Software testing solutions are constantly evolving and shaking up the QA industry. The software industry goes through a lot of research and modified methodologies that keep the software quality top-notch for the end-user. With advancements in technology, dynamic user expectations, and continuous digital transformation, the need for versatile QA solutions is growing. Gone are the days when quality assurance and software testing was just about finding bugs and errors. Nowadays, it’s so much more. It’s about evaluating product ideas, predicting user behavior, and analyzing opportunities and threats. In fact, there isn’t a clear line between where software development ends and testing begins. You cannot have one without the other and each is equally important in the software development life cycle. And as tremendous changes in technology continue to occur, companies are encouraged to keep up with trends and stay innovative. With the end of 2021, we are here after careful analysis of the market trend and the latest prioritized technologies that we believe will be important in the future. These technologies have started to pick up as trends in software testing and have the most potential of growing at a significant rate in 2022.
Automation Testing
Test automation has become an integral part of the software testing process. According to recent global study, the value of the automation testing market is expected to surpass USD 40 billion by 2027. Its many benefits, like faster feedback cycles, reduced testing expenses, and greater test coverage have not gone unnoticed by companies. As a result, we can expect to see an increase in the demand for test automation in 2022, particularly for AI and ML in test automation tasks as well as codeless test automation.
When we look at automation testing, we can ignore artificial intelligence & machine learning testing. From mobile applications to chatbots to predictive systems, AI is growing its foot in every direction. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will transform testing in a way that will benefit everyone involved in the process. Artificial intelligence refers to a situation where a computer applies some form of intelligence to solve a problem. Machine learning, on the other hand, is the basis for many AI systems. In a sense, without machine learning, there would be no artificial intelligence. Machine learning, which is essentially a pattern-recognition technology, uses patterns it has identified by its algorithms to predict future trends. Combining AI and ML will improve and accelerate software testing in three main areas: test creation, test analysis, and test maintenance.
Audio & Video Testing
As many people will continue working from home this year, either indefinitely or using a hybrid work model, companies and users will rely on communications software to stay connected. For work processes to run smoothly, this type of software needs to work seamlessly without any unwelcome surprises. In order to meet quality expectations, companies that provide solutions with audio and video capabilities will need to make sure they deliver a high-quality product. Therefore, we can expect to see a greater demand for audio and video quality testing services.
IoT Testing
The trend of IoT is growing rapidly in our society, these devices have been on an increase for a long time now. In 2021, more than 25 billion IoT devices were active & connected to the internet. This number is projected to be around 50 billion by 2030. IoT is used in sensitive data such as your video footages via CCTVs or your personal health data etc. Such sensitive data needs to be protected well before propagating it through the internet channels. With such growth comes a lot of responsibility for IoT developers, manufacturers, and testers.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Robotic process automation has already been involved in the software testing process and we believe that it will continue to be in the trend for 2022 with an increased acceptance. RPA is always preferred to be the first choice for performing the automation of mundane tasks. RPA, also called robotic process automation, is a process of automating tasks that are repetitive and require no manual intervention as such. RPA takes down the actions of the tester for the first time to make note of what has to be done. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, RPA then executes multiple scenarios using the same actions on the screen. Since it is automatic, it saves time and costs for the company.
Testing Centers of Excellence (TCoE)
Testing teams are constantly under pressure to reduce development time without jeopardizing quality. For this reason, another software testing trend we can expect to see this year is the rise of testing centers of excellence (TCoE). As disparate test processes across teams can result in underperforming tests and underutilized resources, the need for standardized testing processes, metrics, and tools is greater than ever. Establishing a TCoE is one of the most effective ways to achieve standardized testing processes and increase testing efficiency. Therefore, companies that have not established a TCoE already, will likely do so in the coming months.
Cybersecurity Testing
Security is always a top priority when it comes to software testing. So it comes as no surprise that companies will continue investing in cybersecurity testing in 2022.
AR/VR Testing
The term “metaverse” created a lot of hype in 2021, getting people excited about the endless opportunities a virtual world could offer. And the craze has only just begun, as many industries and companies—like Facebook and Microsoft—are already taking advantage of the metaverse and all it offers. With such a bright forecast, many companies will look at ways to become a part of this technological evolution. As this next-generation version of the internet is rendered by augmented reality and virtual reality technology, this means that software testing engineers can anticipate a growing demand for AR/VR testing in 2022.
As the demand for software testing grows, the need for experienced and skilled quality assurance engineers is greater than ever. If you want to be at the forefront of these software testing trends, you need to have a reliable QA team supporting you every step of the way.
