Test maintenance is one of the most persistent bottlenecks in software quality engineering. From flaky tests and brittle locators to scattered tools and time-consuming debugging, teams often find themselves fixing instead of progressing.
With the right combination of AI-powered automation, no-code tools, and efficient test execution strategies, teams can reduce maintenance effort by up to 75% while improving reliability and accelerating feedback cycles.
Top Techniques to Cut Maintenance Costs and Improve Test Stability
Use AI-Powered Self-Healing
When UI elements shift, traditional tests often break. AI-powered tools like Applitools Visual AI detect these changes and automatically adjust, reducing dependency on DOM locators.
Create Tests Without Code
With interactive browser recording and LLM-assisted test creation, teams can skip manual scripting entirely. Typing, “Fill out the form as a Disney character,” becomes a self-maintaining test with generated steps and realistic data.
Run Tests in Parallel Across Devices
Applitools’ Ultrafast Grid lets teams execute a test across dozens of browsers and devices in parallel. This helps identify platform-specific issues quickly without slowing down delivery.
Approve Changes in Bulk
AI detects patterns like currency updates or copy changes and groups them for bulk approval. You can accept or reject across multiple screens in a single click.
Consolidate Your Tool Stack
Instead of juggling five tools to cover visual checks, API tests, and accessibility, Applitools offers a unified platform. Less context switching means faster results and fewer points of failure.
Real-World Results: Peloton’s 78% Reduction in Maintenance
Peloton replaced a legacy testing solution with Applitools and saw a 78% drop in test maintenance. That’s over 130 hours saved per month. They automated more than 3,000 tests across web and mobile—without adding headcount.
Where Things Stand Now
Automated test maintenance can help reduce the overall cost of software testing by minimizing the time and resources required to update tests when application changes occur. Whether you’re building new tests or maintaining legacy suites, smart tools can shift the balance from rework to progress.
To see more of how Applitools leverages AI-powered automation, test grouping, and visual intelligence to reduce effort while increasing test coverage and confidence, speak with a testing specialist today.
Quick Answers
Brittle locators, UI churn, multi-browser differences, and scattered tools cause constant fixes that delay releases.
Lean on Visual AI (https://applitools.com/visual-ai) to avoid locator thrash and use Ultrafast Grid (https://applitools.com/ultrafast-grid) for consistent, parallel rendering that reduces flake.
Autonomous test creation and built-in self-healing reduce repetitive updates and keep suites stable as apps evolve (https://applitools.com/platform/autonomous/).
Track time spent on fixes per sprint, percent of flaky failures, and mean time to validate UI changes across your browser/device matrix.
