Automated functional testing is a crucial aspect of software development that helps ensure the quality and stability of an application while getting features to market quickly. It involves writing scripts that verify an application's behavior from the user's perspective, ensuring no regressions are introduced with recent changes or new functionalities. Automated functional testing provides benefits such as immediate feedback, saving time and effort, increased test coverage, reduced risks, and a high return on investment. However, it also has limitations, including not all automated efforts providing the same benefits, potential issues with flaky tests, and the need to choose the right tool based on budget constraints, community support, and available resources. By following best practices such as identifying suitable test cases, choosing the right testing tool, and reporting test results, developers can implement effective automated functional testing strategies that improve software quality and efficiency.