Case Study 13: Page Object Model (POM) Implementation in Test Automation for a ERP system
Vishaka Warnakulasooriya
Founder & CEO @ viTesters | Delivering High-Quality Software Testing Services
Project Background: This continues the insights of Case Study 12 which describes the modular framework for the ERP system. Here, more insights will bring about Page Object Model (POM) Implementation in ERP Test Automation. The team implemented the POM to improve the maintainability of the test scripts.
Strategy: The core strategy was to introduce a modular, reusable, and scalable automation framework using Page Object Model. Key steps in the strategy included:
1. Creating Separate Page Classes: Each module's UI elements and actions were encapsulated within dedicated Page Object classes.
In an ERP system, different modules such as Finance, Stock, Purchasing and Sales have distinct UI components, workflows, and functionalities. If test automation scripts directly interact with UI elements in each test case, maintaining them becomes difficult when UI changes occur.
ERP system consists of multiple modules that have different interfaces, workflows, and functionalities. If the test automation scripts interact with the UI elements at the test case level, maintaining them is difficult UI changes occur. To improve maintainability, POM introduces separate page classes for each module. These page classes maintain the UI elements and actions specific to that module. Therefore, whenever, there was a change, it handled in Page Object Model level.
For example: Creating a Separate Page Class for the Sales Module
Let's assume the Sales module of the ERP system requires processing the Sales Invoice:
Selecting the Sales Order
Generate the Sales Invoice
Complete the Sales Invoice for a particular customer
Using POM, we created a SalesPage.java class by taking the above as the methods. When designing test case scripts for the Sales module, the methods defined in the SalesPage.java can be called/referred to by maintaining the logic separately. Therefore, whenever, a change is required, as all UI elements are located in the Page class level, the changes can be done in the Page class level. It affects the entire test scripts of the module to which the methods have been referred.
The same logic was applied to the other modules and test scripts.
2. Implementing a Centralized Utilities Layer: Common functionalities like login, navigation, and error handling were abstracted into reusable utility classes.
In ERP test automation, modules such as Finance, Sales, Stock, HR, and Procurement require repeated actions.
Across the modules of the ERP system, there are repeated actions such as User Login, Form filling and submission for the different workflows, Navigation across the modules/pages, and Error handling. Therefore, maintaining these repeated features in every test script will lead to duplications, inconsistency, and higher maintenance costs whenever there is a change.
To overcome these challenges, creating a Utilities Layer with reusable methods was the solution that ensured that all test scripts across different ERP modules use the same implementation for repeated actions.
The Utilities Layer consists of multiple helper classes. Therefore, instead of hard coding the same functionality in required test scripts, these methods were reused in the scripts. Therefore, whenever there was a change, it did in this utility class level.
ERP systems require frequent form submissions for invoices, purchase orders, stock entries, etc. A Form Utility ensures consistent input handling that saves effort and time effectively by reusing a single method for multiple forms.
For example,
LoginUtils.java to handle the user login
NavigationUtils.java to manage module navigation
FormUtils.java to standardize form filling and submission
ErrorHandlingUtils.java to capture and logs exceptions
3. Parallel Execution Support: The POM framework was integrated with TestNG to allow parallel execution, reducing test runtime.
In ERP systems, multiple modules require extensive test coverage.
Because of the availability of many test scripts across the multiple modules of the ERP system, the execution of test scripts needs a long time, especially for regression testing. Therefore, the test scripts of the modules are executed simultaneously with TestNG in a POM Framework.
Conclusion: Implementing the Page Object Model (POM) in ERP Test Automation has provided several benefits:
? Reduced Test Maintenance: Centralized page classes allow easier updates when UI changes.
? Improved Test Reusability: A modular framework enables shared functionalities across ERP modules.
? Enhanced Scalability: Test execution is optimized with parallel execution and Selenium Grid.
? Faster Bug Detection: With structured automation, defects are identified early in the cycle.
By adopting POM along with a scalable automation framework, ERP testing can achieve efficiency, reduced costs, and high maintainability, ensuring robust application quality.