Manual and automated testing: The guide to optimizing your QA

To ensure the success of your digital projects, it is essential to consult a guide to automated testing and QA to find the right balance. Whileautomation is gaining ground, manual testing remains essential to ensure an authentic user experience. Understanding their specificities is the key to optimizing your productivity.

What is a manual test?

The manual test is a software verification performed directly by a human. The tester puts themselves in the shoes of the end user to validate the behavior of the interface. There are two types of manual testing:

• Guided testing: The tester follows a test plan with specific steps and expected results.
• Exploratory testing: Without a defined script, the tester freely explores the application to identify unexpected bugs or usability issues.

What is an automated test?

The automated functional test uses software tools or "robots" to execute test scripts. These automated tools simulate repetitive interactions (clicks, form filling, navigation) and compare the results obtained with the specifications. The goal is to industrialize testing to increase frequency and reliability.

Advantages and limitations of manual testing

Manual testing is unbeatable for evaluatingusability (UX) and accessibility. It requires little initial investment and allows for great flexibility. However, it is slow, prone to human error, and difficult to replicate across dozens of different browsers at the same time.

Advantages and limitations of automated testing

Automation enables rapid, large-scale test execution. It is ideal for non-regression testing (NRT) and multi-device environments. However, it requires an initial investment to create scripts and cannot judge the visual or subjective relevance of an interface.

Why combine the two approaches?

Complementarity is the key to optimal return on investment. A mature QA organization automates repetitive and critical tasks to free up experts. They can then devote their time to high-value-added manual testing, such as validating new complex features or conducting detailed analysis of the customer experience.

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