Manual testing´s newfound place in the automated testing world

A comprehensive automated testing suite has been touted for years as an integral part of a software program´s overall quality assurance strategy. One particular classification of tests - functional tests for web applications - is frequently automated, perhaps being the centerpiece of automated testing efforts. However, the build-out of an automated testing suite is expensive, requiring specialized software, frameworks, and staff who typically possess programming knowledge. Indeed, it is common to have roles such as that of a Test Automation Engineer or Software Developer In Test (SDET) on Agile teams these days, supplementing traditional Quality Analysts. With regard to web application tests, however, the calculus on whether or not to automate these tests is changing. Enter on-demand services - they have become available to perform manual testing as needed, without introducing delay, and are often many times faster than equivalent automated tests. These on-demand services feature test scripts written in natural language, which are executed by trained external testers when prompted, such that feedback is rapidly provided on the results of the testing. In this article, we´ll explore these on-demand services (which can also be referred to as “Testing as a Service”) and provide business and financial analysis illustrating when this approach may complement or be a better alternative to building an automated testing suite for web-based applications.