{"id":15325,"date":"2021-04-08T19:39:38","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T14:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cigniti.com\/blog\/?p=15325"},"modified":"2021-04-08T19:39:38","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T14:09:38","slug":"accelerate-erp-migration-test-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cigniti.com\/blog\/accelerate-erp-migration-test-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"Accelerate ERP Migration with Test Automation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions are business critical\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0any organization.\u00a0<\/span>Companies are slowly acclimating to the next-generation ERP solutions<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0as the major players tend to end support to their traditional ERP s<\/span>ystems<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to\u00a0<\/span>Duncan Jones<\/span><\/i><\/b>, VP and Principal Analyst at\u00a0<\/span>Forrester<\/span><\/i><\/b>, \u201c<\/span>The traditional enterprise resource planning era is over. The ERP model of a single integrated suite to handle every process for every division within the enterprise did not work.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0They are realizing that the rigidity of their traditional ERP systems is not going to support their digital transformation efforts.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Post<\/span>\u00a0the pandemic, enterprises have accelerated their ERP migration as digitalization and new ways of working pattern became the norm. In terms of resilience and operational flexibility, the decisions the organizations take about their ERP systems will set the trajectory in coming years.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Drive\u00a0towards Digital Transformation\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

While developing a nuanced cloud strategy around digital transformation is already happening, now it is about augmenting the cloud landscape and using it as an effective innovation platform.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An intelligent core ERP powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), analytics, and test automation can help scale innovation and bridge functional and business silos.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s digital<\/span>\u00a0ERP system<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>such as SAP S\/4HANA, and Oracle Cloud\u00a0<\/span>have made<\/span>\u00a0multi-cloud compatibility an<\/span>\u00a0essential feature configured and integrated for common cloud services. This enables new use cases to emerge\u00a0<\/span>when\u00a0<\/span>the ERP systems\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0capable of securely extending across clouds.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without modernizing their ERP software, many enterprises focusing on digital transformation have realized that the full potential of their investments cannot be unlocked.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to\u00a0<\/span>Gartner<\/span><\/i><\/b>, \u201c<\/span>Nearly 75% of all ERP deployments fail to meet their expected business objectives in entirety<\/span><\/i><\/b>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a successful ERP transformation, accelerated and effective ERP testing across all the phases remain a major roadblock.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As enterprises manage the transition to next-gen ERP systems encompassing cloud features and digital solutions, they must first mitigate the risks by addressing all the business challenges.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The business challenges of ERP Migration\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Inefficient Change Management<\/span><\/b>: It is estimated that<\/span>\u00a0on an average<\/span>\u00a0more than 50% of the implementation time is\u00a0<\/span>spent<\/span>\u00a0on managing changes leading to scope creeps.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Data Quality Issues<\/span><\/b>: While companies transfer their legacy data into a new ERP system, data quality plays a relevant role. Experts cite that 1\/5<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0of the most common problems with\u00a0<\/span>ERP implementation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>are related to\u00a0<\/span>poor data integration. In the new ERP reality, the old data that remained in the legacy systems\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>more error prone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compatibility issues with ERP modules<\/span><\/b>: Companies associating multiple vendors to implement different ERP modules might welcome many compatibility issues that need to be addressed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ERP\u00a0<\/span><\/b>System\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Selection Criteria<\/span><\/b>: It is imperative to do enough groundwork before finalizing the ERP system for your enterprise. Without a clear business goal, one may face repercussions if the ERP system that you select doesn\u2019t coincide with your business requirements.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Technical Setbacks<\/span><\/b>: While you are on the path of ERP migration, it is important that your internal network is analyzed and modernized if required.\u00a0<\/span>It is also likely that you may want to revamp your existing servers and other hardware to ad<\/span>a<\/span>pt to the new ERP migration unless your company is adopting a cloud-based ERP system.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The extent of complications may vary depending on the sector in which your company operates.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Postmodern ERP\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

According to\u00a0<\/span>Carol Hardcastle<\/span><\/i><\/b>, research vice president at\u00a0<\/span>Gartner<\/span><\/i><\/b>, \u201c<\/span>The increasing complexity of the ERP application portfolio is driving the need for a defined postmodern application integration strategy. Without addressing the integration concerns in a strategic manner, cost and complexity will begin to spiral out of control and any benefit will be quickly eroded<\/span><\/i><\/b>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Postmodern ERP as\u00a0<\/span>put forth<\/span>\u00a0by Carol\u00a0<\/span>represents a fundamental shift away from a single vendor mega<\/span>–<\/span>suite toward a more loosely coupled and federated ERP environment<\/span>\u00a0and t<\/span>his new environment promises more business agility, but only if the increased complexity is recognized and addressed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Testing is a bottleneck for teams adopting Agile ERP migration methodology\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One of the major bottlenecks for enterprises adopting agile ERP migration is the strain it puts on the testing team. Moreover, ERP testers are understaffed and need to go through a complex test strategy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This often leads to challenges like regression fatigue, incomplete test coverage, and insufficient testing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While agile methodology is majorly implemented by enterprises for its huge benefits, the\u00a0<\/span>possible<\/span>\u00a0way to go ahead is to find the right approach in overcoming these challenges.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where\u00a0<\/span>most of the successful ERP migrations have been known to adopt an<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>integrated\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>ac<\/span>celerated ERP Test<\/span>\u00a0Automation<\/span>\u00a0approach<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuous Testing and Test Automation for ERP Migrations\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Effective\u00a0<\/span>continuous testing cannot be achieved without\u00a0<\/span>test automation<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>However, it is no\u00a0<\/span>easy<\/span>\u00a0task to implement continuous testing for ERP systems.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While huge data volumes and multisystem integrations make continuous testing a tough nut to crack, other factors like customizing localizations, increased security needs, and omnichannel UX testing prove to be challenging.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a recent report published in\u00a0<\/span>SDTimes<\/span><\/i><\/b>, \u201c<\/span>While enterprises continue to move towards agile, agile testing remains one of the pertinent issues for teams. 70% of respondents followed agile while only 30% deployed automated testing.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Smart Test Automation\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 Hyperautomation \u2013\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0probably<\/span>\u00a0the only way to accelerate ERP migration and make continuous ERP testing a reality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>To attain this, it is imperative to choose the right tool for your ERP Test Automation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key\u00a0factors to choose the right ERP Test Automation\u00a0tool\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Choosing the right ERP Test Automation tool for your ERP migration initiatives\u00a0<\/span>is often half the battle won<\/span>. Knowing what is right and what is wrong largely depends on the business needs and not the tool by itself.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Few<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>questions<\/span>\u00a0to be\u00a0<\/span>asked<\/span>\u00a0while choosing the right ERP test automation tool for your ERP migration include \u2013\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n