RPA Testing vs Test Automation: What you need to know?

What is RPA Testing? And how is it different from Test Automation? Is RPA better than test automation in scope and scale? Let’s find out.

RPA Testing stands for Robotic Process Automation (RPA) which is a business automation tool for testers and business users. Although there are several other web and API testing tools available, RPA tools are handier and you can go for codeless automation macros on the desktop. RPA tools can be used for test data as well as regression testing.

Test Automation as is obvious is different from manual testing. Automated testing is executed through an automation tool and involves lesser time in exploratory tests. Test Automation is optimal for large projects that require repeated testing in the same area or tests that have already gone through manual testing.

Let’s look at the differences between RPA Testing and Test Automation.

Benefits of Robotic Process Automation

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) works on the existing IT infrastructure using AI and Machine Learning automating complex, data-intensive, repetitive tasks without human intervention. RPA can be applied to tasks in data migration, product management, accounting, and more. Basically, any task which is repetitive and adheres to a specific set of rules. A few advantages of RPA are:

-It improves accuracy minimizing errors.

-Increases productivity as there is minimal human intervention.

-Helps in bringing down the costs.

-Your team has more bandwidth to focus on business than the execution of tasks.

Also Read: Intelligent Automation in Healthcare: Applications and Benefits

Benefits of Test Automation

While testing software and apps, Test automation helps developers and testers by saving their time and increasing test coverage through automation of repetitive tasks. Your team can reduce their manual efforts in testing if they go for test automation.

-Continuous deployment of apps and software

-Increases test coverage

-Decreases time-to-market

-Better accuracy compared to manual testing

-Testers can run the test in different environments saving on time and effort.

Both Test Automation and Robotic Process Automation sound almost similar. In fact, businesses utilize them for the same reason – save costs and increase employee productivity. There are a few similarities even in the tools of the two methods especially when it comes to UI test automation wherein RPA and Test automation are both used to automate UI interactions. Having said that, there are a few differences between the two.

-RPA is only used for automating business processes and not testing. In terms of scope RPA is much advanced than test automation which only constitutes testing products.

-Test automation demands testers to write scripts in a programming language. RPA on the other hand doesn’t require any codes for automation of tasks.

-System Under Test (SUT) is needed to run scripts created for test automation.

-In RPA automation tools do not depend on the software on which a process is being run.

Also Read: 5 Technology Trends Transforming the Public Sector

Which framework to choose? RPA or Test Automation?

Although Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is more optimal and advanced compared to test automation, it all depends on your requirements as a business on which one to go for. For more information on both, book a free consultation with our team today.