Common Challenges in Manual Testing and How to Overcome Them

We have all heard about different challenges when performing automated testing—be it difficulties setting up a framework, test maintenance, failing tests, or choosing the right technologies—but what about manual testing? Is it really just smooth sailing or are there any hidden obstacles? 

In this blog post, we will explore some common challenges when performing manual testing and discuss the best ways to overcome them, so that you can feel confident in your manual testing journey. So let’s jump right in!

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What challenges do manual testers face?

As the term “manual testing” suggests, with an emphasis on the word “manual”, most challenges associated with manual testing are related to human error. This is because we are more prone to different human errors, unlike machines which simply repeat programmed actions. However, there are also other challenges related to test environments, test documentation, and the scale of the project. As manual testers, we have access to everything we need to significantly improve our performance in all aspects of our work. And if needed, we can leverage available technologies to enhance our efficiency.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common challenges software testers face when performing manual testing and how to overcome them.

Manual testing challenge #1: Human errors

As we already mentioned, one of the main challenges of manual testing are human errors, which can come in different forms:

1. Inadequate test coverage 

Forgetting to test a requirement while repeatedly testing another.

How to overcome this challenge:

It is important to establish an organized system for testing processes. Whether it’s regression testing, smoke testing, or acceptance testing, all testers should have a clear understanding of what each type involves, including specific test cases and techniques. Utilizing a test management tool is highly recommended to track testing progress and ensure optimal test coverage.

2. Invalid or mistyped data entries 

Mistakes may occur in cases where data entry is part of the requirement.

How to overcome this challenge:

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to errors related to data entry, but there are some ways you can reduce their likelihood:

• Avoid entering sensitive data at the end of a long workday when fatigue can lead to mistakes. Ensure you have the mental capacity to stay fully focused.
• For specific data entries (for example, long forms where outcomes depend on the input), make sure to add this data in your test cases to avoid missing scenarios and having to create new data each time.
• If you're uncertain, don't hesitate to ask colleagues for help with verification. Team collaboration can significantly improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Avoid entering data wherever possible. Instead, copy and paste it. This reduces the possibility of errors.

3. Assumption errors 

Assuming a part of the system should work a certain way based on past experience, rather than how it is actually expected to perform.

How to overcome this challenge:

Assumption errors often occur with experienced testers who have worked on various projects and developed a sense of how similar systems typically function. While this intuition can be valuable for exploratory or usability testing, it's crucial to always compare these assumptions against the actual requirements. This ensures the system behaves as expected and aligns with the specified criteria.

4. Ambiguous requirements

Different testers might interpret requirements differently, leading to discrepancies in test execution.

How to overcome this challenge:

Requirements elicitation is crucial, and testers should feel comfortable asking questions and resolving ambiguities. A compiled document with questions for the stakeholders can be submitted not only in the early stage, but also as the project progresses and new issues arise. This is an effective way to address ambiguous requirements and ensure that everyone involved—testers, developers, system analysts—have a clear and consistent understanding of the requirements. Clear requirements lead to accurate test cases, saving time and reducing costs by avoiding unnecessary extra testing.

Manual testing challenge #2: Test environments

Different projects require different test environments. Some projects might only need devices with specific operating systems, whereas other projects might have a broader scope that requires, for example, mobile and desktop devices with various operating systems.

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Let’s imagine a project where a system is being developed that has to work on Windows, MacOS and Linux operating systems, as well as an application for iOS and Android devices. This scenario presents a challenge due to the variety of devices and operating systems involved. Each OS has different versions and operates on various devices (for example, Android on Samsung, Huawei, Google, etc.), each with different setups and capabilities. Taking everything into consideration, we are left with a long list of testing devices and a lengthy testing timeline ahead. 

How to overcome this challenge:

• Use emulators. When acquiring physical devices is not possible, emulators can be helpful. For example, XCode provides emulators for iOS devices, Android Studio offers emulators for Android devices, and VirtualBox can be used for various desktop distributions. Emulators can replicate the desktop/mobile device environment, such as hardware architecture, operating systems and user interfaces. However, it’s important to keep in mind that emulators can have some disadvantages compared to physical devices, such as reliability and connectivity issues, so choosing one over the other depends on the project requirements. For instance, if a project requires QR code scanning or different camera function testing, then emulators might not be able to replace physical devices.
• Prioritize test environments. If there is a limited time frame and a lot of test environments, it can be useful to prioritize by listing devices and operating systems from most to least used. Start the testing process from the most used to the least used devices/operating systems. This will ensure that the highest priority environments with the widest user base will be tested first, while lower priority environments will be tested later. This approach ensures that if there is not enough time or resources for all environments to be tested, only the least impactful environments will be left untested, affecting fewer users. 

Manual testing challenge #3: Test documentation and maintenance

When working with large-scale complex projects, test documentation can grow quite rapidly. With agile development, project changes can occur in a matter of 1-2 weeks, which means that we should think about how to best optimize the way we maintain and update the test documentation.

How to overcome this challenge:

• Develop a standardized approach when writing test cases, since it is a part of good testing practices and allows everyone on the team to understand each other’s work. 
• Use version control to keep track of documentation updates and to see the latest changes. It allows you to keep track of what has been added and changed, and to revert to previous versions if mistakes occur.
• Plan time to update documentation accordingly when project changes are anticipated, as it is very important to always keep the documentation up to date. Outdated test documentation can lead to invalid test cases, which can negatively impact test execution, potentially resulting in critical issues. 
• Creating dashboards can significantly mitigate the work overload, meaning everyone can have a clear overview of either test cases/test sets/test plans or bug reports.

Manual testing challenge #4: Scalability of the project

In the constantly changing environment of software development, projects often expand in scale, introduce new functionality, features and grow in complexity. As testers, we are responsible to ensure and uphold the quality of the system, however, with limited time and resource restraints it may become a challenge. Since the testing process is done manually, the workload can become overwhelming.

How to overcome this challenge:

• Create a contingency plan. From the start of the project, it is crucial for all parties involved—testers, developers, project managers—to discuss contingency plans  in case the project workload becomes unmanageable for the current team of testers. This might include adding a new team member, extending sprints (for Agile projects) or implementing partial test automation. 
• Prioritize the tasks. Prioritize tasks based on specific criteria, such as customer impact, security risks and core functionality. Task prioritization is particularly useful in cases when time is limited, as it allows the team to focus on the most critical parts of the system.
• Consider test automation. Think about test automation as an alternative to manual testing as a way to manage  repetitive tasks and improve overall testing efficiency.

Final thoughts

Manual testing comes with its own set of challenges, so it is important to identify and address them in order to ensure product quality. Dealing with potential issues early can help to improve the testing strategy and overall efficiency. Open and effective communication within QA teams regarding project issues is key to finding the best solutions together.

Looking for ways to overcome issues related to manual testing or improve overall testing efficiency? We can help you with all your software testing needs. Get in touch and let’s discuss your project.