Automated Testing – A Digital Must

Testing then and now

In the early days of software when an application ran on one platform and one type of machine with few variables, testing was a relatively straightforward process – quality assurance (QA) testing performed prior to an application’s release was a one-and-done endeavor.

Fast-forward to today’s everything-as-a-service, internet-of-everything world, and the business of application testing is infinitely more complex. The pressure of digital transformation requires a level of test automation that far surpasses the capabilities of legacy testing platforms and manual processes.  Testing requirements in today’s digital world are vast. Testers must now consider myriad applications, multiple platforms, numerous devices, browsers, versions of browsers, and more.

The old “waterfall” software development cycle is no longer viable if enterprises wish to remain competitive. In connection with transformation, businesses are fast-tracking initiatives like Agile and DevOps to improve speed-to-market. DevOps is all about increasing the feedback loop from idea to customer, and back again. The term “shift-left” refers to a practice in software development in which teams focus on quality, work on problem prevention instead of detection, and begin testing earlier (and more frequently) than ever before.

Another major change/challenge that comes with cloud delivery is the increased frequency of updates – determined now by the cloud service provider and arriving, typically, on a quarterly, as opposed to annual, basis. Compressed release schedules and the need for more frequent test iterations, paired with increased end-user demands for higher quality applications, places a tremendous strain on organizations. One misstep in quality may lead to revenue losses, security risks, and deadly brand consequences.

And let’s not forget the ever-widening scope of testing today’s digital world demands. For cloud offerings, it’s essential to make sure that the service (product) not only meets its functional requirements, but also the non-functional requirements. There’s configuration testing, web services testing, acceptance testing, compatibility testing, integration testing, load testing, security testing, mobile testing, migration testing, platform testing, usability testing, network testing, and QA process design.

Test automation on the rise

Given the increased complexity, frequency, and scope of application testing required today, it is quickly becoming necessary for enterprises of all sizes to automate their testing processes. Test automation increases overall software efficiency and ensures robust software quality. One of the biggest business perks of automated testing is that it can be implemented time and again, with minimal effort and maximum accuracy. Additional benefits of automated testing include faster feedback, accelerated results, lower costs, greater efficiency, and broader coverage.

Produced jointly by Capgemini and Sogeti, in conjunction with Micro Focus, the World Quality Report 2018-19 is based on a survey of 1,660 CIOs and senior technology professionals across multiple industries in 32 countries. This year marks the survey’s ninth edition.

Digital transformation and its focus on the customer experience have catapulted quality to the forefront.  This year’s World Quality Report finds that the primary reason for testing is to ensure customer satisfaction, driving CIOs to increase spending on quality assurance and testing.

Automated testing is also driven by today’s ever-increasing need for speed. A recent survey conducted by GitLab of 5,296 software professionals from around the world revealed the bottleneck in software development caused by manual and/or legacy testing processes. When asked the question: Where in the development process do you encounter the most delays? Testing was the #1 response. A separate poll conducted last year by DevOps Review came up with the exact same finding.

The test automation market is expected to witness significant growth due to the increasing trend of digital transformation across the globe, as increasing investment in the IT sector increases the demand for test automation.

Key findings from the fourth annual “Testing Trends” report by Sauce Labs, which is based on a global survey of over 1,000 technology professionals responsible for developing and testing web and mobile applications, underscore the growing importance of automated testing. According to the report:

• 87% report that management supports test automation initiatives
• 45% expect to increase spending on test automation in 2018 (55% at large companies)

A report released by QASymphony and TechWell concurs. While the report’s findings indicate that test automation is still an emerging practice, with most organizations (76%) reporting that they automate less than half of all test cases today, it also reveals that most organizations have big plans for test automation – almost half (44%) of respondents expect to automate 50% or more of all testing within the next year.

According to the World Quality Report 2018-19, the proportion of total IT spending on quality assurance and testing in 2018 is 26%, down from 31% in 2016 and 35% in 2015. However, the demand for testing in digital transformation, mobile applications, and IoT should drive the budget for testing higher in the near future – to 32% of total IT budget by 2020, according to the report.

A recent report by Zion Market Research valued the global test automation market at approximately $15.87 billion in 2016 and forecasts it to reach approximately $54.98 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 23.01% between 2017 and 2022.

Tap AST for test automation

The pressure of digital transformation requires a level of test automation that far surpasses the capabilities of legacy testing platforms. Balancing the business’ demand for speed with its tolerance for risk requires continuous testing that provides real-time insight into application performance and business risk.

AST’s Autonomous Cloud Tester (ACT) is a comprehensive, integrated testing solution that ensures the quality, scalability, and availability of your cloud applications.  ACT takes the pain out of maintaining your cloud applications by automating and accelerating both functional and regression testing with a unique test automation framework.

ACT can be rapidly deployed for any cloud application with zero impact to existing projects, testing processes, or tools.  It also comes with pre-built accelerators for industry-leading products (e.g., Oracle Cloud, Salesforce) and can be quickly configured and mapped to critical business flows, requirements, and job roles.

When it comes to testing, AST has you covered:

• Complete automated testing coverage for Cloud (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS)
• Low-cost implementations with industry-leading open source testing tools and frameworks
• Certified testing and QA consultants
• Deep cloud domain expertise across industry verticals
• ROI-focused methodology and approach

Contact AST today and let our Oracle experts put the power of automated testing to work for your enterprise.