When implementing a test strategy, it can be difficult to manage change and overcome inertia. Here are some practical ways you can get ahead.
Inertia can be defined as "a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged". It is the resistance to any change in velocity. When it comes to automation testing, inertia means that you've come to a stop in what could otherwise be a very rewarding test automation journey. You are resisting the magic of test automation.
This could be due to several reasons, which we'll talk about below. Now, don't feel bad - it's a very common phenomenon not only in testing but in the adaptation to the automation process in general. The good news is that your test automation inertia is not the end of the world! Let's see how we can help you get the most out of Virtuoso and how you can move your test automation strategy forward.
People experience different challenges when starting the test automation process. Let's take a look at some common issues that we've noticed when dealing with new and existing customers.
The old way of doing things is always the most comfortable, no denying that! When you've been testing a certain way for a long time, and that certain way is manual testing or a mix of manual testing and automated testing, it can be difficult to switch over to a new way of doing things. It might even bother you at first that Virtuoso can do things faster and better than you ever could…
Lack of knowledge could be a factor when it comes to test automation, especially if you aren't comfortable with the system that you are testing or if an automation framework requires knowing a programming language. Input requirements and detailed test cases can help you figure out what you expect from the system. In some cases, a tool can be used to exercise a system even when you don't know what to expect, but there needs to be a way to evaluate the end results of your tests - after all, there has to be some method to the madness!
Learning new things is hard, even if you're having fun while doing it. Adapting to a new type of technology regularly leads to inertia, especially when you aren't entirely aware of the benefits that the new technology could bring. For primarily manual testers, it can be hard to adapt to fully automated testing strategies. The mind shift to shift-left testing and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery and deployment is a big one!
It's hard to learn the ins and outs of a new program while balancing your full-time job - especially for testers, who have days filled with bugs and releases and time-sensitive priorities. Most companies don't have a ‘learn new technology' time off option. You might have opened Virtuoso a few times and clicked around but just haven't had time to get into it properly.
Test automation carries many incorrect labels: too costly, sometimes not applicable, not always necessary, long ramp-up times… These are understandable arguments, especially when you're dealing with legacy code that's tightly coupled. While some refactoring might be necessary to start the journey towards test automation, it might be easier than you think.
There is no test automation challenge that can't be dealt with. When it comes to old habits, those will always be hard to change. But understanding how Virtuoso can transform your organization's testing strategy will help that uncomfortable shift feel much, much better. Virtuoso's self-maintaining and self-healing capabilities mean that you will be able to spend more time doing the things you love, leaving the nitty-gritty testing to the world of automation and what we like to call Robotic Test Automation.
Lack of knowledge can be solved by spending some time understanding the system that you are working on, and the people with whom you work. Teamwork and collaboration are some great ways to gain knowledge about your organization before proceeding to set up an automated test strategy.
Adapting to a new technology can also be overcome without much effort if you have the right tools at your disposal. Virtuoso offers a wealth of resources to help you get started with your test automation journey, especially when paired with synthetic test data, which can be used to help your tests act like a user without actually using any original (and sensitive) data. This way, your test data keeps that authentic feel without any risk of privacy breaches or loss of data utility. You can always get in touch with our customer support specialists and check out our resources that will help you adapt faster than ever:
Time restraints are a big concern to many people in an organization. With Virtuoso, you can count on zero ramp-up time and seamless integration. No installations are necessary to get started, and out-of-the-box integrations mean that your tech stack will fit right in. Virtuoso is always here to help you with onboarding and answer any questions.
Last but not least, misperceptions. While incorrect perceptions of automation may have been true at a time when technology was less advanced, this is no longer the case. Virtuoso's case studies demonstrate the power of innovative automation and how it has changed the way companies approach their testing and quality assurance processes. We have proven results in dramatically reducing manual effort, generating faster and better return on investment, transitioning from manual testing to in-sprint automated testing overnight, and increasing test coverage. We like proving misperceptions wrong.
If you're struggling with any of these challenges, get in touch so we can help - everyone deserves a successful test automation experience!
