The testing methods used in software development can vary significantly. Manual testing and automated testing are the two primary approaches, each with distinct strengths and limitations:

Manual testing

Manual testing involves human testers interacting directly with the application to verify its functionality. Testers simulate user behavior, record results, and analyze issues by reviewing log files, databases, and external services. This approach is valuable for identifying usability issues and drawing insights that automated tools might miss. However, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive and is less effective for repetitive or larger scale testing tasks. 

Automated testing

Automated testing uses specialized tools to execute prewritten test scripts, validate functionality, and compare results against expected outcomes. It excels at repetitive, long, or complex tests, enabling them to run unattended and across multiple environments. While it requires initial setup and ongoing script maintenance, automation significantly reduces the effort traditionally associated with testing. Similarly, test automation increases test coverage and supports continuous testing in Agile and DevOps workflows. 

In the landscape of modern software, where Agile and DevOps methodologies dominate, meeting user expectations means being able to reliably and continuously deliver updates to their applications. Test automation plays a central role in achieving this by enabling teams to test more efficiently and consistently across rapid release cycles. Continuous testing, powered by automation, ensures that software products meet evolving market demands even as it minimizes the risks of bugs and other production defects. 

Benefits of test automation

More specifically, test automation offers a range of advantages that help organizations optimize their development processes. By leveraging automation tools, teams can: 

• Improve speed and efficiency
  Automated testing executes tests faster than manual methods, allowing teams to validate more scenarios in less time and accelerate delivery cycles.
• Increase test coverage
  Automation enables extensive testing, including edge cases and complex scenarios that might be impractical to test manually, ensuring thorough validation of the software.
• Promote consistency
  Automated tests produce repeatable and consistent results, reducing errors associated with manual testing and improving confidence in the software.
• Reduce costs
  While initial setup requires investment, automation reduces long-term costs by minimizing the labor required for repetitive tests.
• Reuse test scripts
  Automated test scripts can be reused across multiple versions and environments, enabling efficient testing throughout the development lifecycle.
• Scale easily
  Test automation supports large-scale projects by allowing tests to run simultaneously across different configurations and platforms.

Traditionally, quality assurance (QA) professionals focused on executing manual tests, writing test cases, and reporting issues. However, the adoption of DevOps and Agile practices has shifted QA responsibilities toward a more strategic and collaborative role. Simply put, QA teams are no longer limited to being gatekeepers of quality; they are empowered to drive innovation, efficiency, and collaboration throughout the development lifecycle. This makes it possible for QA teams to contribute to the development process in new and impactful ways:

• Shift from manual testing to automation engineering
  With low-code and no-code automation tools, manual testers can transition into taking on the kinds of responsibilities associated with automation engineers, reducing reliance on repetitive tasks and enabling them to build and maintain automated test scripts.
• Quality coaching and advocacy
  QA professionals now act as quality coaches, guiding teams on best practices, advocating for user needs, and ensuring that quality is a shared responsibility across the organization.
• Faster feedback
  Automated testing allows teams to integrate quality checks into CI/CD pipelines, providing near-instant feedback and ensuring that issues are identified and resolved as early as possible in the software development life cycle (SDLC). 
• Collaboration with development teams
  QA roles now involve close collaboration with developers, contributing to test design and helping implement end-to-end testing strategies.
• Strategic focus on user experience
  By reducing the time spent on manual testing, QA professionals can dedicate more effort to analyzing and improving the overall user experience.

The future of automated testing is being further shaped by advancements in AI, machine learning (ML), and cloud computing, enabling faster and smarter testing processes. AI-driven tools can now create, execute, and maintain test cases almost entirely on their own. Features such as natural language processing (NLP) are likewise making test automation more accessible, allowing even non-technical team members to contribute to the testing process.

Organizations are also leveraging cloud infrastructure to scale their testing efforts. By hosting test automation tools in the cloud, businesses can execute tests across diverse configurations and platforms without significant upfront investment in physical resources. This flexibility supports continuous development practices and accelerates feedback loops within CI/CD pipelines.

Additionally, emerging trends like scriptless automation and self-healing test scripts are simplifying how tests are designed and maintained. These technologies adapt dynamically to changes in software, minimizing disruptions caused by updates or evolving requirements. Moving forward, these advancements will empower development teams to accomplish more than ever before using only minimal resources.

Implementing automated testing begins with choosing the right tools and defining a clear strategy tailored to the team’s needs. When selecting a test automation tool, consider factors such as developer skill set, project budget, and the type of applications being developed. Tools with intuitive interfaces, low learning curves, and strong integration capabilities can accelerate adoption and expand participation across the team. Features like test script reusability, reliable reporting, and documentation support are also critical to success. To evaluate tools, it’s always helpful to automate a few test cases using multiple options to identify the best fit for the organization.

Once the right tools have been secured, begin aligning the test automation approach with the development model. For teams using CI/CD pipelines, integrating automated testing early in the pipeline promotes faster feedback and reduces the risk of defects reaching production. For new projects, focus on automating unit tests and incrementally adding end-to-end tests as features mature. In established products, prioritize automating repetitive regression tests and gradually build out coverage to enhance efficiency and consistency.

Test automation best practices

To maximize the effectiveness of test automation, organizations should follow established best practices. Consider the following tips:

• Define clear objectives
  Start with a well-defined purpose for test automation, focusing on areas that deliver the most value.
• Choose the right test cases
  Prioritize automating repetitive, high-impact, or time-consuming test scenarios to save effort and reduce manual workload.
• Use modular frameworks
  Adopt a scalable and modular automation framework to enhance test script reusability and ease of maintenance.
• Integrate with DevOps workflows
  Connect test automation with CI/CD tools to enable continuous testing and faster feedback throughout the SDLC.
• Maintain version control
  Track and manage changes to test scripts with version control to prevent disruptions and maintain consistency.
• Regularly review and update tests
  Keep automation scripts relevant by revisiting and updating them to reflect changes in the application or testing requirements.
• Monitor results effectively
  Analyze test results to identify trends, detect issues, and optimize testing processes over time.
• Foster team collaboration
  Involve developers, testers, and other stakeholders to create a shared culture of quality.

ServiceNow's ATF is a powerful solution designed to simplify and accelerate the automated testing process. With over 600 out-of-the-box tests and templates, ATF allows your teams to quickly jump-start their automation efforts. It supports AI-powered test generation, headless browser testing, and full-stack capabilities, covering everything from UI functionality to server-side validation and REST API tests. By reusing upgrade-safe tests, you can minimize technical debt and maintain confidence during software updates.

And, to ensure your tests are backed by reliable, real-time data, ServiceNow Workflow Data Fabric connects systems, data, and APIs across your organization, without the need to duplicate or transfer information. Teams can securely access external systems, integrate data into testing workflows, and scale automation across environments with minimal manual effort. And, because ATF and Workflow Data Fabric, you will always have a completely unified and scalable foundation to support all your automation efforts.

Explore how ServiceNow's solutions can transform your testing and automation strategies—demo ServiceNow today!