To empower the digital presence of an enterprise, its software must be constantly developed and new functionality added. However, even as it is done, one must ensure that the changes or updates won’t affect the existing functionality in any way. That is done by regression testing.

Regression testing is the process where tests are conducted on software to ensure that it still holds on to its new functions and that the changes haven’t introduced any bugs, defects or security vulnerabilities to it. When done right, it can result in tremendous savings and improve the software quality and customer experience.

How to conduct regressive tests effectively?
Regressive testing must be done right to ensure optimum results. The following are some of the best tips for effective regression testing:

Define a Clear Regression Test Plan
Firstly, one must define the scope and objective of the regression test under a plan. Needless to say, the regression tests must be as comprehensive in their scope as possible.

Know when to conduct regression tests.
It is crucial to know when regression tests should be conducted. Some of the cases include – software updates, integration of functionalities, the introduction of changes, etc.

Prioritize
Not all test cases for previous software need to be executed during regression testing. At this stage, one must take special care to ensure that the tests for ensuring the quality of core functionality are always conducted on a priority basis. Further, tests against security threats should also be prioritized.

Automate Regression Testing
Automation of regression testing is highly recommended as a time and resource-saving way of conducting regression tests. Further, automation can improve the quality of regression tests by eliminating the risk of human error, ensuring consistent results and repeating results as and when needed.

Monitor Test Results
While regression testing can be automated, it is still crucial to keep track of the results of each one of the regression test cycles. That shall help identify trends and possible areas of improvement.

Manage test data smartly.
Regression teasing will result in test data which is a valuable source of information. It can be used to improve future regression tests.

Test on different environments
Regression tests should be conducted on different environments – including different operating systems, devices, browsers, etc. The software must work in each environment.

Choose the automation outsourcing company carefully
The enterprises choosing to outsource the development of test automation software should ensure that they partner with the right company. They should look for an experienced company with experience in automation.

Improving the regression tests
Regression tests must be improved and optimized over time to get the best results. Further, as the software or system grows and more functionality is added to it, the scope of regression tests too must increase accordingly to cover all the functionality.

The bottom line
To conclude the discussion, regression testing is a complex process that must be done right. Fortunately, it is possible to do so using test automation software. The test automation platform Opkey is ideal as it provides end-to-end testing solutions that help one ensure ERP integrations and customisation perform after each application change.