When you're not from tech, test automation can seem like a headache, but in reality, you don't need to be an expert in this field to get started.
On paper, test automation is a dream. It must be said that the promises that emerge from it are numerous. You can choose from: an accelerated production launch, a quality-controlled application, and considerable time savings on test execution. Add to that the fact that it allows you to detect bugs more quickly and thus reduce the costs that these bugs can generate, and there you have it: enough to convince any product team to embark on a test automation process.
Yes, but is it accessible to anyone? And the answer is yes. Because although test automation may seem complex to set up, in reality, there is no longer any need for specific technical skills to achieve it. Today, there are very simple solutions that allow you to automate your tests without typing a single line of code or almost. In particular, you can thank the emergence of no-code and low-code, which allows, among other things, to completely democratize assisted development!
The no-what? The what-code?
To put it simply, no-code generally refers to a platform that allows you to create your site or application without writing any lines of code. The low-code, or codeless, designates a platform that allows you to create your site or your application without having to write more than a few lines of code (about 20/30%). Most often, it comes in the form of a simplified graphical interface, with pre-programmed visual blocks to assemble. You just choose the blocks you want, drag and drop them and you're done. We're simplifying a bit, but that's to emphasize the fact that it's really easy.
This technology is not really new, but the health crisis has multiplied the need for these solutions, as companies see it as a way to reduce the time it takes to get their applications into production. And this digital revolution is not about to stop. According to a study by Gartner, low-code will be responsible for more than 65% of application development activity by 2024.
Simple, fast and efficient, no-code or codeless allows anyone in charge of a project to create their own applications or to automate processes, including the creation of assisted test scenarios, while reducing development time and thus lowering technical costs (skills, equipment, etc.).
That all sounds good, but for test automation, how does it look?
Let's take the example of Mr Suricate We have designed a Saas (software as a service) solution, available 100% online and requiring no installation or integration. It is a test case creation engine combining the Google Blocky tool and several automation engines. It allows us to create automated tests by simply assembling blocks containing different actions (click, check, fill a field...) in a visual editor.
In addition, Mr Suricate has created a scalable infrastructure that allows to generate a controlled number of robots in order to execute a maximum of tests in parallel on the environments to be tested. This makes it possible to run a hundred end-to-end test scenarios in just ten minutes.
Or how to make the creation of automated tests fun, fast and maintainable, but above all, accessible to non-tech profiles!
What about outsourcing?
If it is possible to automate your functional tests without having any technical skills thanks to no-code or codeless platforms, you may be missing some time, or at least you prefer to prioritize other tasks with higher added value. I have good news. There is another solution: delegate the creation of your automated tests by turning to outsourcing.
As the name implies, this consists of entrusting an independent team, physically separated from its company, with the design and execution of its automated test scenarios.
We invite you to have a look at our article "Why outsource functional test automation" and to discover our own solution if you are interested!
What did you think of this article? Did we succeed in convincing you that functional test automation is accessible to everyone?
