Cross-Platform Automation Strategy for Hybrid OTT and SaaS Applications

Abstract

In our investigation, we have a cross-platform automation approach dedicated to the 
hybrid system of Over-The-Top (OTT) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) in terms of 
mobile, web, and embedded environment. As a variety of device ecosystems and 
microservice-based backend have flourished around, verifying end-to-end 
functionalities has become one of the primary engineering issues to overcome on a 
regular basis. The way we do it, instead of fully abstracted platform-less tests, is to 
have a framework of tests that is layered on top of platform-specific test modules, so 
high reuse of test scripts, low redundancy and easy regressions. CI/CD pipelines make 
it possible to parallelize and scale up the execution and eliminate release cycle 
bottlenecks. We assess the deployment strategy in real life scenarios of Android TV, 
iOS, browsers and web portals architecture, and SaaS portal architecture. The results 
have shown a high level of test development productivity (up to 45 percent), test result 
(58 percent quicker) and failure identification (73 percent quicker). Moreover, we 
realized quantitative business outcome, such as faster release speed and lower-level of 
leak defect. The plan also addresses platform-specific platform stability problems with 
the help of adaptive locator strategies and retry thinking. With the verification of the 
multi-modal workflows, including mobile-to-OTT control and synchronized playback, 
our plan is appropriate in the hybrid product setting. The suggested architecture and 
automation system can serve as the basis of future validation systems which would 
help in merging fragmented device landscapes into a single quality assurance 
approach.