When your organization implements an ERP system, you want to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Once you are sure your ERP system is working, your organization can start its operations and capture the market as soon as possible. All of this is accomplished with the help of an ERP system testing process. 

What is ERP Testing?

The process of confirming the functionality of your ERP software during the implementation stage is referred to as ERP testing. The testing phase is part of the quality assurance stage. During this stage, all the functions of the ERP software are checked to ensure that the software will function. Before you launch your ERP software in the market or start using it as an organization, you need to be sure that it is safe to use and fully functional. ERP testing helps you determine whether the software is ready to launch or not. 

In ERP testing, the focus is on the functionality of each module and each module is tested under different scenarios. You can carry out this process manually to be extra sure that your modules are working. However, it can also be done automatically. Testing ERP software is not a small phase. If you are able to launch a product without any bugs, your organization will make a name for itself. That is why the testing process is divided into different phases as well. 

  1. Preparation: This includes setting up the test system, test suites preparation, and creating test data. 
  2. Execution: Now it has come to execute the test created during the preparation period. Once the execution of the test is finished, you have to log all the defects and create a report. 
  3. Evaluation: It is time to evaluate your ERP system by analyzing the testing report. You have to document the overall testing process so that the quality assurance teams can take the relevant action. 

Different types of ERP testing

You can use more than one type of ERP testing. These are the following types of software testing: 

  • Functional Testing

Functional testing is used to ensure that each and every module of the ERP system is working as expected. There are many different types of software testing but functional testing is performed first and also given significant priority. 

  • Performance Testing

Performance testing is used to analyze how well your software fairs when it is under load. Any ERP system can perform basic functions when it is not under pressure. However, if your ERP software can perform well under load then you have created a differentiation for your product. In most organizations, people may not use ERP software regularly. However, there are terms in the quarter when every department will need the ERP system. Since every department is relying on ERP software, it means that this is a critical phase for your company. You should not use software that will let you down during such a time. If you use an ERP system that lags during such a critical time, your organization may see delays in its operations. 

  • Security Testing

ERP system contains employee information which is why it is necessary to ensure the security of this data. You need to ensure that only authorized personnel can access critical information. If your ERP application has any security-related bug then the data can be leaked or hacked by an individual without authorization. Testing the ERP application for security-related weaknesses is extremely critical. 

  • Regression Testing

The QA team has to ensure that the already working functionalities are not expected after a major update in the ERP application. We generally see in applications that new code or changes bring new problems by creating glitches with the already existing features. It is important to add new features to your ERP application to lure new customers but you shouldn’t negate the already existing features that brought you the current customers. If a new code creates a glitch in the already existing feature, you will lose many of your customers. That is why regression testing is a critical component of ERP testing. 

  • Acceptance Testing

Before the system is released to be used by the end user, it has to be checked by any stakeholder of the company. At this point, your application is ready for public use but you still want to ensure that it does not have any bugs that are why someone who is in your company will do this testing and then provide you with a report. If the acceptance testing results are positive, you can release your software to the market.

  • Usability testing

There are different types of software testing but usability testing is focused on making it easy for the customer to use the software. It is defined by how easy it is to understand the software, how easy it is to use the application, and the overall attractiveness of the application. An attractive user interface is extremely important to grab the attention of the user and providing an amazing user experience is also necessary for the same. The results for this type of testing can only be brought by the real-time users and not by the development team.  When you are developing your application, you obviously have some bias and will think that it is a great application. However, the user data will not lie and will provide you with real-time feedback.  

Just like there are different types of software testing, there are also different categories in usability testing. 

  • Explorative 
  • Assessment 
  • Comparative 
  • Smoke Testing

Smoke testing is used to confirm that the application structure can support the most basic functions of your application. With the help of smoke testing, you can get guarantee that your application will be able to perform the basic functions. 

  • Scalability testing

Any application or product needs to be able to evolve with time. That is why it needs to be scalable. Your ERP application should be able to support new features and updates. Sometimes organizations change the way that they operate and that is why they may look for a change in their ERP software. However, if you are unable to integrate demanded changes in the software within a time limit then you will definitely lose customers. Your customers will always have other options, so it is always best to stay on top of their needs. That is why this is one of the most important types of software testing. Scalability testing helps you ensure that you can add new features to an application in the future without causing any problems. 

Why is ERP testing important?

Testing should begin when the system configuration starts. Each module should be tested to ensure that it is providing the functionality that was accepted from it. While your quality assurance team and developers are important in the ERP system testing process. It is also crucial to include the end users in the ERP system testing process. 

That’s why ERP testing is so crucial as it can help you receive feedback from your users and make the necessary changes. Your customers will be the ones who will trust your 

ERP application with their company data which is why you need to ensure that the application works for them. Paying attention to their questions, doubts, and fears can help you make the necessary changes to your ERP application while it is still new. 

This will help you gain a lot of market share. That’s why ERP testing is so important. 

It helps you understand and capture the market so if you spend money on it, then you are likely to get a great ROI. If you are looking to integrate your business processes, then you can contact an experienced vendor who can develop an ERP system for your company. The vendor will not only develop the ERP application but integrate it into your organization and provide the needed customer support. 

How to ensure the success of ERP testing?

ERP testing can be successful only with a certain level of business logic and you have to understand the connection between the different modules. Following these tips will help you get more fruitful testing results. 

  • Dedicate time to UAT

Testing performed by real-time users is highly crucial for the success of your ERP application. These are the best people who can give you constructive criticism on how to improve your application. If you do not listen to this feedback, then your ERP application will not retain customers. 

  • Test as much as possible

It may sound like a generic statement but testing as much as you can definitely provides you with a better ERP application. Since your ERP application will be dealing with the data of other organizations, no amount of testing can be enough. Only when you are sure that the final software has zero bugs, then it should be released in the market. The complexity of the application will keep on increasing as you add more modules and data points. That is why frequent testing after product release is also important. It can take a long time to win customer trust but a minute to lose it. 

  • Professional execution

Before you start with the ERP development or testing, you should have a project manager, a plan, a risk mitigation plan, and a backup plan. Divide the testing process into small achievable milestones. The complexity of the application will increase when you add more modules that are why having all this set up early on will help you in executing the testing phase accurately. 

  • Automate

It is not feasible for any organization to continuously perform testing activities manually. That is why certain parts of these activities need to be automated. Automation in testing needs to be welcomed with open arms as it saves hundreds of man-hours and increases accuracy. Automation can validate the functionality of a module after it is added to the ERP system. If this process is done manually then it can become cumbersome. Other than that, if you do it manually then there is space for error. However, if you automate this process then accuracy drastically increases. 

Your quality assurance team can focus on the bigger picture if you go with automation. 

  • Follow the process:

 Follow the right testing standards and processes that the experts in your field follow. Do not take shortcuts when it comes to testing. If you rush towards releasing the product, then you may skip certain crucial processes. Stick to the test plan and take the action based on the results and not your aspirations. 

Challenges of ERP testing

Not every software tester can be effective in ERP testing. This creates a few challenges in ERP testing. 

  • Getting the right team of testers

Testers who have extensive experience in ERP testing are hard to find. It is easy to find software testers but they can make mistakes that a knowledgeable ERP tester will never make. You have to ensure that everyone in your team has previous experience in this niche. 

  • Integration with other systems

ERP solutions need to be integrated with other third-party tools and applications so that a business can perform all its activities effectively. It is a significant challenge to test this integration. Sometimes bugs can arise because of your integration with a third-party tool. 

  • Dealing with complicated business rules

Generally, businesses are driven by the law. So the ERP system is also affected by such business laws. Ensuring that the ERP system is following these business rules can be a significant challenge for a testing team. 

  • Performance Issues

Following the performance standards can become a challenge for big organizations if extensive load and performance testing is not performed. The more complicated your organization gets, the more data you will have and then you will have to test the application for performance again. It is obvious that during its lifetime an organization can change tremendously. Your company can go public or go through a merger. All these changes affect the ERP and can cause performance issues in a minute. The testers need to ensure that they are one step ahead of all these changes. 

Conclusion

An ERP system makes the life of the professionals working in the organization extremely easy. An organization becomes more efficient and streamlined with the help of an ERP system. However, developing such an ERP system is not easy. Before any ERP application reaches the user it needs to be tested for each function which requires a lot of planning. You need to plan the testing according to your resources and budget. 

Once the testing process is completed, you will not need to manually capture and report data. An ERP system is highly valuable for an organization which is why it is crucial to ensure that such a system has no bugs. 

Every business model is unique in its own way, thus requiring customization in most shelf ERP solutions as per the business requirements. To know more about ERP development and to develop one for your business enterprise, visit https://decorosoft.com.