Regression Testing in Remote and Hybrid Software Teams: An Exploratory Study of Processes, Tools, and Practices

TL;DR

This study explores how remote and hybrid software teams adapt regression testing processes, emphasizing the importance of documentation, automation, and digital tools to maintain quality assurance in distributed environments.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into the adaptation of regression testing practices, highlighting the role of socio-technical factors in remote and hybrid settings.

Findings

Core regression testing phases remain stable in remote work.

Documentation and automation are crucial for effective testing.

Standardized reporting and shared repositories mitigate communication challenges.

Abstract

Remote and hybrid work have transformed how software development teams organize, communicate, and assure quality. This study investigates how regression testing is performed and experienced under these distributed conditions. Using qualitative interviews with twenty software professionals from diverse organizations, we analyzed how regression testing processes, tools, and coordination practices adapt to remote and hybrid environments. The results show that while the core phases of regression testing remain stable, their execution increasingly depends on documentation, automation, and tool integration to support asynchronous collaboration. Communication and coordination challenges were mitigated through standardized reporting, shared repositories, and traceability mechanisms that replaced informal co-located interactions. These findings reveal regression testing as a socio-technical practice shaped by the interaction between human collaboration and digital infrastructure. Our study contributes to understanding how software quality assurance evolves under remote conditions and offers practical implications for teams and organizations adopting hybrid work models.