There’s a huge disconnect in corporate America, and it’s costing companies big time. The disconnect involves software testing, or, more precisely, the lack of it. More than nine out of 10 CEOs are confident that their company’s software is tested regularly, yet roughly eight out of 10 product testers reported that up to 40% of their software goes out the door with insufficient testing. This dichotomy came to light in the latest Leapwork survey of 500 CEOs and software testers.
The consequences of untested software are potentially dire and far from hypothetical. Flawed software that delayed the launch of new car models contributed to the dismissal of Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess, while Facebook saw its market cap value plummet by billions in 2021 when a software glitch came to light.
It’s not as if anyone is unaware of such risks: A whopping 95% of CEOs surveyed admitted they’re concerned about losing their jobs if a software failure occurs, while 76% of testers shared that concern. Those feelings are certainly valid, as more than three out of four CEOs reported that software failures damaged their companies’ reputations during the past five years.
Despite these realizations, CEOs seem willing to gamble. A full 85% said they considered it acceptable to release software that wasn’t adequately tested, as long as it can be patched later. That attitude has made patching standard operating procedure. More than half the testers said their teams spend five to 10 days a year patching software.
Why are organizations willing to take unnecessary risks by releasing software that’s potentially not ready for prime time? There are several common reasons—and a solution that many are overlooking.
The Problem with Manual Testing
One of the major problems is the continued reliance on manual testing, which requires time and resources companies can’t afford. Only 43% of testers said they use automation to some extent in their testing, proving that the majority of testing is still a manual process.
That significantly slows product development, an issue for businesses anxious to get their products to market before the competition. Nearly 40% of CEOs said the time-consuming nature of manual testing is one of the primary reasons they release programs that haven’t been properly vetted. Testers clearly feel the crunch, with about one in three saying faster development cycles don’t allow enough time for testing.
Given the choice between rushing through testing or delaying a release, companies often roll the dice and opt for the former.
Two recent pandemic-related trends have made the situation even more difficult. More organizations are embracing digital platforms to cope with the effects of COVID-19 on their businesses, increasing the need for IT talent. At the same time, upheaval in the labor market has resulted in widespread resignations and job hopping, contributing to a serious shortage of skilled IT personnel.
The Coding Conundrum
Even in this chaotic business climate, experienced software developers remain a hot commodity, with many career options at their fingertips. The competition for talent has left many IT teams scrambling and understaffed, making it difficult to produce high-quality software at a breakneck pace.
Eliminating the need for manual testing could relieve the pressure to a great extent. By automating testing, organizations can reduce the burden on staff and minimize the risk of errors caused by deadline pressures. That would allow more testing of more software in less time, which would help move product out the door and into the hands of customers.
But automated testing isn’t without its challenges, as many organizations have discovered. Many solutions that are billed as “low code” still demand coding skills beyond the capability of typical business users and testers. That need for coding is an obstacle that can drag down the pace of testing and make it difficult for business users to participate in the process.
That challenge grows as the need for ongoing maintenance expands. The test engineers who came on board to set up an automation solution can find themselves bogged down in maintaining code. As a result, speed to market continues to suffer.
Democratizing the Test Process
There is a solution: true no-code test platforms. This type of solution allows both testers and business users to design, run and maintain tests without the need for coding. Business users who understand how the software deliverables are supposed to grow business can be intimately involved in testing, which enhances the quality and functionality of the product and the satisfaction of customers.
It also promotes speed. When testing is largely automated and more people are involved, it’s possible to test more software in less time. This eliminates bottlenecks and addresses the issue of scale. The use of automation on a no-code platform has been shown to speed time to market by a factor of 10—an improvement that largely eliminates the need to rush potentially flawed software to market without adequate testing.
Organizations can position themselves to meet the growing demand for digital solutions by revamping the way they test software. By eliminating manual testing and adopting an automated platform that doesn’t require coding skills, they can afford to test all their products thoroughly. The end result: They can minimize the risk of bugs that could undermine their success and threaten job security.
