Why Manual Testing Dominates in Insurance Software

Last month, a startup CEO asked me: "Pramod, you're the automation guy. Can we just fire all manual testers?" My answer shocked him. I've built frameworks that run 10,000 tests overnight. I've reduced testing time from weeks to hours. But automation can't think like a frustrated user at 2 AM. It can't notice that "something feels off." It can't test scenarios nobody thought of. Companies save 8 LPA on QA salaries. Then spend 25 LPA fixing production disasters. Users don't follow your test scripts. They click random buttons. They enter weird data. They break things in creative ways. Currently, I use 80% automated regression tests. And 20% manual exploratory testing. This saved us from 3 critical UI bugs automation missed. Plus 2 usability issues that would've killed conversions. Automation is like a Ferrari - fast and powerful. Manual testing is like a detective - observant and intuitive. You need both. Companies cutting manual QA today will hire them back tomorrow. At double the salary. The best QA strategy isn't automation OR manual. It's automation AND manual. Who agrees? 

QA automation replaces manual testing. Here’s why that’s not true. Many teams misunderstand QA automation and fall into these traps: → Assuming automation can test everything, leaving gaps in exploratory testing. → Neglecting manual testers, losing valuable human insight. → Using automation for scenarios better suited for manual testing. This mindset leads to: → Missed edge cases that only human intuition can identify. → Inefficient scripts that fail to adapt to complex scenarios. → A lack of collaboration between QA engineers and manual testers. QA automation complements manual testing: Automation handles repetitive tasks. Manual testing is essential for human judgment. And so, the manual testers? They're often indispensable for quality and innovation. Studies show that manual testing remains crucial. Why? Because it complements automation to ensure a thorough testing process. → Automation makes testing efficient, not obsolete. Automated tests run faster and more frequently. They catch bugs early and save time. → Manual testing explores, not just executes. Manual testers think like users. They find issues automation might miss. → Both methods work together, not separately. Automation covers the basics. Manual testing dives deep into complex scenarios. → Automation is about precision, not creativity. Automated tests follow scripts. Manual testers adapt to unexpected situations. → Manual testing adds value, not redundancy. Human insight is irreplaceable. Manual testers provide thoughtful feedback. QA automation and manual testing are partners. Together, they ensure quality. They bring the best of speed and human touch. Remember, Automation takes care of the routine. Manual testing takes care of the unique and unexpected. Because in the end, human insight complements automation. It's often the human testers who ensure the best results. Both are crucial for a robust QA process. Curious about building a QA process that integrates the best of automation and manual testing? Having worked extensively in both pre-sales and hands-on project execution, I’ve uncovered key patterns that can transform QA processes. 📩 DM me, and let’s dive into how these insights can be applied to your unique challenges. I’d love to share practical tips and proven strategies to help streamline your QA efforts and drive impactful results.

In my experience, I've seen many teams relying heavily on automation, but neglecting the importance of manual testing. When I worked on a recent project, I realized that manual testing caught 30% more defects than automation alone. Manual testing is like proofreading a novel. You can use grammar and spell checkers to catch obvious errors, but only a human reader can truly understand the story's flow, tone, and emotional impact. Similarly, in software testing, automation can catch obvious bugs, but manual testing is essential for understanding the user experience, identifying subtle issues, and ensuring the software meets real-world needs. Manual testers are not just bug hunters; they're user advocates, ensuring the software is intuitive, usable, and provides value to end-users. By putting themselves in the user's shoes, manual testers can identify issues that automation might miss, like: - Is the workflow logical and intuitive? - Does the UI provide clear feedback and guidance? - How does the software handle unexpected user behavior? - Are the error messages clear and actionable? - Does the software's performance and responsiveness meet user expectations? By combining automation with manual testing, teams can ensure their software is both robust and user-friendly. Now, I'd love to hear from you: What percentage of defects do you estimate manual testing catches in your projects, compared to automation? Share your experiences in the comments below! #SoftwareTesting #ManualTesting #AutomationTesting #bugs

After spending 10 years in Quality Assurance, one thing has remained constant—manual testing is still irreplaceable in many scenarios. While automation is powerful (and I use it regularly), manual testing brings: 🔄 Human perspective — Catching UI/UX issues that automation can miss 🧠 Exploratory insight — Finding bugs in areas no test case ever thought of ⚠️ Critical thinking — Understanding context, business logic, and intent 💬 Collaboration — Acting as a bridge between users, developers, and stakeholders 🛠️ Automated tests may be fast, but manual testing ensures we build the right thing for the user. 👉 Whether it's testing edge cases, understanding user behaviour, or validating real-world workflows—manual testing is far from dead. If you're in QA or development, I’d love to hear your thoughts: ➡️ What role does manual testing play in your projects today? #ManualTesting #QA #QualityAssurance #SoftwareTesting #TestWithPurpose #10YearsInQA #CareerReflection #LinkedInPostIdeas