The Art of Subtle Automation: Getting It Done Without Scope Creep
Test automation is often the first casualty when delivery timelines are aggressive and time-to-market is non-negotiable. Yet neglecting automation leads to mounting technical debt, brittle systems, and slower feedback loops. In this session, Olga shares how her team embedded automation into projects under extreme time pressure without inflating estimates or requiring a dedicated automation team. Drawing from real-world experience, she will highlight lightweight but high-impact approaches using Postman, Playwright, VS Code plugins, and generative AI tools. Attendees will see how subtle automation can provide immediate value while keeping stakeholders satisfied with delivery timelines. You’ll leave with practical techniques to introduce automation invisibly, prevent quality risks, and make testing cycles faster — even in projects where automation was “not in scope.”
Olga Vovk is a self-taught developer who transitioned into test automation in 2015 and has been passionate about advancing quality engineering ever since. She is the organizer of the Software Testing KC meetup, co-founder of the QA Learning Center, and an active supporter of Women in Tech. Olga has held leadership roles including Associate Director of Technology at VMLY&R, and currently serves as Senior Staff Test Automation Engineer at PatientPoint, where she specializes in embedded mobile applications, enterprise test automation strategies, and the use of AI-assisted testing tools. She has consulted for clients including Pfizer, Bridgestone, Sherwin-Williams, UnitedRentals, and Ford. Olga has spoken at STAREAST and various developer conferences and meetups, sharing insights on practical strategies for scalable automation. She brings a holistic, process-driven perspective to test automation. In her free time, she enjoys travel, neuroscience, and baking.