Is ensuring high app quality, security and data privacy made easier with generative AI’s coding power? One survey offers some clues…

In a December 2023 survey of 1,028 senior IT leaders and application developers from small- and medium- sized enterprise (SMEs) in the US, UK, Germany, and Singapore on their opinions about mobile application quality, some trends were discerned from the data.

Firstly, 91% of respondents deemed testing important to the quality and success of their organization’s mobile-app development. Some 32% believed their organization’s current mobile app development and testing strategy exceeded expectations. Also, 40% cited currently using manual testing for mobile applications. 

Secondly, respondents expected to achieve improved productivity (30%), increased revenue (29%), and increased compatibility across devices (27%) through the implementation of automation, such as AI and low-code/no-code solutions. 

Other findings

Respondents cited their organization recognizing the value of AI in mobile software development, with 79% sharing positive sentiments, and 27% citing AI as already a part of their mobile app testing strategy. More than 70% of other respondents cited planning to implement AI within the next two years. Also:

• Singapore respondents who were not using AI as part of their mobile testing strategy were more likely than those using AI to be facing challenges such as a lack of talent/upskilling (22% vs 11%) and time/project management challenges (22% vs 21%)

• 56% of those who were using AI as part of their mobile testing strategy cited that “all services and information within their organization are mobile accessible” compared to 11% in those not using AI

• Respondents generally ranked the following benefits of AI: increased productivity (32%), improved mobile application quality (30%) and enhanced end-user experience (28%)

• 93% of Singapore respondents cited that mobile application quality was critical to their business, and about 90% estimated that poor mobile application quality could cost their business up to S$3.24m in lost revenue per year

• 31% of Singapore respondents expected their organization to invest upwards of over S$1.3m in mobile app quality and testing, with two in five expecting savings of up to 75% of their budget per year by moving toward fully automated mobile application testing

• The main barriers in the implementation of mobile app development and testing strategies were cited as complexity (29%); competing priorities (24%) and time management challenges (22%)


According to Damien Wong, Senior Vice President (Asia Pacific), Tricentis, the firm that commissioned the survey: “Organizations can no longer ignore the importance of quality mobile app experiences. By prioritizing testing and integrating responsible AI into every phase of the software testing life cycle, businesses can ensure quality across all mobile apps and improve customer experiences.”