Test automation, an indispensable cog in the software development lifecycle, promises both efficiency and excellence. Yet, its efficacy is oftentimes measured with metrics that are as outdated as they are insufficient, so how do we at IntelliQA measure success?
The Metrics don’t work.
Traditionally, we've relied on metrics like the number of test cases automated, the percentage of automation coverage, and the defect detection rate. But, in an age where agility and adaptability are key, these metrics tell only a fraction of the story.
The Flaw of Test Case Count
Measuring the success of test automation solely based on the number of test cases automated is like gauging productivity by counting keystrokes. It's a vanity metric that fails to capture the complexity, efficiency, or, crucially, the value of the automation effort.
Moving Beyond Coverage
Similarly, automation coverage as a benchmark is overly broad. It can't differentiate the business-risk coverage from regulatory compliance coverage, nor does it account for the riskiest user stories that must be tested with the highest priority.
Defect Rate Deception
Finally, the defect detection rate paints a misleading picture. It's well-known that the majority of defects are introduced in the requirements and design phases, which automation doesn’t address. A key objective of regression tests is to demonstrate that what worked in the previous release still works in this release and detect any anomalies.
The IntelliQA way: Test Automation
Reducing Test Execution Time
One true measure of success for test automation is the reduction in test execution time. Remarkably, this metric has the potential to reflect multiple improvements that automation offers. An example of this is fuel payment test automation. In our experience, retailers typically have around 600 regression test cases that take ten days to execute. With test automation, this time can be reduced to one day, with no working hour restrictions.
Accelerating Feedback Loops
Quicker execution means developers receive feedback on their code changes faster, facilitating the critical rapid-paced learning and adaptation that Agile methodologies accentuate. Developers receive feedback from testing within one day rather than waiting for up to ten days as they did with manual testing.
Time to Market
The correlation between faster testing and reduced time to market is direct. Every day, or even every hour, cut from the testing phase is a competitive advantage gained in releasing new features or products. Reducing test execution timescales from weeks to days makes a significant difference to the business benefit delivered by their IT teams.
Resource Optimisation
Beyond speed, the reduction in test execution time is an efficiency win. It allows organisations to reallocate human resources from tedious, repetitive testing to more strategic, exploratory testing and product innovation.
The Opportunity Benefit
The effectiveness of test automation isn't solely about optimising the testing process. It's about leveraging automation to unlock new opportunities manual testing doesn't allow.
Continuous Testing Capability
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines require test automation to maintain the pace of delivery. This enables a consistent delivery process and a culture where every change is tested promptly.
Robust Reporting and Analytics
Automated tests provide a wealth of data that can be mined and analysed to gain insights into the code's quality of, the code, the system's performance of the system, and the product's reliability of the product.
The Conclusion
To truly assess the worth of test automation, we must adopt metrics that align with our modern understanding of software development and business needs. It's not about counting the tests; it's about transforming how we create, deliver, and experience software. By focusing on the reduction in test execution time and the tangible opportunities automation presents, we can frame test automation not just as a cost-saving mechanism but as a strategic enabler of higher quality, faster deployments, and a more innovative product.
Test automation's ROI is not just in the tests it automates but in the manifold ways it allows us to reimagine our processes and maximise our potential.
At IntelliQA, we have deliberately focussed on test automation that involves physical devices such as Pin Pads and Fuel Outdoor Payment Terminals. Traditionally, such tests have been difficult to automate, and yet they are crucial for the retailers that need to execute them. Significant benefits have been achieved from this automation, and IntelliQA is with our customers every step of the way. We help to identify what success looks like as part of our engagement model and work relentlessly with our clients to achieve it.
Contact Us
Please get in touch if you need support with automated payment testing solutions, and our sales team would be happy to discuss this with you.
Contact us at:
T: +44 1707 906177 E: sales@intelliqa.com
You can also fill out a form on our Contact Us page.