Future of Cloud-Based Testing: 5 Areas to Watch

Cloud-based automated testing environments replicate real-world use cases to help companies better simulate user scenarios at scales which is not possible in other testing environments. The process accelerates go-to-market initiatives and improves user experience.

As with any technology, cloud-based testing continually evolves, presenting users with new opportunities and challenges. What conditions, trends, or risks can we confidently associate with future cloud-based testing environments?

To address the cloud-based testing of the future, it’s important to consider the issues we face today, as many of these challenges are likely to persist.

Strategic thinking about cloud-based testing of the future must address familiar issues, such as:

• Migration complexities
• Dependency on Internet connectivity
• Data transfer and storage costs
• Supplier selection and potential lock-in
• Security, compliance and data privacy
• Integration with existing systems

Any significant changes in these areas could impact the current and future landscapes in cloud-based testing. But there’s more to consider.

Outlook for Cloud-Based Test Environments: 5 Trends to Watch

What does cloud-based testing have to offer in the future? Here’s a look at four likely trends to keep an eye on, because the future of cloud-based testing is intertwined with wherever these trends take us.

1 – Continued Explosive Internet Growth

In cloud-based software testing, web applications use cloud computing environments to simulate real-world user traffic. So when it comes to the future of cloud-based, automated testing, we must ask, what’s the future of “real-world user traffic”?

The growth of the internet has already been phenomenal. In the last decade, more than 100 billion hours have been spent each year using shopping and other apps. With a 157% higher conversion than mobile-friendly sites, brands of all kinds are passionate about engaging with consumers in profitable app environments. That means testing, testing, testing.

Since cloud-based automated testing emerged to mimic user volume at scale, it’s safe to assume future testing platforms will be tasked with replicating even more Internet traffic. Evolving demands and regulations in regional, not to mention global marketplaces will put pressure on large-scale online testing.

2 – Scalable, In-House Test Infrastructure Not Feasible Long-Term

Many technology-driven organizations grapple with the ongoing challenge of maintaining suitable test environments in-house. As the testing environment scales to meet research needs, in-house environments can’t keep up. The ongoing expense of scaling and maintaining quality internal testing resources has become impractical.

This struggle has been one of the driving factors behind the success of outsourcing large-scale testing. Going forward, eliminating in-house device labs will make even more sense. For an increasing number of brands, infrastructure considerations may influence their decision to opt for a testing-as-a-service (TaaS) partner with an established cloud-based test environment, automation, and a skilled workforce.

3 – More AI, ML and Data in Ahead in Cloud-based Testing

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have a big future in cloud-based testing environments. AI will continue as a force multiplier in digital transformation, as an automation driver, and as a robust data resource.

Already, leading cloud test environments incorporate AI into their workflow and automation, and the ways these capabilities can be applied for business goals are almost unlimited. For example, ML is being used today in the banking sector to model real-time transactions, and ML, along with AI technology, help predict fraudulent transactions. It’s impossible to guess what these testing capabilities will be capable of even five years from now.

But we do know one thing. In the future, organizations must be on guard if testing involves consumer demographics that could be affected by biases. Testing professionals avoid this by:

• Understanding shortcomings of algorithms
• Shaping data samples to minimizes bias
• Knowing when to use more traditional decision making

AI, automation and ML give test environments the power to develop more meaningful scenarios and validate all possible outcomes. However, a future (and current) challenge will be managing quality in the voluminous data submitted to AI for testing purposes.

Human intervention can’t keep up at scale now, and certainly not in the future. Machine learning and AI must take on bigger roles in enriching and managing data and workflow for large-scale testing, because human intervention alone can’t handle it.

4 – Poor Digital Experience: Silent Killer of Brand Image

For brands, positive digital experience with their apps is critical to making connections with target audiences. Cloud-based testing environments are designed to catch poor digital experiences, so brands can course-correct before going to market.

Research shows it’s worth the attention. Companies that invest in digital experience have seen an average of 19% increase in revenue growth, and a 20% increase in gross margins, according to Forrester analytics.

Today, test clouds automate app testing for apps like Apple TV, Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV. Imagine what will be required in five years. How might target audiences change? What platforms will be popular? How will brands embrace change and allow for it in their mobile device and web applications?

These tried-and-true practices will likely remain future must-haves for large-scale testing initiatives that accelerate go-to-market:

• Unified digital experience testing cloud
• Secure, reliable high performance test execution
• Cloud-based platform built to scale

User experience isn’t likely to become any less important in future marketplaces, so a robust testing environment that mimics the consumer experience remains essential. Brands want to protect exceptional user experience across all devices and browsers.

Probably the best prepared for the cloud-based testing of the future are those companies that are nailing it today. For example, advanced test environments use AI-powered automated visual regression to perform user experience testing across thousands of desktop and mobile environments.

5 – Real Device Cloud for Mobile App Testing for Steady Mobile Surge

The ease and convenience of online transactions make ecommerce popular among mobile consumers, and businesses are taking advantage of this shift by expanding their online presence. But they have to do it right the first time.

The firmly established e-commerce marketplace virtually assures long-term demand for large-scale app testing. What would mobile testing look like for the mobile devices of five years from now? How will devices and consumers who use them change? Mobile users are likely to continue showing strong preference for mobile apps, requiring equally vigorous go-to-market testing, so the precious digital experience remains intact. Robust scalability will certainly be a strong part of future mobile app testing.

Some leading suppliers currently offer real device cloud and virtual mobile device platforms of emulators and simulators to test applications with Android & iOS Smartphones. This eliminates the need for brands to maintain internal device libraries and reduces operational costs.

Future Is Bright for Cloud-Based Testing

Some future challenges of large testing environments are somewhat predictable, making them somewhat possible to prepare for. Modeling and predictive methods can help anticipate change to a degree.

It’s hard to imagine the role of cloud-based testing becoming less important in coming years. Benefits of extensive scalability along with reduction in capital expenditure make it an attractive future strategy. While many future impacts won’t be new, these five areas are obvious contenders worthy of scrutiny.

Carro Ford

Carro Ford is a successful B2B marketer and writer based in Louisville, Kentucky. She’s worked in many technical markets and is also the author of The Smartass Marketer’s Handbook: A Guide to B2B Marketing with Attitude.

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