Test Automation Services
Manual testing can't keep pace with modern development. Our QA engineering pods build comprehensive test automation—E2E, API, performance testing—that integrates into your CI/CD pipeline, enabling continuous deployment without sacrificing quality.
Test Automation
Quality Engineering
Test Pipeline
The Quality Challenge
Manual testing can't scale with modern development velocity. Teams that rely on manual QA face a constant tradeoff between speed and quality. Test automation breaks this tradeoff— enabling fast releases without sacrificing confidence.
Manual testing takes days or weeks, creating bottlenecks. Teams ship slowly because testing can't keep pace with development velocity.
Insufficient test coverage means bugs slip through. Production issues damage user trust and drain engineering time on firefighting.
Unreliable tests that randomly fail erode confidence. Teams start ignoring test results, defeating the purpose of automation.
Poorly designed test suites become expensive to maintain. Tests break with every UI change, requiring constant updates.
Automated tests run in minutes, not days. Get immediate feedback on every code change, enabling continuous deployment with confidence.
Strategic test pyramid—unit, integration, and E2E tests covering critical paths. Catch bugs early where they're cheapest to fix.
Page Object patterns, reusable components, and clean abstractions. Tests that evolve with your application, not against it.
Parallel execution, smart retry logic, and intelligent test selection. Fast, reliable test runs that teams actually trust.
Our Services
From strategy to implementation, we deliver test automation that actually works—reliable, maintainable, and integrated into your development workflow.
Comprehensive E2E testing that validates complete user journeys across your application. We automate critical paths—signup flows, checkout processes, core workflows—ensuring users always have a working product.
Thorough API testing that validates contracts, data integrity, and service interactions. We test beyond happy paths—covering edge cases, error handling, and boundary conditions that cause production issues.
Performance testing that identifies bottlenecks before users do. We simulate real-world load patterns, stress test system limits, and establish performance baselines for continuous monitoring.
Automated security scanning integrated into your development workflow. We catch vulnerabilities early—OWASP Top 10, injection attacks, authentication bypasses—before they reach production.
Native and cross-platform mobile testing on real devices and emulators. We handle the complexity of iOS and Android ecosystems—different OS versions, screen sizes, and device capabilities.
Build the foundation for sustainable test automation. We set up test environments, CI/CD integration, parallel execution infrastructure, and reporting dashboards that make testing a first-class citizen.
Not sure where to start? Let's assess your current testing maturity.
Schedule a Test AssessmentOur Process
Our test automation process is designed to deliver value quickly while building a sustainable, maintainable foundation. We start with strategy, not just scripting.
We start by understanding your current testing state—what works, what doesn't, and where automation will deliver the most value. We analyze your application, identify high-impact test candidates, and create a prioritized automation roadmap.
Key Activities
Deliverables
Test automation strategy document, prioritized test backlog, tool recommendations
We design a test automation framework tailored to your stack. This includes architectural patterns (Page Objects, Screenplay), folder structure, utilities, and conventions that make tests readable, maintainable, and reliable.
Key Activities
Deliverables
Framework design document, coding standards, initial project scaffold
We build the automation foundation—setting up the framework, CI/CD integration, test environments, and infrastructure for parallel execution. This foundation enables scalable test execution from day one.
Key Activities
Deliverables
Working automation framework, CI/CD integration, execution infrastructure
We write automated tests following our prioritized backlog—starting with high-value, stable tests that deliver immediate ROI. Tests are developed iteratively, reviewed for quality, and integrated into the pipeline.
Key Activities
Deliverables
Automated test suite, test documentation, team training sessions
New test suites often need tuning. We stabilize flaky tests, optimize execution time, adjust retry logic, and fine-tune parallelization. The goal is a reliable, fast test suite teams can trust.
Key Activities
Deliverables
Stable, reliable test suite with consistent pass rates
We implement dashboards and reporting that give visibility into test health, coverage trends, and failure patterns. Metrics drive continuous improvement and demonstrate ROI to stakeholders.
Key Activities
Deliverables
Test analytics dashboard, coverage reports, trend analysis
Test automation is not set-and-forget. We provide ongoing maintenance—updating tests as the application evolves, expanding coverage, and continuously improving the framework based on learnings.
Key Activities
Deliverables
Evergreen test suite, expanded coverage, empowered team
Our test automation process is powered by SPARK™ — our delivery framework that brings predictability, quality gates, and clear communication to every engagement.
Technology Stack
We're tool-agnostic and choose the right testing technologies for each project. Here's our expertise across the testing ecosystem.
Browser automation frameworks for end-to-end testing
Testing frameworks for unit and integration tests
Tools for API and contract testing
Load testing and performance monitoring tools
Mobile app testing frameworks and platforms
Test infrastructure and pipeline integration
Tool-agnostic approach: Already have testing tools in place? We integrate with your existing stack and extend your current automation framework.
Why Salt
Test automation with Salt means more than writing scripts. You get complete QA teams, proven frameworks, and a partner invested in your product quality.
Ship with confidence daily instead of monthly. Automated tests run in minutes, enabling continuous deployment without manual QA bottlenecks.
10x
Faster releases
Catch bugs before users do. Comprehensive test coverage means fewer defects reaching production and less time spent on incident firefighting.
80%
Fewer production bugs
Automated tests replace repetitive manual testing. Your QA team focuses on exploratory testing and edge cases instead of regression grinding.
60%
Testing cost reduction
Get a complete QA team—automation engineers, manual testers, and QA leads—not individual contractors you need to manage and coordinate.
100%
Team coverage
Tests run automatically on every commit, overnight, and across time zones. Catch issues immediately, not days later during manual testing.
24/7
Continuous testing
We leverage AI for test generation, self-healing locators, and intelligent test selection. Smarter testing that adapts to your application.
40%
Maintenance reduction
We prioritize tests based on business risk—critical user journeys get thorough coverage while low-risk areas get appropriate attention.
95%+
Critical path coverage
Dashboards and metrics that demonstrate testing ROI. Track coverage, execution trends, and defect escape rates with clear visibility.
Real-time
Quality metrics
Use Cases
Test automation needs vary based on maturity, scale, and goals. Here's how we help companies at different stages of their quality journey.
Building Test Automation from Scratch
You're starting fresh—either a new product or finally investing in automation. We help teams design and build test automation frameworks from the ground up, establishing best practices that scale with your product.
Common Scenarios
Transforming Legacy Test Infrastructure
Your existing test automation is showing its age—slow, flaky, expensive to maintain. We modernize test infrastructure with modern frameworks, better architecture, and CI/CD integration that enterprises demand.
Common Scenarios
Integrating Quality into Deployment Pipelines
You have automation but it's disconnected from your deployment process. We integrate testing deeply into CI/CD pipelines—automated gates that prevent bad code from reaching production.
Common Scenarios
Validating Scale Before Launch
Your application works, but can it handle real-world load? We build performance testing capabilities—load testing, stress testing, and continuous performance monitoring that prevents scaling surprises.
Common Scenarios
Engagement Models
Whether you need a quick assessment, a pilot project, or a long-term partnership — we have an engagement model that fits your needs.
We analyze your codebase, processes, and team dynamics to identify bottlenecks and opportunities. You get a clear roadmap — no commitment required.
Ideal for: Teams wanting an objective assessment before committing
Learn moreStart with a focused pilot project. A small Pod works alongside your team on a real deliverable, so you can evaluate fit and capabilities with minimal risk.
Ideal for: Teams wanting to test the waters before scaling
Learn moreDedicated cross-functional teams that integrate with your organization. Full accountability for delivery with built-in QA, architecture reviews, and the SPARK™ framework.
Ideal for: Teams ready to scale with a trusted partner
Learn moreNeed specific skills? Augment your team with vetted engineers who work under your direction. React, Node, Python, AI engineers, and more.
Ideal for: Teams with clear requirements and strong internal leadership
Learn moreLet's talk about your goals, team structure, and timeline. We'll recommend the best way to start — with no pressure to commit.
Schedule a Free ConsultationTest automation is the practice of using specialized software tools to execute pre-scripted tests on software applications automatically. Instead of manually clicking through your application to verify functionality, automated tests run through test scenarios programmatically—faster, more reliably, and without human fatigue.
Modern test automation goes beyond simple record-and-playback. It involves strategic test design, maintainable code architecture, seamless CI/CD integration, and intelligent test selection. The goal isn't just to automate tests—it's to create a quality safety net that enables confident, continuous delivery.
At Salt, test automation is a core part of our engineering services. Our QA pods bring together automation engineers, manual testers, and QA leads who work as an integrated part of product teams—not a separate quality gate at the end.
The test pyramid is a framework for balancing different types of automated tests. It suggests having many small, fast tests at the base and fewer large, slow tests at the top:
Unit tests verify individual functions, methods, or components in isolation. They're fast (milliseconds), focused, and cheap to maintain. A typical application might have thousands of unit tests covering business logic, utilities, and component behavior. Unit tests provide the foundation of confidence that code works as designed.
Integration tests verify how components work together—API endpoints, database interactions, service boundaries. They're slower than unit tests but catch issues that unit tests miss: interface mismatches, data flow problems, and integration bugs. Integration tests are especially critical in microservices architectures.
E2E tests simulate real user journeys through the complete application stack. They're the slowest and most complex, but provide the highest confidence that the system works for users. E2E tests should focus on critical paths: user registration, checkout flows, core workflows that must work.
The pyramid shape reflects the tradeoff between test speed and confidence scope. Unit tests are fast but narrow; E2E tests are slow but broad. Having more tests at lower levels means faster feedback loops and lower maintenance costs. Teams that invert the pyramid (mostly E2E tests) often struggle with slow builds and flaky tests.
E2E tests are essential but notoriously difficult to maintain. Here's how we approach E2E automation at Salt:
Page Objects encapsulate UI structure and interactions in reusable classes. When UI changes, you update one place—not every test. This pattern dramatically reduces maintenance burden and makes tests more readable.
Flaky tests often result from brittle selectors. We prefer data-testid attributes over CSS classes or XPath. These selectors are explicit (for testing only) and stable (don't change with styling). We work with development teams to add test attributes during development.
Each test should be independent—able to run alone or in any order. We achieve isolation through proper test data management (fresh data per test), avoiding shared state, and using API-based setup instead of UI-based setup where possible.
Arbitrary sleep() calls cause either slow tests or flaky tests. We use explicit waits—waiting for specific conditions (element visible, network idle, text appears) rather than fixed time delays. Modern frameworks like Playwright have excellent auto-waiting built in.
E2E tests are slow by nature, but parallel execution helps. We design tests to run concurrently without interference—isolated data, no shared sessions, no test interdependencies. A 2-hour sequential suite can become a 15-minute parallel run with proper parallelization.
APIs are the backbone of modern applications, and API testing is often the highest-ROI form of automation. API tests are faster than E2E tests, more stable than UI tests, and catch issues at service boundaries where bugs often hide.
In microservices architectures, contract testing verifies that services communicate correctly. Tools like Pact let consumers define expected API behavior, and providers verify compliance. This catches breaking changes before deployment—without needing full integration environments.
Good API tests cover more than success scenarios. We test error handling (invalid inputs, missing auth, rate limits), boundary conditions (empty arrays, maximum values), and edge cases (concurrent requests, network timeouts). These unhappy paths are where production bugs often lurk.
API responses should match expected schemas. We validate response structure, data types, required fields, and business constraints. Schema testing catches data contract violations that break downstream consumers.
API tests can include performance assertions—response time limits, throughput expectations. This catches performance regressions early, before users notice. We integrate lightweight performance checks into regular test runs.
Test automation delivers maximum value when integrated into CI/CD pipelines. Tests that run manually aren't tests—they're documentation.
We integrate tests at appropriate pipeline stages: unit tests run on every commit (fast feedback), integration tests run on pull requests (validation before merge), E2E tests run on deployment (production readiness), and performance tests run on schedule or before major releases.
Tests should be gates, not just reports. Failed tests block merges and deployments. This requires reliable tests—teams learn to ignore flaky gates. We invest heavily in test reliability because gates only work when they're trusted.
Not every change needs every test. We implement test impact analysis—running only tests affected by code changes. This speeds up feedback while maintaining coverage. For PR builds, we might run smoke tests immediately and full regression in parallel.
When tests fail, engineers need clear information fast. We implement comprehensive failure reporting: screenshots, videos, logs, and traces that make debugging straightforward. Good failure artifacts can reduce investigation time from hours to minutes.
Performance problems caught in production are expensive. Performance testing validates that your application handles expected load and identifies bottlenecks before they impact users.
Load testing simulates expected traffic patterns to validate capacity. How many concurrent users can the system handle? What's the response time under load? Load tests answer these questions before launch day.
Stress testing finds breaking points by pushing beyond expected load. What happens at 2x, 5x, 10x normal traffic? How does the system degrade? Does it recover? Stress tests reveal failure modes and inform capacity planning.
Performance testing shouldn't be a one-time event before launch. We integrate performance checks into CI/CD—baseline tests that catch regressions early. When a commit increases response time by 50%, we know immediately, not weeks later.
Synthetic tests complement but don't replace real user monitoring. We help set up performance observability—tracking real user experiences, identifying slow pages, and correlating performance with business metrics.
The testing tool landscape is vast. Here's our framework for choosing the right tools:
For E2E testing, Playwright is our default recommendation. It's fast, reliable, supports all major browsers, and has excellent developer experience. Cypress excels for React applications with its component testing capabilities. Selenium remains relevant for legacy projects or specific language requirements.
Unit testing frameworks are typically language-specific. Jest or Vitest for JavaScript/TypeScript, PyTest for Python, JUnit for Java. We follow ecosystem conventions and prioritize developer experience—tests should be easy to write and fast to run.
For API testing, we often use the same frameworks as unit tests (Jest with Supertest, PyTest with requests). Postman/Newman works well for teams that prefer visual test design. For contract testing, Pact is the industry standard.
K6 is our preferred load testing tool—developer-friendly, scriptable in JavaScript, and CI/CD native. JMeter and Gatling remain solid choices for enterprise scenarios. Artillery offers a good balance of simplicity and power.
Salt brings a differentiated approach to test automation services. Here's what sets us apart:
QA Pods, Not Just Automation Engineers: You get complete QA teams—automation engineers, manual testers, and QA leads—not individual contractors you need to manage. Our pods take ownership of quality and integrate seamlessly with development teams.
Engineering-First Approach: Test automation is a software engineering discipline. We apply the same rigor to test code that we apply to product code—code reviews, design patterns, refactoring, documentation. This creates sustainable test suites, not script graveyards.
Modern Tooling: We stay current with the testing ecosystem. Playwright for reliable E2E tests, K6 for performance testing, AI-powered tools for test generation and maintenance. We bring modern practices to every engagement.
CI/CD Integration Expertise: Tests only matter if they run. We have deep experience integrating automation into CI/CD pipelines—GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, and more. Your tests become quality gates, not afterthoughts.
Full-Stack Quality: We test at every layer—unit, integration, E2E, performance, security. This comprehensive coverage works alongside our product engineering services to deliver high-quality software end-to-end.
SPARK™ Framework: Our SPARK™ framework brings structure to test automation delivery—clear phases, quality gates, and success metrics. You get predictable delivery, not open-ended engagements.
Ready to improve your testing? Schedule a call with our team to discuss how Salt's test automation services can help you ship faster with confidence.
Industries
We've built software for companies across industries. Our teams understand your domain's unique challenges, compliance requirements, and success metrics.
HIPAA-compliant digital health solutions. Patient portals, telehealth platforms, and healthcare data systems built right.
Scale your product fast without compromising on code quality. We help SaaS companies ship features quickly and build for growth.
Build secure, compliant financial software. From payment systems to trading platforms, we understand fintech complexity.
Platforms that convert and scale. Custom storefronts, inventory systems, and omnichannel experiences that drive revenue.
Optimize operations end-to-end. Route optimization, warehouse management, and real-time tracking systems.
Hire dedicated developers to extend your team
Whether you need to build a new product, modernize a legacy system, or add AI capabilities, our managed pods are ready to ship value from day one.
100+
Engineering Experts
800+
Projects Delivered
14+
Years in Business
4.9★
Clutch Rating
FAQs
Common questions about our test automation services, tools, process, and how we help teams build reliable, maintainable test suites.
Test automation is the practice of using specialized tools and scripts to execute tests automatically, rather than manually. It matters because manual testing doesn't scale with modern development velocity. Automated tests run in minutes (not days), catch regressions immediately, and enable continuous deployment. For teams shipping frequently, automation is the only way to maintain quality without slowing down.
Initial framework setup typically takes 3-4 weeks—including assessment, framework design, CI/CD integration, and the first batch of automated tests. However, test automation is ongoing. We recommend starting with high-value tests (critical user journeys, frequent regression areas) and expanding coverage incrementally. Most teams see meaningful ROI within 6-8 weeks of starting.
It depends on your stack and needs. Playwright is our default recommendation for most projects—it's fast, reliable, supports all major browsers, and has excellent developer experience. Cypress is great for React-heavy applications with its component testing. Selenium makes sense for legacy projects or specific language requirements. We'll recommend the right tool based on your context.
Flaky tests are the enemy of automation trust. We prevent flakiness through proper architecture—explicit waits, stable selectors, isolated test data, and avoiding time-based assumptions. When flakiness occurs, we identify root causes (not just add retries), fix the underlying issues, and implement monitoring to catch new flakiness early. Our goal is >99% test reliability.
Not everything should be automated. We follow the test pyramid: automate extensively at unit/integration levels, automate critical user journeys at E2E level, and reserve manual testing for exploratory testing, usability evaluation, and edge cases. The sweet spot is automating repetitive regression tests while freeing QA for high-value manual exploration.
We integrate tests at multiple pipeline stages. Fast tests (unit, component) run on every commit and block merges. Slower E2E tests run on pull requests and deployments. We configure parallel execution for speed, smart test selection for efficiency, and clear failure reporting for debugging. The goal is fast feedback without blocking development velocity.
We focus on risk-based coverage rather than arbitrary percentage targets. Critical user journeys (signup, checkout, core workflows) should have near-100% coverage. High-risk areas (payments, authentication, data integrity) need thorough coverage. Low-risk areas can have lighter coverage. A well-tested application might have 80% unit test coverage and 95% critical path E2E coverage.
API testing is critical for microservices architectures. We use contract testing (Pact) to verify service interfaces, integration tests to validate service interactions, and mock services to isolate dependencies. For APIs specifically, we test beyond happy paths—covering error handling, boundary conditions, authentication, rate limiting, and performance under load.
Yes, performance testing is a core part of our test automation services. We use tools like K6, JMeter, and Gatling to simulate realistic load patterns. We establish performance baselines, identify bottlenecks, test breaking points, and integrate performance checks into CI/CD. This catches performance regressions before they impact users.
Test data is often the hardest part of automation. We implement strategies like test data factories for generating realistic data, database seeding for consistent initial state, API-based setup for speed, and test isolation to prevent interference between tests. For sensitive data, we use anonymization and synthetic data generation.
Test maintenance is essential—automated tests need to evolve with your application. Ongoing work includes updating tests for new features, fixing tests broken by UI changes, expanding coverage, optimizing execution time, and improving framework capabilities. We typically allocate 20-30% of automation effort to maintenance, varying based on application change velocity.
Costs vary based on scope and engagement model. Initial framework setup and foundation typically runs $30K-$60K depending on complexity. Ongoing automation development and maintenance is usually structured as a monthly retainer for a QA pod (automation engineers + manual testers). Schedule a call to discuss your specific needs and get detailed pricing.