A Definitive Guide for Software Testing in ERP Implementation

Given both the important and varied functions that ERP systems play in an organization and the implementation team’s desire to deliver a system that meets both functional and technical requirements, the role of the testing phase cannot be understated.

As outlined in the phase overview above, ERP testing encompasses several different activities and the participation of many organizational stakeholders. In particular, the following types of ERP testing activities are often performed during the implementation project:

• Functional Testing: As a form of black-box testing, this method of software testing examines what the software is supposed to do. Test cases are designed from functional requirements and end users validate if the requirements are met in the delivered software.
  
  
• Integration Testing: This testing evaluates the ability of the ERP system to connect to the necessary data, properly pass and receive it, and perform its functions or facilitate other systems’ functions. This testing also evaluates the accuracy and integrity of the data passed.
  
  
• Performance Testing: This form of testing ensures that the software can handle the expected processing loads without failure or degradation of performance. It also determines the maximum loads the system can manage in the event of high use or high demand, such as during a month-end financial close.
  
  
• Security Testing: Given the range of important data ERP solutions process, such as employee and financial data, this form of testing evaluates security controls and determines potential vulnerabilities to help to minimize the chances of a breach or incident.
  
  
• Regression Testing: In the case of a phased implementation or follow-on patches and upgrades, this form of testing ensures that the new components do not negatively interfere with the live production elements.

With multiple workstreams, several key stakeholder groups involved in design and testing, a number of potential system and technical interfaces, and dozens—if not hundreds—of requirements, it is no wonder why the testing phase can be so vital, yet so precarious.

However, project managers now have several powerful tools at their disposal to help with this critical phase. One of the most impactful is the use of a test management system. These platforms not only help to quickly set up test cases and manage the launch of test runs, but they also simplify the capture and resolution of test results.

Simplify Test Set-up and Management

In particular, one hurdle to performing comprehensive testing, and in turn gaining the buy-in of multiple different stakeholder groups, is the ease of setting up testers and tracking their input. In addition to the administrative burden of setting up test cases and user accounts, the amount of user feedback and number of results can be hard to consolidate.

Yet, with a test management system, you can easily set up and assign testers, allocate test cases, and capture feedback, including attachments, notes, and more. In turn, as more end users and stakeholders get an opportunity to test the system and feel part of the ERP implementation process, the higher the likelihood that these participants will champion for the success of the project.

Although ERP implementations and the involved level testing can be complex and stressful, it is important to know that you and your team do not have to go through the process alone. 

Test management tools with the features described above are specifically designed to help with the key phases of ERP implementations, including ERP testing. One industry leading solution, TestMonitor, offers a proven way to simplify and improve your organization's ability to plan, execute, and track testing efforts from beginning to end, right out of the box.

Testing managers can easily link system requirements to test cases, link the cases to create test runs, establish tester accounts, and track and manage end user feedback through to acceptance.

The end result is an ERP system that you can trust meets your initial requirements, represents the input and feedback of your key stakeholder groups, and is backed-up by the robustness and detail of your test management platform.

So if your organization is about to embark on an ERP implementation journey and you would like to learn more about how a powerful, feature-packed test management system can help your team exceed expectations, one of our experts would love to speak with you.

Contact us now and we will set your organization up with its own 14-day free trial.