The Business Case for Test Automation
Many small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) never invest in test automation, mainly because of pressure to deliver new features and constant day-to-day firefighting to fix field issues. Defects in the field sneak through because resources or time were simply not available to do adequate testing. For many, Test Automation can be a solution to this very real dilemma.
Now, there could be an argument made that time, money, resources, etc are not available to build the test automation infrastructure. But, I would argue that this is short-sighted. A well-defined automation infrastructure can allow a level of testing and verification at every release point that, otherwise, would simply be impossible. With the proper level of testing, defects do not sneak through to the field, where they are much more expensive to correct and much more disruptive to ongoing development work, not to mention extremely from a customer experience perspective. More money, time, and resources are freed up to build those new market capturing features that grow the business. Customer attrition is reduced and share of wallet goes up.
It’s hard to argue that short-cuts on testing make any kind of business sense, but there are practical constraints on how scarce resources are deployed. Like any other kind of automation, software test automation is simply a way to multiply the efficiency and effectiveness of those scarce resources through a reusable and intelligent knowledgebase. I would argue that a well-defined software test automation strategy will consistently pay for itself in 4 – 12 months by saving time and cost, getting releases out faster, and producing a better quality product.
Sounds good, right? But, of course there are challenges. One of the key challenges SMBs face in automating testing is the fact that test automation is a specialized discipline that requires specialized skills, knowledge, and capability. Chances are, this specialized capability is simply not available in-house because the skillset is not required through all project lifecycles. Does that mean it makes sense to build that capability in-house? In most instances, the answer is a resounding “NO”. There are just better options. Specialist companies like SPA who focus exclusively on testing functions are, for most, a much more cost-effective and practical alternative choice as they attract best of the breed specialist resources and they already have purpose-built and optimized processes for the task.
Software test automation is clearly an area where working with a specialist partner can offer tremendous value compared to the cost associated with an in-house effort, and that value multiplies as the automation infrastructure is leveraged over and over with each product release. Additional advantages come with the ability to use a variable vs. fixed cost model. A specialist testing partners’ resources are shared and you only pay for what you use, without the fixed carry cost of inhouse resources. Test Automation is a great place to leverage an OnDemand approach.
Do you leverage Test Automation? Are you interested in knowing more about advantages of test automation and understanding why it is critical for your software solutions success? Contact us for free consultation. We will show you how test automation can help you save time and money while improving the overall quality of your solution.
