The year 2001 marked the introduction of one of the most revolutionary changes in software development. A group of enlightened programmers came together to design a methodology that could catch up with the industry’s rising need for rapid growth and turnaround solutions. Instead of the general waterfall approach, they decided to use a more collaborative and cross-functional approach to software development. This approach came to be known as the agile methodology.
This development model quickly became the preferred method for companies worldwide. Today, over 71% of companies use agile as their preferred development approach.
The conventional waterfall model divides the software development life cycle(SDLC) into distinctive phases, i.e., design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. Each phase is only implemented after the previous one completes. This siloed process is time-consuming, rigorous, and inflexible. On the other hand, agile centers around iterative development and continuous testing, erasing the divide between developers and testers. As a result, it delivers more significant ROI in a shorter time and guarantees better build quality and aptitude for change.
To ensure agile delivers high value, it’s imperative to test every stage, every phase continuously. However, this repetitive testing can become cumbersome when done manually. Not only does manual testing require more time, but it also cannot give the quality assurance required by agile. Hence, automated testing in agile development becomes a crucial component. It enables QA teams to start testing early and with more coverage, identifying potential bugs and defects before snowballing into major functional issues.
What are the benefits of embracing test automation in agile scrum?
Agile testing requires more coverage, less time to execute, and higher testing quality. Having a test automation strategy in agile checks all these boxes.
● Effortless regression testing
Regression testing is a significant test type that needs to be executed in agile. Test automation makes it a lot easier by removing the burden of manually performing repetitive tests.
● Extended test coverage
With many device-OS-browser combinations to test, having the advantage of extended test coverage can be critical.
● Clearer communication and collaboration
The agile methodology is built on a collaborative framework. The QA team is involved in every stage of the SDLC, making quick communication a prerequisite. In addition, test automation solutions have intelligent reporting capabilities that integrate easily with underlying software. These reports can end up playing a significant role in the cycle.
How to implement automated testing in agile development?
Agile development is inherently contrasting to the principles of automated testing. Hence, it’s essential to consider a few critical points before designing a test automation strategy in agile.
● Plan the entire process beforehand
Agile development involves proactive communication between the QA and development teams. This can only happen if both teams are prepared to take the initiative. Additionally, the testing team needs to ensure all frameworks are in place along with the required tools.
● Pick the suitable test cases to automate
Not all test cases can be automated due to the unstable nature of the code. Automating the wrong tests can prove to be costly in the long run.
Regression tests, API tests, non-functional tests, and GUI tests are ideal candidates for automation.
● Conduct parallel testing
Continuous development requires continuous testing. Automation testing in agile scrum enables testers to execute several tests on different browsers and platforms simultaneously.
● Work with DevOps integration
DevOps refers to a set of practices that fosters cross-functional collaboration, an integral element of agile. It helps bridge the gap between the QA, development, and operations teams. Most test automation solutions come with DevOps integrations.
● Select the right automation solution
Picking the right automation tool is crucial. Though it is not recommended to automate every test case, the solution must provide the maximum coverage possible. In addition, it should enable cross-browser testing, parallel testing and have a short learning curve.
Automated testing in agile development plays an integral role in the final deployment of the product in terms of quality and time to market. Using the right automation solution can make the entire process streamlined. This is where Avo Assure comes into picture. It’s a robust test automation solution that works perfectly in agile environments. In addition, its intelligent reporting capabilities ensure smooth communication. Moreover, with a built-in 1400+ keyword library, it makes testing quicker.
Most importantly, its no-code platform enables even business users to perform automated tests.
Avo Assure even helped a leading financial institution upgrade their existing loan management system 2X faster with zero defects. If you want to learn more about how Avo Assure can fit in with Agile and deliver high ROI, sign up for a demo today!
