Software testing Christmas chat 2025

AI doesn’t make bad test processes better - it just exposes them faster. While companies are relying on fast AI solutions, the reality is that those without a clean basis in requirements, test strategy and understanding of quality will be brutally overtaken by acceleration. The challenge for software testing in 2025 lies less in new tools than in a holistic view of quality - and in the fact that testers must not sacrifice their critical mind and intuition to technology.

Podcast Episode: Software testing Christmas chat 2025

In this episode, I talk to Christian Mercier, Matthias Gross and Wolfgang Sperling about our tester year, AI and what 2026 will bring. We see: AI doesn’t solve wonky processes; without a clear test strategy, clean foundations and fast feedback, it’s of little use. Non-functional quality is moving to the forefront: security, performance, usability, compliance. Testers need a broader skillset, more technology, as well as intuition, courage and resilience. We talk about sovereign cloud, pressure on agile, and why validation is growing in production. I would like to see more exchange in communities and, above all, sharing concrete solutions and learning from each other.

“That would be my wish that this idea of quality seeps in a little and that it doesn’t just happen when big fines are imposed or companies go bankrupt because they made the wrong decisions or are sued at some point, which is happening quite a lot at the moment.”

Matthias Groß is a partner at TestGilde GmbH and has been working as a consultant for software quality assurance and test management since 2007. His focus is on operational test management, the introduction and further development of test management structures and the support of customer-specific test services. He is also involved in the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, is a co-founder of the test community The TestLänd and a member of the QA Day program committee.

Christian Mercier supports IT projects in the banking environment. He takes on various roles in classic, agile or hybrid projects - he is a project manager, coach, test manager, business analyst or requirement engineer - but quality is always his top priority. He is always interested in pragmatic solutions based on well-founded decisions in the respective context.

Wolfgang Sperling is a Solution Architect at Avanade and the contact person for the Microsoft technology stack at Accenture’s Competence Center for Digital Sovereignty. He has been involved in quality assurance in software projects for more than 15 years, a large proportion of which have been in critical or challenging project situations. In quality assurance, it is important to him to include requirements management and release management in the software lifecycle in addition to testing and test automation.

Highlights der Episode

• AI implementation usually fails not because of tools, but because of unclear processes and a lack of test strategy.
• Testers need to become broader: Preserve technical coding know-how plus human intuition for hidden bugs.
• Quality is a feeling - functional and non-functional criteria only pay into it.
• Personal development is crucial: train resilience, courage and reflection instead of just technical skills.
• Community exchange raises unused practical knowledge - share fewer concepts, more concrete solutions from everyday life.

What testers can really expect next year - challenges, opportunities, change

In the “Software Testing” podcast, Richie , Wolfgang Sperling, Christian Mercier and Matthias Groß openly discussed what the testing community can expect in the coming year. The conversation reveals how software quality and testing are changing, what experts are really looking forward to and what they see as the biggest obstacles.

Looking back: What was special this year?

The German Testing Retreat was a highlight for everyone. Not only was knowledge shared there, but also cooking, games and really good evenings were spent. Christian Mercier and Wolfgang Sperling emphasize how the intensive personal exchange also led to shorter distances and better networking later on. New experiences outside your own company are worth their weight in gold - and the retreat was a treasure trove for this.

But AI also shaped the year. Technology is currently overrunning the industry. Tests are suddenly very different from what they were just a few years ago, and many projects are betting everything on AI, even though the basics are often lacking. Christian Mercier warns: “If the process is garbage, it will catch up with me very quickly.” It happens even faster with AI. AI alone does not solve process problems.

The real challenges for the coming year

The testing community is facing several construction sites. Matthias Groß describes how some companies have not even built up their test basis properly. While at others, the processes are already far too large and complex and urgently need to be streamlined.

Wolfgang Sperling also sees three big problems:

• The uncertainty surrounding cloud strategies and the discussion about a “sovereign cloud”.

• The rapid AI trend, which is being rushed ahead without any strategy, quality assurance or security.

• The increasing pressure on agile teams because AI automates many tasks - which can change team cohesion and communication.

In addition, many companies have little financial leeway. But saving on quality is more expensive than it seems. If you save on testing, you risk making expensive mistakes at the very end.

Testing, but please do it wisely

It is often not the technology that is the biggest problem, but the common understanding within the team. Good quality means that everyone knows where they want to go. Testing is a tool for finding out exactly that. If you don’t constantly question the test process, you lose the connection.

The old methods from the 90s or the ISTQB basic course may work, but they need constant reform. Otherwise quality will fall by the wayside.

The future of testing: new skills and even more diversity

The skillset is changing rapidly. Non-functional test criteria such as performance, usability and security are becoming more important than ever before. This is also reflected in standards such as ISO 20059, as Wolfgang Sperling explains.

Increasingly, the aim is not only to find errors, but also to carry out validations. This means that testers should be broadly based. They need curiosity, basic technical knowledge, but also intuition - a feel for sources of error is often more decisive than perfect test cases.

Personal development is also important. Resilience, teamwork and communication are becoming more important, says Richie. Those who are courageous and reflect on their own weaknesses also find better solutions for the team.

How do you stay fit as a tester?

Everyone agrees: reading, learning and networking are the be-all and end-all. Whether LinkedIn posts, podcasts or training courses such as ISTQB - further training must never stop. And the basis should be right so that everyone speaks the same language.

What helps most, however, is exchanging ideas with others. The community thrives on learning from and inspiring each other. Whether local initiatives such as Testland, conferences or retreats - new perspectives always broaden your own horizons.

Wishes for the community

The wishes from the panel show what is close to everyone’s heart: More awareness of quality - even outside the testing bubble. More pragmatism. Finding mistakes, sharing solutions and not giving up, no matter how stormy the times are. Courage to share knowledge and show concrete ways in which testing can improve processes and software.

2025 will be challenging. But with the will to learn, honesty, team spirit and a strong community, the testing world is ready to actively shape the future.