Learn More About Automation Testing Tools
What are the Alternatives to Automation Testing Tools?
Alternatives that can replace test automation software, either partially or completely:
Continuous integration (CI) tools: CI, or continuous testing, is the practice of frequently building and testing each change made to a codebase. Continuous testing involves developers uploading new code, or code changes, to a common code repository, which is then tested automatically at the time of upload to ensure changes do not cause issues or breaks. By automating tests, users ensure immediately their code is sound and that important software features are operating as expected.
Software testing tools: Software testing tools give development teams the methods and tools to determine the quality of their software creation and improvement projects. Development teams use software testing tools to assess whether the software is usable, performs properly, meets development team goals, and satisfies overall requirements. Test automation software automates many of the more tedious tasks associated with software testing tools, meaning the two often go together.
Software Related to Automation Testing Tools
Related solutions that can be used together with test automation tools include:
Bug tracking software: Bug tracking software, or issue tracking software, refers to software used by quality assurance (QA) and software development teams to report software bugs and problems. Thorough bug tracking is essential for good software development. Bug tracking software provides a repository that explains how to reproduce a bug and how widespread an issue is and allows a business to separate, prioritize, sequence, and provide communications about different bugs across many projects or applications. These tools can pair with test automation tools to automatically find new bugs and begin debugging. QA testing tools, including QA automation tools, help QA testers measure the quality of the software.
Test management software: Test management tools help development teams manage, track, and maintain their software tests. Unlike software testing tools or test automation software, test management software is not designed to run software tests themselves. Instead, developers use test management solutions to maintain test cases and test results in a repository-like structure, which are then turned into actionable reports.
How to Buy Automation Testing Tools
Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Automation Testing Tools
The requirements for automation testing software will be dependent on which type the company is purchasing. A load testing tool, for example, may have different requirements than an API testing tool. As mentioned earlier, one of the challenges of test automation software is just how niche it can get. It can be highly dependent on the individual organization’s needs and desires. A company also must consider what related technology it plans to purchase alongside the automation testing software.
Compare Automation Testing Products
Create a long list
Buyers should start by identifying which specific type of test automation software tool it is looking to purchase. Once the type of tool is identified, buyers can then use G2.com and other online resources to research the top products on the market.
Create a short list
After identifying the exact type of automation testing tools needed, buyers can then dig deeper into which product fits their specific needs. Companies should consider the bandwidth of developers on their team, which could help determine whether they need a codeless tool. Companies should also consider what pre-existing software they already have on site, as well as what additional software they may need to purchase.
Conduct demos
Companies should walk through a demo of each product they are considering purchasing. This allows them to get an up close and personal view of the testing platform, its functionality, and how it fits into the current test automation framework at the company. This allows organizations to initiate test creation to see how the test execution is performed in a test environment.
Selection of Automation Testing Tools
Choose a selection team
The selection team should include a mix of roles and titles that would interact with test automation software. First and foremost, at least one member of the development team should be involved, as the development team would be most likely to interact with the tool regularly. Other roles may be dependent on the automation testing use cases. If the tool purchased is for UI testing, roles such as site administrators and product managers may also need to be involved.
Negotiation
While some test automation vendors will have a set cost for their product, others may be open to negotiation. Organizations should do their research prior to the negotiation phase to ensure that what they are asking for is a reasonable price.
Final decision
Ultimately, organizations will need to decide which product they want to go forward with. Companies should consider what specific features, use cases, and capabilities they are looking for depending on their organizational needs.
