SQA2 Qualitics:
Driving Scalable Automation Without the Overhead of SDETs
ISSUE:
A healthcare technology company needed to automate their QA process to meet aggressive product release timelines—without increasing headcount or hiring specialized SDETs.
BACKGROUND:
- Heavy reliance on manual testing created bottlenecks and regression risks.
- Test automation was considered too costly or complex for their existing QA team to manage.
- The QA team had strong product knowledge but limited programming expertise.
KEY SIGNALS:
- Automation was stalled due to a skills gap, not lack of intent.
- Test coverage was inconsistent, especially across rapidly evolving modules.
- Leadership was reluctant to invest in a separate SDET function.
STRATEGIC IMPACT:
- Releases were delayed or launched with untested risk areas.
- Regression debt compounded with each sprint.
- Lack of automation hindered velocity and confidence in scalability.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Implement a low-code automation framework tailored for QA analysts, not engineers.
- Use modular test libraries and reusability patterns to scale quickly without writing complex code.
- Train QA team members in a structured path to become automation contributors—not coders.
- Integrate automation into CI/CD workflows to remove manual checkpoints.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
- 80%+ regression coverage automated without hiring additional headcount.
- Faster turnaround on critical tests, increasing sprint velocity.
- Empowered QA team with ownership over test automation strategy.