Batch Testing: What It Is And How To Use It?

Batch testing is the process of executing a group of test cases or scripts together without manual intervention. It is one of the most effective ways to validate multiple features at once, especially during regression testing or nightly builds.

Instead of running each test manually, you can automate the batch testing process to save time and reduce repetitive work. This approach is widely used in QA teams to improve test execution speed and catch defects early in the software development lifecycle.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is batch testing and why it matters
• How the batch testing process works in QA
• The benefits of batch testing for software teams
• The best tools for automated batch testing
• How batch execution in QA improves efficiency

Let’s get started!

What is batch testing?

Batch testing is the process of executing a group of test cases or test scripts together without manual intervention. It is an efficient way to validate multiple features at the same time as part of a regression suite or a scheduled nightly build.

This method is especially useful when test cases need to be executed sequentially or in bulk. It ensures that core workflows are validated consistently, which is vital in fast paced development environments where frequent code changes happen.

Example: A QA team creates a batch file that contains several Selenium test scripts. These scripts validate the login flow, checkout process, and payment confirmation. At the end of each day, the team executes the entire batch to confirm that all critical features work as expected before the next build is released.

Why use batch testing?

Batch testing improves efficiency by running multiple test cases automatically in one execution. It reduces repetitive manual effort and saves valuable testing time for QA teams.

This approach is ideal for regression testing, smoke testing, and sanity testing. By grouping test cases into a batch, QA teams can validate core features consistently as part of a CI/CD pipeline. It helps ensure that every build is stable before release.

Example: An organization schedules a nightly batch testing process that runs after every build. The batch includes login, checkout, and payment test cases. When the tests finish, a report is sent to the team. Any issues introduced by new code are found quickly, which leads to faster fixes and higher confidence in every release.

Goals of batch testing

The main purpose of batch testing is to make test execution faster and more reliable. It allows QA teams to focus on quality while the tests run automatically in the background.

• Automate bulk execution: Run multiple test cases together without human intervention.
• Save time and effort: Reduce repetitive manual execution by grouping tests into batches.
• Enable continuous testing: Facilitate automated test runs in CI/CD environments for faster feedback.
• Improve release confidence: Validate critical features consistently before deployment.

How does batch testing work?

Batch testing groups multiple test scripts into a single executable file or a pipeline configuration. Once created, the batch can run all the tests sequentially or in parallel depending on the setup.

In a Windows environment, a simple .bat file can execute several scripts together. In CI/CD pipelines, tools like Jenkins can be used to schedule and run batch jobs automatically after every build.

@echo off
echo Running Batch Tests
call python test_login.py
call python test_checkout.py
call python test_payment.py
pause

This batch testing process ensures that multiple test cases can be executed together without manual input, which makes it a powerful approach for automated batch testing tools and CI/CD workflows.

Advantages of batch testing

Batch testing provides several benefits that make QA workflows faster and more reliable. It increases efficiency and helps teams achieve consistent testing coverage.

• Reduced manual work: By executing multiple scripts together, batch testing eliminates repetitive manual execution of test cases.
• Improved efficiency: Tests run automatically in one execution, which saves time and resources for QA teams.
• Supports regression and CI/CD: Batch execution in QA is perfect for scheduled test runs in pipelines, ensuring that every build is validated.
• Higher test coverage per run: Critical workflows are always validated together, which increases confidence in every release.

The benefits of batch testing are especially clear in fast development environments where automation is key to meeting release deadlines while maintaining quality.

Challenges of batch testing

Batch testing is powerful, but it requires proper planning and maintenance to work effectively. Understanding the challenges helps QA teams manage it better.

• Debugging failures: When several tests fail in one run, it can take extra effort to identify the root cause of each failure.
• Maintenance overhead: As test scripts change, the batch configuration also needs to be updated to stay accurate.
• Execution order dependencies: If tests are not ordered logically, some failures may appear even when the features work correctly.
• Scalability limits: Very large suites can still take time to execute unless combined with parallel testing.

By being aware of these challenges, teams can adopt better practices to ensure smooth batch execution in QA pipelines.

Best practices for batch testing

Following best practices ensures that batch testing remains efficient, reliable, and easy to maintain. These tips help teams get the most value from every batch run.

• Group logical test cases together: Create batches for specific modules or workflows to make execution more organized.
• Use CI/CD for automation: Schedule batch execution after every build to integrate testing into the development pipeline.
• Enable detailed logging: Capture logs and screenshots so that debugging is faster when issues occur.
• Combine with parallel execution: Run batch testing with parallel execution to reduce total testing time.
• Regularly update batch files: Keep scripts and batch configurations up to date as the application evolves.

By applying these practices, teams can improve how batch testing supports continuous delivery and overall QA efficiency.

Top tools for batch testing

Several tools make it easy to set up and manage batch execution in QA. They provide built-in features to run multiple test cases together and integrate with CI/CD pipelines.

• Selenium with batch files: Lets testers automate multiple scripts via command line by grouping them in a batch file.
• JUnit and TestNG: Support creating test suites that can be executed as a batch for unit and integration testing.
• Katalon Studio: Provides a simple interface to execute multiple test suites or collections in one run with advanced scheduling options.
• Jenkins: Can trigger batch testing jobs as part of automated CI/CD pipelines for faster feedback loops.
• Robot Framework: Supports running multiple test cases in a batch by defining suite configurations in plain text files.

These automated batch testing tools make it easier to improve test execution speed and ensure that important workflows are validated regularly.

How Katalon supports Batch Testing

Katalon Studio makes batch testing simple and powerful. With Katalon, QA teams can:

• Create and execute multiple test suites or test suite collections in a single run.
• Integrate batch execution into CI/CD pipelines to ensure testing happens automatically after every build.
• Schedule test runs with TestOps to execute at specific times such as nightly or weekly builds.
• Generate detailed reports with screenshots, videos, and logs for easy debugging and faster feedback.
• Share real time dashboards with stakeholders so they can track batch execution results instantly.

For example, a QA manager can set up a nightly batch execution of more than 300 regression test cases. The results are automatically compiled into a report and shared with the development team so that issues are fixed early in the cycle.

📝 Request a demo from Katalon to see how automated batch testing tools can improve your QA efficiency.

Conclusion

Batch testing is an effective way to run multiple test cases automatically, reduce manual effort, and maintain consistent regression coverage. It helps QA teams save time and ensure that every build is validated before release.

Katalon Studio and TestOps make this process simple. They allow teams to create suite collections, schedule batch execution in CI/CD, and generate real time reports. These capabilities improve collaboration, speed up feedback, and lead to higher software quality with every release.