Quality assurance must shift to smarter solutions as the complexity of applications and need for speed increase

Testing budgets fall, but are expected to rise again

This year’s World Quality Report identified a decrease in the proportion of IT budgets allocated to quality assurance (QA) and testing, for the second year running. Down from 35% in 2015, 31% in 2016 to 26% in 2017, the drop reflects a significant shift away from human resources to hardware and infrastructure, which now accounts for 46% of the testing budget. Despite the current drop, the report predicts that greater demand for testing in mobile applications and Internet of Things (IOT) will cause budgets to rise to 32% by 2020. Testing budgets between organizations also vary hugely; from less than 10% of IT budgets to over 50%. By moving to smarter, automated testing solutions across their development portfolios, organizations will be able to plan better and gain greater efficiencies from their budgets.

New models emerge as agile and DevOps disrupt testing teams

This rise of agile and DevOps is challenging the traditional structure of QA and testing teams. In response, organizations are shifting testing staff from central Testing Centers of Excellence, embedding them in individual development teams instead, in a bid to achieve greater flexibility. However, an overwhelming 99% of respondents are experiencing complications when testing in agile, with 46% citing lack of data and unstable environments as the biggest hurdles. A new model is now emerging where the Testing Center of Excellence will provide unified guidance and decision making around tools and platforms.

Smart testing technologies are under-exploited

To combat these challenges, organizations are turning to intelligent test automation to cater for smarter applications and increasingly complex IT landscapes. Effective automation helps ensure quality while freeing up testing resource to focus on new development work. Yet despite tangible ROI, such as decreased time to market, only 16% of respondents are using automation effectively. The main challenges holding 50% of organizations back are exponentially growing data sets, fluid IT applications and forthcoming regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Hans van Waayenburg, Member of the Group Executive Committee at Capgemini and Head of Sogeti said: “This year’s World Quality Report demonstrates that testing teams are coming of age, but facing new challenges with the shift to agile applications. Digital transformation provides a huge opportunity for growth, but organizations must be proactive in breaking down silos between business, development, quality and operations, while using agile and DevOps to focus on customer value and business relevance. To retain a competitive edge, quality assurance and test organizations must move towards test ecosystem automation, predictive analytics and intelligence-led quality assurance and testing, for better business outcomes.”

Raffi Margaliot, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Application Delivery Management, Micro Focus said “We are proud to deliver this year’s World Quality Report to help IT and application delivery leaders around the world understand and plan for the disrupting forces of agile, DevOps and digital transformation. With our customers witnessing the confluence of these megatrends every day, the report becomes all the more relevant for business decision makers. It is also a testament to our commitment to partner with our customers in their transformation journey ahead.”

World Quality Report research methodology:

The World Quality Report, which this year interviewed 1,660 respondents from 32 countries, is the only global report analyzing application quality and testing trends. It has been produced annually since 2009. Now in its 9th edition, the 2017 report adopted data collection through computer aided telephone interviews. Based on analysis of six respondent groups: CIO, VP Applications, IT Director, QA/Testing Manager, CDO/CMO, and CTO/Product Head, the report surveyed respondents from across the globe through quantitative interviews followed by qualitative deep-dive discussions.

Further information

To download a full copy of the World Quality Report 2017 go to www.worldqualityreport.com

About Capgemini and Sogeti

With more than 190,000 people, Capgemini is present in over 40 countries and celebrates its 50^th Anniversary year in 2017. A global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing services, the Group reported 2016 global revenues of EUR 12.5 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business, technology and digital solutions that fit their needs, enabling them to achieve innovation and competitiveness. A deeply multicultural organization, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business Experience^TM, and draws on Rightshore^®, its worldwide delivery model. Learn more about us at www.capgemini.com.

Sogeti is a leading provider of technology and engineering services. Sogeti delivers solutions that enable digital transformation and offers cutting-edge expertise in Cloud, Cybersecurity, Digital Manufacturing, Digital Assurance & Testing, and emerging technologies. Sogeti combines agility and speed of implementation with strong technology supplier partnerships, world class methodologies and its global delivery model, Rightshore®. Sogeti brings together more than 25,000 professionals in 15 countries, based in over 100 locations in Europe, USA and India. Sogeti is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capgemini SE, listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. For more information please visit www.sogeti.com.

Rightshore^® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini

[1] Sector focus – Automotive, Financial Services, Energy & Utilities,  Consumer Products and Retail, High Tech, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Telecom and Public Sector