Low Code Software Testing: The Future of Agile QA Automation in the Age of AI

As AI capabilities are emerging for automation in software development, organizations are also willingly adopting low-code automation platforms that can empower business users and increase agility. In this fluid environment, structured low-code software testing policies become essential. Rather than viewing low code as a transient trend, organizations must incorporate it into their QA automation strategies. With the right governance model, companies can tap into the flexibility of low code automation without compromising software resiliency.

In this blog, we will discuss how organizations can successfully implement low code testing and uphold security, compliance, and quality standards for complex digital ecosystems. The aim is to provide actionable frameworks to harness low-code's potential while proactively managing its risks.

The Low-Code Test Automation

Utilizing low-code automation platforms and tools to build, execute, and automate testing processes will democratize QA automation across technical and non-technical users. This will allow business units to participate in the automation of UI testing, API testing, Integration testing, performance testing, and more, enhancing their contribution to product engineering. The main benefits of low-code software testing include the following:

• Improved collaboration: Low-code testing solutions allow collaboration between QA engineers, developers, and business users. Subject matter experts can build and execute test cases aligned with business requirements.
• Wider test coverage: By enabling test automation beyond the QA team, low-code testing expands test coverage across the software delivery lifecycle.
• Competitive Edge: Low-code testing solutions establish accelerated and consistent release cycles that keep products aligned with changing customer needs. The improved speed to market and product quality enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty. These testing capabilities can become a differentiator that sets companies apart.
• Democratization of testing: Low-code solutions lower the barrier to test automation, allowing more team members to contribute to creating, executing and reporting test results.
• Faster test creation and reduced time-to-market: Low-code automation platforms use visual modeling to build test cases, removing the need for coding skills. This accelerates the process of test scripting.
• Reduced maintenance costs: Changes to applications under test can be rapidly adapted in low-code testing platforms through visual modeling tools. This reduces maintenance costs.

Low-code testing solutions help organizations implement continuous testing, shift testing left, and foster a culture of quality. With the right strategy, low-code testing can enhance software quality assurance.

Blueprint for Low-Code Software Testing

Developing a comprehensive strategy for low code test automation involves addressing various aspects, including acceptable use cases, platform due diligence, and acceptable platforms, among others. Below is a detailed strategy for creating a framework that promotes the secure and efficient use of low-code technologies for QA automation.

Assessing Current Low-Code Usage

A comprehensive understanding of current low-code platform utilization within the organization is necessary to establish a baseline and enable standardized use cases. Centralizing this through an internal portal or auditing team, coupled with continuous monitoring automation, will ensure proper vetting of new platforms and enhance governance controls, which is crucial for expanding low-code testing use. A thorough assessment will paint a clear picture for integration and identify areas requiring additional governance in low-code testing expansion.

Defining Acceptable Use Cases

Next, the organization will have to define acceptable use cases by conducting a thorough assessment of current low-code automation usage across departments. Analyzing the purpose and scope of existing applications will allow the establishment of guidelines for appropriate low-code use cases per department. This proactive approach will control risk and ensure value-driven deployment of low-code testing tools.

Vetting the Low-Code Testing Platform

When introducing new low-code platforms into an organization's software testing environment, a comprehensive vetting process is essential for informed decision-making. This due diligence would involve evaluating security, compliance, documentation, and overall platform maturity. The checklist for low-code automation platform due diligence generally includes security reviews, compliance alignment with regulations, thorough documentation assessment, performance testing for scalability, evaluation of code quality, and a maturity analysis by examining the platform's history and future roadmap. Following this standardized process ensures that the selected low-code tools align with quality, security, and compliance standards before integration into critical systems.

Establishing Acceptable Platforms

Criteria for acceptable platforms include integration capabilities, robust security features, vendor support quality, platform maturity, scalability, user-friendly interfaces, customization options, and transparent pricing models. By focusing on a concise, compliant set of platforms, organizations strike a balance between flexibility and risk management, fostering innovation and accelerating release velocity.

Implementing Security Environments

Finally, organizations adopting low-code platforms can mitigate risks by implementing robust security practices in development and testing environments. Best practices include isolating these environments from production infrastructure, restricting permissions through least privilege access, and automating provisioning using infrastructure as code. Continuous scanning, injection of secrets at runtime, shifting security left through threat modeling, and adding guardrails to prevent risky actions are essential measures. Runtime monitoring, comprehensive testing during updates, thorough review of third-party code, and developer training on secure coding, ethics, and data protection contribute to creating secure low-code environments. These practices foster innovation while effectively managing security risks.

As software needs continue to outpace developer capacity, organizations must find ways to expedite delivery while maintaining quality. Low-code software testing solutions can offer a powerful approach, enabling business users and subject matter experts to participate in testing activities. The key is developing a thoughtful low-code testing strategy. With the right guardrails in place, low-code can transform your QA Automation outlook. Organizations that embrace these solutions will gain a competitive advantage in their markets. The time is now to develop a low-code testing approach that drives value and unlocks new potential.