When doing project management or managing agile projects, Jira, a market-leading enterprise solution is often the chosen tool. Jira can help manage stories, workflows, custom fields, and reporting.
Testing is an important part of any project lifecycle as it ensures the quality of the product being delivered.
Testing too can be managed in Jira but Jira was never built for test management. So how does an organization go about managing the entire project in Jira — how can you combine Jira and Test management?
A good news and a bad.
Good news, Jira has the ability to host apps and has a thriving marketplace. It can be extended to provide any functionality through addons.
Bad news (or good depending on how you see it) — You will find close to 100 test management apps. How do you choose though? What to look for in a good test management app?
The tool that you choose should support the entire QA process along with traceability and it should be easy to use. Most of the apps will address these criteria. Other factors can be, your requirement for test automation, test process customizations, reporting and for teams which need to quickly get started — intuitiveness. Different addons offer different features and you can evaluate based on what fits your test processes best.
Another lesser-known difference between the apps is what type of addon is it. But why is that important? Actually, it is one of the most important criteria because it defines your experience with the system. The following points will make this clearer.
First let’s look at the types:
The marketplace test management apps can be categorized into 3 broad buckets based on hosting.
Jira-native apps that are integrated with Jira but do not utilize Jira for testing but instead provide all the features via the app
Jira-native apps that use Jira as the base of test management
Jira connector apps that connect Jira to external test management systems
Each of these types has its own pros and cons as listed below.
Jira-native apps integrated with Jira
The best way to do test case management in Jira is via the apps which are integrated with Jira, but don’t utilize Jira’s issues for test creation and for test management. Your project is managed in Jira, i.e., the requirements and tasks are managed in Jira and your test cases are managed through the app.
Pros
Quick start, since there is no extra configuration required to get started
Comprehensive and intuitive features as it’s a dedicated test management app and has not been retrofitted to an existing Jira model
Easy to use/less confusion since the test entities are completely delineated from Jira issues
Separate views of project and testing, but still linked and seamless within a single platform
If you choose to move from Server to cloud or vice versa, the user interface still remains the same
Cons
Must navigate to the app for using it
Key apps to explore
AIO Tests — Test Management for Jira (detailed description included below)
Zephyr Scale — Test Management for Jira
Jira-native apps using Jira as Test Management base
These apps are integrated with Jira and they utilize Jira’s issues as test entities (issue types are treated as test entities like cases, cycles, etc.). The project as well as testing is managed in Jira.
Pros
No need of navigation to another app to manage testing process
Can use Jira’s native capabilities like search, export, bulk edit, etc.
Cons
Needs extensive setup to introduce new issue types and settings apart from project settings
Confusing to use as project stories and testing entities are all treated as same (Jira issue types)
Backlog consists of testing entities also and special filters are needed to exclude them
Key apps to explore
XRAY
Zephyr Squad
Jira connector apps
Addons of this type are essentially connectors and offer integration between Jira and an externally hosted app. The actual test management app is hosted by individual companies. These apps are mostly free and are charged outside of Jira.
Pros
Traceability can be achieved using these connectors between tests and stories
Downtime of one doesn’t affect another
Other integrations/customizations possible
Cons
Need a separate instance
Needs a separate login
Key apps to explore
TestRail
TestLink
AIO Tests — Test Management for Jira: Quality Reimagined
AIO Tests is a leading, Jira-native test management app covering the entire QA lifecycle with Test Cases, Cycles, Reports and Automation.
It is uniquely placed amongst its competitors because of its simplicity, quick start features and adaptability to customer requests and has a rating of 4/4 on Atlassian marketplace.
It has also been named as the fastest growing test management app in reports from Contegix, an Atlassian Platinum Solutions Partner.
AIO Tests has been built based on feedback and experience of testing domain experts. Thus, it tries to aim at addressing the key pain points of testing teams.
The app keeps the navigation simple by including the key components as part of the top menu — Cases, Sets, Cycles and Reports.
Apart from the basic features of cases, sets, execution cycles, traceability and execution reports, here is a list of advanced features that the app supports.
Linking of Cases — Users can create modular cases by keeping common steps in a single case and then linking the case to other cases where the common steps need to be executed.
Custom Fields - Ability to create user-defined fields for Cases, Sets, Cycles and Executions.
Email Notifications - Ability to send emails to reviewers, case assignees, etc.
Automation Support - JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber, Postman, Playwright, Jenkins, Cypress and more
Bulk edit of steps in multiple cases — Users can export any number of cases in Excel and then they can edit steps and title of these cases and re-import.
Execute Offline — Users can export cases belonging to an execution cycle, update results in the exported excel and then import it back in. This feature allows for bulk update of step results.
Reports Sharing & Exporting — This unique feature allows users to share reports and their filters via a link generated by the app or even export reports for offline use.
Saving of Reports — Allows users to save the reports they use frequently, share them, edit, and delete them
Top cases — Lists the top cases in projects, based on the defects the cases find and the number of times they are executed
This is a quick overview of the AIO Tests app. For details around their features, visit their documentation site or book a demo.
FAQs
How can I determine which test management app is best suited for my organization's needs given the wide range of options available in the Jira marketplace? Are there specific criteria or considerations that should be prioritized when making this decision?
Determining the best test management app for your organization within the Jira marketplace requires careful consideration of various factors. Firstly, it's essential to evaluate whether the chosen app supports the entire QA process efficiently, including traceability and ease of use. Additionally, consider specific requirements such as test automation capabilities, customization options for test processes, and robust reporting features. Evaluating the intuitiveness of the app and its alignment with your team's workflow are also crucial aspects to consider. Ultimately, selecting a test management app should be based on how well it meets your organization's unique needs and integrates seamlessly with your existing Jira environment.
Can you provide more insights into how AIO Tests specifically addresses the pain points of testing teams and improves the test case management process within Jira? Additionally, how does AIO Tests differentiate itself from other test management apps available in the marketplace in terms of features, usability, and customer satisfaction?
AIO Tests stands out among test management apps for Jira due to its simplicity, quick start features, and adaptability to customer requests. With a rating of 4/4 on the Atlassian Marketplace and recognition as the fastest-growing test management app, AIO Tests has garnered praise for addressing key pain points of testing teams. The app's user-friendly navigation, including key components like Cases, Sets, Cycles, and Reports, simplifies the test case management process within Jira. Advanced features such as modular case creation, custom fields, email notifications, and extensive automation support further enhance its usability and effectiveness. AIO Tests also offers unique features like bulk editing of steps, offline execution, and sharing/exporting of reports, providing testing teams with comprehensive tools for managing test cases efficiently. To gain a deeper understanding of AIO Tests' capabilities and features, readers can explore its documentation site or book a demo to see it in action.
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