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Global events have created an environment where companies are adopting coding strategies combining both [testing](https://hackernoon.com/the-basics-of-penetration-testing-lnm35u1) processes and [quality assurance](https://hackernoon.com/the-definitive-227-item-quality-assurance-checklist-to-test-before-launching-new-software-48a624574f35) measurements. 

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 ![](https://cdn.hackernoon.com/images/dFW9aLMnLpgfjylixlaQdWQLp2C3-b8e3o7z.gif)

Lately, we have seen countless risk-takers employing out-of-the-box thinking and experimenting with new technologies. Just to stay in business.

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How can you make sure that your avant-garde idea pans out? Below are the influential trends empowering QA teams to perform even better in 2021.

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## **Limitless-ish**

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Although [Artificial Intelligence](https://hackernoon.com/4-reasons-why-cfos-must-adopt-artificial-intelligence-v9jr34ee) hasn’t yet embraced its full potential (no cybernetic androids for now), it is soon to become a tester’s BFF.

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AI-based testing platforms are helping companies perform testing in smarter and more efficient ways.

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 ![](https://cdn.hackernoon.com/images/dFW9aLMnLpgfjylixlaQdWQLp2C3-7hf3o6s.gif)

Here’s how machine intelligence is making a dent in the [testing market](https://hackernoon.com/why-ai-wont-replace-your-testing-job-just-yet-8tj35jd):

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* Machine-written test cases;
* Automating [API](https://hackernoon.com/accessing-and-using-apis-api-disruption-in-the-digital-economy-zb26376d) test generation;
* Automated [UI testing](https://hackernoon.com/are-ux-and-ui-equally-important-what-experts-have-to-say-f31w330o);
* Creating automated tests more reliable, and others.

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But that’s not even half of the superpowers it possesses.

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Eventually, the unbeatable combo of NLP, ML, and reasoning will help developers minimize their direct participation in the process and automate testing completely.

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## **It Fits**

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Modern approaches are also merging principles of [DevOps](https://hackernoon.com/devops-practices-for-software-engineers-to-learn-z32y35ao) with QA into QAOps. 

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This novel approach inherits the best from [CI/CD](https://hackernoon.com/top-6-cicd-practices-for-end-to-end-development-pipelines-ca2833lx) projects and combines it with the best from the QA process.

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Thus, instead of having a minor role, QAOps introduces quality assurance into the whole software development lifecycle.

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It keeps the testing team constantly engaged and helps them fix bugs sooner, boosting the value delivered to users.

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## **Interconnected Future**

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This year, the [Internet of Things](https://hackernoon.com/the-growth-of-internet-of-things-effective-technology-opportunities-677f322m) will continue its exponential growth accelerated by 4G and [5G](https://hackernoon.com/we-will-soon-enter-the-5g-revolution-kp313zwu) network standards.

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This means that the projected surge in the number of IoT devices will increase the need and scope of IoT testing as well. Hence, [QA engineers](https://hackernoon.com/qa-engineering-roles-skills-tools-and-responsibilities-in-a-testing-team-7c499adc8057) should be ready to face the new challenges and test the software built for entirely new types of hardware.

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Among the micro-trends of IoT testing are also IoT Network Security Challenges, Big Data Testing, and Micro Services Test Automation.

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## **Testing in Chains**

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The [blockchain testing](https://hackernoon.com/a-brief-overview-of-blockchain-testing-and-benchmarking-tools-xpk34cc) service market is expected to grow from [$258 million in 2020 to over $2,400 million by 2026.](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/blockchain-iot-market-168941858.html)

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This staggering growth suggests that record-keeping databases are some of the most promising market technologies in 2021.

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From healthcare and [energy](https://hackernoon.com/bitcoin-energy-consumption-explained-a9z353q) to supply chains and media, [blockchain](https://hackernoon.com/blockchain-and-opportunities-for-healthcare-ay3k35xk) has been making its mark on almost every industry. Therefore, we’ll see the tech market crying out for QA specialists with blockchain domain skills to provide professional testing services.

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## **Keep Your Info to Yourself**

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The industrial revolution introduced higher cybersecurity threats, thus making security testing a foremost necessity.

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CTOs and CIOs came to realize the repercussions connected with downtimes, holes, [cyberattacks](https://hackernoon.com/biden-administration-prioritizes-cybersecurity-funding-after-numerous-cyberattacks-cv40356x), and [data leaks]().

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The latter has, unfortunately, become common amidst the Covid-challenged digital space.

Therefore, security testing is not going to lose its stronghold and continues to be a priority for businesses in order to identify the weak parts of their systems.

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2020 challenged all of us. Do not make your 2021 even more challenging by jeopardizing your digital assets.

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 ![](https://cdn.hackernoon.com/images/dFW9aLMnLpgfjylixlaQdWQLp2C3-9fg3oo3.png)

*Credit for the above piece goes to Tatsiana Isakova, Hang Ngo, and Ellen Stevens.*

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