Manual testing is still essential, but it’s often disconnected from automation.
The new Manual to Automation capability in Katalon bridges that gap.
It converts manual test runs into automated scripts instantly, linking them for unified coverage.
What it is
Manual to Automation is a native feature of the Katalon Platform that helps QA teams close one of the biggest gaps in testing: the handoff between manual and automation.
You can now convert a manual test execution directly into an automated script within the platform. Both versions stay linked, giving you a single view of coverage and performance. It’s built to help teams move faster without switching tools or redoing work.
Why it matters
Software teams move faster than ever, but testing hasn’t always kept up. Manual testing remains critical for new or unstable features, but those same tests often stay stuck there.
The old cycle:
- A manual tester validates a new feature.
- The automation engineer later re-records the same steps.
- Coverage gaps appear between sprints.
The result: slow automation adoption, duplicate work, and unclear reporting.
Manual to Automation changes that.
It lets teams turn manual effort into automation value instantly, so coverage grows naturally as part of daily QA work.
How it works
- Create a manual test run in the Katalon Platform to validate new functionality.
- Execute the test case manually, and every action and result is captured automatically.
- Generate an automated test once execution is complete.
- The platform creates a ready-to-use automated script linked to the original manual case, ensuring full traceability and unified reporting.
- Automation engineers (if needed) can refine the script in Katalon Studio or schedule it in CI/CD pipelines.
Real-world use case
A QA team executes hundreds of manual test runs each sprint to verify new payment flows.
Current process:
- Testers validate features manually with no quick way to reuse their effort.
- Automation engineers re-record tests for stable features.
- In-sprint automation coverage remains low.
With Manual to Automation:
- Testers convert passed manual runs into automated scripts with one click.
- Each automated case links to its manual source for consistent reporting.
- Automation coverage increases, and redundant scripting work disappears.
The team can now complete automation within the same sprint, reducing post-release effort and boosting release confidence.
Benefits
The Manual to Automation capability delivers five key benefits that help QA teams accelerate both speed and quality:
- Accelerates in-sprint automation: Converts manual runs into scripts instantly, keeping automation in step with development.
- Bridges manual and automation workflows: Keeps both types of testers aligned in one platform.
- Reduces redundant effort: Eliminates repetitive scripting and re-recording of stable test cases.
- Improves reporting accuracy: Links manual and automated cases to provide a single source of truth.
- Increases time-to-value: Expands coverage earlier in the cycle, enabling faster, higher-quality releases.
Relationship to TrueTest
Manual to Automation complements TrueTest, but each serves a distinct purpose in the testing lifecycle.
- Manual to Automation converts manual test executions into automated scripts within controlled environments, following a left-to-right flow.
- TrueTest generates automation from real user behavior captured in pre-production, production, or UAT, a right-to-left flow.
Together, they form a complete automation ecosystem. QA teams can create tests from manual validation and enrich them with real-world insights, all within one platform.
Who it’s for
The Manual to Automation capability supports every role in a modern QA organization:
- Manual testers: Turn daily test runs into reusable automation without writing code.
- Hybrid testers: Combine manual validation and automation creation within the same sprint.
- Automation engineers: Focus on complex, high-value scripts instead of duplicating manual work.
- QA leads and managers: Track unified coverage and ROI across both manual and automated efforts.
Key takeaways
- Every manual test can now fuel automation.
- You don’t lose time between validation and scripting.
- Coverage and reporting stay unified across the entire testing lifecycle.