Elevating web development with automated testing

Building, maintaining and scaling websites and digital experiences is hard. Complexity (read: the likelihood of bugs popping up) only grows with our organisation's ambition to deliver digital touchpoints. The drive to deliver flawless digital experiences across various browsers and devices introduces significant challenges, especially when relying solely on manual testing to ensure quality. It would be like the Twix factory only relying on manual inspection by Greg Wallace to assess product quality. Manual testing, while essential, often becomes a bottleneck due to its time-consuming nature, susceptibility to human error, and inability to efficiently scale. This is where automated testing steps in, offering a solution that enhances efficiency, accuracy, and coverage.

Addressing the Challenges of Repetitive Testing

The need for repetitive testing across different development environments, from dev to production, is a major challenge in web development. Automated testing shines in these scenarios, allowing for the automation of test cases that need to be run multiple times across various browsers, devices, and platforms. This not only saves time but also increases test accuracy, as automated tests perform with consistent precision. Like a farmer who has invested in quality irrigation, they can watering their crops run on autopilot so they can focus on the other elements of helping their produce thrive.

The Benefits of Automated Testing

• Efficiency and Consistency: Automated testing tools execute tests faster and with more consistency than manual testing, simulating numerous user interactions across a multitude of configurations without the fatigue of a human sitting at a computer.

• Enhanced Test Coverage: Automation allows for the execution of a larger set of tests, covering more features and user journeys than would be feasible manually, thereby increasing the robustness of the software. Once the testing of a journey has been automated, it will catch bugs without human input, so you can keep expanding the coverage, whereas with manual testing to catch those bugs, a human has to be doing the QA.

• Early Bug Detection: By integrating automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline, bugs can be detected and addressed early in the development cycle, significantly reducing the cost, effort and grey hairs required for later fixes (especially ones only caught on the production/live site).

• Focused Manual Testing: With repetitive and time-consuming tasks handled by automation, manual testers can devote their expertise to exploratory, usability, and other complex testing scenarios that require human intuition and creativity.

The Incremental Approach to Automated Testing

Embarking on automated testing doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing endeavour. It can be adopted incrementally, starting with the most valuable (from a financial or reputation risk perspective), time-consuming to test and error-prone tasks. This gradual approach allows teams to test the waters, build confidence in automated testing processes, and progressively see the value it brings to their projects. Over time, as familiarity and confidence grow, the scope of automation can be expanded, further enhancing the efficiency and quality of web development efforts.

Case study - APM Terminals

For APM Terminals, a leader in global port operations, the challenge was ensuring that their container tracking and booking system was both robust and user-friendly. The system, crucial for clients tracking containers and managing booking IDs, required precision and reliability across multiple platforms and devices. 

Adopting an incremental approach to automated testing, we first targeted the system's most critical functionalities—container tracking accuracy and booking ID verification. Through automated tests, we were able to rapidly identify and resolve issues, significantly enhancing system reliability. This methodical approach not only expedited the development cycle but also led to a marked improvement in user satisfaction. The deployment of automated testing resulted in a 40% uptick in digital engagement, as users experienced a more seamless and dependable interaction with the terminal's digital tools. 

Case Study - Clarion Housing Association

Clarion Housing which has multiple website for different end users, each websites core functionality was automated to ensure stability and confidence before a release deployment. To name a few components that we have automated for Clarion Housing: Login, User Dashboard and Forgot Password, Search, Listing Pages & Detail Pages, Form Submission and two critical components Payment Gateway and Book Online Repairs to ensure confidence that none of these vital journeys are broken.

Payment Testing & Book Online Repairs

• Clarion’s 100,000+ tenants have the option to pay their monthly rent through the website. Similarly, we implemented automated testing on the functionality that lets tenants log repairs in their properties. Our automated tests ensure these critical capabilities for tenants and the organisation are not impacted through the development cycle of this and other functionality and are running as expected on the live site. These tests help Clarion mitigate downside financial and reputational risk calculated in the millions of pounds every month.

The Path Forward

The shift towards automated testing represents a strategic enhancement to traditional web development practices. By starting small and scaling gradually, teams can transform their testing processes, achieving faster release cycles, higher quality products, and a more efficient use of resources.

Adopting automated testing is not just about keeping up with industry trends; it's about setting a new standard for excellence in your web development practices. It offers a path to not only meet the ever-growing expectations for digital experiences but to exceed them, ensuring that every project is delivered with the highest quality and efficiency.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the adoption of automated testing becomes increasingly crucial. By taking a step-by-step approach, organisations can seamlessly integrate automation into their development processes, unlocking new levels of productivity and success in their web development projects.

At Codehouse, we've helped organisations from the largest housing association and to the world's biggest shipping terminal operator deliver product excellence with automated testing as the backbone of their digital products. If you'd like to understand how you can take your first steps or improve your automated testing capabilities, get in touch.