#Reporting & Analytics Best Practices Guide
Reporting and analytics help teams understand testing progress, quality trends, and risk areas. This guide outlines how to use Hawzu’s reporting features effectively to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
#Using Analytics Effectively
#Review Regularly, Not Reactively
- Review execution metrics on a fixed cadence (weekly or per release)
- Compare trends over time rather than focusing on single test runs
- Use analytics to identify risk early, not just to explain failures later
- Avoid over-optimizing for metrics at the cost of test quality
Consistency matters more than volume.
#Use Panels for Visibility
Hawzu allows you to create custom panels to visualize key metrics.
Best practices:
- Create panels for releases, not individual test runs
- Keep each panel focused on a single question
- Share panels with stakeholders instead of exporting raw data
- Avoid overcrowding dashboards with too many charts
Panels should tell a story, not dump data.
#Choose the Right Charts
Different metrics require different visualizations:
- Trends over time → Line or area charts
- Distribution or breakdown → Bar or doughnut charts
- Comparisons → Stacked bars or grouped charts
Use consistent chart types across panels to reduce cognitive load.
#Test Execution Reporting
#Execution Status Tracking
Track execution health using:
- Passed / Failed / Blocked / Skipped distribution
- Execution completion percentage
- Pending vs executed test cases
Focus on what is left to test, not just what is done.
#Release-Level Reporting
Always prefer release-level analytics over isolated test runs:
- Releases provide historical context
- Progress is easier to communicate
- Trends across runs become visible
A release should represent a meaningful testing milestone.
#Quality & Risk Metrics
#Failure Patterns
Use analytics to identify:
- Repeated failures in the same area
- Modules with high failure density
- Tests that fail frequently across runs
Frequent failures often signal unstable areas or outdated tests.
#Defect Correlation
Track relationships between:
- Failed executions and defects raised
- Defect severity vs execution outcomes
- Defects per feature or requirement
This helps prioritize fixes based on testing impact.
#Coverage & Confidence Metrics
#Coverage Visibility
Instead of chasing “100% coverage”:
- Track coverage trends over time
- Identify untested or under-tested areas
- Balance depth vs breadth of coverage
Coverage should improve confidence, not inflate numbers.
#Confidence Indicators
Healthy signals include:
- Stable pass rates across releases
- Reduced regression failures
- Lower defect leakage post-release
Analytics should support confidence, not false optimism.
#Sharing Insights with Stakeholders
#Keep Reports Outcome-Focused
When sharing reports:
- Highlight risks, not raw numbers
- Focus on blockers and high-severity failures
- Avoid exposing internal execution noise
Stakeholders care about impact, not execution mechanics.
#Use Panels Instead of Spreadsheets
- Prefer live dashboards over static exports
- Share links to panels where possible
- Use exports only for audits or external documentation
Live data reduces misinterpretation.
#Smart Insights (Coming Soon)
Hawzu will introduce Smart Insights to surface:
- Risky trends automatically
- Anomalies in execution patterns
- Quality signals that need attention
Until then, disciplined panel design and regular review provide the same value manually.
#Common Reporting Pitfalls to Avoid
- ❌ Measuring success only by pass percentage
- ❌ Creating dashboards without clear intent
- ❌ Reviewing analytics only after failures
- ❌ Tracking too many metrics with no action plan
- ❌ Sharing raw data without interpretation
#Summary
Effective reporting in Hawzu is about:
- Visibility, not volume
- Trends, not snapshots
- Decisions, not decoration
When used correctly, analytics guide better planning, faster response to risk, and higher confidence releases.