According to GMinsights, the market value of automation testing is estimated to be USD 20B and is anticipated to exhibit a 15% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from 2023 and 2032. The increase can be attributed to the swift integration of cutting-edge technologies within business organizations.
Automation is the future of testing, with an increasing number of businesses counting on test automation to guarantee their products meet industry standards and customer expectations. In the year 2023, it is anticipated that the trend will not only persist but also experience exponential growth due to the emergence of novel technologies and methodologies poised to revolutionize the field of testing.
This blog will explore 6 test automation trends that are set to shape the future of testing.
Let us explore!
Scriptless Automation Testing
Scriptless automation testing tools are created on Artificial Intelligence technology. The utilization of visual modeling facilitates the expeditious development of test cases tailored to software automation testing. By utilizing these tools, testers, and developers can create test scenarios even if they do not have proper knowledge of coding. Furthermore, it also minimizes the time spent on performing repetitive test cases.
Scriptless automation testing tools capture the actions performed by the tester during navigation and utilize them to generate distinct tests catering to various features. Developers can employ different software testing tools furnished with unique features for end-to-end testing, UI testing, and others. The tools furnish notable flexibility and generate reusable test cases based on established test frameworks. Selenium IDE, TOSCA, etc. are some of the examples of Scriptless Testing tools.
Here are a few benefits of Scriptless Automation Testing:
- Notable reduction in the automation cost, thus, a good rate of interest
- Requires a bit of effort to set up
- Offers flexibility for reusing test cases in diverse scenarios
- Helps in facilitating quality delivery
Increased Adoption of QAOps
QAOps is a growing trend in software testing. It is a combination of IT operation and quality assurance. QAOps employs a DevOps-based practice to attain high-quality software. In general terms, QAOps incorporates pivotal concepts from the DevOps methodology, including continuous integration and delivery, to facilitate collaboration among teams for efficient pipeline management.
The framework integrates the quality assurance procedures, automation, and quality assurance reporting with the SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle) process. In this procedure, the operations team primarily communicates and collaborates with the quality assurance team to guarantee the continuous delivery of software products. The primary objective of QAOps is to guarantee the quality of the application concerning its performance, functionality, security, scalability, and usability, among other critical parameters.
Here are a few benefits of QAOps:
- Furnishes constant learning, therefore, increases productivity and efficiency and diminishes the customer’s expenses.
- Furnishes a collaborative relationship between the Dev, quality assurance, and operations team.
- Better customer experience as it guarantees enhanced quality and performance of the software product.
- Fix the bugs swiftly and release the software product earlier than envisioned. This furnishes a reliable product.
Greater adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) utilize predictive models to pinpoint the various features for testing and develop specific test methods without human support. The utilization of AI and ML by automation testing teams can improve their testing methodologies and yield better outcomes. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of test suites, it is recommended to undertake an optimization process aimed at eliminating unnecessary test cases while ensuring optimal test coverage. This can be achieved by inspecting keywords and identifying any areas that require improvement.
With AI and ML, test cases can be reused, much data can be analyzed, and precise test reports can be generated. Although predicting customer behavior is challenging for humans, machine learning-powered analytics can assist by identifying untapped areas. The insights can be utilized to predict possible outcomes with the help of documented data.
Here are a few benefits of AI and ML testing:
- Enhanced accuracy and speed because of AI-based testing methods
- Faster time to market
- Faster test case creation
Headless Browser Testing
A headless browser is a web browser that operates without a graphical user interface. To provide further clarification, a headless browser operates similarly to a standard browser but does not display any visual elements on the screen. The program runs in the background, and the tester can keep track of it with the help of a command-line interface or Console. Therefore, a headless browser is known as the one without a Head/GUI.
Headless browser testing permits end-to-end testing to be conducted without the browser interface of the application being loaded. Consequently, the tests effectively engage with the webpage directly, thereby minimizing the likelihood of any instability issues and enhancing overall processing speed. This makes testing more reliable, speedier, effective, and efficient. Headless browser testing presents a promising avenue for integrating Quality Assurance (QA) into the software delivery process by embracing the “shift-left” design thinking. This approach offers new opportunities to streamline and optimize the software development lifecycle.
Here are a few benefits of headless browser testing:
- Improved speed and performance
- Helps in multi-tasking
- Authorizes efficient testing in a browser-less setup
- Saves time as unit testing is not required
Blockchain Testing
Blockchain technology is highly coveted worldwide owing to its emergence as a prominent ledger-based technology. The potential applications of this technology are truly awe-inspiring, ranging from enhancing the security of financial transactions to securely exchanging sensitive enterprise data. Blockchain testing strives to inspect the security and dependability of the shared ledger technique that connects various blocks. These blocks can contain various software applications, each associated with a particular node within a group.
In addition to addressing security concerns, blockchain testing encompasses evaluating the scalability and load capacity of blockchain databases and ledgers. Blockchain testing follows an agile development method. However, it follows the Shift Left approach for testing. Some of the popular tools for blockchain testing are Ethereum Tester, Truffle, BitcoinJ, and more.
Here are a few benefits of blockchain testing:
- Eradicates defects in a decentralized ledger.
- Ensures that the blockchain ecosystem that has been developed is operating as intended.
- Helps with validating the various entities of the system.
- Helps organizations build and utilize blockchain technology and the related infrastructure securely.
Biometric Authentication Testing
Biometric authentication, also known as bio authentication, has gained popularity as a reliable means for diverse purposes. It is increasingly used for network logon and enhancing the user experience of mobile applications with its high-quality performance. The process entails utilizing a biometric identifier derived from one’s physiological characteristics to establish identity verification. This could be a retina scan, an iris scan, a fingerprint, or some other physical characteristic.
Leading banks and other enterprises are furnishing customers with a seamless and secure mobile experience by implementing biometric authentication. By authorizing users to sign into their apps or validate their transactions utilizing their biometric data, these organizations are enhancing convenience while guaranteeing the safety and privacy of their customers’ information. This implies that biometric validation is becoming increasingly essential for mobile application testing.
It is anticipated that there may be a rise in instances requiring dual biometric authentication in the future. Therefore, teams will be required to test the biometric validations extensively, both manually and in automation methods, to attain a high degree of CI/CD.
Here are a few benefits of biometric authentication testing:
- Faster than entering a password or PIN
- Furnishes accurate and precise identification and access
- Unique and Secure
Geolocation Testing
Geolocation is a process that employs data collected from a mobile device or computer to pinpoint the user’s physical location. Geolocation technology facilitates any internet-connected device to receive real-time information and accurately determine the user’s current location at any given time. Geolocation testing entangles assessing the geolocation functionality of computer systems or mobile applications.
To prevent potential legal complications for customers, web developers must adhere to local regulations when designing applications and websites. Due to inconsistencies in rules across various regions, it is crucial for developers to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Furthermore, there are situations where an application depends entirely on geolocation. Hence, geolocation testing becomes vital to guarantee all such scenarios are executed precisely. Google Chrome Developer Tools, BrowserStack, etc. are a few tools to perform geolocation testing.
Here are a few benefits of geolocation testing:
- Verifies the efficiency and performance of the application across various geographical locations
- Enhanced productivity
Conclusion
As technology evolves, organizations must keep up with the test automation trends in 2023 as they influence the future of testing. To remain current in the software testing field, testers must comprehend these emerging trends and integrate these technologies into their routine testing tasks. It is essential to keep up with the latest advancements in the industry to provide the highest level of testing services possible. Therefore, by leveraging the above-stated test automation trends organizations can test software in better ways and in less time.
