PARIS — Capgemini (EPA: CAP), Sogeti, and Micro Focus (LON: MCRO) have jointly released the 13th edition of the World Quality Report 2021-2022, revealing a significant shift in organizations’ perception of Quality Assurance (QA). The report underscores the rising importance of testing across the software development lifecycle and the growing inclination towards leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques in QA programs, according to a press release published on EuropaWire.

Key findings from the report highlight a notable increase in confidence in AI within Quality Assurance practices. Almost half of the respondents (48%) reported having a ready repository of test execution data required by AI and ML platforms. Moreover, 42% expressed trust in the intelligence provided by these platforms, while 46% indicated their organizations’ readiness to act upon AI/ML insights. Despite this surge in confidence, the report acknowledges that AI in Quality Assurance is still in its nascent stages, with organizations grappling with the complexities of testing AI itself.

Agile and DevOps methodologies continue to gain traction in QA and testing, with businesses witnessing improvements in productivity, software quality, and cost-effectiveness. However, the report underscores the persistent challenge of a lack of professional testing expertise within agile teams, emphasizing the need for collaboration and upskilling across all roles responsible for quality.

Looking ahead, the report anticipates Quality Assurance teams to become integral to the rapid growth of Intelligent Industry, emphasizing the importance of investing time, energy, and budget in this domain. Organizations are increasingly focusing on achieving digital transformation, with key drivers including improved efficiency, increased quality, agility, flexibility, and enhanced customer experience.

Mark Buenen, Global Leader of Digital Assurance and Quality Engineering at Capgemini Group, commented on the evolving landscape, stating, “The pandemic has reinforced the importance of agility for organizations across all industries, and as IT is being modernized, businesses are growing more aware of the relevance and value of Quality Assurance.”

Rohit de Souza, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Micro Focus, highlighted the significance of the report’s findings in guiding organizations’ modernization initiatives. “As our customers look to improve their software quality, velocity, productivity, security, and overall customer experience, these findings showcase the need for organizations to advance their modernization initiatives through AI-powered continuous quality and test automation tools,” he said.

The World Quality Report 2021-2022 surveyed 1,750 CIOs and senior technology professionals across 10 industries and 32 countries, providing a comprehensive analysis of application quality and testing trends. The report, now in its 13th edition, serves as a valuable resource for organizations navigating the evolving landscape of QA and testing.

For further insights and recommendations based on the research, access the full report here.