Automation: On The Cusp of Change

It’s an exciting time for automation in testing. Our 16th World Quality Report (WQR), which tracks trends and evolutions in Quality Engineering (QE) & Testing, surveyed 1,775 industry leaders around the world, and according to Anish Behanan, Head of Quality Engineering & Testing for Capgemini UK & Continental Europe and author of the chapter on Automation, we’re standing on the brink of major change in testing automation. Here’s why.

AI is influencing just about every aspect of technology, and organizations around the world are exploring how it can enhance testing automation. While some are adopting new ways of thinking and implementing more automated testing practices, others are asking whether it’s really adding value.

Early adopters are exploring how to advance in their strategy, and a significant number are going back to basics to create end-to-end automation strategies for their QE teams. Integrating automation into QE processes can be a powerful strategy and 79% of those surveyed for the WQR report cost savings in the face of increased testing demand, even though 75% reported that cost was not a primary driver for adoption. A word of caution, however: 66% saw increased operational costs due to additional tooling, which points to a need for a clear and considered strategy for efficient adoption, although these costs are also likely to balance out as processes mature.

Essentially, testing automation is seen as a way to get more done and globally, AI-powered automation adoption is trending upwards. Our research shows that the industry is seriously exploring automation as a way to enhance processes, increase productivity and deliver more quickly and efficiently. Seventy-one percent of the companies surveyed were already using AI in testing in some way, with 42% currently experimenting and blocking out roadmaps to full adoption, and 31% embracing active use.

Banks and finance companies are making the most enthusiastic use of the potential that automation represents for testing, as well as the retail industry, where AI is now fully embedded, manufacturers and airlines, with tools like automated bookings systems. The applications of automation are vast, so adoption is need-driven, and success is contingent with the right strategy.

From our research, three key points for consideration are:

• An end-to-end approach

End-to-End automation is about embedding automation into the overall testing lifecycle, so it becomes a fully integrated part of an organization’s practice. According to the testing professionals we spoke to for the WQR, optimal results have been seen when it is infused right through the lifecycle which means environment management, test data management, pipeline schedules, run and releases, and many businesses are starting to think in this way.

• Top tooling

At this point, we’re seeing a mix of tools used for automation, including in-house, Cloud—native and off-the-shelf solutions. WQR research shows that 34% of companies currently exploring automation are using a combination of Open Source and commercial tools, while another 31% are using operating models versus taking a project-centric approach. A key question around adoption is often whether organizations’ data repositories are mature enough to store automation assets. Happily, 44% of organizations say theirs are, and are actively using them in this way, which shows good progress.

• Super skills

The QE industry is no longer only about testing; we are moving towards full stack engineering, which requires a sound understanding of testing, infrastructure, Cloud and security. Testers need a well-rounded knowledge base and skills ranging from coding to Agile, and we predict that demand for software development engineers in testing will increase. It makes sense to invest in testing teams now, with upskilling and certification to stay ahead.

Ready for the future?

We expect adoption to gather pace over the next one to two years, which puts the QE industry at a critical point for automation. As AI and other new technologies mature, we need to be vigilant and look out for more opportunities to introduce automation into the testing lifecycle.

We’re standing on the cusp of change, and some organizations are questioning how, and even whether, automation is really going to benefit them. But if we can stick to clear QE automation strategies, effectively measure and monitor the resulting business performance, and — crucially — enhance QE talent with well-chosen certification, we can ride the wave of automation in the testing industry all the way to the beach.

To find out more, download a copy of the World Quality Report.