The Future of Software Testing: Current State, Emerging Trends, and New Directions

When Bank of America released an update for its mobile banking app in 2018, tens of thousands of customers experienced a service outage. They couldn’t access their accounts, which led to frustration and negative publicity.

The launch of the US HealthCare.gov health insurance marketplace in 2013 was marred by significant technical issues. Almost nobody managed to sign up for health insurance on the first day due to slow performance, a poor user experience, and crashes. The site went down within two hours of its launch.

These three cases have one thing in common – poor testing practices. Sometimes, software failures are inconsequential. Sometimes, they are fatal. But the fact is that an effective testing strategy is key to the success of your project. With an effective testing strategy, you’ll be able to prevent serious safety risks, negative consequences, and financial losses. Additionally, you’ll be able to increase efficiency and productivity.

We’re here to talk about the changing landscape of quality assurance and emerging software testing trends. Grab a cup of coffee and make yourself comfortable!

Software testing market size, share, and major drivers

The quality assurance (QA) market has experienced growth in recent years due to increasing demand for software development, advances in automation testing, and the growing importance of software quality standards in various industries.

Market size

According to Business Research Insights, the global QA market was valued at $87.42 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of almost 22% over the next few years, reaching $512.3 billion by 2033.

Source: businessresearchinsights.com

In 2023, North America accounted for nearly 40% of the total QA market and boasted major QAaaS providers according to Precedence Research. The second largest market share belongs to Europe (28%), followed by Asia-Pacific (24%), Latin America (5%), and Middle & East Africa (3%).

Market segments

The quality assurance market can be segmented based on a variety of aspects including testing type, application (vertical), deployment type, and endpoint interface.

By testing type, the QA market can be divided into the following segments:

• Operational testing, which is anticipated to dominate from 2024–2033
• Automated testing
• Performance testing
• Security testing
• Other services

Source: businessresearchinsights.com

Other resources such as Coherent Market Insights segments the QA market according to the following types of testing:

• Functional testing
• Non-functional testing
• Automated testing
• Manual testing
• Compatibility testing
• Security testing
• Other types of testing

By application (vertical), the QA market can be divided into these segments:

• Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), which is projected to dominate during the 2024–2033 period
• Telecommunications and IT
• Government and public sector
• Healthcare
• Finance
• Retail and eCommerce
• Manufacturing
• Media
• Others

By deployment type, the QA market can be split into two market segments:

• Cloud
• On-premises

By endpoint interface, the QA market can be categorized into these segments:

• Web testing
• Mobile testing
• Desktop testing
• API testing
• Embedded testing
• Cloud testing

Market drivers

No wonder the software testing market has grown strongly in the last few years. Among the key drivers are:

• Increasing complexity of software projects. With more complex systems being developed, robust quality assurance is critical to ensure reliability and performance.
• Growing demand for quality software. Reliance on technology is growing across industries. Today, end users expect high-quality software products with zero defects. To boost user satisfaction and maintain a positive business reputation, companies prioritize quality assurance.
• Adoption of Agile methodologies and DevOps practices. With the rise of Agile and DevOps, software is released more frequently. This has led to an increased need for automation and continuous testing integrated into the CI/CD pipeline.
• Shift to cloud computing. With the surge in cloud-based apps and software as a service (SaaS) models, there’s a growing need for QA solutions that can ensure the quality of these services.
• Growing emphasis on automated testing techniques. Automated testing is a significant driver of the QA market. Automation reduces time and costs, leading to faster time to market.
• Regulatory and compliance requirements. A lot of market domains (especially healthcare, finance, and information technology) must adhere to strict regulations and privacy laws. This drives investment in QA to ensure that products meet compliance requirements.
• Migration to microservices. Adoption of a microservices architecture necessitates new approaches to testing, driving demand for innovative QA solutions.
• Emerging cyber threats. As cyber concerns increase, software security has become a top priority. Businesses focus on incorporating security testing into their QA processes to identify vulnerabilities, which drives demand for specialized QA services.

Software testing trends for 2025

Keeping track of market trends is important if you want your project to be competitive, user-centric, adaptable, and cutting-edge, ultimately increasing the chances of its success. We can outline the following emerging trends in QA:

• Increased automation
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Testing in Agile and DevOps
• Shift-left testing
• Security testing
• Cloud testing
• IoT and API testing

Increased automation

Automation has become a pivotal trend in software testing. As businesses increasingly strive for faster delivery times while maintaining high quality standards, traditional manual testing methodologies are gradually being replaced by automated processes. This shift not only enhances efficiency but also redefines the role of QA specialists.

Automation streamlines the testing process, allowing teams to conduct more thorough and repeated tests with minimal human intervention. Automated tests can run 24/7, significantly reducing the time needed for test execution and allowing for bug detection early in the development lifecycle. In addition to these benefits, automated testing provides:

• Increased efficiency. Automated testing can execute thousands of test cases in a short time. This efficiency gain means that teams can test more frequently, aligning with Agile and DevOps practices.
• Improved accuracy. Automation eliminates the risk of human error associated with manual testing. Automated tests provide consistent results, leading to higher reliability in software engineering.
• Scalability. As applications grow in complexity and scale, automated testing can easily adapt to cover new functionalities without the need to increase testing resources.
• Cost savings. Although automation tools and frameworks require an initial investment, you will save money in the long run through reduced testing time and resources. Additionally, the cost of fixing bugs post-deployment is often much higher than the cost of addressing them during the testing phase.
• Enhanced coverage. Automated tests can cover many more scenarios, including cases that may not be feasible or economical to test manually.

Automation has become an integral component in quality assurance, enhancing efficiency, improving accuracy, and adapting to modern development needs. As businesses around the globe embrace this trend, the role of QA specialists is also evolving to require a blend of technical skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning

The World Quality Report 2023-24 says that nearly 77% of organizations invest in AI solutions in testing processes. However, 31% of organizations remain skeptical about the value of AI in quality assurance and emphasize the importance of an incremental approach.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are reshaping the quality assurance landscape. AI and ML technologies enhance traditional QA methods by enabling automated testing, predictive analytics, and intelligent defect detection. These innovations allow organizations to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their testing processes while minimizing human error.

Automated testing

AI-driven tools can generate and execute test cases with minimal human effort. By learning from previous test executions, these tools can identify the most critical areas for testing, optimize testing efforts, and reduce time spent on manual testing. This not only accelerates the testing process but also ensures that software is rigorously vetted before release.

Predictive analytics

Leveraging historical data, AI can predict potential defects and vulnerabilities in software before they manifest in the production environment. This proactive approach allows teams to address issues early in the development cycle, significantly reducing the cost and time associated with fixing defects post-launch.

Intelligent defect tracking

Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of testing data to identify patterns and trends in defect occurrences. By understanding these patterns, QA teams can prioritize their testing efforts based on risk and impact, ensuring that critical areas receive the attention they deserve.

Testing in Agile and DevOps

Agile and DevOps have significantly transformed the quality assurance landscape over the past several years. Both methodologies emphasize collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement, which has influenced QA practices in a number of ways. Below, we talk about the key trends that have resulted from Agile and DevOps:

• Shift-left testing. This is a software development approach (which we’ll talk about a bit later) that emphasizes early involvement of testing activities and automated tests.
• Continuous testing. With Agile sprints and DevOps cycles, testing is incorporated into different stages of the software development life cycle. Additionally, Agile practices encourage frequent feedback, which helps teams to make quick adjustments and improvements based on testing outcomes.
• Collaboration and communication. Quality assurance is no longer siloed. QA engineers work closely with product owners, developers, and operations teams, thus fostering a culture of shared responsibility for quality. With Agile, quality is everyone’s responsibility. For example, developers are encouraged to write tests and consider quality during the coding process.
• Focus on the user experience (UX). With Agile methodologies, testing not only focuses on functionality but also heavily prioritizes the user experience, A/B testing (also known as split testing), and performance metrics to ensure user satisfaction.
• Increased use of metrics and analytics. Teams leverage metrics such as velocity, test coverage, and defect density to inform decision-making and improve processes. Additionally, with a focus on user satisfaction, performance testing becomes a critical aspect of the QA process and is often integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
• Security testing. As part of DevSecOps, security testing is integrated into the development cycle early on, ensuring that security considerations are baked into the product from the start. Keep on reading to learn more about this trend.
• Agile testing quadrants. ​​A visual tool for understanding different QA tests, Agile testing quadrants provide a model for testing types, helping teams understand which tests to automate, which to execute manually, and how to align them with their overall objectives.

Shift-left testing

Shift-left testing is a software development approach that emphasizes the need for testing to be involved early in the development lifecycle. Traditionally, testing occurs at the end of the development process, leading to late discoveries of defects and issues. Shift-left testing aims to integrate testing activities in the early stages of development, ensuring quality is built into the product from the outset.

Key aspects of shift-left testing include:

• Early involvement. Testers are involved from the initial stages of the project, including requirements gathering and design. This helps with identifying potential issues and misunderstandings early.
• Continuous testing. Testing is performed continuously throughout the development process rather than being confined to specific stages. This includes automated testing, which allows for quick feedback on code changes.
• Collaboration. Development, testing, and operations teams collaborate more closely with shift-left testing. This often involves using practices such as Agile and DevOps that promote shared responsibility for quality.
• Automation. Shift-left testing emphasizes automated testing to speed up the feedback cycle and increase testing coverage. Automated tests can be run frequently and in various stages of development.
• Early feedback. By detecting issues sooner, teams can reduce the cost and effort associated with fixing defects later in the development process.
• Shifting responsibilities. Developers are encouraged to take on some testing responsibilities, fostering a culture of shared ownership over quality.

Generally, shift-left testing aims to enhance software quality, reduce the time to market, and improve collaboration across teams by embedding testing throughout the development lifecycle rather than treating it as a separate phase.

Security testing

With the rise in cyber threats, incorporating security testing into the development process has become essential. By proactively identifying vulnerabilities and fostering a culture of security awareness, businesses can better protect themselves against threats and deliver higher-quality and more secure software products.

Key trends and considerations regarding security testing include:

• Adoption of security standards and frameworks. Businesses are increasingly adopting industry standards and frameworks such as OWASP Top Ten, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and ISO/IEC 27001 to identify common vulnerabilities and define security testing best practices.
• Focus on threat modeling. Teams evaluate potential threats and vulnerabilities proactively using threat modeling practices, which allow for better security control from the outset.
• Regular penetration testing. Teams conduct penetration tests as part of their security testing practices. This simulates real-world attacks to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be used by malicious actors.
• Collaborative security culture. Security is becoming a collective responsibility across all teams, fostering a culture where everyone is encouraged to prioritize security in their work. A lot of companies incorporate training and awareness programs to educate employees on security best practices.
• Incident response and recovery. Businesses are investing more in defining clear incident response strategies and recovery plans. Testing these responses through simulations can help teams prepare for actual incidents and ensure that they can respond quickly and effectively.
• Regulatory compliance. Increased regulatory scrutiny in different market domains is forcing companies to prioritize security testing to ensure compliance and avoid penalties and reputational damage.

Cloud testing

Cloud testing has become a cornerstone of modern QA strategies. As software moves to the cloud, testing increasingly leverages cloud environments for scalability and flexibility. Here’s an overview of how cloud testing is shaping the QA landscape:

• Scalability and flexibility. Cloud testing allows organizations to scale resources up or down based on their testing needs. This flexibility is crucial for handling changing workloads, especially during peak times. Additionally, teams can access testing environments from anywhere in the world, which facilitates collaboration among geographically distributed teams.
• Cost-effectiveness. Companies no longer need to invest heavily in physical hardware and dedicated server environments for testing. They can use cloud-based services on a pay-as-you-go basis, which reduces overall costs.
• Diverse testing scenarios. Cloud testing enables developers to test applications across various devices, operating systems, and browser combinations without needing to access physical devices and configure operating systems and software. QA engineers, in turn, can create multiple user environments to simulate real-world scenarios and ensure applications perform well under different conditions.
• Automation and continuous testing. Cloud testing tools can easily integrate with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. This streamlines the testing process and enables continuous testing practices. Additionally, cloud platforms can automatically allocate resources for test execution, allowing for parallel testing and reducing overall test cycle times.
• Enhanced collaboration and reporting. With cloud-based testing tools, teams can collaborate in real time, sharing results, feedback, and insights. As for reporting, results from different test environments can be centrally managed and reported, which offers better insights into the overall quality of the application.
• Security and compliance. Leading cloud testing services often come with advanced data protection features, ensuring sensitive data is protected during testing.

Despite its advantages, cloud testing also comes with some challenges:

• Data security concerns. Businesses must ensure that sensitive data is protected when using third-party cloud services.
• Internet dependency. Cloud testing relies on a stable internet connection. If the connection isn’t reliable, it can impact testing.

IoT and API testing

Two other quality assurance trends are IoT testing and API testing. These are not just trends but essential components of modern quality assurance practices. With IoT and API testing, teams can ensure that connected devices and applications work flawlessly, securely, and efficiently.

IoT testing

Before we jump into the key aspects of IoT testing, let’s take a moment to define what it is. IoT (Internet of Things) testing refers to the process of evaluating and ensuring the functionality, performance, and security of IoT devices and systems. As IoT encompasses a vast network of interconnected devices that communicate and exchange data, testing is critical to verify that these interactions work as intended.

Key aspects of IoT testing include:

• Device interoperability – ensuring that different IoT devices can communicate and work together without issues
• Functionality testing – verifying that devices perform their intended functions correctly and operate under various conditions
• Performance testing – assessing responsiveness, stability, and scalability of devices under different load situations
• Security testing – evaluating devices for vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors to obtain data or gain unauthorized access
• Usability testing – ensuring that users can interact with devices easily and intuitively
• Connectivity testing – assessing the effectiveness of connections between devices and networks, including Wi-Fi, bluetooth, and cellular connections
• Compliance testing – verifying that devices meet industry standards and regulations

API testing

Testing application programming interfaces (APIs) ensures they function as expected. APIs are crucial components that allow software applications to communicate with each other. Their correct functioning is vital for the overall performance of applications that rely on them.

Key aspects of API testing include:

• Functional testing – verifying that APIs perform their expected functions and meet all requirements
• Load testing – assessing how APIs perform under various load conditions to check for scalability and responsiveness
• Security testing – evaluating APIs for vulnerabilities including authentication, authorization, and data encryption issues
• Error handling – testing how APIs handle erroneous requests and whether they return appropriate error messages and codes
• Response time testing – measuring how quickly APIs respond to requests (which is critical for performance)
• Data validation – ensuring that data returned by APIs is correct, reliable, and in the expected format
• End-to-end testing – verifying integration of APIs with other application components to ensure overall functionality

QAaaS with Globaldev

In recent years, quality assurance has evolved significantly. Businesses strive to enhance user/customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. To keep pace with technological advancements and changing consumer expectations, they are increasingly adopting innovative QA practices, from automated testing and artificial intelligence to integration of Agile methodologies and continuous delivery.

To ensure a high-quality product, many companies leverage third-party expertise and scalable solutions. This model not only reduces the overhead costs associated with in-house QA teams but also enables companies to access the latest tools and technologies without significant upfront investments. With a focus on automation, continuous testing, and integration with DevOps practices, QAaaS empowers businesses to improve software quality while achieving faster time to market. This makes it an attractive option for companies striving for agility and excellence in their software delivery.

Globaldev has been providing end-to-end QA services for a decade and knows how to deliver a product that’s functional, reliable, and meets user needs and quality standards.