Automation is considered to be an effective solution for test execution in areas where there is significant repetition or checking i.e. regression or rule based testing as it is seen to reduce effort, time and after a while it should save on cost.

Whilst automated testing can be effective, there is no doubt that if not carried out in the right way automation can be costly and not deliver the benefits it promises. Not all testing should be automated and indeed in some instances cannot be automated.

The critical success factor is to create a rock-solid strategy for your automation with clear and absolute measures around success criteria indicators (SCI) and return on investment (ROI). It is of paramount importance that the author of the automation strategy is skilled and knowledgeable in this area so that the benefits and ROI of the automation strategy are to be realised.

At 2i, we provide expert advice in the following areas:

Your Automation Strategy including the top 5 key strategy considerations: automation objectives and scope, tool selection, ROI, cost of ownership and benefit measures.

We also provide guidance on calculating your automation ROI, such as:

• Number of defects found in automation vs. manual testing.
• Time taken to execute automation vs. manual testing.
• Automation coverage vs. manual coverage.
• Variable cost of automation, i.e. Resourcing.
• Fixed cost of automation, i.e. Licencing costs.
• Shared testing costs, i.e. defect management.

Our experts will be able to design your Automation Framework that most suits your automation needs, saving you time and unnecessary cost.

Tool selection and licensing; we can help you select the best tool for your automation requirement be it open source or licenced and be with you every step of the way from contract negotiation to tool set up including the vendor relationship management in-between.

If you have automated testing in place, optimising your existing automation abilities by following our 5 step approach to test process optimisation, will guarantee you at least 5 immediate quick wins. See Test Process Optimisation for more details.

So, whether you are embarking into automation for the first time or have established automation frameworks in place, we can offer practical and proven advice to support you through your automation journey.