The constant march of technology has led to several changes in the process of software development over the years. Customer expectations are also rising and their willingness to accept bugs or errors is now near-zero. These progressions have made it necessary for software testing to rise and adapt to the new development methodologies in the industry.
It has become crucial for software development and testing companies to deliver better-tested software in shorter time spans. They have to explore new and innovative ways to ensure that software testing keeps pace with the accelerated pace of software development and product release. In this scenario, it has become crucial for these companies to pay close attention to the most recent software testing trends in the quest to deliver software that meets the expected standards of quality.
As we’ve all witnessed, test automation has been a breakthrough solution in the world of software testing. Not only does automation save time but it has made the process of software testing seamless, and the results are less subjective and error-free. But change is hitting the world of test automation too. And that is to be expected. With transformative changes taking place in the field of software development, test automation is evolving as well; rather, it’s transforming by the day.
So, let’s take a look at what’s new in the world of test automation?
- Adapting to Transformative Development Methodologies
The demand to adapt to transitions in the industry and the pressure to reduce time-to-market has driven organizations to digital transformation. This, in turn, has led to the enhanced adoption of methodologies like Agile and DevOps. Owing to all these changes, test automation is no longer restricted to a single role. Apart from the planning and execution of the test strategies, a continuous response about the product quality is required (i.e., Continuous Testing). Continuous testing begins not after everything is completed but from the very beginning. Test Automation has become a key input at as early a stage as product feature definition and schedule planning. Test Automation now seeks and provides key inputs to the business stakeholders at this early stage.
And that continues through the product life cycle. A quality mindset is now necessary, and other team members are required to participate in the test activities as well. With continuous testing, it is easier to find more ways to improve quality at each stage of the pipeline. This, in turn, ensures faster deployments and guarantees that high-quality products are delivered cost-effectively.
- Artificial Intelligence
It has been long accepted that test automation is essential to ensure accuracy and precision in the drive towards digital transformation. It is both fast and effective to scrutinize an application under specific conditions to identify the risks involved in software development. However, although test automation has considerably cut down the testing time, it still requires some form of human intervention. Today, as the quality demands increase, in an attempt to make the application more reliable, while also reducing human dependency, the world is turning towards Artificial Intelligence (AI).
As data about the product and the tests proliferates, the opportunity to apply deep analysis to it presents itself. Artificial Intelligence is a new-age solution to the challenges of test automation. AI-based solutions can take the drudgery out of testing. They can identify issues at scale by going through numerous server logs, and quickly pointing out what’s most likely to be different- all this without any human intervention. From manual testing to test automation with minimal human interference; we are moving towards a future where AI will gradually take charge of the test automation process and drive product quality.
- Internet of Things & Robotic Process Automation
Many businesses are embracing the Internet of Things (IoT). Since all the IoT devices require Internet connectivity, they are vulnerable to security flaws and risks. All the software elements of the IoT solution, the IoT platform, the data analytics, the user interface, and the mobile app need to be tested for security, performance, and usability. As the volume of such devices grows and the criticality of the business processes that depend on them rises, it becomes important to focus on comprehensive testing of these solutions. Of course, this brings test automation into the picture.
Further on, enhancements in the enterprise applications of AI and development in the world of test automation have paved the path for Robotic Process Automation (RPA). RPA is a technology that is transforming industries with its promise of re-inventing business processes. Many of the technologies, techniques, and tools that helped software development teams automate their software testing are being used to create software-driven automation of rule-based, repetitive, and manual processes. This is helping drive greater efficiency, accuracy, effectiveness, and cost-savings. Test Automation is helping drive real business impact in areas of the enterprise that were seen as untouched by software earlier.
The market is continually demanding that product companies deliver quality software rapidly. Users are becoming more and more selective when it comes to the quality of the products and solutions they consume. Security, performance, and usability features that were taken for granted in the past have become differentiators. And not just quality, they also want these products fast, which is why today time-to-market can be the critical factor standing between victory and defeat in the market.
These advancements in the world of test automation are not only helping companies build better products but also make a decisive strategic contribution to their organization.