At the beginning of each year, numerous media outlets publish reports on current trends in various markets. We have reviewed various forecasts for the development of the test system market in 2026 and feel vindicated:

The world of automotive and industrial electronics is rapidly becoming more complex. Accordingly, the demands on test infrastructure are increasing. At the same time, development cycles are becoming shorter and shorter. We are well equipped to handle these developments with our modular design approach for test systems, our robust and precise measurement technology, and our decades of experience in developing and building test systems for electronic components in the automotive and industrial sectors.

Mapping HiL scenarios: Virtual validation as standard

Not least due to the paradigm shift towards highly integrated electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures, more and more software is being used in modern vehicles. Reliable test systems are needed to test this software. These systems must support simulations for control units, enable flexible, modular test setups, and realistically map hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) scenarios. With our modular test systems, you can simulate complex vehicle architectures, flexibly adapt signals to different DUT types, and scale your test environment for new technologies. This allows you to secure your test processes efficiently and future-proof them.

BMS testing: Safety for batteries and energy storage systems

The battery management system (BMS) is at the heart of every e-mobility solution, which is why testing this component is so important. The more complex the ECU landscape, the more important high-resolution voltage and current measurements, HV-safe, modular test environments, and reliable cabling and interface technologies become. Our BMS test solutions simulate and/or measure cell voltages and test safety functions and balancing algorithms under realistic conditions. In combination with powerful software, you can automate test sequences and document results for maximum safety and complete traceability.

Outlook: Developments that will shape SMART in 2026

With the SMART Flow software, we are launching a comprehensive test sequence and test management software. Flow supports our test system customers in efficiently implementing complex test scenarios.

SMART Flow visualizes system and test states in real time, generates reproducible processes, and ensures transparent, traceable results. The software thus provides a powerful foundation for modern test processes—from the early development phase to endurance runs to end-of-line testing in production. As a SMART customer, you benefit from automated processes, structured data management, comprehensive reporting, and remote access for distributed test environments. Extensions for cloud integration and global networking will also be added later.

In addition, our proven SMART Productizing will remain a focus in 2026. We have the right answer for all your requirements: from a completely newly developed test system that optimally meets your specific requirements to the industrialization of your test system prototype. So please feel free to contact us.

SMART Testsolutions remains your partner for innovative test systems—today and in the future.