As we move towards a more digital and AI-driven future, software testing is
becoming increasingly important for businesses that want to ensure the quality
and reliability of their software applications.
Quality assurance a.k.a software testing has significantly improved in
technologies and methodologies, making it possible to increase the scope of
coverage, carry out more tests within a short period, and achieve more
efficiency in testing activities.
This blog will explore the top six software testing predictions for 2023,
highlighting the trends and developments that are likely to shape the future of
software testing and quality assurance. From AI-driven testing to low-code
testing and security testing, we will examine the key trends and developments
that businesses need to be aware of in order to stay ahead.
- The growing importance of test automation
Test automation is a software testing approach that involves the use of
software tools to create and execute automated test scripts. It has minimal
reliance on manual testing methods and is more efficient and accurate in
nature.
Automation testing has increased in adoption in recent years due to many
reasons.
First, software applications are becoming increasingly more complex, often
integrating with other third-party software services or databases to exchange
data. This makes it increasingly challenging and time-consuming to test them
manually. With automated testing, it is possible to conduct extensive and
thorough testing of an application in a shorter amount of time with minimal
human interference.
Second, errors and mistakes are prone to creep into any human-led process,
which can result in missed defects and bugs slipping into production.
Automated testing can help to reduce the risk of human error by following
logic and process with perfection. This improves the overall accuracy and
reliability of test results.
Test automation has almost become the staple form of quality assurance
worldwide. However, it is again poised for evolution with the spurt in AI
adoption.
- The rise of AI-driven testing
Software testing involves several repetitive and process-driven steps that can
easily be automated by Artificial Intelligence. AI-driven testing is an approach
to software testing that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as
machine learning algorithms and natural language processing, to automate and
optimize the software testing process.
Compared to human-led testing processes, AI-driven testing is expected to
deliver faster and more accurate results. The ability of AI-driven testing tools to
analyze large amounts of data and learn from patterns in order to identify
defects and bugs makes them superior to human software testing
professionals.
Will businesses miss out on anything if they do AI-driven testing? Absolutely
not. Identical to human-led testing, AI-driven testing can perform various types
of testing, such as functional testing, performance testing, and security testing.
Further, thanks to their massive data processing capabilities, AI-driven testing
tools can also help to increase testing coverage while continuously reducing
the time required for testing.
AI-driven testing is becoming popular, thanks to the business’s need to
accelerate software development efforts without compromising on software
quality. - The emergence of low-code testing
Low-code or no-code programming allows coders to build applications faster
than with traditional programming methods. It uses visual interfaces, and drag-
n-drop elements that require minimal coding (hence the name low-code). If
coding can go low-code, testing will follow suit as well.
Low-code testing is an emerging approach to software testing that involves
using low-code platforms and tools to automate the testing process. It
accelerates software testing and requires only minimal reliance on coding and
programming skills.
Similar to low-code programming, with low-code testing, testing scripts can be
created and executed using visual interfaces. This will make testing more
accessible to a wider range of stakeholders who may not have a programming
background.
Low-code testing platforms are intuitive and accessible making them easy to
be used by non-technical users like project managers, business analysts,
product managers, etc. who might want to test their ideas before moving to
production. It is certain that low-code testing will bridge the skills gap between
testers and developers.
- Security testing adoption will increase
According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach in 2022 was $4.35
Million. Also, a data breach in the US costs over twice the global average. This
cost has been increasing regularly since 2016 and is a matter of concern for all
businesses across industries.
Source: https://www.traceable.ai/blog-post/lessons-ibm-2022-cost-of-a-data-
breach-report
Cybercrime has exploded in volume and variety making it difficult for
enterprises to protect their data. The pressure is also mounting on quality
assurance to ensure that all applications can be safeguarded from malicious
attacks.
Security testing is a type of software testing that focuses on identifying
potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a software application’s security
features. The goal of security testing is to identify and address potential
security risks before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
It involves a range of techniques and methodologies, including
Penetration testing which involves simulating an attack on a software
application to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability scanning which involves using automated tools to scan
software applications for potential security vulnerabilities.
Code review involves manually reviewing the source code of a software
application to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
Threat modeling which involves identifying potential threats to a
software application and developing defense strategies to negate those
threats.
The interest in security testing has been growing steadily since 2020. The
global security testing market size was valued at $6.25 billion in 2020 and is
projected to reach $36.78 billion by 2030 (Allied Market Research).
- Continuous testing as part of DevOps operations
Traditionally quality assurance is a last leg activity that came after developing
the final application. Any changes required to fix bugs or errors required
developers to comb through the code and make changes. It was a time-
consuming affair and demanded additional time and energy from all
stakeholders. With continuous testing, such a scenario can be avoided.
Continuous testing leans on DevOps, which is a software development
methodology that aims at integrating all development and operations
throughout the SDLC (software development lifecycle) instead at the end of it.
Thus, quality assurance is done at each phase before the code progresses to
the next stage in the SDLC.
With continuous testing, testing occurs throughout the software development
process, ensuring that defects are identified and addressed as soon as possible.
This approach will help businesses to reduce the time required for testing and
improve the quality of their software.
Shift-left testing is one of the key developments in continuous testing. It
involves moving testing activities earlier in the development process, contrary
to the erstwhile practice of last-leg quality assurance. This will also mean that
software testing will become integrated with DevOps activities, thus increasing
speed and efficiency of software delivery.
- The shift towards cloud-based testing
The share of corporate data stored on the cloud has increased substantially. In
fact, at least 94% of organizations are expected to be using cloud services.
Source: https://www.zippia.com/advice/cloud-adoption-statistics/
Enterprises are increasingly integrating cloud applications into their business
processes to ease collaboration, productivity, and efficiency for their
workforce. This also means that cloud-based testing is becoming increasingly
popular and necessary. It also provides several benefits that justify the shift to
cloud-based shifting.
- Cost-Effective: Cloud-based testing is cost-effective as it does not
demand businesses to invest heavily in expensive hardware and
software. Most basic commodity hardware is sufficient to start using
cloud-based applications. - Scalability: Any cloud-based application or process is easy to scale up or
down as needed. This means that businesses can easily adjust their
testing resources based on the size of their project or the amount of
traffic their website or application is receiving. - Flexibility: cloud services including testing platforms can be accessed
from anywhere, at any time, and on any device. This makes it easier for
businesses to collaborate with team members located in different parts
of the world. - Security: Cloud-based testing services often come with robust security
features that help protect businesses from cyber threats. This includes
firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection and prevention systems. - Rapid Deployment: With cloud-based testing, businesses can rapidly
deploy new testing environments and tools without having to go
through a lengthy procurement process. This means that businesses can
maintain agility to changing market scenarios and customer demands.
The road ahead for software testing
The constant seeking of businesses to improve their software quality,
reliability, and security is the guiding force behind the continuous evolution of
software testing.
From the increasing adoption of AI-driven testing and low-code testing to the
growing importance of security testing and the integration of testing with
DevOps, there is a range of key trends happening in 2023. These are not
plausible future technologies, but existing software testing methodologies that
are already in practice and are increasing in relevance.
