Alisa Kliuchnikava’s Post

Thinking about automating? Hold up 🚨 Before you speed up the chaos, let's take a step back. First, you need to question everything you know about your processes. Automating a mess? That’s just a faster mess. Let’s get it right first 🤘

✨ Me Day Reflections ✨ Today, during our 'Me Day', I had the chance to revisit one of my automation projects 🚀. Here's what I learned: ✔️ Initially, I designed the automation specifically for level 1, but when the project moved to level 2, it didn’t work due to different structures. ✔️ I modified the code to fit level 2, assuming level 1 couldn't be accommodated with the same solution. ✔️ Today, I rethought the problem and discovered that with minimal adjustments, the automation could work seamlessly for both levels. 💡 Key takeaway: When you feel you're heading in the wrong direction, take a step back and rethink. Solutions often emerge when you approach the problem with fresh eyes. #Automation #ProblemSolving #Innovation #MeDay #LearningAtWork #SoftwareDevelopment

🗝️One key thing I learned while considering an automation project this week: If there is expectation that by going through a manual process employees will learn about their customers or otherwise about their assigned scope, there needs to be a supplementation to expose important bits of information that they would have absorbed otherwise. 📋Another lesson that just automating away without considering the entire ecosystem of work is not the path forward. When considering automation projects, there needs to be a greater consideration of the ways in which humans can grow together with technology to maximize efficiency and results. 🧗🏽♂️

A 1-hour journey by train wasn't too much! 🚆 Yesterday, the Software Testing Meetup took place at the cozy Maverick's Secret in Zurich, and it was a blast! 🎉 As always, after meeting people, you go home extremely inspired. 🌟 Here's a short recap of the great conversations among testing enthusiasts: 🤖 AI was a big topic: How can you effectively use AI in software testing, and where do you start? 🚀 Career goals: What position is needed to make a cool impact in testing? 🧐 The challenges we're currently facing in testing One of the highlights was that two participants traveled all the way from Basel - they both took more than a 1-hour journey, didn't know each other beforehand, and discovered more commonalities beyond their shared canton and passion for testing. It was definitely worth it to travel! 😄 What do you think? Should the next Software Testing Meetup be in Basel? Be sure to join our meetup group, so you don't miss the next event! ✨ 👉 Click on the link in the first comment to know where the testing community is meeting next 👀 #meetup #softwaretesting #AIinTesting

In this 3 day sprint, get hands-on experience of what it's like applying Strategyzer tools and methodology to start your own testing journey. We have 2 planned cohorts this year: August 26 - 28 and September 30 - October 2. Find out more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02GxFng0

Finding time to bring in new systems? Ha what time !! It's a real challenge, and I know many of us feel it—there's always something else that needs doing first! We all know automation is a real game-changer, making things run a bit smoother and freeing up some of that precious time and head space. If you’re thinking about where to start, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand has an *Automation Playbook* that’s exclusive to members. Hell yes. It’s a straightforward guide that helps make change feel a little more manageable, breaking it down into steps that fit into a busy day. Tips and tricks from case studies - people who I look up to If you want some tips to level up your tech stack game...members you need this document in your life https://lnkd.in/gNuxJpVf

Yesterday, I had the privilege of listening to Dorothy Graham (Dot) as she shared her incredible 50-year journey in automation at AutomationStar’s virtual event. It was such a profound, insightful and captivating talk. As always, Dot’s insights were profound and challenging to the conventional narratives that often surround our field. She spoke passionately about a prevailing belief: the idea that only a “good” tester is one who can code. Dot argued that this perspective is not only misguided but demoralizing. It sidelines testers who excel at the core of their craft—analyzing, questioning, and uncovering value-adding insights—yet may not possess strong coding skills. When we define “good testing” narrowly as just automation, we risk devaluing the diverse skills required to truly assess quality. As Dot wisely put it, a good tester is someone who can think critically and provide meaningful insights about the product. If they can automate, fantastic, but the primary skill of a tester is to test well. This brings me to a related thought from a business perspective. Many companies see automation as a way to reduce costs, assuming that the more we automate, the fewer testers we need. On paper, it’s an appealing strategy, but in practice, it’s often short-sighted. Yes, automation can drive efficiencies and cover repetitive tasks, but it cannot replace the insight, intuition, and creativity of a skilled tester. When we overly focus on automation to save costs, we risk missing out on real, nuanced quality assessments that only a human tester can deliver. In the long run, over-reliance on automation without investing in exploratory and critical testing weakens the product’s quality. It’s a reminder that automation is a tool—not the essence—of testing. As we progress, let’s recognize and respect the full spectrum of testing skills, knowing that a balanced approach to quality will always serve us better in the end. #softwaretesting #softwareengineering #automation #qualitymatters #brijeshsays

I also had the opportunity to listen to Dot's insights on the evolution of automation testing. Her perspective, stemming from the early days of the field, must have been truly enlightening. Her emphasis on the human element, highlighting that "Code is not issue, people are," is a powerful reminder that successful automation hinges on collaboration, effective communication, and a strong understanding of both technical and organizational factors. It's inspiring to hear how far testing has come and to recognize the ongoing need for continuous improvement and adaptation.

Our next yvrTesting on Wednesday May 22 will be about putting your automation in the right places to get the best bang for your buck. Come on out and join the conversation (and learning). #yvrTesting

How to Free Up Hours Each Week by Automating Routine and Time-Consuming Tasks I used to spend countless hours on repetitive tasks. Then I automated little tasks to focus on more valuable things that took most of my time. Here is my workflow you can follow to free up your time. 🔹 Step 1: Identify Your Repetitive Tasks ↳ List tasks you do regularly that don't require your unique skills. 🔹 Step 2: Explore No-Code Automation Tools ↳ Find user-friendly platforms that let you automate processes without any coding or pay someone to automate them for you. 🔹 Step 3: Start with One Simple Task ↳ Automate a basic task to see quick benefits without feeling overwhelmed if you are doing it yourself. 🔹 Step 4: Focus on High-Value Work ↳ Use the time you save to work on projects that truly matter and can make a real impact. Don't let routine tasks steal your time. Start using no-code automation today and focus on what really counts. Follow 👉 Ali Khan Firooz for more!