The Hidden Cost of Manual QA for Shopify Plus Stores

Manual QA (Quality Assurance) has been the default for many Shopify Plus stores. But as your brand scales and every minute of downtime equates to lost revenue, sticking with traditional manual testing can quietly drain your resources — and your profits.

Why manual QA persists

Many teams believe manual QA is more flexible and intuitive. You can “click through” flows as a customer would. But this approach masks huge operational inefficiencies and hidden risks.

The true cost of manual QA

• Time drain: Developers and managers spend countless hours manually testing critical flows. On average, manual QA can consume 5–10% of total project time.

• Human error: Even experienced testers can overlook edge cases, especially under tight deadlines.

• Inconsistency: Manual processes lack the repeatability and coverage needed for high-volume, rapidly changing stores.

• Opportunity cost: Hours spent on repetitive QA could be invested in revenue-generating initiatives or strategic improvements.

Financial impact beyond salaries

Imagine a team member spends 10 hours per month on manual testing, at an internal cost of $100/hour. That’s $1,000 per person — and when multiplied across a team, it quickly scales into tens of thousands per year. Add to this the potential revenue loss from undetected bugs, and the true cost skyrockets.

The ROI of automated QA

Automated QA tools like Shoptest can run tests continuously, covering key purchase paths and critical site elements without requiring human oversight. You reduce risk, speed up deployment, and catch issues before they impact your customers.

Automating QA is not just about efficiency — it’s a strategic investment that protects revenue and enhances brand trust.

Transitioning to automated testing

The shift doesn’t have to be abrupt or overwhelming. Start by automating your highest-risk flows (checkout, add-to-cart, main navigation). Gradually expand to cover more site areas as your team becomes comfortable.

Ready to reclaim your time and protect your revenue?

Shoptest helps Shopify Plus brands move beyond manual QA and focus on what truly grows the business.