How can you test system compatibility during an ERP system upgrade?

1 Define your compatibility requirements

Before you start testing your system compatibility, you need to define your compatibility requirements. This includes criteria such as the operating system and browser versions, hardware specifications, data formats, integration methods, and business processes that your new ERP system must meet to work seamlessly with your current environment. Sources of information for these requirements include vendor documentation, industry best practices, user feedback, and business objectives.

3 Execute your compatibility testing

After planning your compatibility testing strategy, you need to execute it. This involves running your test cases and scenarios on the new ERP system and comparing the results with your expected outcomes. To do this, you should consider test execution and reporting, validation and verification, defect and issue management, as well as feedback and improvement. Various techniques can be used for executing compatibility testing, such as manual testing, automated testing, exploratory testing, and regression testing. Documenting and communicating your activities and findings is essential for identifying and resolving any discrepancies or problems that may arise during the process. Furthermore, evaluating and enhancing your testing quality and efficiency will help to ensure accuracy and completeness.

4 Analyze your compatibility testing results

After you have completed your compatibility testing, you need to analyze the results. This involves reviewing and interpreting your testing data and reports to determine the level of compatibility of your new ERP system with your existing environment. You should consider factors such as the metrics and indicators to measure and quantify your testing performance and outcomes, the analysis and evaluation to assess and compare your testing results with your compatibility requirements, the findings and recommendations to summarize and suggest your testing conclusions and actions, as well as the review and presentation to share and discuss your testing insights and learnings with stakeholders. Various tools like dashboards, charts, graphs, tables, and reports can be used to analyze compatibility testing results.

5 Implement your compatibility testing solutions

After analyzing your compatibility testing results, you need to implement the solutions. This involves applying and validating the findings and recommendations to enhance the compatibility of your new ERP system with your existing environment. Consider aspects such as test implementation and deployment, test verification and validation, test maintenance and support, and test closure and transition. To implement the compatibility testing solutions, you can use practices like change management, configuration management, quality assurance, and release management.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?