How Robotic Process Automation in Software Testing is Transforming QA?

The quality assurance (QA) field is one of the major markets that has benefited from the evolution of robotic process automation (RPA). According to a report from IT solutions company Sun Technologies, RPA helps QA teams decrease manual effort by 70%, resulting in a 75% acceleration of product deliveries, which in turn are of higher quality.

What makes RPA such a game-changer in QA? Read this article to find out.

Increased Test Coverage and Test Acceleration

Quality assurance involves a variety of repetitive, rule-based tasks, some of which require a significant amount of time. A classic example is regression testing, which has become virtually impossible to execute manually in modern complex software. The number of tests that teams would otherwise have to perform manually can significantly increase QA costs, yet still not guarantee efficiency. Performance testing is another common example, as simulating interactions between users and the system can be difficult if executed manually.

The advancement of RPA (https://www.executiveautomats.com/resources/articles/robotic-process-automation-in-software-testing) and the demand for effective solutions have led to the development of numerous test automation tools, ranging from open-source, highly customizable solutions like Selenium to advanced tools dedicated to the specific needs of particular applications, such as Executive Automats, which caters to the testing needs of Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Enhanced Accuracy

Repetitive performance of tedious tasks not only adds to the time required to complete a project but also increases the probability of mistakes. While RPA does not directly increase the quality of the tested product, it eliminates the possibility of human error during test execution, which significantly contributes to software quality.

Additionally, RPA eliminates inconsistencies in the testing process caused by the different approaches adopted by manual testers. As a result, the likelihood of getting false test results becomes considerably lower.

Furthermore, RPA is a driving force behind continuous testing adopted by many development teams, particularly those working with the DevOps methodology. Many test automation tools are designed to integrate with CI/CD pipelines, allowing DevOps teams to test their products continuously, monitor test environments, and leverage real-time feedback. This, in turn, is essential for early defect detection and resolution.

Significant Financial Savings

RPA implementation always comes with costs, even when using open-source tools, which often require setting up and maintaining a testing infrastructure. However, selecting the right test automation tool based on your software project’s specific requirements and your business needs can help teams achieve substantial ROI due to the following improvements:

• Reduced manual labor costs;
• Enhanced cost-effectiveness and more efficient resource utilization;
• Minimized errors and reduced need for rework;
• Greater scalability and expanded test coverage without significant additional costs;
• Lower post-release and maintenance costs;
• Reduced reliance on specialized skills.

RPA Limitations

While RPA is continually evolving with new features and capabilities, certain limitations of test automation persist. As mentioned above, one of the primary challenges is the cost of initial setup, which is unavoidable regardless of the solution a company chooses. Other potential issues include:

• Limited application for tasks requiring flexibility, adaptability to changes, judgment, decision-making, and creativity;
• Ongoing maintenance requirements, particularly for adjusting the testing infrastructure and scripts in response to modifications in the tested software;
• Limited ability to process unstructured data;
• Potential compliance and security risks due to access to sensitive data and systems;
• Challenges in integrating RPA with outdated or complex systems, especially when implemented for testing software that was not initially optimized for automation.

How to Make the Most of RPA

To ensure that your company’s investment in RPA yields the best results, it is essential to consider critical factors before initiating a test automation project. One of the most challenging aspects is choosing a test automation tool, which should not be determined solely by its price. Test automation tools vary in functionality, ease of implementation, ease of use, and compatibility with different types of software. Additionally, the requirements for a test automation tool will differ from one team to another.

For example, an open-source framework may be a better choice for companies that already have a strong QA and development team and need to automate testing for a range of products. On the other hand, teams focused on automating the testing processes of a single solution may have fewer customization needs and, therefore, may prefer tools specifically tailored to the software being tested.

Other essential steps to ensure the efficiency of RPA include:

• Defining measurable and realistic goals for the project;
• Thorough planning;
• Starting with a pilot project;
• Prioritizing the most critical areas for testing;
• Designing modular and reusable test scripts that are easy to maintain;
• Integrating RPA with CI/CD pipelines;
• Regularly monitoring RPA effectiveness;
• Leveraging automation of test-related tasks such as script maintenance or reporting on test results;
• Providing adequate training for team members.

Bottom Line

While some software projects can still be effectively tested manually, testing most modern products is becoming increasingly difficult to manage without automation. RPA has revolutionized the QA process, helping many teams save significant time and money while releasing higher-quality products.

However, there are still certain areas where manual testing is required, particularly for tasks that demand flexibility and creativity in judgment. Although RPA has limited efficiency in these areas, teams that rely on automation gain much more time for tasks that still need to be handled manually.

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