A recent survey from Sogeti has identified application testing as the biggest challenge facing software testing and Quality Assurance professionals today. Cloud-based testing and mobile testing were both highlighted as significant ‘future’ challenges.

The survey, conducted by Sogeti at the TestExpo 2012 software testing event held in London on 21 June, also revealed that 80% of respondents welcomed the concept of ‘Shift Left’, with 32% saying it would definitely help them and a further 48% agreeing it would help but that they would want to see results with their own project workloads. Only 3% said they did not think that the concept would help or enhance their software testing processes.

‘Shift Left’ is an innovative strategy that moves software testing quality measures to the start of the application lifecycle, or left along the timeline, dramatically reducing the number of change requests required at the end of each project. This methodology reduces the overall timespan and cost of projects by ensuring that software testing and Quality Assurance practices take place at the earliest and most relevant stage in development as possible.

When asked about their current and future challenges in testing, 67% of respondents said that application testing was a major ‘current’ challenge, compared to 43% citing mobile testing, 35% Windows 7 migration, 34% for outsourcing, 27% for establishing a Test Centre of Excellence (TCoE), and 22% for cloud-based testing.

On the subject of future testing hurdles, the biggest challenge named was cloud-based testing, which was the answer from 51% of respondents, while 29% of respondents said mobile testing would be a future challenge. Other responses included 28% challenged by establishing a TCoE; 27% by Windows 7 migration; 11% outsourcing; and 9% still regarding application testing as a future challenge.

The survey also asked respondents about the key priority for their department and business if they had to choose between quality, technology, innovation, speed and cost. The highest response backed quality, followed by cost and then speed.

Other significant findings included:
* Mobile testing: just 4% of professional testers felt they were comfortable enough with mobile projects to dismiss the form of testing as a challenge
* Establishing a TCoE: attitudes were split when discussing the establishment of a TCoE, with 27% of contributors admitting it was a current challenge, 28% expecting TCoE to be a future challenge, and 28% not considering it an obstacle since they had no plans for a TCoE
* Windows 7 migration: attitudes towards Windows 7 migration varied amongst software testers, with 62% agreeing that the migration was either a current or a future challenge to overcome, while 38% said it was not an obstacle either because they had sufficient knowledge in the program or because it was not going to be implemented in their business

The survey respondents were cross-sector and featured professionals in the energy/utilities, financial, healthcare, high tech, retail, telecommunications and travel industries. For a full copy of the survey results please email Sogeti [at] prompt-communications.com

About Sogeti

Sogeti is a leading provider of professional technology services, specialising in Application Management, Infrastructure Management, High-Tech Engineering and Testing. Working closely with its clients, Sogeti enables them to leverage technological innovation and achieve maximum results. Sogeti brings together more than 20,000 professionals in 15 countries and is present in over 100 locations in Europe, the US and India. Sogeti is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cap Gemini S.A., listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit http://www.uk.sogeti.com/.

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