User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is a phase of the software developmental process where the end-users check the system features based on their requirements. Testing UAT confirms that the software is user-friendly. It is only during UAT that testing is done from the user’s point of view, which is critical to address any usability concerns and to test that the processes perform correctly.

Understanding test automation

Test automation refers to the use of customized software to manage and control the execution of tests, comparing actual test results to the expected results while performing faster than manual testing methods through the automation of repetitive manual test processes or to minimize human error in any given test case. One of the main benefits of test automation tools is their ability to conduct regression testing on software or product updates frequently. Such revisions may involve continual re-testing of the same functionality.

Benefits of combining UAT and automation

The adoption of test automation to support the UAT increases the efficiency of testing and coverage of the UAT testing process. While UAT is primarily a manual testing process executed by end-users, adopting test automation can take away repetitive testing and engage humans to focus their efforts on testing complex scenarios. Test automation tools can execute tests much faster as compared to manual methods, increasing the feedback loop for faster iterations.

Challenges in test automation

Although test automation is a valuable process, there are risks associated with implementation. When initiating and sustaining automated tests, there is substantial time and resources that must be expended. It is incumbent upon the test automation team to design the automated tests well so that they reflect user scenarios. Automated tests that are poorly designed run the risk of auto-executing false positives or false negatives, which can undermine the reliability of testing overall. Therefore, it is imperative to find a balance between an automated and manual testing approach to overcome these risks.

Best practices for effective UAT

When it comes to UAT, it is crucial to have actual users from the beginning of the testing process. To that end, users should be trained about the testing goals and steps so that feedback and recommendations may be more worthwhile. Since test cases are the events, actions or instructions that are scripted and executed against a system during a test, these should contain actual use cases so that real requirements are met. It is also important to maintain feedback records and resolve any problems that may occur during the implementation of the UAT phase.

Leveraging automation for continuous improvement

Test automation can be a key component of the CI/CD process as it allows testing to be conducted frequently and accurately. Quality assurance can be done on an automated basis and can easily be built into the build process where defects are detected and can quickly be addressed to avoid blocking new features. This continuous feedback helps maintain high-quality standards and supports ongoing improvement of the software.

In conclusion, UAT test automation has some advantages that help improve the quality of software. Opkey is a leader in this domain, improving the effectiveness of UAT and ensuring better quality of test results. Opkey allows you to use no-code test automation and allows any employee to create test automation scripts It also eases the UAT process and relieves the technical teams. Its Test Discovery technology enables you to concentrate on the right processes since it analyzes the business logs and determines what has to be tested. Also, Opkey offers rich reporting and analytics that produce detailed and easily understandable results with debugging logs and screenshots. Through the integration of UAT with Opkey’s sophisticated automation features, organizations can meet testing needs and help build reliable applications that are easy to use.