Test Automation as a Service: The Complete Guide to TAaS

Automated software testing as a service is one of the biggest buzzwords of the testing industry of 2024, and it can only get bigger from here. Automation testing as a service is a relatively new service that takes the convenience, cost efficiency, and reliability of software testing outsourcing to the next level. But what exactly is automated testing as a service, how does it work, and how can it benefit your company? Here is all the information you need to decide whether automated testing as a service (TAaS) is right for you.

Key Takeaways

• TAaS, or test automation as a service, is the practice of entrusting some or all of the company’s testing needs to an outside service provider — typically, a vendor with rich professional experience in automation and complete availability of human and technical resources.
• TAaS works like this: the client identifies their automation testing needs, either on their own or together with the vendor; the team plans the project, and the client oversees its completion. As a rule, the client does not need to be involved in the project on a daily basis.
• By nature, automation as a service is similar enough to testing outsourcing, but it also has several important differences — mainly when it comes to work structure, pricing, flexibility, and level of involvement required from the client.
• The main use cases for using automated testing as a service include the need to speed up the software release cycle, the limited in-house resources, the requirement for highly specific types of testing or testing technologies, and the desire to get a fresh outside perspective.
• Key situations where TAaS may not prove to be the ideal solution include small or short-term projects, projects involving sensitive data or intellectual property, and situations where automation is the core business of the company.
• The biggest benefits of automation as a service include the ability to release software faster and be more confident in its quality, the opportunity to focus on core business processes, the easy scalability and unparalleled flexibility, and the fast access to advanced automation tools and technologies.
• The drawbacks of the service include the often delayed project start due to the extensive amount of planning and preparations, the higher cost compared to outsourcing, and the client often being detached from the project while the team works mostly autonomously.
• A few things to look for in an ideal vendor include a reasonably wide range of services, a proven track record of similar projects, compliance and security standards, continuous availability, and readiness to match the client’s work practices and requirements.

What is Test Automation as a Service?

Test automation as a service is the practice of entrusting some or all of the testing needs to an outside service provider. The service provider is usually a vendor who does automated testing professionally and has a sufficiently sized team to handle multiple projects at once for their clients. An automated testing as a service solution is typically designed for long-term cooperation, starting from two months, although shorter-term projects are also possible — for example when a client needs an automation testing audit or requires help in setting up the test environment or training the team to then perform automation in-house.

TAaS projects do not always deal with automating testing from scratch. Very often, the company will start automation testing in-house, but as the size of the test suite grows while the size of the team remains the same, the company may come to realize that it can no longer handle the increasing body of work on its own. This is where an automated testing as a service solution can take over application testing and let the team go back to the core tasks.

How Does TAaS Work?

What happens after you decide your company needs automation testing as a service? The specifics will always depend on your requirements and the vendor’s tried and tested approach to automated software testing as a service. However, most TAaS projects go over a certain sequence of steps, which include:

1. The client identifies their testing needs. Most companies arrive at the decision to use automation as a service after their current testing procedure no longer satisfies them in terms of software quality or resources spent. This is why, for a TAaS project to go the right way, the client needs to know for sure what they want to achieve in the end.
2. Together with the client, the vendor will meticulously plan the automation project, using tangible methods to demonstrate the process and the outcomes to the client. It can be a test plan, test strategy, proof of concept of a specific framework, or sample tests to showcase the vendor’s expertise.
3. Upon agreeing on the scope of testing, project timeframes and milestones, and composition of the team, the external AQA department can finally get to work. In most cases, the TAaS team works autonomously from the in-house operation while giving regular updates and communicating project changes to the client.
4. The vendor’s team automates test after test, going over the initial plan and taking into account the client’s requirements, which can sometimes change over time. All test results are documented and transferred to the client in the form of deliverables.
5. The project goes on for as long as specified in the contract. The client can make additional requests, expand the scope of work, and let the project continue after the initial portion of tasks is completed. The client can also downscale the project, leaving just one or two AQA engineers for ongoing project maintenance.

How Is TAaS Different from Testing Outsourcing?

Test automation as a service and automation outsourcing are very similar in their nature: they both reduce the strain on the company’s software development and management teams, allowing an organization to automate testing efficiently and with fewer resources used. The difference between the two types of services can be blurry, and companies often use these terms interchangeably.

However, upon closer inspection, it’s easier to see how the two types of automation services are not the same. The key difference is the level of involvement in both types of projects. Outsourcing is typically used as an extension of the in-house operation: you can hire one or more specialists with the required expertise to strengthen the internal team, perform an audit, or set up an automation department. However, the client is typically responsible for most of the project features, from the infrastructure to test planning, and is continuously involved in the process.

With TAaS, the client usually entrusts the entire automation testing project to an outside vendor. Vendors offer turnkey automation solutions, so the customer can enjoy solid results with minimal involvement. All the client needs to do is select the vendor, specify the request, select the size and composition of the team together with the vendor, and agree on the project goals and milestones. The rest of the project, from hiring decisions and setting up the cloud infrastructure to the day-to-day work of the automation department, is the vendor’s responsibility. 

So, if you are looking for minimal involvement in the project while still meeting your goals faster, then test automation as a service may be exactly what you need.

When Should You Use TAaS and When Should You Perform Testing In-House?

Automation as a service’s surge in popularity is not accidental: as more organizations discover the benefits of turnkey automation services and find a way to incorporate them into their software development and testing routine, we can expect TAaS to be featured in even more projects. Here is when it makes particular sense to use automated software testing as a service:

• You want to speed up your release cycle. In a highly competitive world, where any new software solution will face several established rivals, the ability to release software fast and with fewer bugs becomes a crucial advantage. Automated testing helps shorten the release cycle without sacrificing the quality.
• You lack in-house resources or expertise. Establishing testing automation from the ground up is a big endeavor that requires strong AQA expertise and enough resources to fill key roles. With TAaS, you can find specialists even with the rarest expertise and quickly assemble the perfect team.
• You need highly specific types of testing. There are testing types, such as compatibility testing or regression testing, that most testers are familiar with and can do successfully. But what if your project requires activities like hardware and IoT testing or HIPAA compliance testing? In that case, your best bet is a TAaS vendor with proven expertise in the required field.
• You require an outside perspective. When automation is done by your internal development team, the results of testing may be biased, as developers want software to work and are not conditioned to look for bugs. An outside team is free of this bias and can therefore deliver more reliable results on a continuous basis.
• You want to leverage cloud services. While it is possible to use the cloud on most AQA projects, a typical automated testing as a service solution actively employs cloud services to establish the necessary infrastructure, analyze test data and generate reports, improve test scripts, and implement a more efficient CI/CD process.

We’ve already talked about the most popular use cases for automation as a service. Clearly, TAaS is a great fit for a wide range of projects and testing needs. However, we won’t go as far as to claim that turnkey automation works for everyone. Here is when establishing an internal AQA department is a better idea:

• You have a small, short-term project. While it’s possible to automate even a small testing project to make it even more cost-efficient and consistent, investing in automated testing as a service makes better financial sense for medium and small automation projects. Smaller AQA jobs can be left to the development team, provided that the team members have the necessary expertise and the time outside of their main scope of work. 
• Automation is your core business. When you have other organizations relying on your company for testing automation, the best way to ensure the unwavering quality of work and the loyalty of your customers is to do everything in-house. When you hire specialists for your internal team and help them develop into automation experts, you can always expect splendid results and industry success.
• You work with highly sensitive data. A reputable TAaS vendor will always take all the necessary precautions to ensure the security of the testing process and the integrity of the data used. However, when your AQA project involves large volumes of sensitive data, especially when it’s data that belongs to the users, following every rule to protect the information may turn out to be too much of a hassle.

How Can TAaS Benefit an Organization?

Automated software testing as a service brings a number of benefits to any organization dealing with software. Here are the biggest benefits of automation as a service and why you should consider it in the first place.

Higher-Quality Software Developed Faster

The first and biggest reason to invest in automation testing as a service is that it allows you to develop better software faster and with fewer internal resources used. You can avoid unnecessary spending on hiring an entire automation team, skip the lengthy hiring and onboarding period, and increase the scope of testing, all while having the quality of your software improve dramatically and the cost of fixing a bug noticeably drop.

Focus on Core Business

For most companies, automation testing is just a part of ensuring the spotless quality of their software products, not their core business. In that case, entrusting testing to an external team is a perfectly sensible decision that frees your mind and the minds of your team members. It allows them to focus on further developing and improving the solution while being absolutely confident in the quality of the solution.

Long-Term Strategy and Smart Planning

When your organization lacks the resources to test software in-house, there are different ways to fill those gaps. Some companies choose to work with freelancers or gig employees, and this strategy usually makes sense from a financial standpoint. However, continuous cooperation with a TAaS vendor allows you to build a long-term QA strategy and plan your project with meticulous attention to detail, and that may turn out to be more valuable than the ability to cut costs.

Easy Scalability

Operating an internal AQA department usually means that you have to make the same team setup work no matter how the project needs to change. This is not the case with automated testing as a service solution, as this type of cooperation offers unprecedented scalability. You can increase the size of the team to handle a bigger load of tasks or scale it down during a slow period in a matter of days or even hours.

Complete Visibility

One of the reasons why some organizations are wary of working with remote teams is that they worry about the level of visibility and oversight that is available to them. However, reputable TAaS vendors offer transparency as a core benefit of their services. You can get updates as often as you want and can always have the most complete idea of where your project currently stands and where it is expected to go.

Cost Savings

TAaS eliminates the need for companies to invest in expensive testing tools, infrastructure, and in-house expertise. With a pay-as-you-go model, companies only pay for the services they use, which reduces overall costs. Additionally, TAaS minimizes long-term operational expenses, such as tool maintenance and upgrades, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of any size.

Continuous Integration Support

TAaS integrates seamlessly with Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines, enabling frequent automated testing. This helps identify bugs early in the development cycle, ensuring quick feedback and reducing the time it takes to release updates. This integration not only improves efficiency, but also enhances collaboration between development and testing teams.

Broad Tool Access

Automation testing as a service providers often have access to a wide variety of testing tools, from open-source to enterprise-grade solutions. This allows companies to leverage the best tool for their specific testing needs without the need to invest in expensive licenses. It also enables organizations to stay current with the latest tools and technologies without the overhead of managing them internally.

Risk Reduction

Automated testing as a service reduces the likelihood of human error, ensuring consistent and reliable test execution. TAaS minimizes risks by identifying and addressing bugs earlier in the development cycle, improving overall software quality. By reducing the reliance on manual testing, companies can mitigate potential vulnerabilities and ensure a more stable and secure software product.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: TAaS vs. In-House Testing

Are There Any Downsides to Automation as a Service?

Automation as a service is a model that only continues to grow in popularity. However, that is not to say that it’s completely free of flaws, although the flaws usually stem from TAaS not being the right fit for the project, not the testing engagement model itself. These are the main disadvantages of TAaS:

• High project cost. While automation as a service is associated with cost savings compared to establishing an in-house automation department, it is still more expensive than outsourcing the project to an external vendor because TAaS has a broader scope of services included in the project budget.
• Delayed project start is possible. With testing outsourcing, especially when using the dedicated team or time and material models, it is possible to launch a project in a matter of days. With TAaS, more precise calculations and planning are required before the start of the project, which can increase preparation time.
• Varying level of control. The nature of automation as a service, which offers turnkey solutions for organization, implies minimal control on the client’s side. The client will get regular updates and deliverables stipulated in the contract, but it’s not very common for them to be involved in daily operations. With outsourcing, where clients often use a mix of in-house and external staff, there is a higher level of control available.

Types of Testing Test Automation as a Service Can Handle

Any testing expert will agree that the scope of potential uses of automation is vast. However, in the experience of many organizations, it doesn’t always make sense to hire a professional TAaS vendor to handle 100% of the company’s automation needs. Here are the types of testing that automation as a service is best equipped to handle.

GUI Testing

User interface testing used to be mostly performed by manual testers and heavily relied on the human eye. However, software testing automation technology has come a long way, and now it’s not just possible to automate GUI testing, mimicking the way real users interact with software — it’s one of the commonly requested types of TAaS.

Functional Testing

The functionality of a desktop, mobile, or web application is what attracts users in the first place, which is why comprehensive functional testing is a must. Modern automation software testing tools provide full coverage and help spot every defect, and it’s a typical component of any TAaS solution.

Unit Testing

Unit testing deals with the smallest fragments of software to make sure they work flawlessly on their own and are ready to be integrated into the main solution. For software applications that are constantly growing and changing, automated unit testing is likely the only option to parallel test multiple units at once to speed up the releases.

Load and Performance Testing

Stable performance, even during unexpected events such as load spikes, is critical for a software solution’s spotless reputation. All-encompassing automated load and performance testing takes a lot of effort and resources when done in-house, whereas entrusting it to a TAaS vendor gives you a clear idea of your app’s performance without affecting your day-to-day operations.

Security and Compliance Testing

Users won’t accept anything less than a secure, impenetrable application that protects their personal and financial information and is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. Automated security testing allows the team to expand the number and complexity of test cases to ensure absolute security and all-around compliance.

Compatibility Testing

Developing a functional application with a strong user appeal is not an easy feat, but the number and variety of possible platforms can complicate things even further. Automating compatibility testing helps you test the smooth performance of your solution on every hardware and software combination, both on real and virtual devices.

Regression Testing

Automated regression testing is crucial when the development team produces frequent code changes and there is a need to maintain the optimal quality of the application. TAaS vendors have a robust selection of tools and techniques to automate regression testing to allow you to do more each sprint.

API Testing

With thousands of APIs available in the software market, every product owner or developer has the opportunity to enhance the functionality and usability of the application. However, APIs also need to be rigorously tested, both on their own and as part of the bigger solution, and automated API testing can locate every bug before it has the chance to affect the overall performance of the app.

Industry-Specific Uses of Automation Testing as a Service

Test Automation as a Service offers tailored solutions across various industries, addressing each industry’s unique challenges and requirements. By providing specialized testing strategies, TAaS can ensure that industry-specific regulations and needs are met efficiently.

1. Healthcare

In healthcare, software must comply with strict regulatory standards such as HIPAA or FDA regulations, ensuring data privacy and patient safety. TAaS can automate compliance checks, functional tests, and data integrity validation, ensuring that healthcare applications meet regulatory standards without manual intervention. Automated tests also improve efficiency in handling large volumes of medical data, ensuring that critical applications like Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, telehealth platforms, and medical devices operate safely and reliably.

2. Finance

For the finance industry, security and accuracy are paramount. TAaS providers can automate security testing, including vulnerability scans and penetration testing, ensuring that applications comply with financial regulations such as PCI DSS and SOX. TAaS can also handle load testing for high-frequency trading platforms, banking apps, and payment gateways to ensure they function seamlessly during peak usage. Automated regression testing helps quickly verify that updates or patches do not disrupt critical operations or introduce security risks.

3. Retail

Retail applications, especially e-commerce platforms, require scalability and performance testing due to fluctuating traffic patterns, particularly during sales events. TAaS can automate testing across multiple browsers and devices, ensuring that customers enjoy a seamless shopping experience. Additionally, TAaS enables real-time testing of payment systems, inventory management, and order processing, ensuring that the backend systems run smoothly.

4. Telecom

In the telecom industry, TAaS is used to automate testing for large-scale networks, billing systems, and customer service platforms. Telecom companies benefit from continuous performance and stress testing to ensure network reliability, especially during peak usage.

5. Manufacturing

For manufacturing, TAaS ensures that critical systems, such as supply chain management, product lifecycle management, and IoT devices, are thoroughly tested. Automation helps ensure system integration, data accuracy, and uptime for smart factories.

Frameworks Used in Test Automation as a Service

A successful automated testing as a service solution starts with a well-selected framework. A framework plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency, consistency, and scalability of a Test Automation as a Service project. It helps make the testing process more standardized and consistent, allows for better reusability of test components, improves test maintenance and scalability, and ensures better reporting. The frameworks used in TAaS are similar to the frameworks used in regular testing projects but provide some specific and valuable benefits to automated testing as a service. Here are the four frameworks used in TAaS.

Data-Driven Framework

In a data-driven test automation framework, test data is stored separately from the test scripts, often in external files like Excel, CSV, or databases. This allows the same set of test scripts to be executed with different data inputs. For TAaS, data-driven frameworks provide flexibility in testing various scenarios without changing the test code, increasing test reusability and maintainability. It is particularly useful for testing large datasets and helps reduce redundancy in test case creation.

Modular-Driven Framework

A modular-driven framework divides the entire application under test into independent, reusable modules or functions. Each module contains a part of the test script, and these modules are combined to form more complex test cases. In the context of TAaS, modular-driven frameworks enhance test maintenance by isolating changes to specific modules. This reduces the impact of application updates on automated tests and makes it easier to manage testing efforts for complex applications.

Keyword-Driven Framework

In keyword-driven frameworks, test cases are written using keywords that represent actions to be performed on the application under test. Keywords like “click,” “input,” or “verify” are combined with test data to automate test execution. TAaS providers use keyword-driven frameworks to enable non-technical testers to contribute to test automation without writing code. By abstracting the technical details, this approach simplifies test design and allows businesses to achieve faster automation with less technical expertise.

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Framework

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) frameworks, like Cucumber or SpecFlow, focus on creating test cases in a human-readable format, using plain language syntax like Gherkin. BDD emphasizes collaboration between developers, testers, and business stakeholders by aligning test cases with business requirements. In TAaS, BDD frameworks enhance communication between teams and ensure that test automation aligns closely with business goals. By fostering clearer requirements and better test documentation, BDD frameworks improve test coverage and reduce misunderstandings during software development.

What to Look for in a Reliable TAaS Vendor

Test automation as a service is rapidly growing in popularity, and so is the number of vendors providing this type of service. However, just like with outsourced testing, the success of the project largely depends on the vendor and their work practices and quality standards. There are many components to a mutually satisfying TAaS cooperation, but here are the key features to consider when choosing among the available vendors:

• Range of services. The first thing to check is whether your potential vendor actually offers the services that you’re seeking. For example, some TAaS vendors limit their range of services to just a few testing types, such as regression testing or compatibility testing, while others provide more all-encompassing services.
• Proven track record. Even though automation as a service is a relatively new field, a typical TAaS company has been providing regular automation services for years. This means it needs to have a significant number of automation projects completed and plenty of former clients who can attest to its quality of work.
• Security standards. Software testing and automation projects often deal with sensitive data and intellectual property. This is why every employee on the vendor’s team must be aware of possible safety risks, a secure testing environment must be created, and there must be an NDA in place that specifies all security-related provisions.
• Compliance standards. Closely connected to the aspect of security is the aspect of compliance. When developing software for a specific industry — such as healthcare or fintech — it is crucial that your automation testing partner is aware of all required compliance standards and knows how to incorporate them into the testing process.
• Availability. At the end of the day, the main reason you are choosing automation as a service is probably to speed up the testing cycle and create a smooth cooperation with the in-house development and testing process. And that is very difficult to achieve if the vendor’s team is only available during your off-hours and the vendor is not ready for compromise regarding the team’s availability.

Final Thoughts: Is TAaS Worth It?

With test automation as a service making strides on an increasingly larger scale, more and more organizations will start to consider adding TAaS to their software quality-related process. And, given the many benefits TAaS brings, from speeding up the development and testing process to lowering the cost of fixing a bug, it’s easy to see why. Moreover, the flexible and scalable nature of TAaS makes it a perfect fit for most software testing projects. This is why, if your goal is to develop flaw-free software, it may be time to start thinking about automation testing as a service and how to incorporate it in your organization.