Are Testers Becoming Obsolete? Plus, Insights from Agile Testing Days and a Spotlight on Accessibility Testing

December is a time of reflection, and for those of us in QA, it’s also a moment to celebrate the progress we’re driving in technology. From accessibility testing that fosters inclusivity to navigating the ever-changing landscape of AI and automation, there’s always something new to learn and achieve — let’s dive in!

QA spotlight - Accessibility Testing

Did you know December 3rd was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities? Those of us in software QA and development strive to make the world more accessible and equitable for those with disabilities by ensuring that software can be easily used by anyone. 

We wanted to highlight the valuable work that QA does to work towards inclusivity by digging into accessibility testing. We put together a piece for the TestRail blog that covers what accessibility testing is, why it matters, and some helpful tools and techniques for building an effective accessibility testing program.

With over one billion people in the world living with disabilities, accessible technology is a gateway to independence and equal opportunity—and accessibility testing is a vital component of every QA strategy.

Read more on the TestRail blog!

Webinar On-demand - Tester Obsolescence

Patrícia Duarte Mateus , our Solution Architect and Testing Advocate, recently partnered with the Ministry of Testing to present a webinar on staying competitive in today’s evolving QA job market.

The emergence of technology like AI and the integration of CI/CD tools to accelerate the software development lifecycle have had widespread implications across QA. To overcome this, automation is now essential and adopting methodologies like Agile and shift left testing is the default. All of this comes together to mean that nowadays, there’s a lot more to learn and develop in software QA than just testing.

By the end of this masterclass, you'll gain actionable insights into:

• The landscape of modern software testing roles
• Ideal candidate profiles using the “T-shaped” approach
• Strategies and takeaways for upskilling

Watch on-demand now!

In case you missed it - Agile TD Conference recap

Last month we visited Potsdam, Germany, for the Agile Testing Days Conference! We had a great time meeting many of our current (and future!) customers and chatting about how TestRail supports different integrations. 

The conference had some great sessions about accessibility testing and AI integrations as well – if you’re feeling FOMO, we hope to see you in the crowd for 2025!

Software testing bytes from around the web

• 🎉 It's almost time to welcome in 2025! With a new year comes new challenges and new approaches to QA— Patrícia Duarte Mateus , TestRail Solution Architect and QA Advocate, recently spoke to DevPro Journal on her predictions for the new year and beyond.
• 🔍 When testing in regulated industries there’s no room for error! Christopher Faraglia , TestRail Solution Architect, shares how AI-powered strategies tackle compliance challenges in this TechPatio piece.
• 🛠️ Are AI tools in testing overhyped? They’re not saving developers as much time as expected—yet. Here’s why humans still play a key role in reliable results.
• 🚀 Automation from day one? Smart move! The Pacific Northwest National Lab shows how early automated testing can streamline projects and improve outcomes.

Before you go

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The High Quality HQ will take December off for the holidays, but don’t worry – we’ll be back on January 30th to kick off 2025 in style!