4 More Essential Features of the Ultimate Test Management Tool

In a previous article, we discussed four essential attributes Test Management Tools should offer. Relying on feedback received from real-life testers, we are here to expand upon this list with four additional criteria that define superb test management software.

Let’s delve into what sets apart certain Test Management resources from their rivals.

Four Added Crucial Traits Test Management Tools Must Possess

#1) Smooth Integration with Current Software

Getting your development team to accept new Test Management software can be an uphill battle. Despite the numerous potential improvements you may highlight for the testing department, developers themselves might resist unless properly persuaded.

Change is generally not welcomed. If software engineers are accustomed to a current Defect tracking system, they are not likely to switch willingly, given the extra learning necessary.

This underscores why top-ranking Test Management software must easily integrate with external defect tracking databases or existing Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solutions. By introducing a new system that doesn’t interrupt the workflow already in place, collaboration can be promoted without negatively affecting timelines.

Simply put, the development team will support the testing department’s use of a new Test Management tool as long as it doesn’t create additional labor for them.

#2) Easy Integration with Current Automation

In the realm of Performance Testing, automation is vital. Therefore, any newly adopted Test Management software needs to sync flawlessly with existing automation tools or frameworks. The benefits of proper integration are vast, whether these automated solutions are already functioning or under development and include:

• Test Configuration – It’s essential for testers to be able to organize both manual and automatic tests via the same tool. This empowers the QA department to rapidly identify automated test cases and establish what needs manual testing, as well as how much effort is required.
• Test Execution – To guarantee optimal efficiency, testers should be able to operate automated tests from within the Test Management tool. They also need to interact with the automation framework to conduct tests on distinct environments and receive real-time test results.
• Test Coverage Analysis – Overseeing automated tests along with manual ones using a unified tool facilitates testers in analyzing their test coverage level and determining if it sufficiently covers a particular feature or build.
• Reusable Reporting Feature – By integrating the test automation framework with the Test Management tool, testers can utilize the reporting feature. This provides a unified perspective of real-time metrics, thus eliminating the requirement for tailored reporting views.

#3) Straightforward Visualization within a Comprehensive Report

With the rise of Agile development, QA departments are facing increasing time constraints. Testers are frequently tasked with generating reports and evaluating the present situation promptly. This task usually entails navigating through a myriad of reports and metrics produced by most test management tools.

Several testing solutions provide some degree of visual feedback for reports, however, this can vary drastically in terms of complexity. Occasionally, each metric is shown in an individual chart, leading to potential confusion and slowing down the process.

For this reason, having a consolidated report that offers quick insights into the current status of the release, cycle, test runs, and defects can prove invaluable.

#4) Efficiency and Cooperation

While new testing tools should empower testers to conduct more comprehensive and higher-quality work, they also need to boost productivity and mesh with the company’s current procedures and practices. Poorly designed tools can obstruct speed, efficiency, and collaboration.

Ideal solutions integrate seamlessly with commercial and open-source Defect Tracking systems, ALMs, and automation tools. Coupled with the flexibility, traceability, usability, and transparency discussed in our prior article, these integrations lead to the creation of a superior Test Management tool.

About the Author

Vu Lam is the serving CEO of QASymphony, a top-tier supplier of Quality Management resources for software developers and QA testers. He was formerly an associate at First Consulting Group and has been a trailblazer in Vietnam’s offshore IT services sector since 1995. He earned his MS degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University. You can get in touch with him at [email protected].

If you are in search of the ideal test management solution, these features should serve as a beneficial guide in making the perfect choice.

Do let us know via comments if there are any other attributes you prioritize in a test management tool.