The Case for Testing as a Service
(4 minute read)
No one denies that testing new software releases is crucial for keeping your technical environment healthy and running smoothly. However, the reality is that most IT departments lack the time and resources to keep up with the sheer volume of testing needed, and it’s all too easy to get behind.
For those of us in the SAP world, the sheer complexity and pace of change presents a challenge for testing teams. Trying to keep pace with new SAP releases using manual testing is time-consuming and error prone, and performing SAP regression testing on a large scale for every change is impractical.
Why Testing is More Important than Ever
Most businesses have complex infrastructures with many interdependencies. That being the case, it becomes more important than ever to ensure that software changes are thoroughly vetted before moving into production. No one wants to deal with having a change in one part of the system breaking functionality in another.
Even worse, improper or inadequate testing can lead to service disruptions or downtime. When this happens, it impacts employees’ ability to do their jobs. Externally, service disruptions deliver a less-than-optimal customer experience that could ultimately impact your bottom line.
Test Automation is Key
In today’s high-speed business environment, continuous change, upgrades and conversions have become the reality – and having an efficient and effective testing process is imperative for success. That’s why many organizations are turning to automated testing to protect against potential programming bugs, release incompatibilities and security vulnerabilities.
NTT DATA Business Solutions has developed a Testing as a Service solution that uses a factory model for end-to-end testing. Our factory model provides support for all SAP solutions and test types and activities, including strategy and design, implementation and execution and reporting. Some of the benefits to using our automated testing service include:
- Sufficient and Exhaustive Testing of Business Scenarios: Automated testing utilizes SAP business process documentation and the Scope and Effort Analyzer to ensure exhaustive and sufficient testing is completed. In addition, SAP Solution Manager Component-Based Test Automation (CBTA) is used to ensure efficient running of regression test cycles.
- Leverage Experienced Subject-Matter Experts: With Testing as a Service, you have access to an experienced team with deep SAP functional and technical knowledge to provide end-to-end test management and reporting. Your team will have complete visibility and exposure to all stages of the testing process.
- Avoid Service Disruptions and Downtime: A tool-based approach to testing is more efficient than time-consuming and error-prone manual testing. In addition, having the ability to perform end-to-end testing to detect and fix errors prior to moving to the production environment significantly reduces the risk of service disruptions.
- Reduce Overall Risk in a Cost-Effective Manner: It is more cost-effective to utilize an off-shore test factory staffed with experienced test consultants using the SAP Scope and Effort Analyzer for an optimized approach. In addition, as mentioned above, using tool-based, end-to-end test automation and management for execution, tracking and reporting reduces overall risk.
To learn more about our Testing as a Service solution, download our solution brief.