Why Vendor Testing and UAT are Equally Critical to Your Implementation

When implementing new software solutions, you must obviously ensure that the product meets its intended requirements and functions correctly. Two testing phases that contribute to this assurance are vendor testing and User Acceptance Testing (UAT). Although they may appear similar at first glance, UAT and vendor testing serve distinct purposes and involve different stakeholders and methodologies. Here are the key differences between UAT and vendor testing:?

• Vendor testing is focused on the proper technical function of the software?

• Conducted by the vendor ?

• Complete Operation Qualification?

• Ensures all functionality works as designed?

• Ensures all configurable items can be configured based on ranges?

• Ensures all contractual commitments have been met?

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• UAT is focused on how the software is used and whether it meets business requirements?

• Conducted by the users (under the supervision of a Quality Assurance function)?

• Ensures products/tools work for intended use?

• Includes complete testing of specific configurations?

• Verifies the software meets the need of real-world scenarios?

So essentially, during your implementation, vendor testing ensures that the software meets technical and functional specifications, and then UAT validates that the software meets business requirements and is ready for real-world use. By effectively combining vendor testing and UAT, organizations can ensure a smooth transition from development to deployment, resulting in successful software implementations.?