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test automation canvas

The Automation & Testing Strategy Canvas

A simple framework to bring clarity, alignment, and focus to your automation strategy 

Every team faces different automation challenges:  different tools, goals, and cultures.
The Automation & Testing Strategy Canvas by Richard Bradshaw helps you cut through the noise.

It gives you a shared language and visual structure to understand where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there.

Download Your Copy of Strategy Canvas 

Watch the Tutorial on How to Run a Workshop with The Automation & Strategy Canvas

In this short video tutorial, Richard walks through each section, showing how it helps teams think smarter about automation.

 

Why Teams Love the Canvas

A visual tool designed to help teams map out their automation strategy, from context to goals to improvement priorities.

“These canvas are directional.
They help you discover where the real automation opportunities are,” says Richard Bradshaw

The canvas help you:

Clarity Through Structure

Ten Canvas sections prompt the right conversations about people, process, tooling, quality, and speed.

Data-Driven Self-Assessment

Score each area out of 10 to visualize where your automation stands today.

Score where you are today

Identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities together with your team.

AI, Applied Intelligently

By breaking automation into smaller, meaningful parts, you’ll naturally see where AI can create the most value.

Scales Across Teams

Use it solo, in team workshops, or across departments to align everyone on one strategy.

Direction, Not Chaos

Turn your scores into a simple roadmap: See what to improve next and why.

Ready to start your automation strategy workshop?

 Guide your team through structured, high-impact discussions

 

Webinar Richard Bradshaw

Watch the Full Webinar

What's Next in Test Automation: Practical Insights with Richard Bradshaw 

What you will learn about the current industry trends:

  • Targeted Testing: Moving tests to lower layers of the stack for faster, more maintainable automation

  • Team Collaboration: How developers are increasingly involved in test automation

  • AI Integration: Understanding AI agents, workflows, and agentic AI in testing

  • Speed Optimization: Improving execution, debugging, and test creation time

  • Emerging Technologies: Latest tools and frameworks transforming the testing landscape

In addition: 

The Efficiency Era: Richard introduces the concept of the "Efficiency Era" – how modern tooling and AI are raising expectations for doing more with less, without compromising quality.

The Strategy Canvas Framework: Learn Richard's practical 10-point framework for evaluating and improving your automation strategy.

Learn more and watch the full webinar

More Insights 

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About Richard Bradshaw

Richard Bradshaw is a veteran quality engineer, seasoned automation advocate, developer, trainer, and community leader whose friendly approach and insightful thinking have earned him the nickname “The Friendly Tester.” Currently serving as Senior Architect in Quality Engineering at Slalom Build, Richard brings over 14 years of hands-on experience in software testing and automation strategy. Richard is a passionate believer in leveraging automation to support testing, viewing automated checks as vital tools within a broader testing mindset.

Visit the website

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Gain More Insights 

Explore a different angle of software testing and automation in these blogs authored by Richard, giving you practical insights to apply in your own work:

Applying the SACRED Model to Build Reliable Automated Tests

Where Does AI Fit in the Future of Software Testing?

The Importance of Technical System Knowledge

Exploring the Different Types of Automated UI Testing

The Manual Testing and Automated Testing Paradox

4 Essential Types of Automated API Testing

Strengthen Every Step of Your QA Process

From code analysis to test execution and reporting, these tools work together to help QA teams improve coverage, detect issues early, and maintain long-term software quality