Automation: saving businesses time and money during the financial downturn

By Roq

28 Sep 2023

Louise Owen, Senior Automation Quality Engineer at Roq, Quality Engineering Consultancy 

Organisations are under constant pressure to deliver high-quality, high-functioning technology faster than ever before. Competition is fierce, and margins are tight. What’s more, many organisations are facing budgetary cuts, projects being shelved and recruitment freezes. Effectively, businesses are attempting to deliver more, with less resource. But how is this possible without sacrificing the quality of their output? 

This is where the intelligent application of automation testing comes into play as companies look to streamline processes and save money whilst remaining competitive. 

What is test automation and why is it important for businesses?

Put simply, automation is the process of running tests using technology to identify defects and reducing the need for human intervention. It’s a means of automatically performing repetitive tasks quickly and accurately, freeing up employees to focus on more strategic tasks. Automation can provide significant time and monetary savings which are invaluable in the current climate.

Using automation to increase consumer spend

An important benefit of automation that is often overlooked is its potential to increase customer spending. By design, automation enables businesses to respond quickly to changing market trends and customer demands by increasing delivery speeds. It helps organisations move at pace to provide quality solutions, without increasing costs, a win for both the business and its customers. This agility can lead to increased customer loyalty, encouraging higher spending and increased market share.

At Roq, we have worked with a number of eCommerce clients (https://www.roq.co.uk/blog/how-does-test-automation-increase-customer-spend/) to implement test automation. Many of these clients have witnessed a significant rise in quality and customer satisfaction as a result. A slick, quick, bang-on-trend, bug-free purchase journey means customers will return again and again because there are no barriers to them obtaining the products they want to buy.  

Using automation testing to save time and money

In addition to raising the bar on customer satisfaction, automation can also lower costs by reducing the need for manual testing, allowing businesses to focus their resources elsewhere while the need to save money is high. 

Roq recently automated a regression test pack for a global organisation, (https://www.roq.co.uk/projects/roq-provides-yearly-saving-of-pound45k-and-a-time-saving-of-125-through-automated-ios-testing-project/) achieving 58.5% test coverage, time savings of 125%, and estimated yearly cost savings of over £45,000. The project was completed on time and 7% under budget - a fantastic outcome for the client.

A multinational legal organisation approached Roq for support with uploading 170 million documents to their new cloud server. The client operates in a highly regulated industry, so the accurate and secure migration of these documents was paramount.

From the client’s calculations a manual upload of their documents would take five years to complete. However, with Roq’s carefully scripted automated solution the project timeline was reduced to 200 days – an 89% time saving! (https://www.roq.co.uk/projects/database-migration-testing-for-global-law-firm/?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general_aud_email1)

Using Automation to improve accuracy

Another advantage of automation is that it can improve test accuracy. When monotonous, repetitive tasks are performed manually, there is always a risk of human error. However, by automating these tasks, businesses can ensure they are completed consistently and accurately, reducing the risk of costly mistakes. Of course, implementing automation does require an investment of time and resources upfront. However, the long-term benefits are worth it. Not only can automation drive time and cost efficiencies, it can also improve employee satisfaction by freeing up engineers for more enjoyable, meaningful work.

Automation vs manual testing

Automation is a powerful tool in the Quality Assurance arsenal, however, it is important to remember you cannot automate absolutely everything. Manual testing is still relevant in instances where human intuition, creativity, and exploration are required. A blended approach leverages the strengths of both manual and automated testing, enabling businesses to automate where possible and free up manual testing resource for more complicated projects. [JH1] 

Access to niche skills during a digital skills shortage

Introducing Roq’s Quality Engineers to your organisation augments your team with additional skills quickly. During the current digital skills shortage, people with this niche expertise are hard to come by, and bringing new team members up to speed takes time you can’t afford. Roq enables your team fast and easy access to our consultants who work within frameworks that enable them to hit the ground running, and specialise in streamlining workflows and driving time and cost efficiencies for business. 

We believe that a successful engagement is measured by leaving a client and their teams in a better place compared to when we started. Our Quality Engineers help coach the wider team to bring everyone up to a higher level to ensure they can continue working to industry best practices long after a project is completed. 

Summary

In a world where innovation and speed are paramount, automated testing isn't just an option; it's a necessity. Despite the current market challenges, many businesses are striving to do more with less. However, it is important that quality is not sacrificed to achieve this. Overall, businesses looking to drive time and budgetary savings whilst protecting market share and brand reputation should consider automated testing. It increases efficiency and ensures consistent, reliable testing outcomes. Not everything can be automated, some testing manual testing will still be required, but where you can automate, you can drive efficiency!

If you would like to know more about automation, or assess whether your existing tools are giving you the most return, reach out to Roq for a no-obligation conversation.

About Roq

Roq is an outcomes-focused quality engineering consultancy with a Platinum status from Investors in People. Roq provides a genuinely independent view on all things quality, working with some of the world’s largest organisations on their most important technology initiatives. Roq’s goal is to help organisations realise the benefits of high-functioning, high-quality software applications delivered at a pace that aligns with our client’s business imperatives. With an excellent Net Promoter Score of 77% and a Client Satisfaction Score of 93%, we know our work is having a real impact on our customers. 

Roq has been proudly providing services since 2009.

www.roq.co.uk

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin