UI Test Automation – what’s possible and what is not

One of the primary motivations for automating business tasks is the pursuit of speed and convenience. Just like consumers who opt for a dishwasher to eliminate the tediousness of washing utensils and save time and effort, automation in business processes aims to achieve similar benefits. By speeding up tasks and reducing the need for manual intervention, automation can greatly enhance efficiency.

When it comes to product development, automating testing processes can deliver significant acceleration and effort-saving. However, the question of whether User Interface (UI) Testing can be effectively automated has sparked an ongoing debate. Since the UI directly impacts how users feel while using software, there is a commonly held belief that it requires human validation. While this is true to some extent, many mundane tasks associated with UI testing can actually be automated.

The UI serves as the front end of any application, providing the interface through which users interact with the software on their screens. Each interaction on the UI represents a touchpoint that needs to be tested. UI testing is a complex process involving numerous touchpoints and workflows, which makes it inherently challenging. Testers believe that manual testing is more suitable for identifying real-world issues users may encounter while using the application, as the UI holds a human appeal.

Despite the prevailing inclination to rely solely on manual UI testing, there are specific areas where automation can be effectively employed for UI tests. The benefits are evident: as applications grow in complexity, testing requirements increase, consuming more time and effort. Often, repetitive tests are left untested, contributing to overall technical debt. Automated UI testing can ensure that crucial customer workflows are consistently tested, regardless of the application’s size.

However, many UI test automation initiatives fail due to a lack of clarity regarding what aspects should be automated. A critical decision lies in determining which areas of UI testing are well-suited for automation.

Key Considerations Before Implementing UI Test Automation

UI test automation can provide substantial value by empowering agile development, improving coverage, and accelerating execution. It simplifies the testing landscape. However, before opting for UI testing automation, it is important to keep the following points in mind:

1. Establish clear expectations with your team during the groundwork phase, as developing automation scripts will require time. Involving your testing team from the start will give them a clear understanding of the process.
2. Identify the key scenarios that can be automated, such as specific UI elements or workflows that warrant focus.
3. Selecting the right UI automation testing tools is crucial. Choosing the wrong tool may lead to wasted time and effort in adapting to system changes.

UI Test Cases Suitable for Automation

Test cases that are numerous or have predictable outcomes are ideal candidates for automation. To determine which UI test scenarios can be automated, ask the following critical questions:

• Do these scenarios occur frequently?
• Do the test cases involve multiple data sets?
• Do the test cases consistently yield precise results?
• Are these test cases time-consuming yet relatively easy to automate?
• Are these scenarios unlikely to change significantly following enhancements?

Business Scenarios Compatible with UI Test Automation

1. UI Versions: Frequent changes in UI versions can make testing automation challenging, as maintaining the scripts becomes difficult.
2. Custom Controls: Automation cannot effectively handle complex UI element configurations.
3. Multiple Error Handling: Testing errors in complex scenarios may prove challenging to automate.
4. Image Comparison: Automated testing of images requires careful consideration of factors like pixel variations in size, color, shape, and formats.
5. Corner Cases: Automated tests adhere to predefined scripts, making it difficult to account for unexpected corner cases.
6. Severe Threat Analytics: Security issues requiring analysis of patterns and algorithms may necessitate manual intervention.

There has never been a serious argument about the time and effort-saving benefits of test automation in routine tasks. However, the value of automation in UI testing has been a topic of debate. Undoubtedly, certain test scenarios will always require manual checking to ensure a positive user experience. Nevertheless, it is clear that automation has the potential to make an impact in specific aspects of UI testing as well. By leveraging UI test automation effectively, businesses can achieve greater efficiency and improve their overall testing process.

At Forgeahead Solutions, we understand the importance of striking the right balance between manual and automated UI testing to optimize your product development process. Our expert team can help you identify the key scenarios suitable for automation, select the right UI automation testing tools, and establish clear expectations during the groundwork phase.

With our years of experience in software testing and development, we can guide you through the implementation of UI test automation to accelerate execution, improve coverage, and empower agile development. Let us simplify your testing landscape and ensure that your crucial customer workflows are consistently tested.

Contact us today to explore how UI test automation can bring substantial value to your business and enhance overall efficiency in your testing processes. Together, we can drive your product development to new heights, delivering a seamless user experience and staying ahead of the competition.