What is manual testing?Manual testing is a process of finding defects in the software manually. In this method, the testers will simulate end users to verify that all the features are working properly before software is released. All will be done manually so this method is really time-consuming. As it is done manually, it doesn’t require any knowledge of testing tools. Below are the stages of manual testing that a software will go through: Unit testing: Unit testing is the first stage in software testing. In this method, developer or tester uses the white box testing technique to test individual units and components of the software application to ensure that each unit of the software is working as expected. Integration testing: After unit testing, the units, components, and modules are integrated together and then integration testing is performed. The purpose of this testing is to validate the functionality and reliability of the modules after integrated. Black box testing technique is usually used at this stage, but in many cases, both Black and White testing method are combined together. System testing: In this stage, the entire system is completely integrated together to carry out system testing. Similarly, system testing is performed to ensure that the software is meeting its software requirements specifications (SRS). Black box testing is normally used at this stage. User acceptance testing: User acceptance testing is the final stage in software testing prior to release the product. After system testing, the software will be tested by actual users to make sure that the application has met all the requirements. If the software passes this stage, it means that end user has accepted it and it is ready to go live. What is automated testing?Automated testing is a method using an automation tool testing tool to write and execute test case suite on the software application, comparing the actual results to the expected behavior and creating test reports. Moreover, automation testing tool also provides record and playback feature which is especially useful for regression testing.When it comes to automation testing, it’s hard for testers to be good at it without programming skills. Automation testing is like development, so tools might require customization. But over time, automation testing tool has matured to simplify the process of testing. There are a lot of codeless automation testing tools in the market providing graphical environment so that testers can easily create test cases. Automation testing helps eliminate tasks that are too time-consuming and laborious to be performed manually, plus automated tests can be run repeatedly once they have been created. In other words, automation testing helps increase effectiveness and efficiency of software testing. For the small companies, it’s hard to adopt test automation as it’s too expensive and difficult. The initial investments are considerable but in the long run, automation testing can help reduce time to market and testing effort, thus saving money. What are the differences between automated testing and manual testing?Manual Testing• Manual testing is time-consuming due to running test cases as everything is done manually.• Testers can observe the application during testing, making the user-friendliness better.• Less expensive in the short-term.• Low accuracy result.• Less reliable.• Programming is not required• Regression testing is time-consuming and laborious.• The same amount of time is required to execute the test cases.Automated Testing• Automated testing is much faster than manual testing due to using the software.• Less UI feedback.• It could be costly initially, but in the long-term, it will reduce the cost.• High accuracy result.• More reliable.• Programming is required.• Regression testing is easy due to using tools.• Once the test suites are made, it requires fewer tester to execute test cases.Why should you switch from manual testing to automation?Implementing automation testing can be challenging initially but the key benefits you are going to gain make it worthwhile.Saving timeBy implementing automation testing, it can help improve code quality and development velocity. When code changes are not causing errors, developers will have more time to focus on each sprint goal.Higher test coverageAutomated software testing can help you save time and increase test coverage. Lengthy tests are usually time-consuming and laborious to perform manually, this can be run with automation testing unattended on different computers with different configurations. Automation testing also provides testers more time and effort to focus on more futures, thus leading to a higher quality of application.Higher accuracyFor the manual testing, human errors are inevitable during repetitive and monotonous manual tests. When it is done with automation testing, it can help avoid the risks of human errors, increase accuracy and save time.How to successfully implement test automation .Change the mindsetThere’s no doubt that earlier implementation of test automation in the development process can be time-consuming and fraught with complexity. It’s very important to secure the buy-in of development, operations, and QA. This cannot be the sole responsibility of testers. Everyone has to work together to build a solid foundation and establish realistic expectations.Test automation will lessen the manual testing burden, and automated tests can be run unattended, but this isn’t just about functional and regression testing through the user interface. By introducing automation earlier, you can cover the low level and introduce unit tests, as well as integration, API, database, and services testing. Starting automated testing in parallel with development can help to reduce dependency on the UI.For this to be successful, your processes will have to change to accommodate it. You may need to break down requirements further, introduce new coding practices, and tweak your design process. You’ll also need stable interfaces for both the back-end and the front-end to ensure minimal disruption to existing automated tests.Build a robust test automation foundationTraditionally, test automation has supported regression testing. Making it work in an agile environment requires a whole new set of tools and approaches. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Don’t waste time seeking the perfect tool to cater for all of your needs, because there probably isn’t one. What you need to do is look at the best tool for each automation type and then work on building a solid framework that pulls them all together.Even once you have the right tools in place, you still need your testers and developers to work closely together to construct a good framework and agree on the right processes. If you find that the majority of your tests have to be rewritten after each sprint, then you may need to reexamine your test automation foundation and improve on it.Identify the right automation strategyIt is impossible to automate every test. You need to identify which tests need to be automated and figuring out which ones to automate is really challenging but it is an essential part of automation testing. Testers usually waste time trying to automate things that shouldn’t be automated. Others, on the contrary, waste time testing things manually that could be done more effectively with automation testing. Reviewing your test suite frequently to add tests worth automated and remove unsuitable ones.It’s a good idea to start small and scale up when everything is working well. Begin with a small investment and see what kind of effort is involved and what the outcome is before ramping up your automation plans. This also gives the team room and opportunity to try things, make mistakes, and design even better approaches.