SAP R/3 is an integrated ERP software that allows organisations to manage their business efficiently. SAP R/3 is one of the main products of SAP. R stands for real-time. Three stands for three-tier application architecture, including the database, application server and the client.
Most of the businesses in today’s world run on the SAP R/3 system. Organisations can reduce the cost of running their operations by using SAP R/3 ERP packages.
SAP R/3 also allows customers to interact with different databases to run different applications with the help of a user-friendly GUI.
The SAP R/3 system is divided into different modules to cover the functionality of different business operations in an organisation.
The most common SAP R/3 modules are −
· SAP Material Management.
· SAP Financial Accounting and Controlling.
· SAP Sales and Distribution.
· SAP Human Resource.
· SAP Supply Chain Management.
· SAP Plant Management.
SAP testing validates the functionality of these modules to ensure that they perform as per the configuration. SAP testing is an approach used to test SAP ERP software. For each change done while developing, customising, or maintaining SAP software, one should create test cases to check its new functionality. The generic SAP testing approach can also be applied to ERP solutions from other vendors, such as PeopleSoft and Oracle EBS.
There are multiple versions of SAP ERP systems, all designed for different customers and industries. To conduct proper testing, an SAP tester should understand the features and functionalities of all modules in the SAP software.
SAP Testing Modules
There are two types of SAP modules – functional modules and technical modules. They are integrated to ensure business processes run smoothly. The Sales and distribution module, for instance, consists of the sales order process, customer management, and payment process functionalities. Similarly, the payroll process, personnel management, and employee attendance in a company can be grouped as a single functional workflow under the Human Resource Management and Payroll module.
Depending on the vendor or application of the SAP software, modules that serve the same function or the same grouping of functionalities may have varying module names. The section below provides a deeper insight into different SAP ERP modules.
SAP Financial Modules
SAP financial modules are used to manage financial accounting data and processes within an organisation. They are the backbone of all financial transactions between a company and its vendors as well as customers. The SAP financial modules include Finance Accounting and Controlling (FICO). The SAP FICO module is a core component in ERP systems that allows businesses to manage all their financial data. It consists of two modules – the SAP Finance and SAP controlling modules.
The SAP Finance module deals with financial accounting and reporting, while the SAP Controlling module focuses more on planning, monitoring, and decision-making. The two are tightly coupled such that once transactions are entered into the financial module, they are passed to their controlling counterpart for further processing, audit control, and analytical reporting.
Treasure (TR) The SAP TR module controls and ensures competent management of treasury processes. It provides tools for cash management, liquidity management, forecasting, audit controls, and operational risk reduction. The module features the integration of smart strategies that help mitigate financial risks. Overall, the SAP Treasury module is important for cash managers looking to gain comprehensive oversight of all transactions in their organisation.
Enterprise Control (EC) The Enterprise Control module provides highly reliable and accurate data used by top-level management in a commercial organisation. Managers and enterprise controllers use this module to assess whether business processes are performed in line with the company goals.
SAP Logistics Modules
The SAP Logistics modules form the core of an organisation’s information system. Apart from addressing the logistics issue, they convert data into meaningful information and process it in a way that improves decision-making.
Some components of the larger logistics module include:
Material Management Module Material Management is a key challenge in most business environments. The SAP material management module helps manage material requirements, use, and production in an organisation. To this end, it is easier to avoid the wastage of resources, thus saving money. The key features and sub-components of this module include:
· Purchasing
· Inventory management
· Logistics invoice verification
· Master data
· Material valuation
· Foreign trade and customs
· Service management
· Product catalogue and management.
Sales and Distribution Module The sales and distribution module is one of the core components of SAP products, alongside the financial, controlling, production planning, and material management modules.
The SD module covers:
· Pre-sales activities, such as creating quotations and inquiries.
· Order processing activities, such as sales order creation.
· Billing and invoice creation
· Shipping
· Creating outbound delivery documents.
Quality Management Module The Quality Management module supports all aspects associated with quality control, quality planning, and quality inspection in an enterprise. It specifies the criteria for quality testing procedures, manages notifications linked to quality, and controls the creation of quality certificates. The QM module also stores quality data for all items in an enterprise.
In a nutshell, the functions of the QM module include the following:
· Quality Planning
· Quality Control
· Quality Inspection
· Quality Notifications
· Quality Certificates
· Test Equipment Management
Production Planning, Module Production planning, is one of the areas where if something goes wrong, businesses can incur significant losses. The SAP production planning module helps organisations accomplish their production planning and management procedures with ease.
Warehouse Management The Warehouse management module is integrated within the SAP software as a component of the logistics execution system. Depending on the complexity and scope of the warehouse operations, businesses can choose to implement a lean WM, a standard WM, a decentralised WM, or an extended WM.
The WM module typically deals with:
· Inventory management (Both fixed-bin and randomly organised storage)
· Processing all activities within the warehouse, including goods issue and goods receipt.
Transportation Management This module covers the entire transportation process – creating, executing, consolidating, and monitoring shipments in an enterprise. With this module, businesses can maintain a high level of customer satisfaction and improve efficiency in logistics.
It also reduces operational costs by supporting the following activities:
· Creating and executing optimised transportation plans
· Monitoring shipments so that products are delivered on time and within budget
· Managing the processes required for both domestic and foreign trade.
· Applying flexible options for combining deliveries and orders in the shipment process.
Plant Maintenance The SAP plant maintenance (PM) module ensures that the application is working in optimal condition.
It achieves its aim of maintaining smooth operation and high performance across the SAP system through the following:
· Inspection, which involves establishing the actual condition of the system
· Preventive maintenance, which encompasses all measures taken to maintain the technical system in its ideal condition
· Repair and other measures are taken to restore the system to its ideal condition.
Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) SAP EHS module helps companies focus on the well-being of their employees. And because employees are undeniably the most important asset in any organisation, then businesses should focus on improving the environmental, health, and safety areas for human resources. SAP EHS provides tools and functionalities that help organisations comply with this corporate responsibility.
Product Costing The SAP product costing module is responsible for establishing material prices and planning costs. It helps enterprises estimate the cost of goods sold. This module is closely integrated with several other modules in SAP systems. For instance, data in this module originates from the material management, production planning, and cost centre accounting modules. Similarly, the output from the product costing module is useful to the sales and distribution module.
Global Trade The SAP Global trade module automates global trade and business processes in an organisation. It presents tools that help you respond to dynamic international trade laws.
Some useful things that you can achieve with the SAP GT module include the following:
· Cost control during import and export procedures
· Reduced risks of fines and trade penalties
· Streamlined trade processes and international operations
· Improved customer satisfaction
· Elimination of manual tasks
· Seamless integration across all international supply chains
· Minimal delays in both outbound and inbound custom clearance.
SAP Human Resource Management Module
The SAP HR module helps enterprises streamline their organisational structure. It allows companies to manage their workforce right from the recruitment of new staff to payroll management.
The main components of the SAP HR module are:
Accounting Payroll The accounting payroll module streamlines numerous payroll processes, including basic salary, remuneration, vacation leaves, sick leaves, and payment to third parties. It also generates payroll reports and submits the data to the financial accounting module.
Time Management This module helps in recording and evaluating employee work schedules, including working hours, annual leave, attendance records, and more.
Training and Event Management This module helps the human resource team plan and conduct training sessions to equip employees with the necessary skills. The training and event management module supports plans for improving workforce skills, including employee certification. It also maintains records of events within and outside the organisation.
SAP implementation
The SAP implementation process involves the collection of practices (designing, building, and tuning) intended to make the system go live. You can view SAP implementation as the process of turning the vision of a business into reality through the use of SAP ERP software.
SAP environments are unique to a specific domain or industry. This is because each company or organisation has distinct requirements for SAP configurations, customisations, internal modules, third-party integrations, and future adaptations. As such, SAP implementations vary from one project to another.
The standard SAP implementation methodology involves the following steps:
· Project planning and preparation.
· Creating a business blueprint where all requirements are gathered in detail.
· Project realisation or implementation of the business process requirements
· Final preparation, including testing, staff training, and other cutover activities.
· Going live or transitioning to the new system.
· Special support until all business processes run normally.
SAP customisation
SAP customisation is the processing of adding functionalities to an existing SAP system. It involves mapping your business processes and requirements to the system by making enhancements, thereby developing reports, programs, or screens custom to an organisation. In such cases, the desired functionalities are not available through configuration, so you create a custom code. Example – SAP End-user Customisation
This is a common and among the most practical forms of SAP customisations. It involves modifying user parameters, including personal data, communication data, date and time format, time zone, attributes for printing, and so on. Example – User Interface
Customisation. UI customisation refers to changing the SAP layout as per local requirements or user preferences. You can customise visual settings such as colour, theme, and fonts to your preferences. Additionally, you can customise interaction design by adjusting sound controls, keyboard settings, and other attributes.
SAP maintenance
Maintenance means the changes made to the SAP system after configuring, customising, and deploying it. In this case, we mean changes such as:
· Bug fixes
· Addition of new features or functionalities.
· SAP Kernel Updates
· OSS note implementation.
· Support pack and stack updates
The reason for SAP maintenance is to ensure that the system works in optimal condition. A significant breakdown in the SAP system means a loss of productivity. SAP maintenance is also crucial to ensure a smooth workflow across all business processes.
Putting it all together, these are the three main reasons for SAP systems maintenance.
Inspection – Aimed at identifying the actual condition of the SAP system.
Repair – Done to restore the system to its optimal state. If a function fails, repairs are done to restore its normal function.
Preventive – Preventive maintenance helps maintain the current condition of the system. It aims at minimising breakdown problems through regular inspection and some minor repairs.
SAP Testing Types
Unit Testing It is a kind of white box testing done to test the functionality of different units in the SAP system. This type of testing is performed by skilled developers who understand the functionality of each component in the system and perform Unit Testing. It comprises testing workflows, interfaces, conversions, reports, forms, data transfer rules, and security authorisation within the system.
Integration Testing Integration testing involves testing multiple components of an SAP system to ensure they function correctly when integrated. With the help of realistic data, it is done in the QA environment. As the business end-users are familiar with data extracted from a real source, this testing uses such data. As configured in the SAP software, SAP integration testing demonstrates that business processes are run with real-world data. It also ensures that interface triggers, workflows, and reports function properly.
Regression Testing To make sure that the changes made in the system do not affect the actual functionalities, SAP regression testing is performed. The main motive of this test is to check how the system works with the newly added configuration. Whenever a system gets upgraded, a patch gets applied, new interfaces are added, and configurations are altered, it can have adverse effects on the system. So, SAP regression testing is carried out by skilled testers with various automation tools. This ensures features introduced or enhancements made to the system do not affect the core business processes adversely.
Performance Testing Performance testing is done to determine if the SAP system meets the needed level of performance. Its objective is to increase the stability of the SAP software. Thus, it makes it easy to deploy systems that sustain a higher load forecast without performance issues.
In a nutshell, SAP performance testing includes:
Testing if the system responds as per the organisational requirements
Determining if the system can support the desired concurrent user load
Verifying whether periodic processes are executed within permissible time.
Identifying system obstructions due to inefficient coding, high transaction rate, or batch volumes.
Functional Testing SAP applications are known for their high configurability. They enable integration with third-party applications. Looking forward to such complexity, SAP functional testing is crucial. It determines whether the functionality of all modules meets the business requirements. Skilled testers review design documents and create test artefacts such as test cases, test scenarios, and test requirements to perform SAP functional testing.
User Acceptance Testing Also known as Acceptance Testing, it ensures that the SAP system meets the business end-user requirements. The application is accepted by the end-users only if it performs the designated job functions. Therefore, the essential aspect of user acceptance testing is understanding all business processes and ensuring the desired features and functionalities are available. When users take ownership of the system and feel comfortable working around the new business environment, user acceptance testing is said to be successful.
Security Testing As the name suggests, Security Testing ensures the safety and integrity of SAP applications. It makes sure that the system users get access to appropriate data and execute the transactions that are relevant to their domain. Security testing is performed by different teams, including database administration, development, infrastructure, and testing experts. They examine high-risk areas like portal security, network security, operational security, product security, source code audit, and access control.
Portal Testing SAP systems have different portals depending on the business processes and organisational requirements. Portal testing checks the portals on different browsers.
SAP Life Cycle and Testing Phases
The Software Development Life Cycle, i.e., SDLC, is a series of steps applied in the design, development, and testing of software. This framework outlines the tasks performed at each step of the software development process. The main aim of SDLC is to improve the overall development process while producing high-quality software that meets customer expectations on time and within budget. Here is a graphical representation of the SDLC process. Each phase has a unique process, and the deliverables are passed on to the next phase.
SAP Software Testing Life Cycle
The Software Testing Life Cycle is a series of steps performed to ensure that the software meets its quality goals. It aims to improve the quality of SAP systems so that they align with the market requirements and business goals at large. Each phase of the SAP testing life cycle has specific goals, and its deliverables are requisites for subsequent phases. This section outlines the stages of the SAP software testing life cycle.
Requirement Phase The opening phase of the SAP testing life cycle. The testing team analyses all requirements by conducting brainstorming sessions and consultations with different stakeholders. This phase defines the scope of testing and ascertains whether the features are testable or not.
Test Preparation phase During this phase, the testers identify what can be done and what is needed to reach the testing objectives. It defines various metrics as well as the methods available for tracking. Test preparation also identifies business processes to be tested and their key performance indicators.
Test Analysis Phase In this phase, we determine the test guidelines. It involves establishing the test conditions using the requirements (from step 1) and other suitable test criteria. The test conditions depend on the product complexity, skills required, depth of testing, knowledge of testers, test management, risks involved, and availability of key stakeholders. The test conditions should be outlined in detail. A detailed test condition covers a larger testing scope and allows testers to create exhaustive and more specific test cases. For instance, if you are testing an e-commerce platform, a possible test condition is that customers should successfully make online payments. In this case, you can include detailed test conditions like payments should be initiated through Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, PayPal, Bitcoin, and so on.
Test Design Phase This stage determines how tests will be executed. The test conditions are broken down into multiple sub-conditions for exhaustive coverage. During this phase, testers will set up the testing environment and obtain the test data. Test design also involves creating metrics for test coverage.
Test Implementation Phase During the implementation phase, testers create detailed test cases using the test conditions (from step iii) and metrics defined (in step iv)
The guidelines for test implementation are:
· Prioritise the test case
· Identify the test case that will be used for regression testing
· Ensure the test cases are practically correct
· Ensure test cases are signed off before execution begins
Test Execution Phase This phase involves the actual execution of the test cases – which can be done manually or automated. During this phase, we log the defects, track progress, and report the testing status.
Test Evaluation/ Test Closure This is the final phase of the SAP testing process. It involves checking whether all test cases are well executed. It also involves defect analysis and is closed by documenting the entire testing process.
SAP Testing Methodology
Testing software products is not only imperative but an absolute must that should be done right. Most testing projects do not bring the expected value because they are not executed in the right way. As an SAP tester or test manager, you might wonder – “Do I plan for integration testing, unit testing or both?”, “How can I make the tests more relevant to my business” or “How do I handle duplicate bugs.” All this goes down to using the right testing methodology.
While there is no single standard or ideal methodology for testing software products; some approaches may suit a particular corporate environment more than others. Even better, there are many tools that, when implemented, can improve your testing approach regardless of the methodology you are using.
Here are some key benefits of defining a test methodology for your SAP testing project:
· It helps you define and manage your testing requirements
· It helps you track gaps in the testing process
· It is easier to identify and mitigate possible risks
· Helps determine the types of testing to be done
· It’s key to performing root cause analysis
The V-MODEL
The V testing methodology is one of the most effective SAP testing models. It emphasises parallel testing, re-usability, and multiple iterations. We will not go deep into the basics of the V-testing model, but you can learn more here.
The V-model highlights the relationship between various types of SAP testing and the development process. The testing stage, in conventional models, come pretty late in the development cycle. This makes it difficult to go back and test for processes you completed in the initial stages of development. Similarly, conventional SAP testing methodologies rely on test scenarios and phases to establish what should be tested.
The V-model ensures exhaustive test coverage as it does not rely heavily on test cases but rather on the test requirements and objectives in every phase. It makes it easier to extract the testing criteria in each development stage. Putting it all together, the V model represents a cycle where iterations and continuous feedback ensure a high-quality piece of software is delivered. This means the SAP software can easily meet the acceptance criteria before it goes live.
Create your first SAP Test Case.
An SAP test case is required when performing a check on the installation, configuration, and implementation of the system. Whether you are performing intranet testing, real-time testing, or a multi-language test, the test case should sufficiently cover the scope of your test. And because SAP software is typically a decentralised system available for simultaneous use by multiple users in real-time, writing ERP test cases requires effort and dedication.
To design an effective test case, one must:
Determine the SAP role or professional required to execute a particular test case.
Determine the SAP transaction to be executed in the test case
Obtain test data required for the test case. Additionally, check whether another SAP tester is using the data or whether it should be created.
Define the test case characteristics, i.e., status, priority, sensitivity, owner, keywords, timelines, and test classification.
Identify all prerequisites
Conduct a peer review of the test case.
Create both positive and negative scenarios
Ensure all test steps are well-detailed.
Document all defects as soon as they occur
SAP Automation Testing
SAP system testing is complex and quite challenging. If testers fail to perform comprehensive tests, it exposes the system to high risks. This includes inefficiency and potential system failure. Compared to the manual testing process, which is time-consuming, SAP automation testing is a better alternative.
In automation testing, the testing team writes the scripts but uses software tools for testing purposes. This saves time and improves accuracy when testing the product. During the process, testers re-run test cases that were performed manually. They also test the system from performance, load, and stress perspectives.
The benefits of using SAP test automation tools include the following:
· Improved test coverage
· Improved product quality, which minimises production outages.
· The reduced workload in subsequent release cycles.
SAP Testing Automation Tools
HP Quick Test Professional (QTP) HP’s Quick Test is a robust, user-friendly, and feature-rich automation tool that supports a wide range of environments, including SAP. Typically, this commercial tool is keyword driven. Testers using QTP enjoy excellent vendor support, which makes it a popular choice among testing professionals. Currently, HP Quick Test Professional commands a major market share in software automation testing.
Selenium Selenium is a software testing suite designed for web applications. It can be deployed on all major operating systems, i.e., Windows, Linux, and Mac. The tool allows users to write software tests in different languages such as Java, Python, Perl, and more.
SAP TAO SAP TAO (Test Acceleration and Automation) is an automation testing tool developed by SAP in collaboration with Focus Frame, the Hexaware-affiliated company. The tool combines HP Quick Test Professional (QTP) and HP Quality Center (QC) where QTP serves as the execution engine while test scenarios are created from the QC and driven through to the business components. Both SAP and HP software products have huge corporate support, which gives SAP TAO an edge over other automation tools. Another advantage of this tool is its seamless integration with the SAP Solution Manager.
Extended Computer-Aided Test Tool ECATT is an automation tool used to create and run functional tests on SAP software. It’s an in-built tool that comes alongside SAP software. The primary objective of ECATT is to perform automated tests on business processes.
Some useful features of this tool include:
· It can test remote systems
· It can check system messages
· It can test updates
· It can test reports, transactions, and scenarios.
· It can check authorisations
· It can test the effects of customising settings
IBM Rational Functional Tester The IBM Rational Functional Tester is a tool for automating regression and functional testing on Windows, IE, Java, and ERP applications that run on the Windows platform. It provides test cases for standard objects such as bitmaps, lists, and menus, as well as objects specific to the development environment. The tool supports a wide range of user interface technologies, including Web, Java, VS.NET controls, Delphi, and Oracle.
Silk Test Silk test by Microfocus is an automation tool for running regression and function testing. It provides three products – Silk4J, Silk4NE, and Workbench. Silk4J and Silk4NET use Java, C#, VB.NET, and many more. Workbench is more specific and uses VB.NET. This tool supports mobile testing and cross-browser testing. Silk test is a keyword-driven testing tool and can, therefore, provide a collaborative test design environment.
Test Complete Test Complete is a great and easy-to-use automation tool developed by Smart Bear. It is used to automate tests across mobile, desktop, and web applications. The tool supports scripting languages like VBScript, JavaScript, and Python. Test Complete can be applied to various testing techniques, including data-driven testing, keyword-driven testing, regression testing, functional testing, and distributed testing.
Testing Anywhere Testing Anywhere is a simple tool for testing the front end of software products. It creates software bots to automate testing processes without the need to integrate third-party tools or write additional code.
LoadRunner is a powerful testing tool for testing the graphical user interface of SAP applications. It is also one of the best tools for GUI load testing. This tool is becoming increasingly popular among SAP testers due to its effectiveness in handling different aspects of SAP applications.
Visual Studio Test Professional Visual Studio Test Professional is a powerful tool that brings together SAP testers, product managers, developers, and other stakeholders. It provides high-end tools for each of these roles. A key advantage of this tool is its integration with the ALM solution, which ensures that all stakeholders are connected throughout the development or testing process. This keeps the testing teams more agile and better informed. Some great features of Visual Studio Test
Professional include:
· Ability to conduct, record and repeat manual tasks
· Managing use test cases
· Creating and managing test environments
Performance Testing for SAP
Performance testing is done to check the speed, stability, and scalability of SAP applications. The main reasons for executing performance testing on SAP systems include:
· Ensuring the system conforms to the service-level agreements.
· Managing hardware costs.
· Optimising software configuration settings
· Verify that the SAP system will not fail or crash during occasional high loads, which in turn helps avoid corresponding losses.
There are different test tools for checking the performance of SAP systems. They can be developed as open-source software, such as JMeter and Open STA or for commercial purposes, such as SAP IBM Rational Robot and Load Runner. The choice of the testing tool depends on the SAP application you want to test.
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