Asynchronous progression is a common feature of automation testing, particularly when end-to-end testing is being performed. Despite its effectiveness, it does not allow complete visibility of the continuous testing cycle. Most organizations define it as their biggest barrier to automation testing and need a test management solution due to the necessity of visibility.
Test orchestration provides incomparable insight and complete visibility for streamlined workflows. It facilitates categorization and intelligent distribution of automated tests across runner environments. The CI pipeline also works better with a test orchestration solution so that testers can create software continuously.
In this article, we will explore all-in-one test orchestration solutions for streamlined workflow, along with the features to look for in those tools. So let’s start by understanding the test orchestration workflow and its importance to make the process streamlined.
Understanding Test Orchestration Workflow
Test orchestration refers to the component of arranging tests into an automated test sequence to conduct effective monitoring and testing. Continuous testing cannot be successful with the implementation of automation alone. The automated tests should be carried out in a streamlined manner without being self-sufficient and agile. By using test orchestration, the testers can perform their tests continuously within numerous environments in an automated and prepared manner to give a full picture of the state of their tests.
Each development cycle is followed by multiple tests of the software. These involve unit testing and numerous other automated tests to obtain improved test coverage. Nevertheless, they still require the input data to be corresponding and to be activated at the right time. A test orchestration solution enables the testing cycle to be intelligent, and all these independently automated tests can be integrated into a sequence to be executed.
How Test Orchestration Streamlined Workflows
- Improved visibility on the release cycles
A clear view of the software release cycle allows the testers to detect and deal with bottlenecks at an early stage. The DevOps team can convert the input and output data they receive after test orchestration into key performance indicators (KPI). These KPIs can then be used by the software team to assign roles as well as determine their further action. The reports and artefacts obtained by the test orchestration can be used to support the test activities.
- Simplified Optimization
It is an automation integrator that automates workflow with many separate subtasks. It provides comprehensive maintenance of every workflow element in a coordinated and holistic manner.
- Faster feedback loop
Asynchronous test implementation leads to numerous errors, test failures, and slow feedback loops, among other things. Because of them, developers become less motivated. Test orchestration makes the development team motivated and agile. Test orchestration minimizes the use of manual efforts in the testing cycle, hence reducing the probability of errors and accelerating feedback.
- Fail early, Fix easily
During the early stages of the delivery cycle, in case a test case fails, the fixes made are much easier and less complicated. That can be easily achieved by Test orchestration.
- flexibility of the release cycle
The core justification of the shift-left testing strategy is ultimately needed in consideration of the expected rise in the test and error rate. The testing process also becomes faster, and the objective of the shift-left approach to software development will also be met faster when the tests are orchestrated.
- Test orchestration drives continuous delivery to completion
Continuous delivery, the cornerstone of DevOps, is powered by automation. Test orchestration magnifies the benefits that testers are likely to gain from test automation. Consequently, the use of test orchestration as part of the CI/CD pipeline guarantees that the main goals of CI/CD implementation are achieved.
What to look for in a Test Orchestration Platform
- Visibility- Testers are unable to control things that they cannot observe, such as the amount of work being done, by whom, and how long it takes; they will find it hard to manage their operations. A decent workflow orchestration tool provides all that in real-time.
- Flexibility- A rigid tool without adapting to the style of working will not work since the organization does not appear as an ideal role model. Testers require workflows that are simple to construct, can be extended without being constrained, and do not need such a heavy investment to achieve this.
- Ease of use- Find software that all teammates within the organization can be trained to operate, and a vendor support that is willing to come up if the software fails must be able to offer some form of additional backup.
- Human and AI augmentation- Real life isn’t automated. Humans must always be utilized in the testing process to ensure a validation of the test, as well as the additional level of empathy and understanding that a computer would not be able to offer. The most appropriate solutions are established in the real world.
- Data and reporting- The performance and informed decisions will be impossible without advanced data handling, reporting, and analytics. This contains functionalities such as metadata management and the sharing of context data.
- Workflow logic- The tool must be able to accept all kinds of workflow logic, including conditional execution on the completion of other tasks and dependency graphs.
All-in-one Test Orchestration Tools for Streamlined Workflows
LambdaTest
LambdaTest is an AI testing tool to run manual and automated tests at scale. The platform provides a cloud-based environment for performing real-time and automation testing across over 3000+ environments and real mobile devices. It works by centralizing test execution and utilizes its HyperExecute cloud to run tests significantly faster than traditional grids, which facilitates rapid feedback and faster releases.
LambdaTest provides a comprehensive toolset for test management, primarily by using its AI-powered test management software and integrations with third-party tools. It enables teams to manage test cases and provide real-time outcomes, providing a central hub of testing workflows.
Features
- LambdaTest uses AI to optimize the test steps, enhance test coverage, and give insights that enhance decision-making.
- It provides a wide range of integrations with CI/CD tools, project management tools (such as Jira, Asana), collaboration tools (such as Slack), and other test management tools.
- The platform also has a dedicated test manager that enables the creation, management, and organization of test cases. This involves the incorporation of detailed steps, actions, and insights to have successful testing.
- The platform can be used to conduct live interactive testing, real-time debugging using developer tools, and immediate bug logging using session data.
RunMyJobs
RunMyJobs is an orchestration and automation service platform that is provided as a SaaS service by the Redwood team. It enables testers to centralize and optimize the entire workflow with no maintenance. It is an open-source tool that can be extended to create and execute tests on a wide range of platforms. RunMyJobs provides a simple syntax, which is useful to non-programmers when building and maintaining test cases.
Features
- Built-in integrations with cloud providers such as Azure and AWS, Databricks, ServiceNow, Oracle Fusion, and others.
- Connection to external systems using SOAP, REST APIs, JDBC, and others.
- SAP Cloud connector to support communication between on-premise systems and the SAP cloud services, such as SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), SAP BTP, SAP Cloud Platform, and other cloud applications.
Stonebranch
Stonebranch UAC assists in integrating automation in a hybrid environment through collaboration between QA and developers. It is an automated workload tool that helps an organization to integrate, automate, orchestrate, and monitor their entire technology stack in a centralized way.
The SmartWait algorithm is used for actionability checks that guarantee accurate performance and minimize faults. Stonebranch UAC does not rely on proxy servers to filter network restrictions, thus bypassing network restrictions in software testing.
Features
- Lightweight and auto-updating agents to support updates. Updates are prompted by just a single click and are done in minutes.
- DevOps tools of continuous integration and delivery.
- Supports load balancing and process prioritization.
- Task status monitoring and resource allocation by using a dashboard.
Fortra’s JAMS
JAMS by Fortra is an enterprise workload automation tool that orchestrates cross-platform tasks and workflows of cloud and on-premise environments. It is a robust AI-based codeless platform. It supports parallel test automation of API, backend, desktop, mobile, and web.
The JAMS by Fortra facilitates process-oriented automation of continuous tests and end-to-end quality assurance integrated throughout the technological stack.
Features
- Cross-platform task scheduling to manage tasks across all organizational systems.
- Offers advanced analytics and reporting features, enabling organizations to have an in-depth understanding of their processes.
- It provides inbuilt user authentication, access permissions, and encrypted data controls to keep sensitive information safe and in line with industry regulations.
- Ensures a comprehensive audit trail, offering transparency and accountability of all process activities.
AWS Step Functions
AWS Step Functions is a low-code visual workflow platform. It allows teams to effectively control complex workflows, minimize manual errors, and enhance overall work. Using technologies like smart ignore zones, Figma/Storybook CLI support, and integrated CI reporting, the platform enables testers to perform UI comparison across devices and browsers.
AWS Step Functions includes a unified analytics dashboard that provides real-time information, trend visualizations, flaky test detection, failure classification, and root-cause recommendations.
Features
- Inbuilt orchestration features to automate different tools and platforms.
- Restful API, RBAC, workflows, and CI/CD integrations automation controller with Restful API.
- Task sequencing to make sure automation activities are done correctly.
- KE Autopilot to manage cluster computers automatically.
Azure Data Factory
Azure Data Factory is an orchestrator of data processing pipelines. It executes an Automated workflow to automate test execution to match with working frequency within the organization.
Azure Data Factory was created mainly to deliver B2B services and manage the entire workflow of QA and operations teams, and enable them to handle the services without complicating them.
Features
- Dynamic updates on the process to adjust workflow without interfering with the current processes.
- Data security mechanisms to regulate access to sensitive data in working processes.
- Accountability and compliance to enhance compliance with single or sequential approvals.
- Follows an AI-Powered approach to develop step-by-step processes.
Flyte
Flyte is a workflow orchestration tool that was designed to assist testers in creating strong and reusable pipelines. It is an operationalized data processing service that uses a serverless architecture based on real-time and sequential pipelines.
The tool provides automated resource management to a fully managed service with automated provisioning and horizontal/vertical autoscaling. It also offers real-time insights and uses AI in predictive analytics and real-time personalization through NVIDIA GPUs.
Features
- Integration with other applications through open API or Zapier.
- Pre-configured metrics to measure process performance KPIs such as productivity, lead time, and workflow.
- Visual control to monitor process steps, tasks, deadlines, activity status, and SLAs.
- Provides real-time performance analytics and automated alerts.
- Internal and external portals to obtain more intelligent solutions and enhance data and process control.
Conclusion
In conclusion, several organizations face challenges where a large number of test cases overlap due to the fact that they are not based on their requirements. This is the reason why many organizations start to orchestrate their tests; this gives them full visibility of the constant testing cycle, less redundancy, enabling them to make decisions and test cases on what they need. Workflow orchestration is not a matter of adding a widget or implementing the newest technology since everyone is. It is essentially a revolution in the operations, having a complete view and control of how work flows are going through, human involvement, systems, and other processes. The team can start organizing workflows as soon as the test orchestration is completed.
