of a button
• With this software, we can automate the entire process.

It is very important to understand that implementing an automated testing tool is another software project and it requires lots of planning, thoughts and experimentations to make it work across various testing environments.

You cannot run automated scripts without the knowledge of software coding, so it is extremely important to allow your team to master and perfect their coding skills before using these scripts.

2. “One size fits all” mindset
Another major reason for test automation failure is a prejudice that one condition suits all. Test automation is not a “one size fits all” operation and it should be updated to address changing parameters. Eye for detail and patience are two traits required for making testing automation work as per your expectations, and it requires continuous improvement.

3. No understanding of manual testing process
Automated testing is perceived as a magic bullet that will function even if you don’t have an understanding of manual testing. It is important to know that automatic testing is actually a continuous extension of manual testing. If you don’t how the tool will fit in the grand scheme of testing, you cannot automate the testing, believes Mike Kelly – a leading software expert with a Fortune 100 company.

4. Automated Testing is Easy and Doesn’t Requires Inputs
The key misconception about the automated testing is that it is extremely easy and doesn’t require any inputs. You cannot simply automate an existing test process, instead you have to rethink and reconsider the whole approach. Which tests should be manually tested? Which tests should be automated? This differentiation will definitely help you to seek benefits from automated testing.

By now you might have understood that it takes proper planning, realistic expectations and a solid commitment to make test automation work. When you require a productive test automation that works for your business, feel free to approach Cigniti Technologies. Cigniti serves through tailored pre-built test suites and works closely with your teams to understand defects, eliminate redundancies and improve the quality of software.