Although test automation comes with benefits such as efficient and fast, repeatable tests, there are a few risks a team should be aware of.
- Negative ROI
- A team can make a considerable investment to get automation testing going. Automated tests require lots of code and expensive tools. Developers and testers spend significant time in learning and implementing automated tests.
- However, as it’s put into practice, the team might realize that the testing strategy is not providing any real value, as the software is complex with constantly changing configuration and features. They have to keep the tests constantly up-to-date.
- Playing catch-up with the technology.
- As with any software, automation testing tools and frameworks go through constant evolution. There is a steep learning curve to the automation tools and need prior programming experience.
- Instead of picking a tool and using it well, the development/testing team spends their time learning and playing with different tools and technologies. In that case, the automation testing might not realize its original promised value.
- Maintenance Risk
- All code has to be maintained and kept up-to-date with the changing requirements and fixing bugs. Test automation code is no exception to that.
- Instead of building new features and fixing bugs in the software, if developers and testers find themselves spending most of their time working on the automation framework, automated testing has failed.
