Implementing a Test Automation Strategy in 4 Steps

Functional test automation may seem simple and intuitive. However, it requires a well-thought-out strategy just like all the other important phases of your project. Here are the four steps that will allow you to build a sustainable and intelligent automated testing strategy and ensure the success of your campaigns.

1. Ask the Right Questions and Define a Clear Objective

While functional automated testing can bring considerable value to your project and team, it is not intuitive and requires a clear and precise objective.

For example, while it is true that functional automated testing can lower quality assurance (QA) costs, saving money cannot be the sole motivation for implementing it. In the same way, you must be aware of the commitment required to successfully implement automated test cases. If you do not have enough time to write your own tests, it is likely that problems will remain and affect the quality and effectiveness of your test cases.

On the other hand, a precise objective with clearly defined expectations—for example, "we want to avoid functional regressions on different data sets”—goes a long way toward ensuring the success and satisfaction with your automated tests. CTG can support and help you ask the right questions to get your test automation strategy started on the right track.

2. Integrate Your Automated Test Strategy Into Your Overall Strategy and Teams 

Automating your tests is only one part of your overall testing strategy. A common mistake is to think that functional automated testing can replace the whole QA process. That's why tight integration across your teams is essential, so that everyone knows how your automations work. Keep in mind that automation allows developers to obtain feedback more quickly, thus improving agility as well as quality. This is where the substantial savings can be found.

3. Define the Tests To Be Performed and Launch the First Proof of Concept 

Once these solid foundations have been laid, select the tests you want to automate. To do this, ask yourself which ones will bring you the most value. Some features are long and expensive to test, and if the tests are only ran once a year, the benefits your team will gain will likely be small.

To select the most relevant tests to perform, arbitrate between the number of times they are executed and the maintenance they will generate. To do this, it can be useful to rely on a functional analysis of your application. This phase of the project will ensure the maintainability and robustness of your test cases, and will allow you to create solid automated tests and ensure the automation works.

The launch of the first proof of concept corresponds to the launch of the first pilot test. This is when the first automated test is designed, which then allows for deployment and scaling across applications and teams.

4. Deployment and Standardization

One of the important points often underestimated at this stage of the implementation is communication. Remember to not only inform and explain the purpose of the test to all the members of your team, but also its detailed operation and implications in the code. Each developer must be able to take ownership of the automated tests.

Once this phase is over, your entire team will become more comfortable with automated testing. Remember to be open to their feedback and include them in a process standardization phase.

To learn more about this topic, or how CTG can help your organization implement or optimize your QA automation, do not hesitate to contact us.

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