3 Ways to Onboard Your Test Automation Software Faster

One of the main things that can be a concern for a company taking on new test automation software can be the onboarding process. Every day of onboarding is another day spent paying for software that you’re not getting value from. As a result, fast setup and onboarding are critical. Our team put together this guide to help you choose a new test automation platform that will allow you to be up and running as quickly as possible. 

Cloud-Based Software

With on-premise software, the setup process can be laborious from a configuration perspective. On-premise software like Selenium has several steps of downloading and installing multiple pieces of software. You have to download not only the Selenium Driver but also download and configure the Eclipse IDE, which has a lot of steps. Cloud software can massively reduce the time it takes to set up because nothing needs to be configured or downloaded. You simply get your login credentials and you’re off to the races! We’ve also expanded in the past on the differences between cloud-based and on-premise software if you’re interested in learning more about that.

Natural Language

Natural Language Programming (NLP) in a test automation tool can cut down on onboarding time since that time includes getting thoroughly familiar with the system. Even though test engineers know how to code, they don’t know how to code within that specific framework, so there’s a learning curve. When writing tests in plain English, the process of authoring tests is very intuitive: you simply write the test as if you were going to tell someone how to run it manually.

• Step 1: Navigate to amazon.com
• Step 2: type ‘cat toys’ in the search field
• Step 3: click ‘search’
• Step 4: look for the catnip mouse
• Step 5: click ‘add to bag.’

While there’s still structured syntax that you need to follow when writing tests, it’s much more familiar than writing a ‘for’ loop (I’m learning how to code in Python, so ‘for’ loops are my current bread and butter, hence the choice for an example). And if it’s more intuitive for you to tell the software to “write” instead of “type,” then that works too! There are multiple ways that you can write tests, all in plain English.

Proper Training

Of course, the key to any onboarding is being properly trained on the platform. Some people prefer to explore the new software first to figure out what all is there, and that’s fine too! Different platforms have different ways of onboarding testers, but at Virtuoso, we have a few instructional courses! These are interactive courses for any level of Virtuoso users, starting with the fundamentals and ending with a technical certification. All of these certificates are led by James Bent, our Head of Sales Engineering, who you might have run into if you’ve been to any of our webinars. We like to think that our UI is intuitive and easy to navigate, but we have a great Customer Sucess team ready to personally walk you through any issues you may have. 

If you’re looking to switch to a new test automation software but are worried about the time it’ll take to adopt it, then there’s something else to consider: immediate ROI. We have an ROI calculator that will show you how much you can save right out the gate when switching to Virtuoso. It doesn’t only give you metrics in terms of money saved, but also work days and overall time saved by using Virtuoso. If you like what you see there, consider getting in touch with us! If you book a demo, you’ll be able to see the platform in action and see how truly easy it is to use in your first sitting.