The Challenge

Organizations which leveraged manual testing for Oracle ERP solutions, was in a transitional need of automation, to cater to the high number of transactions. When customer transactions became high, manual testing became a laborious and time consuming process and hence the need for automation.

Sometimes testers don’t pay proper attention to company-defined processes and the purpose they serve. There is a myth that testers should go only with company processes. Such processes are also not applicable for their current testing scenario. This results in incomplete and inappropriate application testing.

There are multiple environments where test automation is implemented. Automation for the Windows desktop version and scenarios where the desktop version and web app version communicate with each other require different approaches and tools. Let us look at some of these tools.

Though Oracle has their own Automation tool OATS (Oracle Application Testing Suite), it is expensive. There was a need for an automation solution which proved to be affordable, yet effective.

Approach One – Applet Driver 

This approach uses Opkey to automate the web app version of Oracle ERP solutions and a different Applet driver which automates the desktop version. This works only when both Windows and Web app are standalone components. When they need to communicate with each other, there is a different approach.

Approach Two – TestComplete

When the Windows desktop version and Web app version need to communicate, TestComplete is an excellent solution.

TestComplete automates both desktop and web app versions together. It is used interchangeably, ie, when both the versions need to communicate with each other.

More on TestComplete

TestComplete is a functional automated UI testing platform which gives testers the ability to create automated tests for Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows and Web applications. Powered with artificial intelligence, it saves time by accurately identifying dynamic UI elements with visual recognition. It is the first tool to have a hybrid object with the option of object management in one single repository.

TestArchitect 

LogiGear’s TestArchitect provides native and functional automation for Oracle EBS. With an action based testing method driven into it, testers can create reusable and modular without any programming support. It also has a library of 400+ pre-programmed, reusable actions for test cases thus eliminating saving time budgets and manpower.

 Here are some specific Inventory Lifecycles and use cases for which there are different automation approaches.

Order to Cash (O2C)/ Procure to Pay (P2P)

These are major lifecycles which need regular automation. Specific APIs or pre-built automated test scripts simulate regression testing and performance testing.

Pricing, Tax, BOM & Routing

These validate concurrent programs like Macros. Custom defined programs based on existing system order inputs extract new data to macros.

Testing processes which need automation

Here are some of the main testing processes of an Oracle ERP solution which needs automation.

  • Smoke Tests/Build Validation Tests
  • Regression Tests
  • Functional Tests

 Benefits of Automating Oracle ERP solutions

There are a myriad number of benefits in automating the testing of Oracle ERP solutions. A few of them are

ROI

Organizations which leverage Oracle ERP solutions find long term gains on ROI as well as saves time.

Running Tests 24/7

Test cases are run from anywhere, anytime and with least human intervention even beyond office hours.

Flexibility and Reusability

The scripts have reusable components which are independent of OS and device changes.

Error Free

Unlike manual testing, automation allows to carry out same test cases again without forgetting or making errors in any of the steps.

Volume

Automation testing allows running thousands of Oracle ERP test cases to at the same time. Manual testing of such volumes would be a fortified challenge.

Early detection of bugs

Automation testing helps detect bugs early on thus reducing expenses and working hours to fix such challenges.

Quick Turnaround time

It speeds up the sluggish manual test processes thus reducing time, increasing accuracy and driving revenues

Upgrade Friendly

Easy functional upgrades, since automation simplifies changes in user interface and workflows

Automation simplifies complex workflows, thus making functional upgrades easy.

Feature Friendly

Easy adoption of new features and function which increase the versatility of the Oracle application

Conclusion

Automation testing is the next disruptive buzzword and is taking the Oracle ERP world by storm. A structured approach to automating Oracle ERP solutions ensures its end to end working efficacy. Using the right tools ensures quality besides enabling faster projects at reduced risk and increased return on investment.

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