IT Strategy In 2021

Rethinking IT Strategy In 2021 To Address Business Challenges

To overcome the economic recession and help guarantee business continuity, companies need to adjust the approach to delivering software - with quality assurance at the helm.

The word "lockdown" has ruled in 2020. However, every cloud has a silver lining.

Many companies have briskly grasped the essence that innovations may save the day. However, the question that follows is how they can implement them correctly - especially when the levels of organizational stress are beyond the margin and the pressure to release products faster is overwhelming.

IT services like quality assurance can smooth those bumps in the road. To do it right, I propose taking four important steps to keep an eye on how businesses may adjust their IT strategies to stay competitive throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recession.

1. Ensure Robust DevOps Transformation

Agile and DevOps introduction continues to rise exponentially. The perks for business are obvious - decreased delivery time, improved cooperation between multiple team members, continuous release and deployment, elevated lifecycle predictability of software and many more.

But how can you support and ease the DevOps transformation?

• Apply test automation despite frequent changes in applications. Introduced early in the SDLC, it enables better transparency and test scope management, and it helps detect software issues faster, improving the overall process efficiency. In addition, the use of scriptless automation tools may help increase ROI in the long run.

• Engage talents with highly demanded skills. Competences of paramount importance today include technical and development areas and soft skills, like communication. Full-stack software development engineers in testing can propel a new reality, as they are taking part in the entire process of software creation, can possess essential test automation expertise and can master CI/CD pipeline tools.

• Increase process visibility. For some reason, quality statistics are often overlooked, which is a huge pitfall. Applied throughout the entire SDLC, they can advance process visibility and simplify modifications when required.

• Provide a flawless user experience (UX). For that, continuous production monitoring for anomalies should be established to spot glitches before end users might catch sight of them.

• Take into account appropriate metrics. "Code coverage by test" alongside "risk covered by test" come first. They allow teams to ensure the entire functionality is sound, and risks based on software complexity - including the criticality of business, frequency of use and more - are considered.

2. Embed AI In Testing To Improve Software Operation

The global application of AI was expected to increase by 54% in 2020 alone, while the international profit gained from its usage is estimated to swell up to $125 billion by 2025.

The global situation has exacerbated the need for an accelerated development pace and the rollout of catchy products, which is owed to AI - including ML, computer vision and NLP.

There are at least three cases to take note of when it comes to applying AI's benefits to testing:

• Analysis of production incidents using AI allows you to forecast the quality level and introduce life-saving changes into the planning of a testing process to stem occurred software defects in the future.

• AI in test data generation and management helps to spot gaps in test coverage, thus extending UX patterns and contributing to software capabilities. Meanwhile, AI-enabled QA solutions optimize test suites by detecting redundant test cases and curtailing overall testing time.

• AI algorithms may prioritize scope for test automation activities, while AI elements in test automation tools help define the root cause of test failures as well as determine unstable tests and major problems in the tested software.

3. Implement IoT And Big Data Solutions

By 2025, 75 billion IoT-enabled devices will be harnessed globally. Such a roaring boost in technology can allow businesses to ensure well-tuned data-sharing processes. How can you enable the solid and secure operation of connected pieces? I've highlighted the following options:

• Guarantee access to the necessary hardware. The more real devices you consider for app verification, the greater the chances are to trace defects in the highly dynamic environments they operate in.

• Focus on security. To avert cyber incidents that often emerge due to breaches in software security, introduce ongoing penetration checks that inspect multiple combinations of devices and sensors.

• Incorporate complex scenarios. With the rising number of IoT solutions, it is reasonable to extend the use cases' base and incorporate those from such booming industries as e-health or smart offices.

The rise of IoT will inevitably cause the utilization of more diverse data volumes. In a world where information is heralded as the new gold, big data allows making data-driven decisions and improving market strategies. Therefore, I recommend emphasizing solutions' performance to ensure the successful processing of terabytes of data.

4. Reassess The Pandemic As An Opportunity To Evolve

It's a harsh truth, but Covid-19 has imposed its imprint on literally every business these days. I've seen them en masse briskly adapting to the changing situation, from embarking on digital transformation journeys to smartly leveraging cloud-based infrastructure and implementing robust collaboration tools to ensure unhindered communication.

What else can be done to push the envelope?

During times of upheaval, think more of business continuity. Frequent disaster planning sessions may help you estimate prevailing risks and take measures to mitigate them, better prepare for emergencies and compile a strategy for long-term recovery. Remember, those old ways of resolving obstacles may become useless. Keep adopting novel approaches of remote working that suit your organization best.

Closing Thoughts

Reconsidering the IT strategy and adjusting your QA functions to the global circumstances as well, companies can take four steps on the path to gradual addressing of unprecedented situations without compromising on quality.

Remember to perform DevOps transformation focusing on test automation, make sure to adopt AI-enabled best practices for improving your testing process, introduce properly functioning IoT and big data solutions, and think of the pandemic as a chance to advance your business strategy.

This Article Source is From : https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/12/30/rethinking-it-strategy-in-2021-to-address-business-challenges/