5 Ways Test Management Tools Help in Agile Environments
![Test management tool showing tests passing](https://www.techwell.com/sites/default/files/stories/images/cropped_teasers/Beth%20Romanik/2019/test-management.jpg)
Today, we see more and more test management tools making their way to the market. It is fair to say that test management tools help improve the efficiency of development and testing teams, so it makes sense that they would appeal to companies that have adopted an agile methodology to enable quicker release cycles.
Test management helps prioritize test cases by reducing the time spent on these cases. Once the software is delivered, it can be viewed by stakeholders for future decision-making when similar cases arise, which also aids agile efficiency.
Let’s have a look at five ways test management tools make a difference in agile environments.
1. Test cases
It is not possible to combine various test cases in an agile environment. Teams prioritize test cases that are risky and require immediate action before market launch. For instance, if there is a test case that does not have a huge impact on the performance of an application, its solution can be postponed. However, if there is a high-risk test case, then developers should take it seriously and provide a solution to mitigate its side effects.
2. Compliance with standards
A test management tool is effective when users want to track details of various test cases run at different times. In regulated sectors, a log record is often required to document details like:
- Where were the tests were carried out?
- Who ran the tests?
- What did the tests cover?
Test management tools can answer all these questions and record them for future reference.
3. Measuring and tracking progress
We know how fragile quality becomes in the agile world. Test management tools are helpful in measuring and tracking the progress that is made toward achieving quality products. Senior managers can view analytical reports to check the progress and make important decisions.
4. Data duplication
Due to similar test cases, chances of data duplication are high. But these tools reduce the duplication rate and also allow developers, testers, and managers to view the updates regarding these test cases.
5. Manual tests
We know that all test cases cannot be automated. There are some tests that need manual testing. However, these manual tests often require a lot of time and effort. A test management system makes the process easier and increases the coverage of manual tests. It also allows testers to manage all the tests in an efficient manner.
Test management is a complete system that deals with test cases and reduces time wastage in repetitive testing processes. Because agile development is all about accelerating the software cycle with fast feedback and without compromising on quality, test management is a natural fit. Using test management tools can only help your efforts and can be a key factor in successful agile software development.