Software testing involves finding out information about specific software, such as discovering failures and verifying the product is fit for use. Seeing as it is crucial that end-users face no issues with the software, you must ensure testing takes place. The test process allows you to get an independent view of the software and understand the risks of implementation. You can, of course, then take the appropriate steps to ensure the software is fully functioning and secure. Although it costs money to fully test software, the return on investment is usually more than worth it in the long run. But how do you determine software testing ROI? Let’s find out.
Manual and Automation Testing
Before looking at how to calculate the software testing ROI, you should be aware that there are two ways of performing a variety of software tests: manual and automation.
A combination of manual and automation testing is needed to complement each other’s weaknesses. Automation testing uses software separate from that being tested to control the execution of the tests and gain a comparison of actual outcomes with estimated outcomes.
Test automation is ideal for automating some repetitive tasks and performing additional tests that are difficult to conduct manually.
Test automation is pivotal for continual delivery and it has many advantages over manual testing. But not everything needs to be automated. Manual testing should go hand in hand with automation testing.
How to Calculate the ROI of Software Testing
The method of determining the ROI of software testing is, in its basic form, the same as calculating the ROI of any other product or service. You simply divide the net gain by the total investment.
However, to calculate the software testing ROI, you need to know the parameters the software testing investment is covering and look at things from a long-term perspective.
Key parameters to consider include understanding how automation testing reduces the testing cycle time to maximize test coverage, reach the market faster, and so on. You also need to look at the product and its technology roadmap as well as the test automation framework design.
How to Perform an Efficiency ROI Calculation
Time is money. So, your ROI calculations need to look at time investment gains as much as monetary gains. To determine the efficiency ROI of your software testing for manual and automation approaches, you must consider the working hours of the manual tester, which will usually be eight hours per day, against the automation test suite that can run continually.
Then, consider external influences such as hardware problems. To actually calculate the efficiency ROI, you divide the period of ROI by eighteen for automation testing and by eight for manual testing.
How to Perform a Risk Reduction ROI Calculation
With this type of ROI calculation, you work out the automation testing benefits independently. For instance, with manual testing, undiscovered bugs could be found which affect testing quality while automation testing has benefits like increased test coverage.
When you analyze the risks, you can better understand your software testing ROI. To perform a risk reduction ROI calculation, follow this formula:
ROI = (Reduction in your monetary risk – Cost of your risk control) / Cost of your risk control
Final Thoughts
You can gain a good software testing ROI in various ways by using a combination of automation testing and manual testing. In turn, that ensures client satisfaction. At the end of the day, the more detailed and robust software testing you perform, the more productive and profitable your business can be.
