The Changing Role of Software Testing

The Changing Role of Software Testing Bridget Hughes July 28, 2021

May 01, 2026 · 4 min read · Testing Guide

The Changing Role of Software Testing

Bridget Hughes
July 28, 2021

On the surface, the role of software testing is jolly straightforward: verify and validate that the product works as intended. But ask tester what their role and resolve within the software development organization is and you ’ re likely to get a variety of resolution. Some might say character engineering, others might say examination technology or caliber assurance, and a grow number of testers yet define their purpose as customer delight engineering.

New Software Testing Technologies, Priorities, and Talent

The understanding for the variety is that the role of software testing is being transformed by multiple shifts in the industry. New test automation puppet are being introduced to the market, bringing new capabilities powered by cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning, while the adoption of DevOps is reconfiguring testing and quality priorities. Pushing the transition yet further is the emergence of a new generation of test professionals that have been raised on low-code platforms like Roblox and expect work covering to be simple to use, highly adaptable, and powerful. & nbsp;

New Test Automation Tools Rethink Testing Strategy

Automated testing frameworks aren ’ t new. Early test automation tools hit the market in the mid-2000s, creating new opportunities for software testers to rethink how they manage quality. But testing teams relying on an machine-controlled examination scheme are increasingly finding themselves frustrated with fragile examination automation frameworks that break easily and take excessive maintenance. As DevOps streamlines ware development, these legacy tryout automation tools simply aren ’ t plenty to evolve a data-driven and collaborative automated testing scheme.

This trend has led to a new generation of machine-driven testing program designed to support calibre engineering in an agile and DevOps universe. Harnessing AI and machine learning, emerge automated testing platforms are reducing maintenance with capabilities likeauto-healing. With less time expend on exam automation framework maintenance, character professional can shift concenter to expand their automated testing strategy, performing explorative testing, and coach the rest of their organization to contribute to quality. With the power to dedicate more time try edge lawsuit and expanding their skills, software examiner are rethinking their role in the DevOps pipeline. & nbsp;

DevOps and Customer Expectations are Reshaping Quality Goals

Our 2021 State of Testing in DevOps Report& nbsp; found that deployment speeds were relatively flat, or still slowed, within the past year. & nbsp;

Bar chart of Deployment Speed for 2019, 2020, 2021 showing increasing number of more deployments.

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Though it ’ s to be seen how much of this was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it ’ s worth note that interest in DevOps acceptation only increased despite the minimum gains in product velocity. Instead, focussing is reposition towards amend the user experience. As software companies across B2B and B2C industries vie mainly on the customer experience, development teams are seem for tool that integrate real user data into the development grapevine. With quality assurance morphing into client delight technology, testers are direct the track and advocating for customer-centric summons improvements that contribute to DevOps adoption as well as customer expiation. Their master strategy? Expanding exam coverage. & nbsp;

Bar chart of Test Coverage and Customer Happiness showing significantly more happiness for high test coverage.

As every package tester knows, 100 % test coverage isn ’ t feasible (or still advocate). So be able to increase test coverage strategically, in means that good reflect the need of client, is a critical skill set that take human expertise as well as the correct test automation creature. Supported by powerful new test mechanization frameworks that integrate with tools likeSegment, software testers are lead the complaint for customer-centered DevOps. & nbsp;

Low-Code Natives Are Reimagining Test Automation

Further modify software quiz is the emergence of a new generation of testers:. These late millennial and Gen Z employees have but started entering the workforce, bringing with them an entirely new set of expectations for how enterprise application should operate.

Unlike the earlier generation of digital indigen, who grow up with the substructure of a technology-driven world, low-code natives be raised on highly adaptable program that enabled creativity and problem resolution. Apps and websites are simply a substance to an end, the “ how ” a certain task is fulfil, whether it ’ s building an entirely new world on Roblox or identifying a flaw in a new product feature. This mindset imply low-code natives expect work applications that are intuitive, effective, and easy-to-use.

Millennials and Gen Z likewise expect more workplace learning. They live in the digital economy and discern that jobs, skills, and the marketplace can change at the dip of a hat (see: Clubhouse and TikTok), and therefore prioritize continuous learning to assure long-term vocation development. For those entering the world of package development, quality, and support, low-code fulfills both expectation by making complex undertaking like easier and inclose new skills in a seamless way. With the “ how ” removed from automated testing, even new software quizzer or manual examiner can think beyond the traditional mold of testing to re-imagine software quality. & nbsp;

The Rapidly Changing Field of Software Testing

Whether it ’ s called quality engineering, test technology, character confidence, or client delight engineering, the field of package testing is undergo several transformation to meet the demands of modern consumers and prole. Powerful new test automation framework are enabling lineament strategies that indorse customer-focused DevOps success, while also responding to the needs of low-code aboriginal that were lift with intuitive applications. As they grow into their new, multi-faceted role in the enterprise, they ’ re embracing these changes to optimize their automated testing strategy to support DevOps.

Download the full2021 State of Testing in DevOps Reportto see how software testing is metamorphose DevOps.

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