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Discover the pros and cons of automated vs. manual software testing. And learn more about what the future holds for software testing.
With AI making testing faster, easier, and more cost-effective, software testing is becoming increasingly automated. Being an AI-powered software testing platform, we know all too well the benefits of automated testing and how it can transform businesses.
So as more and more companies integrate automation into their software development and quality assurance processes, we thought we would take a closer look at automated vs. manual testing. Here, we explore what is both gained and lost with test automation and what these mean for the future of testing. So, let's dive in.
It's no secret that manual testing can be costly, time-consuming, and very tedious, especially for the likes of regression or stress testing. But it still has its merits.
So, to start with, here are a few factors to consider when it comes to automated vs. manual testing and what can potentially be lost when moving to automated testing.
When automating your testing, you inevitably lose some of that human touch. For example, a test script might check if a button works, but it won’t realize if it is awkwardly placed or confusing for users. Manual testers can spot these issues because they think like real users and can identify problems that automation might miss.
While automated testing is amazing at checking if your software works technically, it doesn't provide feedback on how the app feels to use in the same way manual testing does. Testers can share insights about what’s working and what’s not and feedback to developers to make the app better for the end users.
Automated tests follow strict instructions, so if your app or software changes, say if you add a new feature, design tweak, or backend update, the tests can fail or stop working.
You’ll then need to spend time fixing or rewriting the scripts which can take time to put right. Manual testers can explore the new changes and test them immediately without the need to rewrite a test script. Plus, they can begin testing straight away without the need to create an automated test.
As automation becomes more accessible with low-code/no-code testing tools like ours, the need for teams to have advanced coding skills is decreasing. This shift makes testing more efficient and user-friendly. However, it's important to remember that not all types of testing can be automated.
For example, exploratory tests require critical thinking, adaptability, and on-the-spot decision-making, which cannot be automated. This limitation can become an issue if your team lacks the technical expertise needed to manage tests that still require this type of manual intervention.
Read our blog on the pros and cons of manual testing to find out more.
Apart from the obvious of time, money, (and the sanity of your testing team), there is a lot to be gained from automating your testing.
Automation allows tests to run continuously, providing immediate feedback whenever new code is introduced. This is particularly valuable in agile development, where teams need to identify and fix issues quickly. Unlike manual testing, automated testing can run 24/7. This means that you can get continuous feedback and ensure bugs are caught early in the development cycle.
Automation enables teams to test more, faster. It can handle large datasets, simulate multiple users, and run tests across various environments simultaneously.
This means broader test coverage and the ability to scale testing efforts as projects grow, ensuring no feature goes untested. So, you can be sure that your software is both robust and reliable in record time.
For instance, automated testing can simulate thousands of users interacting with an app to test performance under load - something manual testers simply can’t achieve.
While human testers are great when it comes to minimizing mistakes and ensuring accuracy, machines come out on top. By their very nature, machines are not prone to human error. This is why automated testing delivers far greater consistency and accuracy compared to manual testing.
Manual testing takes time, and by freeing up repetitive tasks, it allows your team to focus on the more strategic side of their work. This drives innovation in both the testing process and the overall development lifecycle.
Instead of manually running the same test cases over and over, teams can spend time brainstorming new ways to improve the user experience, creating exploratory tests, or addressing complex issues within the software. Automation also opens the door for more innovative ways to test software, like shift-left testing, where testing begins earlier in the development cycle.
So now you know more about the pros and cons when it comes to automated vs. manual testing, the question now becomes - what's next?
Well, the move to intelligent AI-powered test automation of course. At Virtuoso QA, we’re not about automating testing but revolutionizing it. Our intelligent test automation powered by Generative AI redefines how teams approach software testing by breaking free from the limitations of traditional automation.
Our platform integrates advanced AI with intuitive, user-friendly features to empower teams and supercharge efficiency.
Tired of tedious test maintenance? With Virtuoso QA’s self-healing capabilities, minor software changes no longer derail your testing process. Our AI automatically detects errors and updates test scripts in real-time, ensuring seamless, uninterrupted testing cycles. Say goodbye to hours wasted rewriting broken tests.
And it gets even better. Thanks to our Natural Language Programming (NLP), you can write tests in plain English. Test authoring becomes faster, simpler, and more accessible for everyone on your team.
Ready to scale or simplify your testing like never before? Book a demo today and discover how Virtuoso QA can transform your testing process.
