The Future of Manual Testing: Is Manual Testing Dying?
Let’s face it. Today’s era is of automation. The majority of companies have turned to automation in many sectors and many are currently working on it. It has turned into a complete nightmare for manual testers.
If the majority of companies decide to go 100% automated, then it would easily cancel out manual testing.
But if you think that automation is the ultimate solution in the software industry then you are wrong. As much as automation helps ease up the process, manual testing still dominates the sectors that automation can’t keep up with.
In this article, we have gathered up a detailed discussion about automated testing and manual testing and the future of manual testing.
Let’s take a look.
First of all, let’s understand what is automated testing. Automated testing refers to the process of using software tools to automate the execution of test cases, instead of manually executing them. Automated testing uses specialized software tools that simulate user interactions, perform functionality and performance testing, and check the application’s compatibility with different devices and browsers.
Meanwhile, manual testing refers to the process of manually testing all of the problems in software by following the instruction manual. The manual testing company puts on various scenarios, performs functionality tests, checks the app’s compatibility with different browsers and devices, and ensures that changes made to the application do not cause any new issues.
Reasons Why Manual Testing is Needed
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Automation is created to ease up human efforts not to replace them. Many aspects of software testing require human assistance and cannot detect any issues without it.
Viability of Automated Tests
Automated tests are not viable. There are many things that automated tests cannot detect, such as captcha, two-step verification, etc. Also, if there are any mistakes in the code, the test will fail and nobody will know where the issues lie in the application. Thus, it requires constant human attention and frequent checking.
Having a constant focus on testing can divert focus from other important aspects and may cause disruption in the company and affects company revenue.
Smaller Projects
Small businesses cannot afford automation as their projects are small and it’s easier to test manually. The initial cost of installing the automated testing system is very high and it seems a waste of money for the smaller projects.
Automation is Expensive
As we said earlier, automated testing is expensive. Even though you don’t have to do much work, it requires constant attention to detail to maintain it. Manual testing can easily dilute automation’s high expenses and maintenance costs.
Thorough Testing
Automated testing relies on predetermined procedures that cannot be customized. It may be faster, but it is possible to overlook minor defects. Therefore, manual testing is crucial to removing tiny defects that may be missed during automation.
Manual testers don’t require additional supervision with them and can instantly resolve any problems they are seeing in the application. Manual testers can easily go step by step thoroughly and find any hidden bugs that were hidden in automated tests.
Manual testing is way more reliable compared to automation and adds an additional layer of security.
User Experience
Machines will never be able to fully emulate human behavior. Therefore, manual testers are needed for user experience testing to imitate such behaviors and analyze software products according to the end user’s needs and requirements.
There will always be a need for manual testing when it comes to higher UX. It is impossible to automate user experience testing at this level without investing in AI solutions that are highly trained.
Personalized use of Techniques
Software testing does not need to be done in the same way or with the same methodology for all software. Depending on the type and size of the software, every organization needs a customized application of testing techniques. Therefore, it is imperative that software testers possess expertise where there are regular changes in software requirements.
Also, many businesses have multiple niches under one roof so having one method of testing might not work for them. And it is not possible to invest in different types of automated testing for one business.
Manual testers can use different techniques as per the application and test it on every single layer.
What does the Future hold for Manual Testing?
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Manual testing is evolving day by day. There is a noticeable shift towards the exploratory and more humanized way of testing. Additionally, with manual testing, testers don’t have to conduct repetitive tests.
Nowadays, testers not only do quality testing, but they also help guide the process of new automated test creation with realism and business requirements. Sometimes, when testers hear about automation, fear takes over and they feel that they’ll be replaced. This fear doesn’t let them perform fully and they end up not taking any new risks.
However, this is the chance for testers to fully demonstrate their performance and experiment with new techniques that automation can’t compete with. As a tester, you need to be able to sell your skills that are a need for general or for a specific kind.
The best thing about automated testing is that it shows where the correction is needed in the application. That’s why many manual testing services include a small portion of automation in their testing techniques so that the initial phase doesn’t consume more time and they can start their work once they know all of the problems.
Over to you
In the era of automation, it is important to know the right tests to automate and manual testers are exceptionally qualified for that. Testers know which tests provide more value as it helps them cut down run time and maintenance.
Manual software testing offers accuracy, micro controls, and intuitiveness. Both automated and manual testing have their perks. But manual testing can never be replaced. The best way to maximize ROI is to find the right balance between manual and automated testing.
So to sum it up, manual testing is not dying, it is evolving. With the right manual software testing services you can conduct thorough testing for your application and focus on other aspects of your business.
