Why automate regression tests with SAP Cloud ALM?

Optimize your regression tests with SAP Cloud ALM

The automation of regression tests is an indispensable strategy for companies. We have already explained the reasons for automation for greater efficiency in a blog post. SAP Cloud Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) provides SAP customers with a powerful tool that offers a comprehensive solution for the entire application lifecycle. Find out below how you can automate your regression tests with SAP Cloud ALM and thus promote the stability and agility of your applications.

Understanding of regression tests and their necessity

Regression tests ensure that newly introduced changes do not inadvertently introduce new errors into the already validated production. It is a quality control mechanism in which previous test phases are repeated, so to speak, to ensure that the previous functionalities remain intact even after the change. The automation of regression tests within SAP Cloud ALM not only ensures that changes are integrated without errors, but also reduces the time and resources traditionally required.

Regression tests are a central element of quality assurance. The repetition of test phases shows why it is so important to establish structured and repeatable testing within the organization.

The automation of regression tests within SAP Cloud ALM not only reduces the time and resources required, but also ensures error-free integration of changes.

Below we see the test phases of an initial development in which we use and create new test cases. It would be a costly mistake not to reuse these test cases. As can be seen in project n-1, we can reuse both manual and automated test cases for regression tests.

Challenges

SAP testing is a challenge for many companies. In addition to many general questions, the scope alone represents a major challenge: The regression suite will grow with every new function introduced. For companies that do not use test automation, a great deal of time would have to be set aside for thorough manual testing of the SAP regression suite.

Large SAP regression test suites are the result of several factors, including:

• SAP offers a wide range of business functions as standard
• SAP offers extensive annual updates as well as frequent minor updates
• Custom code and extensions are very popular with SAP customers – these also need to be tested (we have already described how not to lose track of your custom code in this article ).

Perhaps you are wondering why we are advertising test automation so much at this point? After all, automation tools have been around for quite a while. The answer is simple: using traditional test automation solutions makes it difficult for the company to use them because they are too technical and require a lot of time for setup and training. Products like TTA Cloud have democratized automation and made it accessible to everyone, regardless of scripting and development skills.

In practice, automation becomes an achievable skill for every team member. From my experience, even comparing TTA Cloud with Tosca, a module-based on-premises automation tool also from Tricentis, I could see a higher speed, a user-friendly interface, an intuitive design, a much faster integration and an even easier tool to learn.

An overview: Manual testing vs. automated testing

There are two basic methods in software testing: manual testing and automated testing. Each method has different properties and is suitable for different test scenarios. The comparison table shows the main differences between manual and automated testing across various aspects of the testing process.

Advantages of automated testing

When discussing the benefits of automated testing, the significant impact on cost savings should not be overlooked. In the highly competitive landscape of software development, where both time and quality are of the utmost importance, automated testing offers a strategic advantage. Despite the initial investment in test automation, there are significant long-term cost savings through improved efficiency and error prevention, and the following is an introduction to the cost-effective benefits of integrating automated testing into your software development lifecycle.

• Consistency: Automated tests perform the same steps with high precision and consistency, leading to more reliable test results.
• Reusability: Once created, tests can be reused and easily updated for future test cycles, saving resources.
• Increased test coverage: Automated tests can cover more areas of code and different functionalities than would be possible manually.
• Early detection of errors: By continuously carrying out tests during the development process, errors can be detected and rectified at an early stage.

How to perform regression tests with SAP Cloud ALM?

The following figure provides an overview of the test orchestration functions offered by SAP Cloud ALM. The test automation framework can interface with third-party providers such as Tricentis. In addition to automating tests, SAP Cloud ALM can also skillfully manage manual testing via its test orchestration function. Within a single tool, we have therefore established a methodical and efficient test management system that extends from the initial requirement to the final deployment.

In SAP Cloud ALM, successful testing starts with the selection of high-quality, effective test cases that are linked to the business processes. The platform facilitates organized test planning and the orchestration of manual and automated tests with integrated tools for efficient execution. In addition, the change management function ensures that the tests are always updated with new developments to ensure continuous accuracy. More details below.

Basis:

To create a solid basis, it is important to identify the test cases and check their quality. Identify test cases that are repetitive, pose a high risk or are tedious to perform manually. In SAP Cloud ALM, test cases can be linked to the corresponding business processes, which enables the creation of specific test cases for these processes.

Test planning:

Test planning enables the organization of reusable test case sets, comprehensive status management for all test phases, clear execution contexts and efficient reporting. After organizing the test cases, you can continue with the planning of the test execution.

Orchestration of automated tests

With the test management functions of SAP Cloud ALM, you can set up and execute both manual and automated tests. A single toolchain, a single process and a single methodology now cover test scoping, orchestration, frameworks and execution. The integration of automation tools such as Tricentis Test Automation into SAP Cloud ALM is seamless and enables rapid test setup and execution.

Integrated change management!

Thanks to the integrated change management function, existing regression tests can be adapted directly during the development of new functions. This ensures that the tests are not forgotten and are always kept up to date.

With the test management functions of SAP Cloud ALM, you can set up and execute both manual and automated tests.

It’s fantastic how seamless the integration process for automation tools has become. With Tricentis Test Automations, full integration and creation of a first short demo takes only 2 days, compared to the weeks it took with other solutions.

Use the SAP Cloud ALM test automation tools:

• Tricentis Test Automation is integrated with SAP Cloud ALM and offers a coding-free and user-friendly approach that also allows business users to develop and manage automated scripts. Please read my blog post on this topic to find out more.
• Test automation tool (TaT) for SAP S/4 HANA Cloud, public is also a coding-free approach, a cloud-native tool. The solution is delivered with more than 300 automated standard tests based on SAP best practice processes. You can find more information about the tool in this blog post.

Test management analytics

In the overview tile, you can get an overview of error reporting, test execution and traceability.

Methodically review and analyze test results to identify patterns, problems and potential areas for improvement. Use the monitoring functions in SAP Cloud ALM to keep an eye on automated tests and log relevant data for analysis.

SAP Cloud ALM gives you a traceability view of processes, requirements and user stories.

Conclusion

Automating regression tests with SAP Cloud ALM increases the reliability and efficiency of applications and ensures that they evolve seamlessly with every change. By strategically leveraging the comprehensive tools and integrative capabilities of SAP Cloud ALM, companies can secure their application lifecycles to achieve robust, high-quality results with optimized resource utilization. A mix of strategy, tool utilization and continuous improvement is required to achieve a seamless, automated regression testing process – facets that SAP Cloud ALM competently brings to the table.