Software development and deployment are important for almost every company today. Just like software development, its testing is also very important because the codes need to be tested to see if the software is working properly or not. It is an essential part of the software development lifecycle as it helps in evaluating the level of efficiency a software code has and how well it works in real conditions. At the end of the day, every software is made for the target audience so that real people can use it. By testing the code blocks thoroughly, a professional software testing team ensures that the software is best for the users.

There are many software testing tools and approaches from which a software testing team can choose. Manual vs automation testing are the two most used software testing approaches. Your team has to find the best approach based on the projects it has to handle and the deadlines it meets.

The integration of automated and semi-automated tools in the testing process is something that happens for most software development companies today. A business owner has to understand the difference between manual testing and automation and then choose the best testing approach.

What is Manual Testing?

Manual testing is the process of manually creating and executing test cases for software code and architecture to ensure that the different components of the application software are working with high efficiency. When a software development team creates an application software, there is a vision and expectation behind its work. Manual testers are involved in the testing process.

Manual testing is a process that can be implemented across different scenarios like exploratory testing, where there are no pre-defined test cases and freedom to find the testing cycle. Another area of software testing used is the usability testing sector, where testers interact and record usability data from real users.

When the team is trying to create tests on an ad hoc basis without any structure to the test plan, then manual testing tools and approaches are used the most. Manual testing services work best in scenarios where there are no predefined test sets and also where the professionals can have more freedom with the test cases.

What is Automated Testing?

QA automation vs. manual testing is done when there are some pre-scripted test cases and the test environment is pre-defined. The set of instructions and nature of test cases are fed into the automation tools, and then the final tests are run with the help of automated tools. Automated tools make the testing process easier and reduce the need for human intervention.

Automation testing tools are usually used in scenarios where you need repeat tests and require the creation of extensive test cases for thorough testing. When the testing process is lengthy, and the team needs to create test cases for efficient testing but does not have enough time to do it manually, the team needs to use automated testing tools.

For example, for regression testing, a software development team might need automated testing tools. In the CI/CD pipeline, automated tests are run so that the testing and integration go on smoothly. Software automation testing services are implemented very easily across the continuous integration and delivery pipeline.

Also Read: Speed Up QA: Essential Automation Testing Frameworks

Key Differences Between Manual Testing and Automated Testing

There are some differences between manual and automation testing, which are highlighted on different points.

1. Testing Process

• Manual testing process

The manual testing process involves the use of manual skills, and different tools run through professionals to create test cases and execute them with precision. The execution of the manual test cases needs more time and effort from professional testers.

• Automated testing process

Automation testing vs. manual testing is different because, in automation testing, the professionals use automated tools and a highly automated testing environment that integrates these tools into a smooth test flow.

2. Test Execution speed

• Manual vs. Automated

The test execution speed, when compared between automated tests and manual tests, differs a lot. Automated testing tools have pre-scripted tests that run very rapidly. On the other hand, manual tests require much more time to design and execute test cases.

3. Accuracy and Reliability

• Human error vs. machine precision

The main point of difference between manual testing and automation testing is that while manual testing is more prone to human errors, automated testing tools run with high precision and accuracy rates. You get accurate results of all test cases run on automated test tools so that the issues are rooted out from the beginning.

4. Cost Implications

• Short-term vs. long-term costs

While manual testers and simple tools cost less in the beginning, maintaining a larger manual testing team and the costs of human errors can be huge in the long term. On the other hand, automated testing tools might have a higher one-time cost, but in the long term, these tools help you optimize the testing team and reduce additional costs.

5. Maintenance and Updates

• Ease of updates and scalability

A major difference between manual testers and automated testing tools is that the updates for automated testing tools are easier to access and acquire. Automation in QA is very scalable, but upskilling the manual testing team might take considerable time. Therefore, the prolonged use and maintenance of automated tools makes more sense in the resource inventory.

6. Skill Requirements

• Manual testing skills

Manual testing skills need to be much more extensive and wide-ranged for proper designing and execution of test cases. Manual testers need to update their professional skills with new releases and technical changes.

• Automation skills and tools

Automation tools mostly run on their own but also need monitoring and partial intervention from manual testers. Manual testers need to acquire skills in the arena of automation and update their skills to retain their professional role.

Pros and Cons of Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing

Pros of Manual Testing

• Manual testing is very flexible and adaptable which gives a lot of room to experiment and find out new bugs that would be otherwise overlooked by a tool
• Human intuition during testing helps improve the test environment and corresponding results.
• Manual testing also costs less in the initial setup when compared with automated tools.
• The actions and feedback taken from manual testers are in real time and very effective.
• Manual testers are amazing for user interaction tests and usability tests as they need a human touch.

Cons of Manual Testing

• Manual testing can be time-consuming when the tests are repetitive and extensive.
• Manual testing is also not feasible because it does not have good scalability for projects that are large-scale
  Manual testing makes the whole test scenario very prone to human errors which can complicate the whole process.

Pros of Automated Testing

• Automated testing tools are best for rapid execution of multiple test cases at the same time
• The tests can be pre-scheduled and run at any time so there are fewer constraints of time in this whole process.
• Automated test cases are very repeatable for the same software codes
• Automated tests are very accurate and precise in their results without human errors.
• The long-term costs of testing and the resources invested will come down with the use of automated tools.

Cons of Automated Testing

• The initial costs of setting up an automated tool might be very high for small and mid-scale businesses
• The learning curve for some testers to learn how to operate advanced-level automated tests can be very steep
• The development of tool dependency and its rise can cause problems for the company later on.

When To Use Manual vs Automation Testing?

1. Manual Testing

• Exploratory Testing

Exploratory testing is a process that is undertaken when the team is testing without any predefined test cases for your software codes. The exploratory tests are conducted when the software development and testing process is in its initial stages, and the documentation is not complete yet.

• Usability Testing

Usability testing is done to test out how usable the application will be based on the user interface and user experience that emerges from its design. The UX design and the user interaction levels are tested through manual interactions and processes conducted on the application.

• Ad-hoc Testing

When a detailed test plan is not available, and the testing team has the freedom to run short and quick tests without any predefined structure, it can do ad hoc testing with manual testing skills and tools.

• Short-term Projects

Manual tests are also run for short-term projects and simple applications that do not need extensive tests or lengthy testing cycles.

• Initial Development Stages

In the initial development stages, the test codes are run on simple and quick tests by manual testers in a short frame of time. Once the code blocks are integrated into a larger wireframe, the software testing team operates with automated testing tools.

• Complex Test Cases

The execution of complex test cases might sometimes need special test case design and other specifications that cannot be handled by an automated testing tool; for this, manual testers have to create test scripts that are completely different from automated pre-scripted test cases.

• Cost Constraints

Due to cost constraints and the inability to invest in an automated testing tool, some companies might have a manual testing team, which is heavily dependent on the manual testing skills of the professionals.

2. Automation Testing

• Regression Testing

Quite often, regression testing involves the use of automated testing tools, as these tests have to run after every major change that happens to the initial code compilation. Since the regression tests are repetitive and time-consuming, automated testing tools can reduce the time taken to execute the test cases and provide results very quickly.

• Load Testing

When testing is done to see if the application can handle a high load of user traffic and actions in different conditions, automated testing tools are used to simulate conditions where high-level loads are created on the application.

• Performance Testing

Automated testing tools are used in performance testing to create multiple test cases with differing performance conditions quickly and accurately.

• High Volume Testing

High-volume testing can also be very streamlined and handled well with the use of automated testing tools that are designed to handle high-volume transactions and traffic.

• Long-term Projects

Automated tools for testing are used in long-term projects that need more number of tests with higher testing frequency and multiple tests running at the same time.

• Stable Applications

Stable applications and legacy applications can easily be tested with automation, which saves a lot of time for manual testers.

• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

In the CI/CD pipeline, where there is a continuous testing approach that runs parallel with the integration, automation in QA makes more sense.

• Reusability of Test Cases

QA automation tools have prescripted test cases that can be reused in the testing cycles so that the time and resources put into testing can be reduced to a great extent.

Also Read: AI in Software Testing: Transforming Testing Landscapes

Hybrid Approach: Combining QA Automation vs Manual Testing

The best approach for testing with automation testing vs manual testing is to take a hybrid approach. The ingenuity of the human brain and the skills that highly trained professionals have cannot be ignored. The automated testing tools should be integrated into the workflow to create a hybrid approach to testing that helps the professionals in the long run.

• Leverage Strengths

To integrate automation into manual testing processes, the company has to identify the strengths of the testing team and then choose an automation tool that will fill in the weak links in the process to make it more efficient.

• Cost Efficiency

When choosing an automation test tool and balancing it with a manual testing team, the cost factor is highlighted to a great extent. The tool should be within the company budget, and the hired team should also be cost-efficient for the company in the long run.

• Increased Coverage

Higher coverage is a benefit that automated tools for testing make possible. With a hybrid approach, the test coverage and completion of the testing cycle are easily completed in a short frame of time.

• Flexibility and Adaptability

The automation tool that you choose for the team should be flexible and scalable so that the whole team can use it. The team should also adapt to the use of automation tools.

• Continuous Integration

Continuous integration and continuous delivery are possible when there is a hybrid approach that has the most efficient results in a short time frame.

• Quality Assurance

Quality assurance and extensive testing can be done very quickly with the help of a hybrid team that is skilled in the use of testing tools and automation.

• Skill Utilization

With the adoption of automated testing tools, the manual team upskills for a hybrid testing approach, which then creates the scope for higher skill utilization.

Manual or Auto Testing? Find Your Fit with Our Expert Tips!

Now that you know the difference between manual and automation testing, you might also come to understand that a mixed approach is the best for this debate. A manual testing company should take the hybrid approach with selective automated testing tools so that the testing efficiency increases manifold.

If you have a small-scale software development company, you will need one or two good-quality software automation testing tools. A hybrid approach with the right kind of tools can open ways to increase revenue and productivity. With expert consultation, you can choose the best approach for upgrading to testing automation.