1- Convince Management the need of Automation
It doesn't matter how much any technique / tool or process is beneficial, you can't use it unless you take company's management and stakeholder in confidence. Automation tools are expensive as well as automation architects and engineers are. In order to see benefits of automation, you have to invest few months, it can't be seen immediately. So, in order to initiate automation track, you need to convince your management to bear the expenses and also make them aware that they have to be patient to see the benefits.
How to convince?
Do cost- Benefit analysis to convince your management. In case, your company doesn't want to invest, no one can force them. But you can do following in order to prove your point:
1- Explain benefits of automation in detail.
2- Explain clearly that it’s expensive initially but over the period of time it pays off. Cost reduces automatically when once scripts are created.
3- Convey your management that automation is a cost effective way to reduce work burden when regression testing is major focus. It reduces time by 50%.
4- Also explain that automation is not replacement of manual testing. There are many aspects for which manual testing is important. Automation is effectively used in Regression , Smoke etc but for new application or new release, manual is still considered as most effective approach.
2- Search Automation Tool according to project Requirement:
The most important part is to get the correct tool for automation. Most important points to focus while choosing tool are:
1-Tool must be in your Budget.
2-Tool must support technologies that are used in your application under test. For example, selenium web driver is for web applications and test complete for web application and so on.
3-You must have skilled resources in specific tool.
2-Tool must support technologies that are used in your application under test. For example, selenium web driver is for web applications and test complete for web application and so on.
3-You must have skilled resources in specific tool.
3. Find out Expert in respective tool to Hire or train your resources:
There is different policies for different organizations. Some companies hire skilled resources while others hire some train and train own resources but in case of automation expert, you need:
1- Experts/ architects to design framework.
2-Automation engineers to convert manual tests to automate.
4. Train the Resources:
Now the biggest and most crucial step is to train the team. If you are recruiting new skilled resources then train them on domain knowledge of the product /project under test. And in case of training own manual testers, provide them technical knowledge and expertise of using tool.
5- Analyze Application and identify Suitable areas for Automation Testing:
It’s not necessary that whole application should be automated at once. You can identify chunks and then automate one by one. In case to automate, you need to identify suitable areas depending on following factors:
1- Application should be stable. Means, it shouldn't be in development in early stages of development.
2- At least, GUI of application should be stable.
3- There should be threshold set for ripple effects. If build is bug free in build X, it should be bug free in build X1 too.
By identifying such areas, we can automate manual test cases {that are already written} to automate so that these can be used in Regression easily.
6- Create Automation testing Framework having execution plan and proper reporting
Critical task is to create a testing framework which can be useful for long term. Framework is nothing but just a set of rules and guides and built in functionalities that can be used to make the life easier of a tester. Framework is the main focus of automation testing. There are mainly 3 types of frameworks that are being used:
1- Data- Driven
2- Keyword Driven
3- Hybrid
Other than that modular and linear are also used. Automation frameworks is another topic, we will post on that topic soon. Execution Plan includes on which platforms automated tests will be run like: windows, UNIX, MAC, etc, which browsers will be covered or which not.
For detailed Information regarding Automation Frameworks, Read Article: "Everything to Know about Automation Testing Frameworks" .
Reporting
It is one of the key feature. Mostly tools provide own reporting but it can be customize too. By reporting you can have view which tests are executed in a specific build and what's the ratio of pass and fail. It can be used easily to show your work to management and client as well.
7- Write scripts
When Framework is designed, execution plan is ready, it’s time to write scripts. Scripts should be written in proper manner by following defined rules by framework. Naming conventions should be used. Source control like VSS or SVN should be used in order to control data loss.
8- Maintenance of Scripts
This is the most easy and most tough task at the same time. Maintenance will be handled when there are changes in the business or requirements ,or a new functionality is added so in such case, we need to change scripts too. If framework is good, rules are being followed, source control is being used, it’s very easy to maintain the scripts .in other case, and it’s out of the question.
This article explains how we can switch from manual to automation testing in 8 simple steps. I tried to cover all aspects. Enjoy Reading!
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