Top 7 QA and Software Testing Trends in 2022

Software testing solutions are constantly evolving and shaking up the QA industry. Just when you think your organization has everything under control, testing-wise—BOOM—a new software testing trend takes the industry by storm. With advancements in technology, dynamic user expectations, and continuous digital transformation, the need for versatile QA solutions is growing.

Gone are the days when quality assurance and software testing was just about finding bugs and errors. Nowadays, it’s so much more. It’s about evaluating product ideas, predicting user behavior, and analyzing opportunities and threats. In fact, there isn’t a clear line between where software development ends and testing begins. You cannot have one without the other and each is equally important in the software development life cycle. And as tremendous changes in technology continue to occur, companies are encouraged to keep up with trends and stay innovative.

The new year promises to pave the way for some new software testing trends and reinforce some already popular software testing solutions. Let’s take a look at 7 QA and software testing trends you should watch out for in 2022.

1. Test automation

Test automation has become an integral part of the software testing process. In fact, according to the most recent study by Global Market Insights, the value of the automation testing market is expected to surpass USD 40 billion by 2027. Its many benefits, like faster feedback cycles, reduced testing expenses, and greater test coverage have not gone unnoticed by companies. As a result, we can expect to see an increase in the demand for test automation in 2022, particularly for AI and ML in test automation tasks as well as codeless test automation.

AI and ML for testing

When looking at test automation, it’s impossible to ignore artificial intelligence and machine learning. This year, we can expect to see more AI and ML in test automation tasks. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will transform testing in a way that will benefit everyone involved in the process.

Artificial intelligence refers to a situation where a computer applies some form of intelligence to solve a problem. Machine learning, on the other hand, is the basis for many AI systems. In a sense, without machine learning, there would be no artificial intelligence. Machine learning, which is essentially a pattern-recognition technology, uses patterns it has identified by its algorithms to predict future trends.

Combining AI and ML will improve and accelerate software testing in three main areas: test creation, test analysis, and test maintenance.

Test creation

Automated testing requires you to create and run tests—generally, by using a automation framework like Selenium. To control element selectors and actions that are part of the test, you need to create a detailed test script. The problem, however, is that creating a new test script is slow and iterative. You can even say it’s a mini software development project on its own, taking hours to create even a simple script. AI and ML can improve this process by creating tests in a matter of minutes instead of hours. Namely, AI allows you to create tests by going through the test case step by step, while the system builds ML models in the background. These ML models record huge amounts of data to find patterns and make predictions, speeding up the test creation process.

Test analysis

In traditional test automation, test scripts are used to check if the outcome of an action matches your expectation. In order for this to work, you need to specify precisely what the test should look for. On a surface level, this makes test analysis easy—either the test passed or it failed. However, traditional test automation isn’t always the most reliable, causing various issues with interpreting test results to appear. For instance, it only tests things you explicitly tell it to test and many test failures are actually false positives. AI and ML algorithms help improve test analysis in several ways. They eliminate the probability of human error, shorten the time to run tests, and increase the amount of UI tested. Additionally, AI and ML looks at the software in depth, comparing it against previous test runs to find any defects. This means you do not have to specify a specific test condition in the test script in order for a defect to be found and reported.

Test maintenance

Test maintenance is an integral part of test automation. As changes to code, framework, integration, and other components of software occur, the reliability of a test may decline. Test maintenance is crucial to keep your tests up to date with any changes that may affect their validity. AI scraps the need for test maintenance altogether, which is owed to the ML model that identifies patterns and builds algorithms. Specifically, if an element—or selector—changes or moves, AI can figure out what has happened and still select the correct one. This is made possible by the mountains of ML data collected each test run. For more significant changes, like removing a button completely, AI will flag the problem and come up with suggestions of what might have changed. To update your test, all you need to do is select the correct suggestion given by the AI.

Codeless test automation

Imagine reaping all the rewards that come with test automation but minus the code. Seems like the perfect combination, doesn’t it? Well, in 2022 you can expect to see more of it. Codeless test automation—or codeless automated testing—is the next big thing in quality assurance. It allows you to enjoy all the benefits of test automation without writing a single line of code.

Some benefits of codeless test automation include:

Shallow learning curve. Testers can create test cases—even for automation of complex scenarios—without any prior knowledge of coding or programming languages.
Faster feedback cycle. Test cases will be easier to review by testers and non-technical stakeholders, as they are readable and understandable.
Greater test efficiency. Test creation will be quicker and more reliable because it doesn’t involve the use of complex syntax.
Saves time and resources. Testers can execute more tests faster without needing to learn new programming languages. This allows you to allocate time and resources toward other projects.

For these reasons, we can expect codeless test automation to be used more regularly to expedite test creation and maximise testing reliability. It will improve the lives of testers, developers, and organizations.

How will test automation mark 2022?

Embracing test automation will allow companies to:

Ensure faster and easier test creation.
Maintain large IT systems.
Employ simpler test analysis.
Relieve QA teams of repetitive tasks.
Simplify test maintenance.
Achieve greater test efficiency.
Improve visual testing capabilities.
Validate changes to the code quicker.
Reduce the time to market.
Utilize new technologies and developments.

2. Audio and video testing

As many people will continue working from home this year, either indefinitely or using a hybrid work model, companies and users will rely on communications software to stay connected. For work processes to run smoothly, this type of software needs to work seamlessly without any unwelcome surprises.

In order to meet quality expectations, companies that provide solutions with audio and video capabilities will need to make sure they deliver a high-quality product. Therefore, we can expect to see a greater demand for audio and video quality testing services.

At TestDevLab, we are already ahead of this trend thanks to our audio and video testing solutions that allow us to:

Test solutions on thousands of different devices, OSs, and OS versions.
Simulate a large number of users from around the world.
Create and reproduce real-world network scenarios.
Provide custom audio and video quality assessment metrics.
Test load and performance capabilities.
Deliver valuable market insight.

We use various audio quality metrics to test audio like VISQOL and POLQA. Similarly, we use various video metrics to test video products, like BRISQUE, FPS, resolution, audio and video delay, and QoE. For both audio and video testing, we emulate various network conditions to create real-world network scenarios like jitter, packet loss, network bandwidth, and network changes.

Recently, we developed our mobile laboratory, which lets us get out into the real world to run tests.

How will audio and video testing mark 2022?

Performing audio and video testing will allow companies to:

Deliver high-quality products and services to customers
Ensure products are compatible on all platforms and under any conditions
Track software changes between versions
See where they stand in comparison to their competitors

Check out our audio and video quality testing services to get ahead of the curve.

3. IoT testing

The IoT is rapidly growing. Almost all industries are affected by it, including the fitness, healthcare, automotive, and home automation industry. Many companies are using—or planning to use—IoT to develop smarter solutions and distinguish their products from competitors.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the IoT testing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.34% over the forecast period 2021-2026. And as the IoT landscape expands, the demand for IoT testing services will also increase. Companies will be looking to check their IoT solutions against various metrics to ensure they work as intended and meet user expectations. Therefore, we can expect IoT testing to be among the top software testing trends this year.

When testing IoT solutions, you need to pay attention to numerous factors, like:

Security. Does the IoT solution have security measures in place to shield it from cyberattacks?
Continuity. Is the IoT solution capable of working consistently and delivering a unified experience?
Interoperability. Can the IoT solution work in conjunction with other devices, systems or platforms?
Compliance. Does the IoT solution comply with global standards and regulations?

How will IoT testing mark 2022?

Investing in IoT testing will help companies:

Ensure a reliable connection of IoT devices with sensors, cloud, and other IoT devices.
Deliver a unified and continuous experience to users.
Comply with global standards and regulations.
Keep user data safe from malware and other security vulnerabilities.

4. Blockchain testing

The future of crypto is looking bright. Last year, we saw more companies accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment and this year we can expect to see even more companies jump on the crypto bandwagon. For example, Amazon has announced its plans to launch their own crypto token in 2022 which will pave the way for other big names to follow suit.

Other blockchain and crypto trends predict a greater demand for blockchain and crypto skills, as blockchain is set to enter the Metaverse and integrate with IoT technologies. As a result, growing and emerging blockchain technology will call for a greater need of blockchain testing.

Earlier this year we announced our partnership with OneLedger, a blockchain as a service company. We understand the growing need for blockchain testing and quality assurance. And our experienced QA engineers are ready to meet the demand.

How will blockchain testing mark 2022?

Performing blockchain testing will enable companies to:

Provide a secure and functional infrastructure.
Identify performance bottlenecks faster.
Eliminate flaws in a decentralized system to prevent damage.
Ensure all elements on the blockchain network work as intended.
Deliver high-quality services and meet user expectations.

5. Testing Centers of Excellence (TCoE)

Testing teams are constantly under pressure to reduce development time without jeopardizing quality. For this reason, another software testing trend we can expect to see this year is the rise of testing centers of excellence (TCoE).

As disparate test processes across teams can result in underperforming tests and underutilized resources, the need for standardized testing processes, metrics, and tools is greater than ever. Establishing a TCoE is one of the most effective ways to achieve standardized testing processes and increase testing efficiency. Therefore, companies that have not established a TCoE already, will likely do so in the coming months.

How will TCoE mark 2022?

By establishing TCoE companies will be able to:

Centralize quality assurance and software testing practices.
Optimize team collaboration and resource utilization.
Reduce testing time and cost without compromising quality.
Improve project timelines and reduce delays.
Limit defect leakage.

6. Cybersecurity testing

Security is always a top priority when it comes to software testing. So it comes as no surprise that companies will continue investing in cybersecurity testing services in 2022. Additionally, the many software bugs and tech fails of 2021 further reinforce the need for robust cybersecurity testing.

Ransomware actors are becoming more aggressive and adept at bypassing security measures, while attacks are becoming more elaborate and lucrative. As a result, quality assurance experts need to be ready to test for security vulnerabilities and utilize various security testing methods. Also, implementing resilience testing methods, such as chaos engineering, is another great way to ensure system stability and readiness in real-life conditions.

How will cybersecurity testing mark 2022?

Performing cybersecurity testing will allow companies to:

Identify critical security vulnerabilities faster and early on in the SDLC.
Address security vulnerabilities before they can cause critical damage.
Better prepare for possible cyberattacks and security weaknesses.
Validate existing cybersecurity measures.
Protect the data of partners, stakeholders, and customers.
Build trust and reinforce reputation.

7. AR/VR testing

The term “metaverse” created a lot of hype in 2021, getting people excited about the endless opportunities a virtual world could offer. And the craze has only just begun, as many industries and companies—like Facebook and Microsoft—are already taking advantage of the metaverse and all it offers.

Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, shared his view on the potential of the metaverse:

“Over the coming decades, the metaverse has the potential to become a multitrillion-dollar part of the world economy.”

With such a bright forecast, many companies will look at ways to become a part of this technological evolution. And as they do, testing the metaverse will become the next big thing as far as software testing trends are concerned.

As this next-generation version of the internet is rendered by augmented reality and virtual reality technology, this means that software testing engineers can anticipate a growing demand for AR/VR testing in 2022.

How will AR/VR testing mark 2022?

With AR/VR testing, companies will be able to:

Discover any limitations and eliminate performance bottlenecks.
Detects flaws in architecture, logic, and interface design.
Test audio and video quality.
Ensure external devices like headsets, sensors, and other wearables work seamlessly.
Find out how immersive their product is.
Make sure robust security measures are in place to prevent hackers.
Provide an accessible and inclusive product.

Stay on top of 2022 software testing trends

As the demand for software testing grows, the need for experienced and skilled quality assurance engineers is greater than ever. If you want to be at the forefront of these software testing trends, you need to have a reliable QA team supporting you every step of the way. And we can’t stress enough how important quality assurance engineers are when it comes to software testing. Don’t take any chances and make sure you deliver a high-quality product to users. Work with a quality assurance service provider that can tick all the quality assurance boxes.

At TestDevLab, we have been providing quality assurance services for over 10 years now. The products and solutions we have tested—and are still testing—are used by over 4.5 billion users worldwide. So trust us when we say we know our way around software and are always following the latest software testing trends. With over 3,000 real devices in our possession and at your service, you can be sure that your product will be tested on all relevant devices by experienced QA engineers.