How an Applitools Customer Scaled QA Automation by Bridging the Skill Gap

For many QA teams, automation presents a challenge: how do you scale efficiently when team members have different levels of coding expertise?

Eric Terry, Senior Director of Quality Control at EVERSANA INTOUCH, shared how his team successfully adopted a hybrid automation approach—leveraging both coded and no-code automation to bridge skill gaps, improve test efficiency, and enhance collaboration.

For teams considering Applitools Autonomous, Eric’s journey offers a real-world example of how AI-powered, no-code automation can accelerate testing while making automation accessible to a broader team.

The Challenge: Skill Gaps in Testing Teams

QA teams often include a mix of experienced developers and manual testers with limited coding experience. This gap can create inefficiencies and limit test coverage.

Common challenges QA managers face:

• Manual testers want to contribute to automation but lack programming skills.
• Automation engineers spend too much time maintaining scripts rather than innovating test strategies.

Inconsistent automation practices lead to knowledge silos and increased maintenance overhead.

The Solution: An AI-Powered Hybrid Approach to Coded and No-Code Automation

Eric’s team adopted a hybrid strategy that leverages both coded and no-code automation tools, ensuring that:

• AI-powered no-code tools (like Applitools Autonomous) allow manual testers to create automated tests with minimal coding.
• Coded automation remains essential for complex test scenarios requiring deep customization.
• Teams focus on collaboration, mentorship, and upskilling rather than forcing a single approach.

Eric’s team reduced test maintenance by 40% by integrating AI-driven no-code automation while keeping developers focused on high-value coding tasks.

The Benefits of an Autonomous-First Approach

One of the biggest breakthroughs for Eric’s team was prioritizing Autonomous-first testing for repetitive and UI-driven test cases. This led to:

• Faster onboarding for manual testers wanting to contribute to automation.
• Significant reduction in test maintenance, as AI-driven automation adapted to UI changes.
• More streamlined workflows, with non-developers actively participating in automation.

Key benefits of AI-powered no-code tools:

• Faster test creation for repetitive workflows.
• Reduction in script maintenance by up to 60%.
• Empowering manual testers to contribute without coding expertise.
• Accelerated test cycles by running automated tests in parallel.

Real-World Example: EVERSANA’s No-Code Automation Success

• Challenge: The team had a mix of highly technical engineers and manual testers who wanted to contribute to automation but lacked coding skills.
• Solution: They implemented a no-code-first strategy, using Applitools Autonomous to allow non-coders to automate repetitive UI tests.
• Results: Faster test execution, reduced manual effort, and a more collaborative approach to QA.

Want to see how Applitools Autonomous can help your team bridge your skill gaps to scale test automation? Try a free trial today.

How to Get Started: Lessons from Eric Terry’s Team

For QA teams considering Applitools Autonomous, Eric’s experience provides a clear roadmap for success in scaling coded and no-code automation to boost test efficiency. His key recommendations include:

1. Encourage cross-functional collaboration – Build mentorship programs where automation engineers support manual testers.
2. Adopt an Autonomous-first mindset – Automate simple workflows first before investing time in complex scripting.
3. Leverage AI-powered tools – Use visual testing and self-healing automation to minimize maintenance effort.
4. Align automation efforts with business goals – Ensure test automation supports faster releases and higher product quality.

Learn more by watching Code or No-Code Tests? Why Top Teams Choose Both