Agile software development methodologies have revolutionized how businesses develop software and software testing. The agile approach is designed to deliver high-quality software quickly and efficiently by breaking down projects into achievable goals and deliveries, maintaining bite-sized objectives. Although many often assume the core foundation of software production revolves around the coding spectrum, it is not always the case. Agile development relies heavily on testing to ensure the software meets the desired quality standards. However, traditional manual testing processes are time-consuming and prone to human errors, making it challenging to keep pace with agile development’s fast-paced nature. This is where automation testing steps in. In this blog post, we shall discuss the importance of software testing automation in agile development and SHIFT ASIA’s take on the matter.

Agile software development methodologies

Agile development is an iterative approach to software development that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and customer satisfaction. Agile development methodology involves the decomposition of projects into smaller, manageable tasks referred to as sprints, which are completed in short iterative cycles. Each sprint is typically two to four weeks long, resulting in a working software increment.

Among the various methodologies that fall under the agile umbrella, three popular frameworks are Scrum, Kanban, and Lean. Scrum emphasizes time-boxed iterations called sprints, while Kanban emphasizes continuous flow and limiting work in progress. Lean, initially developed in the manufacturing industry, emphasizes minimizing waste and maximizing value for the customer. Each methodology offers unique benefits and can be tailored to fit the specific needs of a project or organization.

Agile development methodologies have gained widespread popularity in recent years due to their ability to enable businesses to deliver reliable, well-designed, and bug-free software at a much faster pace. According to the 2021 State of Testing Report from PractiTest, up to 90% of testers have already been working Agile. Rather than adhering to a traditional, linear development process, agile development is based on iterative cycles that emphasize flexibility and adaptability throughout the development process.

One of the key tenets of agile development is a collaboration between development teams and stakeholders. This collaborative approach ensures that software is developed in a way that meets the needs and requirements of the customer. Through regular communication and feedback, development teams can adjust and modify the software throughout the development process, resulting in a final product that is more likely to satisfy the customer.

Agile development methodologies also promote a culture of continuous improvement. By regularly reviewing and reflecting on the development process, teams can identify areas for improvement and make adjustments accordingly. This iterative approach can lead to a more efficient and effective development process, resulting in higher-quality software and greater customer fulfillment.

Four key factors depicting importance of test automation in agile

1. Test scripts reusability

Automation testing has numerous advantages, one of which is the reusability of test scripts. As test scripts are automated, they can be executed multiple times, which saves significant time and resources compared to manual testing. Automated test scripts can be reused across different iterations and projects, making it possible to conduct regression testing more efficiently and with higher accuracy. This means that, as new features and functionality are added to the software, automated tests can be quickly run to ensure that these changes have not introduced any unintended issues or bugs. By reusing automated test scripts, organizations can realize significant cost savings over the long term while improving their software’s quality and reliability.

2. Optimal test coverage

Automation testing offers optimal test coverage, a fundamental aspect of ensuring the software meets quality standards in agile testing and development. Automated tests ensure that all software features and functionalities are thoroughly tested, thereby reducing the risk of errors and delivering software on time. Additionally, automated tests are repeatable and consistent, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that software is delivered on time.

3. Faster test execution

Automation testing provides a faster and more efficient way to execute tests, making it an indispensable tool in agile development. In this fast-paced approach to software development, manual testing has become a bottleneck that can slow progress and introduce avoidable human errors. By automating testing processes, teams can speed up testing, essential for meeting quick turnaround times. This approach enables teams to deliver software quality assurance more efficiently while minimizing the risk of failures. Furthermore, automated testing facilitates parallel testing, allowing teams to run multiple tests simultaneously, resulting in even faster test execution times.

4. Cost-effectiveness

In agile development, cost-effectiveness is a critical consideration, making automation testing an essential tool. Manual testing can be lengthy and resource-intensive, leading to increased costs and slower development cycles. By contrast, automation testing is a one-time investment in creating test scripts that can be used multiple times, resulting in significant cost savings over the long term.
This testing approach helps streamline the development process, reducing tremendous costs while delivering the best quality possible, error-free software with increased productivity. By embracing automation testing, businesses can enjoy a more “savings” approach to software development without compromising quality or performance.

From the SHIFT ASIA's point of view

At SHIFT ASIA, we recognize the significance of automation testing in agile development. As a software testing company, we have seen firsthand how automated testing can help businesses deliver software of the highest quality and with optimized speed and accuracy.
Automation testing enables teams to achieve optimal test coverage, faster test execution, and cost-effectiveness. By leveraging automation testing in their agile development processes, businesses can reduce the time and resources required for testing, which allows them to focus on other tasks that add value to the company.

By utilizing automation testing, teams can gain these key advantages, including optimal test coverage, faster test execution, and cost-effectiveness. The value of automation testing can be particularly beneficial in agile development, where quick turnarounds and high-quality software are paramount. By freeing up resources that would otherwise be spent on manual testing, teams can focus on other tasks that add value to the business, such as software design and development. In this way, automation testing can help to rationalize the entire development process, empowering businesses to achieve their goals more efficiently and with improved accuracy.

At SHIFT ASIA, we are dedicated to supporting our clients in attaining their objectives in software development by delivering the most excellent software testing services, which include automated testing.

Mr. Ryusuke Ito, the CEO of SHIFT ASIA, once emphasized the significance of automated testing for agile software teams, stating that “Automation testing is a critical component of agile development. It allows teams to deliver high-quality software in a timely and cost-effective manner, which is essential in today’s fast-paced business environment.” At SHIFT ASIA, we are committed to helping our clients achieve their software development goals by providing them with the best possible software testing solutions, including automation testing.

At SHIFT ASIA, we understand the unique challenges businesses face regarding software development, so we offer a wide range of testing services. Our team of experts has extensive experience in agile development methodologies and can help businesses achieve their software development goals quickly and efficiently.
Our comprehensive software quality testing services extend beyond automation to encompass manual testing, performance testing, security testing, and more. We collaborate closely with our clients to discern their distinct specifications and engineer tailored testing solutions that precisely match their needs.

SHIFT ASIA teams are dedicated to empowering our clients to achieve their software development goals through our top-of-the-line software testing solutions suites. Connect with us today to discover how we can assist your business in reaching its full potential in software development.