Infometis Technology Radar: Test Automation
Without test automation, software development can hardly be carried out at the required quality and speed today. Teams and companies benefit from a wide variety of technologies and innovations.
Choosing the right testing tools is an essential success factor. But how do you keep track of the many options available?
The Infometis Technology Radar addresses precisely this need. Infometis has specialized in test automation for years. Therefore, we invest considerable time in ongoing market monitoring to ensure we don't miss any promising technology trends. Open communication with our customers and the market is crucial in this process. Establishing direct contact with technology providers is of paramount importance to Infometis, allowing us to gain insights into their inner workings. This applies equally to commercial vendors and various open-source community initiatives.
We provide independent and technology-neutral consulting to guarantee the right tool for every customer – whether open source or commercial. To optimally align the technology radar with the needs and applications of customers and partners, it is divided into various areas. The following excerpt focuses on the three most common use cases in test automation:
- Functional regression testing
- Load and performance testing
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA), where we mainly focus on tools that can be used in at least two of the cases mentioned.
Our tool expertise by application: An overview
Desktop applications (Windows, Java, SAP GUI)
Desktop applications may seem outdated, but they are business-critical in many companies. Whether Java clients, Windows software, or SAP transactions: they must be tested – and this testing must be automated.
Open Source Tools (limited):
- Robot Framework with plugins for Windows and SAP interfaces (e.g., FlaUI, SAPLibrary)
- FlaUI for WPF, WinForms, UWP (C#/.NET-based)
- pywinauto for Windows-native applications with Python
Commercial solutions (recommended):
- TestComplete, Ranorex, Sahi Pro – GUI-based testing tools with recorder functions
- Eggplant – Works using images and AI to control user interfaces.
- Tricentis Tosca – broad UI support, complete platform support for enterprise solutions such as: SAP, ServiceNow, Salesforce, Snowflake, Oracle and Workday.
➡️ Infometis assists with the selection process based on system architecture, legacy compatibility, and the team's skill level. Since there are fewer actively maintained open-source solutions in this area, a commercial tool is usually the better choice.
Web applications (UI testing in the browser)
Modern web applications are dynamic, interactive – and often very complex. Good test automation must be able to respond to many browsers, devices, and frameworks.
Open Source Tools:
- Robot Framework (e.g. with BrowserLibrary)
- WebdriverIO: Particularly suitable for complex UI tests, also with a mobile focus
- Selenium, Playwright, Cypress: Modern, stable, very popular (Playwright, for example, with multi-tab support and API testing)
Commercial solutions:
- Tosca, Ranorex, TestComplete: Simple recorder operation, suitable for large companies
- Testim: A modern, cloud-based, AI-powered test automation tool for web applications with full Salesforce Web support .
- Perfecto, TestGrid: Cloud-enabled platforms for cross-browser testing
- Step: A flexible platform for various automation requirements, therefore also offering the integration of tools such as Playwright and Cypress for testing web applications.
➡️ Open-source tools shine through flexibility and community support, while commercial tools excel through user-friendliness and comprehensive integrations.
Mobile testing (iOS, Android, hybrid apps)
Mobile applications need their own testing strategies – be it for native apps, WebViews or cross-platform frameworks like React Native.
Open Source Tools:
- Appium: Cross-platform for native and hybrid apps
- Maestro: Modern and lightweight, YAML-based
- Detox: Specifically for React Native, synchronized execution
Commercial solutions:
- Tosca Mobile, BitBar, Perfecto: Combination of device clouds and UI testing tools
- TestGrid: Cloud-based test environments for real devices
- Step: A flexible platform for various automation requirements, and therefore also offers the integration of tools like Appium for testing mobile devices.
➡️ Benefit from our expertise to identify the right solution – tailored to your app technology (native, hybrid, WebView) and team structure.
Load & Performance Testing (L&P)
How does your application perform under load? How does it scale with many users? A robust performance testing strategy – with the right tools – provides the answers.
Open Source Tools:
- k6: Modern, CLI-based, ideal for DevOps integration (with Grafana support)
- Gatling, JMeter: Well-known, versatile, many protocols
- Locust: Python-based, particularly flexible
Commercial solutions:
- NeoLoad, LoadRunner, BlazeMeter, WebLOAD: Comprehensive reporting and analysis functions, SLA evaluation, GUI assistance
- Step: A powerful and flexible platform for companies seeking a central solution for various automation requirements (web, desktop, L&P, etc.).
➡️ Infometis offers you the right, scalable tools for full performance transparency, from small APIs to load tests running millions of times.
API testing (reliably testing interfaces)
APIs are the central link in modern software landscapes. Targeted test automation ensures that interfaces function stably, correctly, and reliably – regardless of the frontend.
Open Source Tools:
- Supertest: A lightweight framework for Node.js, ideally suited for unit and integration testing of REST APIs .
- REST Assured: Java-based, established and widely used in enterprise projects for validating REST endpoints .
- Karate: Combines API test logic and assertions in an easy-to-read DSL. Ideal for teams without in-depth programming knowledge.
Commercial solutions:
- NeoLoad: Offers visual API testing with assertions, ideal for recurring tests in DevOps environments.
- Tosca: Model-based API testing without programming, strong in enterprise workflows and regression testing.
➡️ Seamlessly integrate API tests into your existing testing strategy – whether as standalone component tests or embedded in end-to-end scenarios.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Even repeatable business processes can be automated – keyword: Robotic Process Automation (RPA). This is particularly interesting for legacy systems or where an API is lacking.
Open Source Tools (limited):
- Robot Framework RPA: With OCR and Windows support
- OpenRPA: GUI-based workflow editor for simple automation
Commercial solutions (recommended):
- UiPath, Automation Anywhere: Market-leading, stable, SAP-compatible
- Eggplant: Works using images and AI to control user interfaces.
➡️ Our recommendation: For productive business applications with high requirements, a commercial tool is usually the better choice.
Infometis: Independent advice – precise selection
Since it is impossible to evaluate all of the available automation tools, we focused our analyses on the tools with the widest distribution and greatest potential.
Our product recommendations are based on a proprietary decision matrix with more than 30 comparison criteria – from CI/CD integration and low-code support to cloud scalability. We know the pitfalls of tool implementation and which combinations work – and which don't.
Whether you're an agile development team that relies on open source, or a large company with a need for enterprise support and reporting – Infometis provides the technical and methodological basis for your successful test automation.
Conclusion: The right tool at the right time
We help you navigate the jungle of tools and develop a tailor-made solution – for functional tests, performance checks, mobile apps, or automated business processes. Technically sound. Neutral – and with foresight.
Let's talk about your automation goal.
Key Takeaways for your Test Automation
Strategic Tool Selection: Choosing the right test automation tools is crucial for the quality and speed of your software development. Infometis offers independent consulting to find the right tool for your specific requirements – whether open source or commercial.
- Diverse use cases: The Infometis Technology Radar covers key areas, including functional regression testing, load and performance testing, API testing, and robotic process automation (RPA). Each segment requires specialized testing tools.
- Industry-specific know-how: Infometis is familiar with the leading test automation solutions for web applications (UI testing), desktop applications (Windows, Java, SAP GUI) and mobile testing (iOS, Android, hybrid apps).
- Tailor-made solutions: Infometis not only provides an overview of test automation tools, but also supports you in integrating them into your CI/CD pipelines and scaling them in the cloud.
- Expert consulting for test automation: Save time and resources on tool evaluation. Our proprietary decision matrix and direct line to technology providers ensure you get the best testing strategy for your company.
