Benefits of Combining Automated and Manual Testing Methods?

While many companies are switching to automated processes, there are many benefits to incorporating some element of manual testing alongside the latest technologies. Sure, there are many automation testing types, but they still have their limitations, many of which can be rectified with the right manual testing practices.

Read on for more information.

What Is Automated Testing?

Automated testing use test scrips which exclude human participation and reduce the possibility of errors. The automated test creates once and can run anytime when the specialists need it. This testing method is used for repeatable tasks and is usually done regularly. Automated testing helps to detect all bugs that might be dismissed while testing manually.

If the software or application acts exactly as it is supposed to, and the project delivers a quality user experience, it is likely bug and error-free. However, if the platform does not operate as expected, some issues need to be fixed. Testers then send the product back to developers to triage the issue. Developers go into the code, fix the issues, and then send the platform back for further testing.

Automated testing is commonly used for large-scale projects when they will be many system users accessing the service through different browsers and devices.

What Is Manual Testing?

Manual testing involves running tests manually, comparing the program’s expected functionality with testing outcomes to look for defects and bugs. This was the traditional way to test software and applications. However, manual testing can be time-consuming and does not lend itself to an efficient testing process. However, it may still benefit smaller projects where companies only have a modest budget.

What Are the Pros of Automated and Manual Testing

As aforementioned, many companies incorporate automated and manual testing methods into their testing strategy. Both testing methods offer numerous benefits. Let’s look at those advantages in greater detail.

Benefits of Automated Testing

Runs tests quickly and efficiently

One of the main advantages of automated testing is that test scripts can be run quickly and efficiently. The initial setup of those test cases may take some time, but once the tester has created the scripts, they can be executed much quicker than manual testing methods. In addition, testers can reuse those scripts in similar testing environments, which is good news for regression testing.

Automated testing can be cost-effective

Automated testing tools can be expensive to purchase. However, you’ll save money, time, and other resources later on. For instance, automated tools run more tests than a human can, and they also achieve wider coverage and detect bugs quicker. As such, your team can react to issues quickly, saving time and money. 

In addition, testers can direct their efforts to more creative testing solutions. If manual testing processes need to be addressed, the testers will be less worn out and less likely to make mistakes.

Automated testing is simply more interesting

One of the key drawbacks of manual testing is that it is very repetitive and boring. Test automation solves this issue. Creating and executing the right test cases takes coding and critical thought, which keeps your testing team more engaged in the process.

Automated testing allows everybody to be on the same page

During manual testing, only one person can see the results of the test scripts. The rest of the team are left in the dark until that information is relayed to them, slowing the process. In automated testing, testers and developers can log in to the testing system and access these results much quicker. As such teams can enjoy greater collaboration and more efficiency.

Benefits of Manual Testing

Short-term cost is reduced

Automated testing tools can be expensive. However, manual testing does not require the same initial outlay. As such, teams may want to combine manual testing and automated testing to strike a balance between efficiency and expense.

More likely to find user-related bugs

While automated testing can find bugs quickly, it sometimes overlooks many issues that would irk users. This may include text blending into the background, images not looking quite right, etc. Automated tools are robotic and do not have the same intuition as a human tester. Manual testing allows the software to be tested as it would be when launched. Any issues with the user experience are more likely to be found by a human tester.

Manual testing is flexible

Manual testing allows for more flexibility in the testing strategy, led by human ingenuity and creative thinking. Sometimes, testers have a burst of inspiration and shift focus immediately. This is harder to implement with automated testing, which involves setting up, programming, and running test cases. Manual testing allows testers to change the scope and run a quick test to find the results – automated testing requires a lot more planning. As such, a combination of manual and automated testing still allows for some flexibility.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are numerous benefits to automated and manual testing strategies. However, the biggest advantage is that automated and manual testing, when used together, can cover each other’s shortcomings, allowing your team to become efficient and deliver a quality software or app.