Developing dependable, user-friendly, and well-reputed software demands the incorporation of quality assurance (QA). Regrettably, during software development lifecycle (SDLC), QA can be disregarded. However, given the continuously evolving nature of software development, QA testing must also keep up with the times.
What is your vision for quality assurance testing for the future? In this article, we will outline our predictions for the future – beyond the rest of 2023.
Emphasising the Importance of the End-User
Quality Assurance (QA) involves employing various methods to guarantee the product’s quality. Among these techniques, usability testing (UX testing) is a crucial aspect of the development process. Conducting UX testing is imperative for ensuring the product meets the users’ needs.
It’s widely acknowledged that a favourable user experience can make or break a company’s success. This reinforces the notion that Quality Assurance (QA) testing will gain even greater significance in the future. Additionally, companies will aim to attain a deeper comprehension of users from the outset of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to have a more considerable impact on the software development process.
Putting the Focus on Agile and DevOps Approaches
More and more software development organisations and teams are embracing DevOps and Agile practices, underscoring their aim to foster a more collaborative approach to the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Both frameworks’ main objective is to guarantee that all departments and roles within the organisation deliver the most excellent quality output possible.
With automation becoming more and more prevalent, Quality Assurance (QA) professionals may have concerns regarding the relevance of their roles. Given that everyone is working towards achieving high-quality outcomes, what unique value do testers provide?
Having a more comprehensive understanding of their responsibilities can be advantageous for QA testers, rather than feeling uncertain about their roles. In time, they will be more involved in the process from the beginning rather than being summoned at the end when issues arise. This will open up the opportunity for them to work collaboratively with the programming team from the outset. Furthermore, software engineers must have an emphasis on quality and be able to spot mistakes early in the development process.
Speed AND Assistance
For software development, swift turnaround time is a common goal sought after by all businesses. Whether the product creation occurs in-house or by outsourcing to a third party, the prompt introduction of the product to market is crucial for success. A quick time-to-market is imperative to avoid competition from alternative products and prevent obsolescence at the time of release.
Although the desire to fulfil customers’ demand for promptness is understandable, quality should not be compromised in the development process. The fast-paced environment, however, increases the probability of overlooked errors. In such instances, the Quality Assurance team is responsible for finding a balance between speed and precision in the future.
When it comes to developing a quality assurance testing plan, automation is undoubtedly crucial, as we’ll delve into below. Nevertheless, it’s important to recognise that not all testing can be automated. Quality assurance testers should be adept at utilising software such as test management systems. Also, making the transition to an Agile approach can expedite the process.
Prioritising Safety Assurance
Risk-Based Security has projected that security breaches will attain an unparalleled level in 2023. These security lapses can damage more than just your sales figures, impacting the public’s perception of your organisation as well.
Quality Assurance Testers will need to conduct more thorough security checks on products before their release. Regardless of whether it is fair or not, it is their duty to identify any possible issues.
Roles Defined and Revised
As the QA team reacts to the swift changes in the software development and QA testing industries, the distinction between the duties of developers and testers is diminishing. In some organisations, developers are taking on the role of a Quality Assurance (QA) tester.
It is recommended to steer clear of such a practice due to its potential risks. Every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) necessitates a particular set of skills and expertise. By assigning developers the responsibility of Quality Assurance, they may not have enough time and attention to devote to the task as they will be preoccupied with the product’s development.
As QA testing progresses, we expect to see more specific expertise in automation, performance engineering, product engineering, security, and other areas for QA professionals.
Manual vs. Automated Testing
Automation in software testing has jeopardised the role of Quality Assurance Testers. Nevertheless, it is critical that human testers continue to play a significant role in the software development process, even as automation becomes more prevalent and development cycles accelerate with the implementation of Agile and DevOps methodologies.
Testing the user experience is crucial and is not achievable by machines, making manual testing a necessity. Moreover, manual exploratory testing is crucial. Testers utilising this method “explore” the product without creating a test case first.
It is evident that automation will continue to progress, particularly as advancements are made in artificial intelligence technology. Nonetheless, human involvement is still required; someone has to generate the test cases and oversee the system.
This year has proven challenging for many industries, and the software sector is no exception. There is a chance that Quality Assurance testing in the future will place increased emphasis on user experience, innovative techniques, security, speed, and automation; however, this will be dependent on external factors.
As the economy battles through one of its toughest periods in recent times, it is unclear how the QA testing industry will be affected in the upcoming months.
