How to Develop a Test Automation Strategy?

6 min readSep 9, 2024

Modern software development processes have increased the demand for effective, accurate, and swift testing mechanisms. Despite the crucial role of manual testing in some parts of the software development process, it can be slow, prone to mistakes, and unable to satisfy the needs of the current application deployment models. This is where a properly designed and developed Test Automation Strategy comes into play.

Test automation involves using testing tools and frameworks to execute repetitive and complex test procedures, freeing developers from time-consuming tasks and encouraging creative problem-solving.

However, test automation is effective only when guided by a well-defined and unambiguous strategy. This blog will explain what is needed to achieve the best test automation strategy, cover Automation Testing Best Practices, and help you understand how to maximize your return on investment in Test Automation.

The Distinctness of Requirement for a Test Automation Strategy

Before developing the test automation strategy, it is essential to realize its purpose. Automating the testing process is not a wonderful solution, but merging it into the process will help to improve the testing process significantly.

A test automation strategy is a carefully planned way to make sure that the efforts being made in automation are directed toward the project goals. It acts as a guide that can be used to determine what should be automated, how it should be done, and how the effectiveness of these actions can be ascertained.

However, when there is no clear direction on how to go about it, automation becomes random, and many resources are consumed, while the outcomes may not be the best.

Step 1: Define Clear Objectives

The foundation of any successful test automation strategy lies in clearly defined objectives. These objectives should align with the broader goals of the project or organization.

Common objectives include:

Reducing Manual Testing Effort: Automating repetitive and time-consuming test cases to free up manual testers for more complex tasks.
Increasing Test Coverage: Ensuring that a greater portion of the application is tested by automating various types of tests, such as functional, regression, and performance tests.
Improving Test Accuracy: Reducing human error by ensuring that tests are executed consistently and precisely.
Accelerating Release Cycles: Enabling faster releases by integrating automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline, allowing for continuous testing.

By setting clear objectives, you can create a focused strategy that addresses the specific needs of your project.

Step 2: Assess the Current Testing Process

Before implementing automation, it’s essential to assess your current testing process. This involves understanding the existing test cases, the tools being used, the testing team’s skillset, and any bottlenecks that slow down the process. This assessment helps in identifying the areas where automation can bring the most value.

Questions to consider during this assessment include:

Which tests are currently being performed manually?
Are there any repetitive tasks that could benefit from automation?
What are the pain points in the current testing process?
What is the team’s familiarity with automation tools?

This evaluation provides a baseline against which the effectiveness of automation can be measured.

Step 3: Choose the Right Automation Tools and Frameworks

The choice of automation tools and frameworks plays a pivotal role in the success of your Automated Testing Strategy. The right tools should align with your technology stack, be compatible with your application’s architecture, and be easy for your team to learn and use.

Popular automation tools include:

Selenium: An open-source tool widely used for web application testing.
TestComplete: A commercial tool that supports various types of testing, including web, mobile, and desktop applications.
QTP (QuickTest Professional): A commercial tool, now known as Micro Focus UFT, that is known for its ease of use and powerful features.

In addition to these, consider whether you need a keyword-driven or data-driven framework, or perhaps a hybrid approach. The selection should be based on the specific requirements of your project, the skill level of your testers, and your budget.

Step 4: Identify Test Cases for Automation

Not all test cases are suitable for automation. Automating the wrong test cases can lead to wasted effort and resources. The key is to identify the right candidates for automation by focusing on test cases that are:

Repetitive: Tests that need to be executed frequently, such as regression tests.
High-Volume: Tests that involve a large number of data sets or conditions.
Critical: Tests that are crucial for the application’s functionality, such as smoke tests and sanity tests.
Stable: Tests that are unlikely to change frequently, ensuring that your automation efforts aren’t constantly disrupted by modifications.

Prioritizing these test cases helps in achieving the maximum impact from your automation efforts.

Step 5: Implement Automation Testing Best Practices

To ensure the success of your automation efforts, it’s important to follow Automation Testing Best Practices. These practices help in creating a maintainable, scalable, and efficient automation framework.

Some of the best practices include:

Modular Test Design: Break down your tests into smaller, reusable modules. This makes the tests easier to manage and maintain.
Data-Driven Testing: Separate your test logic from your test data. This approach allows you to run the same test with different data sets without modifying the test scripts.
Continuous Integration (CI): Integrate your automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline to enable continuous testing. This ensures that tests are run automatically whenever there’s a change in the codebase, providing immediate feedback to developers.
Regular Maintenance: Automation scripts need to be maintained regularly to ensure they remain effective as the application evolves. This includes updating test scripts to reflect changes in the application’s UI or functionality.

Following these best practices helps in creating a robust automation framework that delivers consistent and reliable results.

Also Read: Best Practices for QAOps in Software Development

Step 6: Calculate the ROI of Test Automation

One of the key factors in justifying the investment in automation is understanding the ROI of Test Automation. Calculating ROI helps in demonstrating the value that automation brings to the project and ensures that the resources allocated to automation are being used effectively.

To calculate the ROI, consider the following factors:

Cost of Automation: This includes the cost of automation tools, training, and the time spent on developing and maintaining test scripts.
Savings from Reduced Manual Testing: Automation reduces the need for manual testing, freeing up testers to focus on more complex tasks.
Faster Time-to-Market: By integrating automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline, you can accelerate the release cycles, reducing time-to-market.
Improved Software Quality: Automation helps in identifying defects early, reducing the cost of fixing them and improving the overall quality of the software.

A positive ROI indicates that your automation strategy is yielding the desired benefits, making it easier to secure further investment in automation.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Visual Testing is Important in Enhancing Software Quality

Step 7: Scale Your Automated Testing Strategy

As your software test automation strategy matures, it’s important to scale it to cover more test cases, platforms, and environments. Scaling can involve:

Expanding Test Coverage: Automate additional test cases to increase coverage across different modules and functionalities.
Supporting Multiple Environments: Ensure your automation framework can handle different environments, such as staging, production, and various operating systems.
Increasing the Automation Team: As the scope of automation grows, consider expanding your team or partnering with experts to manage the increased workload.

Scaling your automation efforts allows you to continuously improve your testing process and adapt to the growing complexity of modern applications.

Step 8: Leverage Automation Testing Services

For organizations looking to accelerate their automation efforts, leveraging Automation Testing Services in India & US can be a strategic move. These services offer expertise in various automation tools and frameworks, helping organizations implement and scale their automation strategies efficiently.

Outsourcing automation testing can also be cost-effective, allowing you to access skilled resources without the need for extensive in-house training. Service providers can assist with everything from tool selection to framework implementation and ongoing maintenance, ensuring that your automation efforts are aligned with industry best practices.

Wrap Up

Developing an effective Test Automation Strategy is a critical step in modern software development. By defining clear objectives, assessing your current processes, choosing the right tools, and following best practices, you can create a strategy that enhances the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of your testing efforts. Whether you’re just starting with automation or looking to scale your existing efforts, a well-defined strategy is key to success.

Finally, consider leveraging Automation Testing Services in India & US to accelerate your automation journey and achieve your quality assurance goals more efficiently. With the right strategy and tools in place, your organization can deliver high-quality software that meets the demands of today’s competitive market.

When it comes to developing and implementing a successful Test Automation Strategy, having the right partner can make all the difference. This is where QAble comes in. QAble specializes in providing comprehensive Automation Testing Services tailored to meet the unique needs of your organization. Whether you’re just starting with test automation or looking to scale your existing efforts, QAble has the expertise and resources to help you achieve your goals.