QA Interview Questions and Answers for 2026 (Beginner to Senior, Manual + Automation)

<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Check Your Website’s Visual Correctness For Free
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/website-responsive-checker" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener" data-faitracker-click-bind="true">Free Responsive Checker</a>
</div>



When the 2020 documentary, ‘<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11464826/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">The Social Dilemma</a>,’ directed by Jeff Orlowski, dropped on Netflix, it sounded the alarm bell that was already ringing loudly. It highlighted the familiar quote among millions of viewers globally by driving the point of how Big Tech has been misusing our data without our consent.



The documentary came in a backdrop of tumultuous times &#8211; with the CEOs of Google, Facebook, and Twitter questioned by the US Senate Judiciary and Senate Commerce Committees. If you had followed the Facebook hearings minutely, you must have frequently come across the term ‘cross-website tracking’. 



During one such grilling session, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley questioned Facebook (now Meta) CEO Mark Zuckerberg about a tentative internal tool named ‘Centra.’ The tool purportedly tracked all Facebook users across the internet.&nbsp;



While tracking user activity was not an alien concept, very few could grasp its implications and the extent to which it is used. With the Facebook hearings and the viral Netflix documentary, suddenly, it was out in the open. The practice of cross-site tracking ushered in serious privacy concerns and rightly so among the billions of internet users worldwide. In this article, we will try to understand cross website tracking, its impact on user privacy, and how to minimize its effects.







<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Cross_Website_Tracking">1 What is Cross Website Tracking?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Does_Cross_Website_Tracking_Work">2 How Does Cross Website Tracking Work?</a><ul><li><a href="#Cookies">2.1 Cookies</a></li><li><a href="#Web_Beacons">2.2 Web Beacons</a></li><li><a href="#Canvas_Fingerprinting">2.3 Canvas Fingerprinting</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_Purpose_of_Cross_Website_Tracking">3 What is the Purpose of Cross Website Tracking?</a><ul><li><a href="#Website_Analytics">3.1 Website Analytics</a></li><li><a href="#Website_Performance">3.2 Website Performance</a></li><li><a href="#Advertising">3.3 Advertising</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#When_Does_it_Become_Potentially_Problematic">4 When Does it Become Potentially Problematic?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Stop_Cross_Website_Tracking">5 How to Stop Cross Website Tracking?</a></li><li><a href="#To_Conclude">6 To Conclude</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-cross-website-tracking">What is Cross Website Tracking?</h2>



It is precisely what its name entails! Cross website tracking refers to the practice of advertisers, businesses, and other digital agencies and entities tracking your online activity to monitor your browsing habits. The website visited by the user primarily does the tracking, but third-party apps can also gather and access this data. There are multiple reasons to justify this practice &#8211; product improvement, personalized user experience, and targetted advertising. Cross website tracking eases your experience by remembering basic information, like your language preferences. It also makes browsing easier and publisher service better.&nbsp;



While Big Tech and other agencies portray cross website tracking as an innocuous marketing act, it also poses some serious privacy threats. For one, it is a breach of privacy when websites engage in cross-site tracking without seeking consent from the users. Secondly, very few websites offer information in layman’s terms regarding how they will use the collected user data. Hence, unless you are willing to wade through the technical terms of every website you visit, it might be impossible to understand where your data might end up.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-cross-website-tracking-work">How Does Cross Website Tracking Work?</h2>



So, how exactly do websites track your browsing behavior? Well, any user browsing the web often has trackers pursuing them and keeping a log of every activity. This is achieved with the help of widgets, scripts, or minuscule images embedded on any website user visits. While visiting many websites, you have surely noticed those social media buttons embedded there. Sure, most of the time, they are included for the sites to gain useful analytics regarding their content. But the concerning issue is they also send your data back to those platforms to create user profiles for targeted advertisements.&nbsp;



Some of the most commonly used web tracking systems and web trackers are:&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cookies">Cookies</h3>



Cookies are the primary tools used by websites in the process of cross-website tracking. It is quite an ingenious concept. You visit a website, and a small packet of data is transferred to your device’s browser courtesy of your <a href="https://www.hostinger.in/tutorials/what-is-a-web-server" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">web server</a>. This small packet is called a computer cookie aka web, internet, browser, or HTTP cookie. Cookies are designed specially to memorize your browsing information and online activity.&nbsp;



Cookies work in a simple manner:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The browser requests a web page from the web server</li>



<li>The server transmits the page along with a cookie</li>



<li>The cookie gets stored in the hard drive of your device</li>
</ul>



There are three different types of cookies:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Persistent cookie</li>



<li>First-party or session cookie</li>



<li>Third-party cookie</li>
</ul>



While the first two types of cookies are generally used to boost your browsing experience by remembering your passwords and language preferences, it is the third type you should be wary of. Persistent cookies come with an expiration date, and session cookies are temporary ones that get deleted with the closing of your browser. But the third-party cookie that keeps track of your online behavior is the tracking cookie.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-web-beacons">Web Beacons</h3>



Web beacons are used as a single-pixel transparent graphic image by a website to log user behavior. They work similarly to cookies to monitor user browsing habits and navigation for advertising and analytics purposes. One such web beacon is the Facebook Pixel, enjoying a ubiquitous presence in your browsing activities. It tracks almost every aspect of your web browsing activity and aids advertisers in putting up targeted ads for you or others exhibiting similar behavior. Beacons also enable IP address tracking in emails by logging the exact time and date as well as your IP address when you open any mail embedded with a beacon.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-canvas-fingerprinting">Canvas Fingerprinting</h3>



The practice of websites deciphering how the user’s browser responds to graphical instructions is known as canvas fingerprinting. Any website with this feature can direct your browser to draw a hidden image. This particular image varies with the individual’s device, graphics card, and hardware settings, resulting in the rendition of a unique image for every user. The distinctive image acts as a unique digital fingerprint for every user and can provide accurate information when coupled with other tracking data.&nbsp;



HTML5, the latest version of the coding language HTML, was developed for animations and drawing graphics on websites. However, it includes canvas fingerprinting, resulting in its co-opting of it as an effective tracking and fingerprinting tool.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-purpose-of-cross-website-tracking">What is the Purpose of Cross Website Tracking?</h2>



There are many legit reasons for websites to keep track of user activity. Most sites do it to boost website performances and personalize user experience. Let’s say that you are into reading books and watching movies at leisure. So, won’t you prefer advertisements from streaming services and publishing houses over furniture and bedsheets? This is exactly achieved through cross website tracking that allows targeted advertising based on the browsing behavior of any user.&nbsp;



Some of the primary reasons behind cross-website tracking are:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-website-analytics">Website Analytics</h3>



Almost all websites glean user information by using analytics software to gauge how customers use their site and get visitors&#8217; demographics. Information like how visitors arrive on the site and the number of pages they visit help the owners make important business decisions and optimize the site.&nbsp;



For easier understanding, let us take the example of any news publishing website. When publishers notice that most visitors are hitting upon one story only, they opt for better interlinking between posts. It will make the other stories easily accessible too and increase the website’s overall views and footfalls.&nbsp;



Google Analytics makes for the most commonly used analytics software on the internet. With an estimated client base of 29 million sites, Google Analytics is in use in <a href="https://trends.builtwith.com/analytics/Google-Analytics">88.5%</a> of the top 10,000 sites.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-website-performance">Website Performance</h3>



Many websites require some tracking to perform the intended way. YouTube might make the best case for this. When you are watching YouTube videos, you will find the algorithm recommending videos you might want to view next. This feature is only possible because YouTube tracks your behavior on the platform and on other sites to recommend the best possible options for you.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advertising">Advertising</h3>



User-based target advertising is possibly the primary reason behind cross-website tracking. The adverts you come across on the internet are primarily because of the&nbsp;<a href="https://leadgenapp.io/data-collection-form/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data collection</a>&nbsp;by websites based on your location, search interests, browser history, and even the time of the day you prefer to visit certain sites. Retargeting is another common practice where you see a barrage of adverts for products similar to something you might have searched for a while ago. To make your ads stand out and capture your audience&#8217;s attention, consider using After Effects templates from Videvo. These <a href="https://www.videvo.net/after-effects-templates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">professionally designed templates</a> can help create visually stunning and engaging advertisements for your brand. By incorporating eye-catching animations and motion graphics, you can elevate your advertising efforts and make a lasting impression on your target audience.



Again, Google has cemented its place at the top with Google AdSense, the largest web-advertising network.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-does-it-become-potentially-problematic">When Does it Become Potentially Problematic?</h2>



While cross-website tracking essentially has its list of pros, security and privacy concerns are a major red flag. Not knowing how much of your data is being collected or its purpose can be a legitimate concern in today&#8217;s digital world. Third-parties like affiliate and advertising networks and data brokers often use cookies and web beacons to collect our data without consent. Lack of transparency in the process and often without the consent of users are some serious concerns that need to be addressed immediately when it comes to this practice.&nbsp;



However, <a href="https://gdpr-info.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)</a> in Europe and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) are taking heed of these grave concerns and have developed a set of regulations. GDPR requires websites to provide users with opt-in consent forms before collecting personal user data. The websites cannot use pre-ticked boxes in such consent forms, which ensures users take positive steps to provide permission. Also, websites are required to provide users with the option to withdraw their consent any time they want, even if they have initially consented to use their personal data.&nbsp;



CCPA, while not making it necessary to provide opt-in consent forms, mandates websites to mention upfront how the collected user data will be used and the parties they will be available to. Upcoming regulations will also allow users to view the data collected and the right to get them deleted if they feel so.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-stop-cross-website-tracking">How to Stop Cross Website Tracking?</h2>



Well, yes, there are steps you can take to fight this practice and even prevent websites from tracking and storing your data. While if you are based in the European Union (EU) or California, USA, there are strong regulations that prohibit tracking user data without explicit consent. However, if you are from a country that does not have strict regulations in place, you can optimize your browser settings to prevent cross-website tracking.&nbsp;



If you are someone who has legitimate privacy concerns regarding cross-site tracking and finds it intrusive, here are some of the steps you can take to prevent cross-site tracking:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>How to prevent cross-site tracking in Chrome?</li>
</ol>



For computers and laptops &#8211;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Open the Chrome browser and go to Settings</li>



<li>Click Cookies and other site data under the Privacy and security option</li>



<li>Turn Send a “Do not track” request with your browsing traffic off</li>
</ul>



For mobile phones &#8211; 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Open the Chrome app on your android device and go to Settings</li>



<li>Tap Do Not Track under Privacy and security</li>



<li>Turn the setting off</li>
</ul>







<ol start="2" class="wp-block-list">
<li>How to prevent cross-site tracking in Firefox?</li>
</ol>



Firefox has an in-built Private Browsing with Tracking Protection feature that prevents third parties from tracking your browsing activity across multiple websites. You can enable it with the following steps:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Open the Firefox browser and go to Settings</li>



<li>Tap on the Privacy and Security panel</li>



<li>Select the Custom radio button under Enhanced Tracking Protection to select what to block</li>



<li>Tick the Cookies checkbox (Cross-site and social media trackers is the default setting)</li>



<li>Close the about: preferences page</li>
</ul>







<ol start="3" class="wp-block-list">
<li>How to prevent cross-site tracking in iOS devices?</li>
</ol>



For Macbooks and PCs &#8211; 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Open the Safari browser on your Mac</li>



<li>Go to Safari > Preferences and tap on Privacy</li>



<li>Select Prevent cross-site tracking</li>
</ul>



For iPhone and iPad &#8211; 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Go to Settings on your iPhone/iPad</li>



<li>Scroll down until you find Safari and tap on it</li>



<li>Tap the slider and turn on Prevent Cross-site Tracking under PRIVACY &amp; SECURITY</li>
</ul>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-to-conclude">To Conclude</h2>



It is often claimed that data is possibly the most valuable resource today. As aptly put by the Former Global Head of Research and Senior Vice-President of Gartner, Inc., Peter Sondergaard, “Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine.” While the debate whether data has surpassed oil or gold in value and importance is raging on, it is undeniable that data plays a major role in today’s world of digital information.&nbsp;



Hence, it is imperative that billions of internet users worldwide pay attention to their data being tracked and stored. Even though cross-website tracking may have a lot of things going for it, tracking and making your data available to third parties without any transparency or consent is a legitimate concern. To ensure a healthy trade-off, it is critical that the concerns of users are acknowledged, fully informed regarding the use of their personal information, and given a choice to not opt for sharing any data.&nbsp;

What is Cross Website Tracking | How to Prevent It?

<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/migrated_images/6CekEeAi1joWG2iHIV8DtwB5ntH2Dpy-qRdIcWkpddxrbn8SAvEikjSVFn0AtVj7nVPCqiyMO6cAsF4jaHlppDSL2SSmAP8o6bswSfcQrjLFzzpOrYftFO0mBW5008Z8toj0ioCIGhupZrHpao83nmA_1748949223.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Hello Folks,



Great to meet you all with another interesting blog. There are many relationships between Games and Testing. Many people use that as a metaphor and define testing. Why is it so? Every game requires strategy and analytical skills to play and win. In today’s blog, I will be explaining how chess and the pieces in chess are related to software testers and what we learn from them.



Chess is one of the brilliant games. No one could deny it. But have you ever wondered that the chess pieces have a lot of similarities with the different roles that testers can have and our everyday life?&nbsp;



Yes, we are facing a lot of challenges every day and we take on new roles and responsibilities based on them. We need to act differently in different situations. We all know that life is a game, and we all are players here. So let’s see in detail each chess piece and what it symbolizes.&nbsp;



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#The_King">1 The King</a></li><li><a href="#The_Queen">2 The Queen</a></li><li><a href="#The_Bishop">3 The Bishop</a></li><li><a href="#The_Knight">4 The Knight</a></li><li><a href="#The_Rook">5 The Rook</a></li><li><a href="#Pawns">6 Pawns</a></li><li><a href="#Closing_thoughts">7 Closing thoughts:</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-king">The King</h2>



The King is the most important one among the chess coins because the entire game revolves around the King. He is the most influential decision-maker. He doesn’t have much power, but he decides the fate of the entire game. All other pieces are meant to play the game of protecting the King. If there’s no King, then there’s no game at all.&nbsp;



Sometimes, we should act as King to avoid conflicts in the team. There should be only one decision-maker and multiple ones will lead to chaos. Of course, getting multiple options and feedback from the team is the first step. 



You need power, and authority to decide and everything in the project is revolving around you. This role helps you to make the right decisions, and guide and build the team better. Overall the King piece is advocating leadership that every tester of all levels should learn and implement. For instance, every Project/Test Manager should think and act like a king in most scenarios.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-queen">The Queen</h2>



The Queen is the most powerful piece of all, with a lot of freedom provided she tends to save her King and the territory. She can move in any direction and take down anything that comes her way. She is aware of her strengths and weaknesses.&nbsp;



Also, I strongly believe that the QUEEN is a demonstration that implies that women are given more freedom since they are capable of handling it. Women are good at multitasking and delivering quality at the same time. 



So this role, in the game of chess, is suitable for Testers who are given a lot of freedom in the project and in turn they deliver the best. They are aware of the granular level details of the projects. They use their power to fight for the team, and they use their smartness to handle and tackle the stakeholders. We testers should be fierce and utilize emancipation in a righter way.&nbsp;



Under certain circumstances, we need testers to behave smart as the Queen and make use of the freedom in a realistic and diligent way. Here comes the role of the Test Lead. I would say that a Test Lead should react and play the game with Queen’s attitude. This is helpful for the entire team to be led in the right way.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-bishop">The Bishop</h2>



There are two bishops and they are close to the king and queen. They are considered the third most powerful pieces. Next to the King and Queen, they have the power and authority to make decisions. But they play the game the same way and same move.&nbsp;



Bishop is a highly respected and valued piece. Sometimes, we need to provide authority to someone and watch. This builds the team rapport and confidence in everyone and brings out the leadership in them. Delegating small chunks of work and asking our team to take responsibility, helps the team to grow and be productive.&nbsp;



Sometimes we have our senior associates in the team who possess a greater knowledge of the project and systems. Along with the power, experience helps a lot. So should try to gain real-time hands-on experience in the tools or projects we are being a part of.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-knight">The Knight</h2>



The Knight is the only piece, that can skip or jump between pieces on the chessboard. They are happy-go-lucky and smarter ones. Other than Pawns, they have the power to start the game. It is on equal footing with Bishop and holds military ranking. Along with the power, you need strategic and pragmatic thinking.&nbsp;



A horse is used to denote and illustrate the Knight. It is an elegantly designed chessman. Just like the knight in a game of chess, testers should be versatile and clever. For instance, I can relate the Knight with some new joiners to the team with a few years of experience and knowledge in new tools/technologies. 



They are energetic, vibrant, and enthusiastic. They are well aware of their roles and responsibilities. They needed a little mentorship initially and they can work smart and play the game and make unexpected magic happen.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-rook">The Rook</h2>



They are strong, hefty, and powerful ones and the front-liners during the war. They provide support to the remaining pieces. They form a protective layer to the castle and that’s why even the piece designed represents the Castle with the turrets on top.&nbsp;



We as testers should be strong-headed and face the challenges. We should be defending our team. In every project, there will be a handful of techy, nerd people. They like to play around with the tools and make our work easier. They are super smart and will be ready to take on challenges at any time. I would say everyone in the project should act as a rook.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="pawns">Pawns</h2>



Pawns are the underrated pieces on the chessboard, due to their power limitation. They are more in number with less power on the chessboard. In history, they have great stories to share. They are considered weak. 



But they are more in numbers which make happen anything. We have to learn teamwork and humility from the pawns. Also, they showcase the traits like bravery and sacrifice. So never underestimate the presence and the strategy of the pawns.&nbsp;



I would relate this to the trainees in our team. If they receive proper guidance they thrive. We all need to understand their needs and should work together for the team&#8217;s success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="closing-thoughts">Closing thoughts:</h2> 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/migrated_images/ojDYeOQgG4EHK04CbG1h3i50I-xkFFQSFjqGiQMDRLkvrcOIh1cBq_lscS5p0B6b19MNXY1MhLPiMpY-58mF4hDBgOJeWRJSMTlkmbxoGsIV_CpegVfkd3otuG53Bfl2NIf_5UwVt3kszsc-OPrYaWQ_1748949222.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



Every chess piece has a meaning and some elegant takeaway for us. These are different roles which I can relate to a few of our roles. Sometimes we need to play more than one role. I hope you will be able to relate the roles along with me. Lots of roles to play and act in a single day. That’s the life of a software tester.&nbsp;



To face the challenges or roadblocks we wear different hats every day. Just like this chess board and the chessmen we testers are juggling different roles and responsibilities.&nbsp;



Which one are you? Life is a long game. Of course, this is your game, and you need to play it your way. Please comment, let’s hear it out from you. Let’s celebrate each other!



PC: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Freepik</a>



Disclaimer: Inspired by the Queen’s Gambit series on Netflix and this is written based on Author’s sole views and opinions, not with an intention to hurt others.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



Just like, the pieces of chess can be related to different members of the testing team, the gaming strategies can be related to testing strategies. Read more about testing types and strategies here:



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/"> Software Testing Types</a>



Test Automation, is one of the major strategies and requires tools for implementation, read more about such tools for automation here:



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/most-popular-tools-for-cloud-automation-testing/">Popular tools for cloud automation testing</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools">cross-browser testing tools</a>



 <div class="bg-primary cta" style="text-align: center;padding: 15px 35px;color: #fff;background: linear-gradient(224.71deg,#17d39b,#0062ab)!important;">
Testsigma is a no-code test automation tool that lets you automate your tests for web,mobile and API from the same place, easily. It is also open source and free.
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn" style="background-color: #fff;padding: 8px 20px;border-radius: 6px;"><a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Try it here </a></button></div>
</div>



Read more about the features of Testsigma here: <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://testsigma.com/</a>

A Tester’s Gambit

I’m happy to announce our financing of $4.6M&nbsp; led by Accel and STRIVE, with participation from BoldCap and a host of well known entrepreneurs and operators 🎉



These include Shanmugam Krishnasamy, co-founder and CTO of Freshworks; Kiran Darisi, co-founder and VP of engineering at Freshworks; Parsuram Vijayasankar, co-founder and principal engineer at Freshworks; Vetri Vellore, CEO of Ally.io; Nitesh Banta, CEO at B12; Ioann Fainsilber, Co-Founder at Pintek, among others.



I’m grateful to the entire Testsigma team, our users, partners as we celebrate this huge milestone! And, I would like to welcome our investors to this exciting journey!



With an increasing focus on automation and DevOps, software delivery is faster than ever before! Automated testing is essential for balancing software quality with the accelerated velocity of release cycles, but because the toolchain that is supposed to enable automated testing has many moving parts, test automation becomes a parallel development project in organizations. Plus they have huge upfront and ongoing resource, tech, and expertise costs.&nbsp;



Today’s test stacks have made test automation more about writing and maintaining scripts than about taking quality software to market as quickly as possible.



What we’re trying to do at <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is not just simplify test automation to speed up the testing, but also make it a sustainable, scalable process in which the tools and frameworks don’t require ongoing maintenance, freeing up the teams to focus on value delivery instead of building and maintaining scripts and frameworks.



Thousands of developers, QAs, product managers across the world at teams like Sage, HPE, Netgear, HDFC Life, IEEE,&nbsp; SignEasy, American Psychological Association, Mehiläinen, and more use Testsigma to test continuously throughout their software delivery cycles.&nbsp;



Since our beta launch we have run 1.5M+ tests for hundreds of products, and on boarded 1000+ users, we are now we have got all the power to accelerate our growth.



We will use the capital to strengthen the core engineering and product team and to build alongside and for a global community of testers, test automation engineers, and developers.



I would like to take this opportunity to share with you our next steps, what we will be focusing on, our road map, and how we are thinning and shaping this platform.&nbsp;



Our focus areas:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Bringing standardization to a fragmented testing toolchain</li><li>Enabling faster, more scalable test automation</li><li>Improving stability and reliability of automated tests&nbsp;</li><li>Leverage AI to build an autonomous testing platform&nbsp;</li><li>Extend to solve for complex <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-make-test-automation-more-inclusive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">test automation</a> requirements</li><li>Enabling everyone in modern teams to test for faster releases</li><li>Grow our community and build Testsigma as an open source project</li></ol>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#The_current_test_stack_is_broken_needs_a_fresh_approach">1 The current test stack is broken &amp; needs a fresh approach</a></li><li><a href="#Bringing_standardization_to_a_fragmented_testing_toolchain">2 Bringing standardization to a fragmented testing toolchain</a></li><li><a href="#Building_a_unified_testing_ecosystem">3 Building a unified testing ecosystem</a></li><li><a href="#Effortless_extensibility">4 Effortless extensibility</a></li><li><a href="#No-code_testing_thats_not_just_record_and_playback">5 No-code testing that’s not just record and playback</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Open_Source">6 Why Open Source?</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-current-test-stack-is-broken-needs-a-fresh-approach">The current test stack is broken &amp; needs a fresh approach</h2>



Our founding team has been part of multiple product teams for various organizations, with each one of us being part of product teams for around 15 years. We have seen test automation problems first hand many times and helped the teams build scalable test automation processes.



In that time we’ve primarily seen two types of test automation approaches implemented, both being imperfect:



1. Custom built frameworks



Most teams prefer building a custom test stack/framework because of the flexibility but there are significant drawbacks:



i. We realized that the modern test stack is fragmented. It has too many moving parts to be easy to set up and scale.



ii. Given there are so many use cases, languages and app types, test automation becomes overwhelmingly complex &amp; time consuming to the point where it becomes its own development project.



2. Scriptless tools powered by AI



Modern tools are simple to begin with but don’t scale for complex setups and constantly evolving applications.



It became clear to us that simple, no-code, AI powered solutions are vendor dependent in terms of flexibility required for scale, whereas custom built solutions require intensive complex dev and integration efforts to both build and maintain over time. As a consequence, <a href="https://www.capgemini.com/in-en/insights/research-library/world-quality-report-wqr-20-21/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">almost two-thirds of all teams</a> that automate their testing never see a return on their investment.



In a nutshell, the current test stack is complex, time consuming to build, and just doesn’t scale like you would want it to.



We want to change that by standardizing the fragmented test stack and coalescing it into an easy-to-use platform that combines the flexibility of open source test automation tools but with the ease of existing closed source low-code solutions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="bringing-standardization-to-a-fragmented-testing-toolchain">Bringing standardization to a fragmented testing toolchain</h2>



We now know the problem lies with the lack of a common standard in the testing ecosystem. So how do we stop test automation from becoming a complex parallel development project?&nbsp; When we set out to build Testsigma we laid out 3 core principles the platform should achieve:



<ul class="list_style_disc wp-block-list"><li>Unify a broken test stack</li><li>Simplify the complete testing cycle, from test planning to design, all the way to development, execution, and analysis</li><li>Make quality a shared responsibility by enabling non-programmers in the team to test</li></ul>



What we’re trying to do is not just simplify test automation but bring sustainable scalability that can help users and teams actually do more testing rather than being caught up with building and maintaining scripts and frameworks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="building-a-unified-testing-ecosystem">Building a unified testing ecosystem</h2>



To really solve for the broken test stack, we had to make sure our platform doesn’t limit users to specific use cases, programming languages, application types etc.&nbsp;



We decided to bring everything under one roof and built Testsigma as an open-source, low code platform that mimics what the modern Test automation workflow looks like.



Our platform works out-of-the-box. You don’t have to ‘set it up’ one framework, library, and tool at a time. You can simply install it and directly start automating tests for web apps, mobile apps, and APIs. This enables teams to shift focus towards scaling testing rather than maintaining the automation framework to support it.



From test development to reporting, users can perform integrated end-to-end testing that&#8217;s supplemented by powerful TestOps, built-in test data management and one-click integrations with delivery pipelines, for web apps, Android and iOS apps, and APIs, etc.



Read more about Testsigma <a href="https://testsigma.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="effortless-extensibility">Effortless extensibility</h2>



We have seen that after teams automate a number of ‘standard’ tests, they struggle to scale because test scenarios increase in number and complexity while release cycles shortened. It&#8217;s no secret that test automation requirements are unique to every organization and constantly change&nbsp; based on the product &amp; what stage it is at. Test automation requirements can start out small and then grow rapidly.



We wanted to make scalability and extensibility something that was accessible and easy.



Testsigma&#8217;s platform approach will enable everyone to easily add custom actions, data generators, reports, integrations etc. form a community powered marketplace and build all these as needed using a simple Testsigma SDK.&nbsp;



Also, we are an open source platform, you can dig deep and extend the core platform as you need.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="no-code-testing-that-s-not-just-record-and-playback">No-code testing that’s not just record and playback</h2>



In cross-functional development teams, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-automation-by-smes-qa-analysts-for-continuous-delivery-and-devops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">everyone including Devs, QAs, PMs are responsible</a> for the quality of releases. To balance quality with release velocity, we see teams adopting <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-continuous-testing-supercharges-your-automation-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shift-left continuous testing</a>. 



We built Testsigma as a platform that everyone in the team could use to plan, develop, execute, and analyze tests, but the traditional ‘record-and-playback’ approach to to test development left a lot of room for flakiness and browser compatibility issues to creep in.



To create tests in Testsigma all you need to know is simple English. You can either write tests step by step, or generate them by recording real-time user scenarios and interactions that are auto-converted into editable tests.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="why-open-source">Why Open Source?</h2>



Our objective is to collaboratively build a future-ready test automation platform, an ‘operating system for software quality’ alongside its most important stakeholders – the user, that decisively bridges the gap between development and testing.



In our journey so far, we’ve noticed that there is a misalignment across quality, teams and tools. There isn&#8217;t a tool in the market that involves every quality stakeholder, technical or not, in the building and integration of a test automation framework within the SDLC. We think that by open sourcing our platform, we can bring SDETs, Test Engineers, and Test Automation architects on the same page as QAs, PMs, and SMEs.



Check out <a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma GitHub repo</a>!



We open sourced Testsigma to achieve a few goals:



<ul class="list_style_disc wp-block-list"><li>With access to our source code, teams can dig into, customize and extend Testsigma as needed</li><li>Makes it easy to integrate existing open-source technology stacks. This flexibility is often missing in closed-source testing tools</li><li>Open-source is low risk because it doesn’t involve security constraints 3rd party cloud-based tools are restricted by</li><li>We are aware of the immense complexity in test automation, and that every challenge cannot be solved by one team. Open source is a powerful enabler where the entire dev &amp; testing community can collaborate towards the singular goal of simplifying test automation for everyone</li></ul>



We will of course continue to invest time and resources into improving both the open source and cloud version of our product but it’s the contribution of the community that will make Testsigma the universal standard in test automation.



Thank you! 🙏

Testsigma raises $4.6M from Accel and STRIVE to simplify test automation for everyone

Testsigma raises $4.6M from Accel and STRIVE to simplify test automation

One day suddenly the whole world locked down to prevent the pandemic from being spread uncontrollably. When machines and factories were all stopped &#8211; your social media, mobile applications, and all the digital world was still operating at the same pace as before. 



Even if you did not notice, millions of developers and testers worked from their homes to keep you online and help you share your thoughts, purchase essential supplies and view live news.



What started as a necessity has now become a new normal in the information technology industry. <a href="https://kissflow.com/digital-workplace/remote-work/shocking-work-from-home-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">More than 55% of industries have now been permitted</a> to work from home even when the pandemic is over. 



Maintaining the same efficiency as the in-office setup is not possible if you are indulged in a complicated connection of multiple tool &#8211; you would need a good tool that not only supports but facilitates the work no matter what location you are working from. 



In this post, we will discuss one such tool along with a few points that make our remote life easy. How the tool manages in these situations, is the crux of our post.



For simplicity, I have divided this post into two different sections &#8211; technical and management &#8211; how <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma, a completely cloud-based test automation tool</a>, supports team members in both these domains while they work from home. Both of these sections focus on their respective expert areas with respect to Testsigma.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Technical_capabilities">1 Technical capabilities</a><ul><li><a href="#Cloud-based_infrastructure">1.1 Cloud-based infrastructure</a></li><li><a href="#Scalable">1.2 Scalable</a></li><li><a href="#English_based_scripting_using_NLP">1.3 English based scripting using NLP</a></li><li><a href="#Integration_with_tools">1.4 Integration with tools</a></li><li><a href="#Support_for_multiple_testing_methods">1.5 Support for multiple testing methods</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Management_capabilities">2 Management capabilities</a><ul><li><a href="#242157_Support">2.1 24&#215;7 Support</a></li><li><a href="#Collaborative_editing">2.2 Collaborative editing</a></li><li><a href="#Role-based_responsibilities">2.3 Role-based responsibilities</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">3 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="technical-capabilities">Technical capabilities</h2>



This section describes the technical capabilities of the tool Testsigma, for software <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">test automation</a>, that help the team execute tests smoothly.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="cloud-based-infrastructure">Cloud-based infrastructure</h3>



The first requirement for working from home efficiently is to use a tool that is available over the cloud network. Testsigma checked this point even before the pandemic arrived. 



Cloud-based systems provide a two-fold advantage to the team. Firstly, it is available anywhere and everywhere you want it. You can sit in India or the United States or use my PC or your friend’s, you just have to log in and all your work will be visible to you right away.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/migrated_images/vc0NmnGBM9HWbF18KEfCDEVDhbAF9PIbYCWMDWFH7Ve6p-y9NwdADs9YqYipY4SIHZxdnAzXzfsUmGTV7Bb2qh5HeNjIBgFdpxKfA6URuPSX_25JgXd9J9pzv0knLB31qHZTRnHr_1748949280.png" alt="Cloud-based infrastructure" width="600"/></figure></div>



Secondly, cloud-based systems do not eat up your personal resources that can have a huge impact on test execution. Consider you are running test scripts on one application while writing test scripts in another framework on a 4GB system. 



This can slow down the process and delay the test results. Since you are working from home, there is no other system to share the load also &#8211; Testsigma, a completely cloud-based test automation tool, lets you use your own resources for other works while providing their own powerful infrastructure to assign machines and run tests on them. As far as your personal system is concerned, an internet connection and a browser are all you want.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="scalable">Scalable</h3>



A project, no matter how much potential it has, always start small, slow, and then eventually scales up with time. But even if you have a small team working remotely, scalability is always kept in mind for the future. 



If you are at a point where you are scaling constantly but the tools you are using have given up on you, the whole project can face a downtime which is bad for business and reputation.



Testsigma comes with scalability features for all types of teams &#8211; an individual, a team, or a complete organization. Testsigma works on the cloud infrastructure and therefore if you have a requirement to scale up your testing, you can do that just by clicking a couple of buttons with the comfort of sitting at home. 



This way you not only save a lot of time but you pay only for the number of resources you use and hence speed up the delivery.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="english-based-scripting-using-nlp">English based scripting using NLP</h3>



Your legacy test code may be written in a programming language that your testers may or may not know. The same situation comes for frameworks that support only a couple of languages.&nbsp; To make changes to that code and write test scripts of their own the testers have to learn that supported programming language and then understand the legacy code. 



This problem can be faced either remotely or in-office. But what happens in such a scenario is that when people try to understand the code, they face a lot of problems in either understanding the logic or the flow of the execution. 



Resolving this issue in the office is easy. You just have to go to the tester/developer’s desk or someone who has already worked on it and get a bit of knowledge transfer or support from them. The work is done.



In a remote office setup, the only option is to either call or chat through your preferred application. This can be a lot of pain as people are busy and as a result, the process can extend to multiple days. 



Testsigma offers a straightforward and simple solution to this. The tool comes equipped with <a data-wpil="url" href="https://testsigma.com/ai-test-automation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">artificial intelligence</a> and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/natural-language-processing-nlp-based-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">natural language processing</a> capabilities. In simple words, it lets you do the simple work and perform the harder job by itself by asking you to write the scripts in plain English language.



The following image demonstrates a test script written to navigate to a particular website:



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/migrated_images/8UJPNCOb5xo8UNY87ZPUP0MKu-EurmSyxjQRHMOtBEZyzlGIAp0aXsuHUDMQ7Hi2iVbkslqH7ggyCtzhTv40UezT0xVDaZH0BRQZMSrEhTeldx3fAbfOxmX3q4ovIDvxi44iJIdx_1748949282.png" alt="Testsigma NLP based test" width="800"/></figure></div>



So when a new person looks at your legacy code, it is just like reading English sentences (refer to the above image). The process of completing the testing then becomes faster even while sitting at home.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="integration-with-tools">Integration with tools</h3>



Software integrations need no introduction to the people working in the software industry. There is no perfect tool that has everything in-built into it. We have an awesome bug tracking software while another awesome cross-browser testing device lab etc. A good tool is one that can join all the integrations and provide you with convenience on a single screen.&nbsp;



Testsigma takes care of all the necessary integrations that the testers can use from the platform and make use of it as required.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/migrated_images/5a63PBbKVxB1I8hirP3yNbPTSEWwG3kHeN4vH-TDdYRrGQeBJYeg54gR3pbKnJxQFChWSLD9C86hPr3AsVmecvRitLs0HnAwSlzk38gmC1hsaDicWbuwzVhTgHBULqELPe-CbshA_1748949278.png" alt="Integration with tools" width="800" height="448"/></figure></div>



You can also find the most important aspect of testing &#8211; integration with CI/CD tools for smooth build and test phases on each version. You can visit the integrations page to know more about the integrations that you may require.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="support-for-multiple-testing-methods">Support for multiple testing methods</h3>



Software testing is a big umbrella that contains a lot of sub-testing processes that ensure that the released software is of top quality. These may include <a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">regression testing</a>, <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">automation testing</a>, mobile app testing, cross-browser testing, etc. 



For all these things to work remotely, you might have to go for one framework that can do data-driven testing, another for automation, etc.&nbsp;



Testsigma brings every sub-testing process onto a single platform giving the freedom to the tester of choosing anyone or using all of them as per the requirements. With Testsigma, you don’t have to switch to various frameworks and learn each of them. 



The tool provides robust data-driven testing, regression testing, cross-browser testing, automation testing, and much more for the teams. While working remotely, if you are learning just a single software for all your needs, you can speed up the cycles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="management-capabilities">Management capabilities</h2>



This section describes the management capabilities of the tool that play an equal role in increasing efficiency and productivity while working remotely.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="24x7-support">24&#215;7 Support</h3>



The most important part of working remotely as described in the NLP section above is the need to understand the framework or tool you are working on. 



If you are stuck anywhere, you just have two options &#8211; either google it, find the solution and try if it works or you can ask anyone from your team who has already worked on the framework before. While working remotely, both of these options have a high probability of failure as you are not physically present to ask anyone.



Testsigma understands that while working remotely, you may face a problem that needs to be solved urgently whether it is day or night. Therefore, the tool comes with 24-hour support every day so that your work never suffers at any time and you have someone to clear your queries from.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="collaborative-editing">Collaborative editing</h3>



Collaborative editing is a process combining two terms &#8211; collaboration and editing. Collaboration means you have a platform that can facilitate sharing the documents, progress, reports etc. 



If I am done with a testing process, maybe I can send my reports from the same platform or it gets shared automatically to the team etc. In simple words, even if we are remote, the team gets an organized set of documents at their disposal. Collaborative editing is however a bit different than just collaboration.&nbsp;



For example, Google docs allows collaborative editing in which instead of sharing a copy of the document, we share the link to the same document with another person. The receiver can then edit the same document and I can see the changes. 



This is an important feature to look for while working remotely because it can get really messy if we start sharing multiple documents to the complete team and then look at the changes by each of them. It can become a small GitHub of our own but more complicated than that.



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank">Testsigma, a completely cloud-based test automation tool</a>, provides collaborative editing to its testers for not only sharing the test cases with the team but they can also provide their suggestions on the same test case while working from the comforts of their homes. 



This way, the whole team can see the changes on a single document and there is no complications or confusion to address.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="role-based-responsibilities">Role-based responsibilities</h3>



In-office setups often work in different environments and are controlled by either credentials or access roles assigned in the backend that can restrict unauthorized access. When we are working remotely using a tool, this becomes a problem as now you are connecting to the tool’s server rather than using your own. 



Consider a scenario where you are two team members working on the same project and hence share all the files. But, since your teammate is in a senior position, he has access to deleting a file that you don’t. He can also create a new task for you or himself. If in any way, you can also do the same action as he does, it becomes a security loophole especially when contract employees are on board.&nbsp;



Testsigma comes with the user access levels to predefine who has access to what in the tool. You can also create custom roles and define access to them as per your requirements. While working from home, this becomes very helpful as you don’t have to create another layer through yourself when the tool covers everything for you.



<div class="bg-primary cta">
Enhance your test automation capabilities while you work from home, signup for a free trial and see for yourself.
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Signup now</a></button></div>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



&nbsp;Working from home has become a new normal in the IT industry. Not only it has become convenient but <a href="https://kissflow.com/digital-workplace/remote-work/shocking-work-from-home-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">more than 75% of employees find it more productive</a> than in-office work. It seems like working from home will continue for some time now and for IT, it is not easy.&nbsp;



The remote setup leaves us with the only option of using chat or calls to connect with someone and resolve our queries. Using multiple tools for multiple purposes just increases the query count a lot more which then results in the delay of work, projects, and fewer test cycles as before. 



The need of the hour is a tool that is complete in itself and can provide you with the functionalities of all the individual tools in a single place. Testsigma fits perfectly in such a scenario providing the tester with a platform that can help in automation, cross-browser testing, regression testing, and many more types.



Testsigma is a completely cloud-based test automation tool built on a robust infrastructure providing a clean interface and centralized testing experience to the organization, meanwhile, enhancing the work from home experience too.



Testsigma presents a unique style of writing the tests in the English language that helps in easy test creation. All these features help testers in work from home setup as learning becomes very easy and with 24-hour support, one dedicated person is always there for you. With Testsigma, you just have to focus on testing and the rest is taken care of by the tool.



We tried our best to highlight how the test automation tool Testsigma can smoothen out your work from home. However, if you would like to query anything else about the tool, feel free to contact our support. Also, we would love to know your thoughts in the comments below.

Simplify your work from home challenges with test automation tool Testsigma

Simplify your Work from Home Challenges with Test Automation Tool Testsigma

25 Software Testing Trends in 2025

COVID-19 has changed our lives in so many ways. There is not a single aspect of our life that is untouched by it. The way organizations operate their work has also changed drastically. Before 2020 no one would have guessed that work from home will become such an internationally accepted phenomenon.



However, working from home has been a new experience for most of us, and there are times that we find ourselves struggling too. So, we thought of sharing some tips and tricks with the testing community that is working from home, aiming to improve their working experience overall.&nbsp;



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Maintain_continuous_team_collaboration">1 Maintain continuous team collaboration</a></li><li><a href="#Robust_and_secure_infrastructure_saves_the_day">2 Robust and secure infrastructure saves the day</a></li><li><a href="#Meeting_tools_to_have_effective_global_meetings">3 Meeting tools to have effective global meetings</a></li><li><a href="#Keep_distraction_away_from_the_work_area">4 Keep distraction away from the work area</a></li><li><a href="#Tracking_the_processes_to_plan_better">5 Tracking the processes to plan better</a></li><li><a href="#Maintain_professionalism_at_all_cost">6 Maintain professionalism at all cost</a></li><li><a href="#Set_clear_boundaries_and_expectations_for_others_and_yourself">7 Set clear boundaries and expectations for others and yourself</a></li><li><a href="#Take_breaks_and_do_exercise_to_keep_the_spirit_high">8 Take breaks and do exercise to keep the spirit high</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">9 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="maintain-continuous-team-collaboration">Maintain continuous team collaboration</h2>



During regular office setup, any doubt clearance or communication can happen right away. However, in a remote working setup, smooth communication becomes challenging.



In teamwork, silence isn’t golden, it’s deadly &#8211; Mark Sanborn. This quote is absolutely true, when working in a team communication and collaboration is the key to success. Relying on text messages to communicate is not productive at all. Today, teams are relying on communication tools like Zoom, Skype, and Slack, etc. to keep team collaboration handy.&nbsp;



Also, the integrations with tools such as JIRA, Microsoft Teams, Sharepoint etc. keep the teams on the same page. This is critical since even if a small detail is missed the results can be catastrophic from a testing perspective.



A daily stand-up, even for 10-15 mins, is essential for smooth communication among the team members. You can have a daily stand-up at the beginning of the workday to resolve any roadblocks and define tasks for the day. A daily standup in the evening can help to communicate how much has been achieved for the day and plan the day ahead better.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="robust-and-secure-infrastructure-saves-the-day">Robust and secure infrastructure saves the day</h2>



Today, when people are working from home, they are using personal or company-provided laptops to connect to the office network. In such a case, the infrastructure is required to be robust and stable to provide 24*7 available testing environments for automation testing.



Mostly we are using a virtual desktop to stay connected to the organization’s network. Any technical glitch such as a network bandwidth issue can impact the output of the whole organization. This can cause a huge negative impact on the employees and the clients as well especially in an agile environment. 



We cannot even afford a single day of downtime when working in sprints. Hence, it is imperative for organizations to have proper backup and plan to tackle such unforeseen issues.



From employees perspective, there are infrastructure issues that can impact the productivity for the day, they are:



<ul class="list_style_disc wp-block-list"><li>Unstable internet connection</li><li>Video recording not working</li><li>Screen sharing lags in voice and screen</li></ul>



The most common and annoying is internet connectivity issues. Even a few packet drops in the internet connection can disconnect you from the virtual network. Hence, it is very important to choose a service provider which provides the best network and customer support in your area.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="meeting-tools-to-have-effective-global-meetings">Meeting tools to have effective global meetings</h2>



This is an era of distributed teams across the world where their team members are sitting across continents, where businesses are renting virtual business and <a href="https://www.alliancevirtualoffices.com/virtual-office-blog/virtual-mailing-address/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">virtual mailing addresses</a> for their remote working environment.



Obviously, the teams need to work in such a timing where the time zones coincide and overlap. The usual 9-5 office timings will not work, in a globally distributed team set up.&nbsp;



Tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, etc. help teams to share screens so that the whole team can view the same screen and provide inputs. This is really required when the testing team is demonstrating a defect during a defect triage call.



These tools help to keep the communication game up without any compromise on the quality of work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="keep-distraction-away-from-the-work-area">Keep distraction away from the work area</h2>



In an organization’s office setup, employees are focused on their work only. However, when we are working from home there are all sorts of distractions around. This is normal because it is home, not an office, but as an employee, this may impact our productivity.



&nbsp;Distractions like other family members working from home and having meetings or children having online classes are daily events. There may be guests visiting or your cat needs your attention. 



The list is endless, but there has to be a way to keep the distractions away and stay focused on work. Because you will not want to miss a defect anyway.



A solution is to have a separate corner in the home where you can set up your workstation away from these distractions. Choose a corner that is comparatively quiet and has a well-defined work routine. Create a to-do list daily, this plan will help you to achieve short-term goals and maintain mental peace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="tracking-the-processes-to-plan-better">Tracking the processes to plan better</h2>



During a testing process, you need to track and plan the testing activities such as:



<ul class="list_style_disc wp-block-list"><li>Test planning</li><li>Test scripts writing</li><li>Test data creation and management</li><li>Test versioning, review, and approvals</li><li>Test case scheduling</li><li>Test reporting</li></ul>



Thankfully, we have many testing tools that are great for managing the above-mentioned testing activities. These testing tools are available on the cloud and can be accessed from anywhere, hence they promote work from home. Thus, out of all the tips we discussed above, the most important for the testing community is the adoption of testing tools during work from home &#8211; for managed and quality software testing.



One such <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation tool is Testsigma</a>, which is cloud-based, AI, and NLP-driven. It helps you to write your test cases in plain English and accelerates the test case writing by up to 5x speed. 



You can perform automated end-to-end testing of web, mobile, and APIs at ease. There is no need to write cumbersome code and framework any further.



<div class="bg-primary cta">

Take the 21 day free trial of Testsigma and witness the benefits
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Signup now</a></button></div>
</div>



In a DevOps and Agile environment, teams are working on the cloud and the same version of artifacts are accessible to everyone. Without metrics, parameters, and tracking we can not have a successful scrum. 



Data such as how many test cases are executed, the number of unit/regression tests failed, which defects are new or fixed, etc. helps in having a clear picture of the testing process. 



This helps in tracking tasks such as who is writing test scripts for which module. This in turn enables proper planning of tasks for the whole team. The <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/ebook/in-sprint-test-automation-simplified" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in-sprint test automation</a> helps to achieve quick results with continuous testing and integration of code.



If there are any resource bandwidth issues, the testing activities can be quickly redistributed to the whole team to have minimum impact on the delivery date. This tracking and continuous status sharing to the higher management helps in making decisions and coordinating release management.



You can also use <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/what-are-the-kpis-of-software-testing-and-qa-testsigma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KPIs</a> to track the effectiveness of your software testing and <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a> process, it can be as primitive as colour-coding. For example, you may keep this colour coding to determine how much the team has achieved out of the expected output. 



This can be applied on a daily/weekly basis to keep the team motivated to achieve their short-term goals. Green may mean awesome work, yellow may mean great work, etc.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="maintain-professionalism-at-all-cost">Maintain professionalism at all cost</h2>



Although it may seem comfortable to work from bed, it is not a good idea to do so. You will agree that a proper work routine and ethics certainly help to achieve a better outcome. Maintain a proper workstation desk with all the technical essentials available right there.&nbsp;



There are steps that you can take to maintain professionalism during working from home:



<ul class="list_style_disc wp-block-list"><li>Dress professionally: Working in a comfortable t-shirt and pyjamas is an advantage of working from home. However, when you have important meetings wearing a formal dress instils a sense of professionalism. </li><li>Video meetings: Make sure that you attend video meetings on a desk setup and not from anywhere. Also, try to keep background noise as minimum as possible, as we understand in a home we cannot totally avoid it.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="set-clear-boundaries-and-expectations-for-others-and-yourself">Set clear boundaries and expectations for others and yourself</h2>



An issue which most people face during work-from-home is that the boundaries between working and non-working hours blur. People find themselves attending late-night work meetings. They complain about working longer than when they used to work at the office. Why is it so? The reason is a lack of proper boundaries and unclear expectations.



It is advisable to be firm and assertive about the office timings, mention clearly how many hours per day you can invest. Do not accept more work than you can execute in designated working hours. The reason is that blurring these boundaries is toxic for your family. Losing on family time can negatively impact your mental peace and work eventually.



It not only applies to you, but it also applies to others as well. When you are defining daily tasks or other assignments, meetings, etc. for your team members, stay empathetic about their family life. If you&#8217;re struggling with working overtime, use a weekly schedule template or simply use time tracking software to keep track of the overtime and plan your work ahead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="take-breaks-and-do-exercise-to-keep-the-spirit-high">Take breaks and do exercise to keep the spirit high</h2>



Due to COVID-19, people are already feeling low globally, because everyone is missing the life they had pre-Covid. The monotonous life with no fun may become outright boring. To come out of negativity it is really important you take mini-steps to elevate your mood and feel refreshed.&nbsp;



<ul class="list_style_disc wp-block-list"><li>Do not sit for long hours at a stretch, take mini breaks in between to divert your mind from stress and work pressure.</li><li>Play with kids or pets, it is the easiest mood refresher.</li><li>Exercise or take small walks, releases endorphins in the body and makes you feel happy and good.</li><li>If you love playing games, you can&nbsp;play jigsaw puzzles&nbsp;or&nbsp;Solitaire games. It will help you refresh your mind as well help you improve cognitive and learning skills. Taking breaks and staying active during the day is essential, Working late into the night can disrupt your sleep, leaving you tired the next day. Remember, taking a break at night is just as important as daytime breaks. So, invest in a peaceful night&#8217;s rest on a cozy mattress to boost your spirits and energy for the next working day.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



“I discovered that a fresh start is a process. A fresh start is a journey – a journey that requires a plan.” – Vivian Jokotade



So, for the testing community and also in general &#8211; consider work from home as a new beginning which has its perks such as work-life balance, the flexibility of work timings, and no need to travel for work, etc. However, it has its share of limitations as well. Technical and personal aspects of work from home need to be sorted out for a seamless work experience by proper planning and vision ane we hope that this tips will help.