ERP implementation is exhausting, time-consuming, and expensive. It requires the integration of enterprise-wide services. Once ERP is successfully implemented and goes live, it can significantly improve the enterprise’s efficiency and performance. The global ERP software market continues to grow, and it is expected to reach $78.40 billion in 2026 with a CAGR of 10.2%.
ERP and SAP implementation doesn’t involve coding from scratch, but the ERP modules must be implemented and integrated correctly. ERP testing services are vital for any organization interested in improving ROI with ERP systems. An organized and well-established test plan will help ERP developers rest assured, knowing that every single module works how it should.
Why Are ERP Testing Services Crucial?
A Deloitte study shows that 55% to 75% of ERP projects fail. When such a huge project fails, it results in revenue loss and affects overall business operations. It can also result in shareholder lawsuits, affecting the reputation of your enterprise. One of the main reasons for a failed ERP implementation is inadequate testing.
Having an in-house testing team is only feasible for some organizations. Your organization can improve testing ROI by hiring ERP testing services from a testing partner, such as ImpactQA. The testing team will be interested in uncovering bugs and errors without any influence from developers. This tedious testing ensures that the ERP solution works flawlessly once it goes live.
Apart from functional testing, the partner providing SAP testing services should also test data flows and subsystems. To ensure that ERP implementation goes smoothly, find a partner with domain knowledge. Many test cases should be developed based on domain expertise to align the ERP transformation with business goals.
What is ERP Test Plan?
Continuous testing is the key to successful ERP transformation. As companies invest a lot of money in ERP projects, they must ensure the implementation is completed within the budget. According to a Panorama report, over 45% of enterprises exceeded their budget by 30%. A practical test plan will help mitigate ERP failure risks.
ERP test plan consists of 3 phases
- Test preparation — A detailed plan is prepared to define test cases. While defining test cases, end users and QA professionals involved in the test plan will also be listed. The test environment will be set up, and testers will be identified. The testing team will also prepare, categorize, and organize test cases. Test data and methods for tracking testing progress during the preparation stage are also identified and tabulated.
- Test execution — Both manual and automated test cases are run according to the test plan. The outcome of testing, including defect logs, successful test reports, etc., are all prepared. Both successful and unsuccessful tests are helpful.
- Test evaluation — Once testing is complete, the test manager will analyze ERP testing as a whole. Both successful and failed test cases will be documented. The test plans will be assessed so that they can be reused in the future.
Challenges in ERP Testing
Many organizations pay a high price when they cut down testing phases to expedite ERP implementation.
Some of the challenges in ERP testing are:
- Ambiguous testing scope
- Poor test coverage
- Multiple changes for ERP transformation
- Testing fatigue
To overcome these test challenges and improve the quality of implementation through testing, you have to start early testing. Testing in the early stages will help identify errors and bugs during development. A feedback loop between testers and developers will greatly help stop errors from seeping down, causing potential damage. Also, when bugs are found earlier, remedial measures can be taken quickly.
Best Practices For Effective ERP system solutions Testing
Different types of testing, such as functional testing, performance testing, integration testing, user acceptance testing, and security testing, must be completed before ERP implementation can go live. These tests must be conducted throughout the development cycle. Your ERP testing services partner should combine automated and manual testing to optimize testing efficiency. The following are the best practices to follow for ERP testing services:
1. Bring Together A Robust Testing Team
The testing team is important for ensuring a flawless ERP implementation. There needs to be more than just getting together a team with QA professionals and testers. You need to bring in end users as well for usability testing. The QA members should have sound knowledge of different testing techniques.
2. Allocate Sufficient Time for Testing
Take your time with ERP testing to go live quickly. Each module and functionality of ERP implementation must be tested multiple times from different user perspectives. Once ERP implementation is live, bugs and errors can be extremely expensive to repair. As the ERP solution completely changes business operations, errors at the live stage can sometimes be irrevocable.
3. Use an Automated Testing Platform
ERP implementation is time-consuming, and more than manual testing is required. Automated testing reduces the burden on the testing team while improving its efficiency. A robust test management platform will make it easy for the testing team to improve the visibility and transparency of test cases. Once automated test scripts are generated, they can run tests automatically based on entry and exit criteria.
4. Assign a QA Manager
For ERP testing, the development team should work together with the testing team to rectify errors and bugs before the next production cycle. A QA manager can effectively communicate the results of the testing team to the development team. They can also provide new insights about ERP testing to increase collaboration across the organization.
5. Test Everything Multiple Times
Test cases must be detailed and comprehensive. Different types of test cases must be written for functional and non-functional testing. Data flow must be thoroughly tested so the ERP system works on a single data set. Integration with third-party tools and applications should also be tested. The new changes must be tested if the ERP modules are modified.
Developing a robust and scalable ERP testing plan is a tedious task. Many organizations don’t have in-house staff who are experts in ERP testing. That is why you need to hire ERP testing services. The ERP testing company should have ERP testing experience and domain expertise. Only then can they develop a test plan ensuring the ERP solution meets your business goals.
Originally published at https://www.impactqa.com on January 15, 2023.
