Addressing Various Issues with No-Code Automated Software

There is a significant gap in corporate America when it comes to software testing, and it is costing companies. Many CEOs are confident that their company’s automated software is tested regularly, but a large proportion of product testers report that up to 40% of their software is released without adequate testing. This discrepancy was revealed in a survey of 500 CEOs and software testers conducted by Leap work.

The consequences of releasing automated software that has not been adequately tested can be severe and are not just theoretical. For example, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess was fired due in part to software defects that delayed the launch of new car models, and Facebook’s market cap value decreased by billions when a software glitch was discovered in 2021.

Almost all of the CEOs surveyed (95%) admitted that they are worried about losing their jobs if an automated software failure occurs, and 76% of testers shared this concern. These concerns are well-founded, as more than three out of four CEOs reported that software failures have damaged their companies’ reputations over the past five years.

Despite understanding the potential consequences of releasing untested automated software, many CEOs are willing to take the risk. In fact, a majority (85%) said they would consider it acceptable to release software that has not been adequately tested, as long as it can be fixed with patches later. This has led to patching becoming a common practice. According to survey results, over half of testers reported that their teams spend between 5 and 10 days annually patching software.

There are several reasons why organizations may be willing to release automated software that has not been fully tested, even though it carries the risk of causing problems. Despite this, there is a potential solution that is often overlooked.

Automated Software: The Problem with Manual Testing

One of the significant issues contributing to the release of untested software is the reliance on manual testing, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive for companies. According to survey results, only 43% of testers reported using automation to some extent in their testing, indicating that the majority of testing is still done manually.

The reliance on manual testing can significantly slow down product development, which can be a problem for companies that want to bring their products to market as quickly as possible to stay ahead of the competition. Approximately 40% of CEOs cited the time-consuming nature of manual testing as a primary reason for releasing software that has not been adequately tested. This pressure is also felt by testers, with about a third of them stating that the faster development cycles do not provide enough time for testing.

When faced with the decision of either rushing through testing or delaying a release, companies often choose to take the risk and go ahead with the former option.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already difficult situation for companies in finding skilled IT personnel. This is due to two trends: the increased adoption of digital platforms by organizations in response to the pandemic, leading to a higher demand for IT talent, and a significant amount of resignations and job changes in the labor market causing a shortage of skilled IT workers.

Automated Software: The Coding Conundrum

Despite the current challenging business environment, software developers with experience are highly sought after and have numerous career opportunities available to them. The demand for this talent has resulted in IT teams being understaffed and struggling to maintain a fast pace of high-quality software development.

Automating testing can greatly reduce the pressure on staff and decrease the likelihood of errors caused by tight deadlines. This would allow more software to be tested in a shorter amount of time, enabling products to be released more quickly to customers. Removing the requirement for manual testing would also help alleviate the burden on staff.

However, automated testing can also present its own challenges. Some solutions advertised as being “low code” still require coding abilities that may be beyond the capabilities of regular business users and testers. This coding requirement can slow down the testing process and make it difficult for business users to be involved in it.

This challenge becomes more pronounced as the need for ongoing maintenance increases. Test engineers who were initially brought on to implement an automation solution may become overwhelmed by the task of maintaining the code, leading to further delays in the speed of product release.

Democratizing the Test Process

One potential solution is the use of true no-code test platforms, which enable testers and business users to design, execute, and maintain tests without the need for coding. This type of platform allows business users, who have a deep understanding of how the software should support and grow the business, to be closely involved in the testing process. This can improve the quality and functionality of the product and increase customer satisfaction.

True no-code test platforms can also increase speed. By automating testing and involving more people in the process, it is possible to test more software in a shorter amount of time. This eliminates bottlenecks and allows for scalability. Using automation on a no-code platform has been shown to significantly improve time to market, often by a factor of 10, reducing the need to rush potentially flawed software to market without proper testing.

Companies can better meet the increasing demand for digital solutions by changing their approach to software testing. By abandoning manual testing and implementing an automated platform that does not require coding abilities, they can afford to thoroughly test all of their products. This ultimately reduces the risk of bugs that could harm their success and job security.

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