Products

Problems
we solve

We can help your business

Request a Free Demo / trial

Insights

Insights | Functional Testing
16 March, 2021

WQR – You Need to Automate Tests in 2021 – 3 Reasons Why They’re Right

Why you need test automation in 2021

This year’s World Quality Report (WQR) is clear, you need to start test automation in 2021. You need to release software faster than ever – and that’s just to keep up with the competition.

If you want to get ahead of the game, you need to release monthly, weekly, daily, or even faster. Test automation is the only way you can reach this level of release frequency.

Maybe You’ve Had Bad Experiences in the Past?

I know what you’re thinking, “Test automation, yeah tried that – too much hassle, too much time, too much investment”. I get it, so many have been burned by automation in the past. You’ve spent time and money, and it’s fallen over within months of implementation.

Thankfully, Test Automation Has Moved on Since the Dark Days.

Don’t get me wrong, test automation is not a trivial exercise, it takes planning and expertise. But test automation is now proven and robust. In fact, it’s essential for modern software demands and your customers’ expectations. Without automation, you will fall behind your competitors.

The WQR puts it like this: “We need to accept that for various reasons, the testing phase will continue to be squeezed. Introducing more automation – and pursuing it vigorously – is the only way out of this evergreen challenge”, World Quality Report 2020-21, Test Automation Call to Action

Testing Automation Now Gives Increased Return on Investment

With its increased stability, automation now gives a far greater return-on-investment. Test automation typically pays back within 3-6 test cycles. This means if you’re going to run a test 4 times or more, automating it will probably save you budget (and time). Conversely, I’d recommend against automating a test you’re only going to run a couple of times. 

3 Reasons Why You Need Test Automation in 2021

No longer an outlier, automation is being done everywhere, by all sorts of companies. From manufactures to financial institutions, from software houses to logistics. No matter who you are,  here are 3 reasons why 2021 is the right time for you to give test automation another look…

1. In 2021, Occasional Software Release Aren’t Good Enough 

Software solutions are changing faster than ever before. If you’re not adapting, you can bet your competitors are. You need to be dynamic to keep up, and to stay relevant to your customers.

No matter what your solution – whether websites, ERP, or anything in between – it needs to be evergreen. You can’t release annually, even quarterly is too slow. Whether its features, fixes, updates, security – you need to implement faster than ever before.

The more you want to release, the fast you’ll need to test. Execution windows will be reduced, its unavoidable. As time moves on, you will need to get through more and more tests, in less and less time.

Without automation, you won’t even have time to run your BAU regression packs, let alone system or integration tests. You’ll be unable to keep up, never mind get ahead.

Without automation, your competition will leave you behind.

2. In 2021, Test Automation provides a Mature Solution

Automation has been with us for decades and If you’ve not seen it for a while, you might have reservations. You might have been burned by Test Automation in the past, a lot of us were.

Test Automation had its teething problems, then a few difficult teenage years, but is now a mature solution. 

Gone are the days of flaky object recognition, of constant maintenance, of endlessly restarting failed tests. Advancements like AI bring the stability you always hoped for and shortcut your development time.

Tools such as Micro Focus UFT One are proven, robust and easy to deploy – you can get a test pack running with very low time/monetary investment. Your tests run remotely, give predictable results, provide in-depth defect reports, and will accelerate releases.

3. In 2021, Term Licensing Lets Test Automation Work Around You

Testing works in fluctuating waves of demand, depending on the projects you’re supporting. Software as a Service provides the flexibility you need to get the most from your test team.

You’re probably using short term licensing models elsewhere in your business, and test automation is just the same. Tools like UFT allow term licenses of 3, 6 or 12 months. This means you can start automating quickly with less commitment, and you can easily ramp up and ramp back down.

Term licenses let test automation work for your business – You’re not committing to huge license costs and unable to flex, and you’re not locked into perpetual maintenance charges.

Don’t Fall Behind Your Competition – Start Test Automation in 2021

In 2021, you need to release code faster than ever before. It is the only way you can stay relevant. Without test automation you just won’t be able to test software quick enough, your release frequency will be too slow, and you’ll fall behind your competition.

Test Automation is now a mature and rock-solid solution – like all technology, it has improved massively over the past decades. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have improved stability and allow rapid test pack creation. If you’re not automating yet, 2021 is absolutely the right time to start.

Nowadays, proven and robust Test Automation Solutions like Micro Focus UFT One mean it is easier than ever to automate, and there’s less commitment – you can ramp your licenses up and down as required. 

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now”

Get in touch today – Start Your Automating Tests Now

Stephen Davis
by Stephen Davis

Stephen Davis is the founder of Calleo Software, a OpenText (formerly Micro Focus) Gold Partner. His passion is to help test professionals improve the efficiency and effectiveness of software testing.

To view Stephen's LinkedIn profile and connect 

Stephen Davis LinkedIn profile

16th March 2021
The evolution of test management tools

Test Management Tools: Past, Present, and Future

Understanding where things have come from can often help inform where they are going. The story of test management tools goes back at least three decades and this insight offers a precis of their past, present, and future…

5 automation trends

Software Test Automation: 5 Important Trends for 2024

Software test automation has evolved massively over the last few years; gone are the days of flaky tools, gargantuan setup effort, and scripts that require constant human intervention. The integration of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies has redefined the role of test automation within the software development lifecycle.

Automate Everything With One Tool

Software Testing Simplified: Automate Everything With One Tool

With so many software test automation tools to choose from, companies often cherry-pick a suite of low-cost options to test their full landscape. Unfortunately this is highly problematic, adding unnecessary complexity, increasing costs and undoing any of the purported benefits.

UFT One Automation Heavy Lifting

Test Automation: 6 Reasons UFT One is The Only Tool You Need

In the fast-paced world of software development, functional testing is critical to ensure your solutions perform as expected. Unlike manual testing, which is time-consuming and prone to human error, test automation streamlines the testing process, offering a faster, more accurate, cost-effective solution. There is an array of automation tools available, but OpenText UFT One is the standout choice, offering a complete solution for all your needs.

cut testing costs

Cut Software Testing Costs With These Essential Tactics

Balancing rigorous testing with cost-effectiveness is a challenge. You can test too much, take too much time, and spend too much money on testing. Luckily, there are proven ways to refine your testing practices, increase efficiency, and cut your software testing costs.

performance testing is like herding cats

Herding Cats: Performance Testing Strategies for 2024

Performance testing is more challenging than ever. Technology is more complex, customer expectations are higher, and an increasing number of people and departments need to be involved to make performance testing effective. This article shines a light on strategies to help you execute successful performance test cycles in 2024.

skimping on performance test tools

Why Skimping on Performance Tools Is a False Economy

Performance tool cost is likely to be less than 10% of the performance testing budget, yet many still think that slashing this figure saves money. Common sense tells us that if you do not spend on quality tools, you will spend more on people. In this insight, I look at why investment in professional performance test tools is so important.

The Human Cost of Software Failure

Horizon: The Human Cost of Software  Failure

The Post Office Horizon scandal destroyed lives and livelihoods and is rooted in defective software. This insight looks at the scandal from a testing perspective and serves as a cautionary tale for all involved in deploying large-scale IT systems.

LoadRunner Cloud Migration

Remote Testing with LoadRunner Might Be Breaching Your Contract

Did you know that most LoadRunner Professional licenses are only valid for a specific location? This means that (unless you’ve bought the country or worldwide usage add-on) working from home, other offices or geographic locations is prohibited and doing so could incur financial penalties.

Insights

Search

Related Articles

InsightsTrending

To get other software testing insights, like this, direct to you inbox join the Calleo mailing list.

You can, of course, unsubscribe 

at any time!

By signing up you consent to receiving regular emails from Calleo with updates, tips and ideas on software testing along with the occasional promotion for software testing products. You can, of course, unsubscribe at any time. Click here for the privacy policy.

Sign up to receive the latest, Software Testing Insights, news and to join the Calleo mailing list.

You can, of course, unsubscribe at any time!

By signing up you consent to receiving regular emails from Calleo with updates, tips and ideas on software testing along with the occasional promotion for software testing products. You can, of course, unsubscribe at any time. Click here for the privacy policy.