Planning for the Impact of AI in Automation in 2024

In the coming year, a new breed of software testing tools – those that leverage AI to accelerate testing processes – are going to continue to streamline the automated application testing process, and transform the way our industry does business.

There’s no question that AI tools are allowing businesses to test more code, and automate and execute more test cases, across more devices, without investing in additional staff. In turn, they can release software updates to end-users faster, ultimately leading to benefits such as higher revenue and increased user adoption and engagement.

Our latest report draws on data from the Kobiton Mobile Development & Testing Survey, conducted in Q4 of 2023. To learn more, get the full report today.

The Mobile Testing Environment

The world of mobile automation testing includes a strategic plan, one making the most of emulators, simulators, and real devices. Emulators replicate both hardware and software on a computer for comprehensive testing during early development. Simulators mimic software aspects, notably in iOS through Xcode, enabling quick testing iterations without physical devices. Real Devices actual smartphones or tablets provide authentic testing, essential for real-world performance and user experience insights.

Testing on Real Devices vs. Emulators and Simulators

Balancing the use of real devices, emulators, and simulators in mobile testing poses a dynamic challenge for companies. Are you aware that real devices have higher adoption rates in the extremes—with over 100 devices for extensive coverage in larger organizations, and in the 1-10 device range for smaller teams?

Our latest report provides data just like this, allowing your team to be better informed about the decisions they make during the development process. You can get the full report here and watch 2024 trends webinar on demand. 

Questioning the Role of AI

Of course, many in our industry are concerned about what the future of AI-augmented testing might look like; chief among those concerns are staffing issues and software quality. Is your team aligned with others in the industry? A full 50 percent of respondents told us they can envision AI eventually replacing manual mobile app testing completely.

Additional AI benefits for test automation

Professionals in our industry also envision leveraging AI in a number of other ways: test case documentation and self-healing features (which can automatically fix broken tests to avoid software delivery delays) are among them.

Our report finds that AI is already having a major impact on test automation, and that it’s poised to play an even greater role in software testing in the coming years. Businesses willing to leverage AI-based tools to increase the number of tests they automate gain clear benefits in the form of increased revenue and higher rates of customer engagement. Meanwhile, those who lag in the adoption of AI for software testing face increasing risks of falling behind in achieving their business goals. Which side are you on?

Read the Full Report

Kobiton surveyed 100 developers and software testing professionals who were directly involved in the development and testing of mobile apps, and employed at companies with at least 100 employees. To learn more about what they had to share – and to learn more about AI automation trends for 2024 – download the full report today.