Test Automation is the use of software to control the execution of tests, the comparison of actual to predicted outcomes, the setting up of test preconditions, and other test control and reporting functions. Test automation generally involves automating a manual process already in place that uses a formalised testing process.

Automated testing reduces the time it takes to execute repeatable tests such as regression suites and common transactions. Automation can also increase testing accuracy and can greatly improve the time it takes to create large pools of testing data.

Test Automation complements manual testing and increases the accuracy and consistency of results whilst shortening test execution cycles. IT Centrix can help enhance the quality of your IT projects using the best industry practices in both manual and automated testing to ensure that your product will be suitable for release.

In the past, manual testing has largely been overlooked by companies, even though it is imperative to software quality assurance efforts. Today, with automated test-driven development and short development cycles, manual testing contributes vitally to the software creation process. There are a number of reasons to implement manual testing:

• By giving end-users repeatable sets of instructions for using prototype software, manual testing allows them to be involved early in each development cycle and gathers invaluable feedback.
  
  
• Manual test scripts can be used to provide feedback to development teams in the form of a set of repeatable steps that expose bugs or usability problems.
  
  
• Manual test scripts give testers something to use while awaiting the construction and de-bugging of automated scripts.
  
  
• If performed thoroughly, manual test scripts can also form the basis for help or tutorial files for the application undergoing tests.
  
  
• Manual test scripts can be given to development staff to provide a clear description of the way the application should flow across 'use cases'.

Manual testing is crucial for testing software applications more thoroughly. IT Centrix is dedicated to software quality and employs highly experienced Quality Assurance testers for all software manual testing services.