Challenges in SAP Migration Testing and How to Overcome Them

Q: Let’s cover the basics first, Siva. Where are we with the SAP migration deadlines?

Siva: Deadlines can really depend on how ready an organization is and how complex the migration process will be. That said, SAP has set 2027 as the target for moving to S/4HANA, with extended support available until 2030. While that might feel far off, migrations typically take anywhere from 18 to 42 months depending on how many systems or sites to be migrated, so my advice? Start the process sooner rather than later. It’ll save you from scrambling at the last minute!

Q: Why is testing so crucial in SAP migration projects?

Siva: Testing is the backbone of any successful SAP migration. It ensures that the new environment functions as expected, integrates seamlessly with other existing or new systems, and supports the organization’s unique business processes. By identifying issues early, testing minimizes risks such as business disruptions, data inconsistencies, and compliance violations.

Q: What are the biggest challenges organizations face during SAP migration testing?

Siva: In my experience, there are a few key challenges that tend to come up during SAP migration testing. If I had to highlight the main ones, I’d say…

• Extensive Testing Requirements: Functionality within SAP apps and eco systems is huge and extremely complex. SAP migrations require multiple testing layers, including unit testing, integration testing, regression testing, performance testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT). It’s a lot to cover!
• Integration: While SAP itself is huge, the integration points are countless. Big organizations would typically have 1000+ integration points, and all of them need to be tested as part of a successful migration journey.
• Ensuring Data Integrity: Verifying that the migrated data is accurate is essential but can be really time-consuming and prone to errors.
• Minimizing Downtime: Extended testing phases can impact business operations, so finding ways to minimize downtime is crucial.
• Validating Customizations: Custom workflows often need specialized testing to ensure they still work as expected after the migration.
• Complex Business Processes: End-to-end processes often span multiple modules, meaning you need thorough testing to make sure everything integrates properly.
• Handling Frequent Updates: Monthly patches, regular updates, and changes or enhancements require continuous validation to ensure everything stays on track.
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Getting users involved in UAT can be a significant time investment, but it’s necessary for a successful migration.
• Compliance: Ensuring all regulatory and governance requirements are met adds another layer of complexity to the process.

Q: How can test automation help address these challenges?

Siva: There’s no denying that test automation is a game-changer for SAP migration projects. For one, it speeds up the entire testing process, allowing teams to validate functionality much quicker than manual methods ever could, and in most cases, it helps to deliver migrations quicker than planned. It also boosts accuracy—automated scripts eliminate the risk of human error in repetitive tasks.

Another huge advantage is cost efficiency. By reducing the need for manual effort, automation helps cut down on testing costs. It also ensures comprehensive coverage, making sure all critical scenarios are thoroughly tested, so nothing slips through the cracks. And when integrated with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, it enables continuous testing throughout the project, keeping everything on track and error-free from start to finish.

It’s pretty clear I’m a big fan of this approach!!!

Q: Can you share any examples of how automation solves specific testing challenges?

Siva: Absolutely!

• Extensive Testing Requirements: Automated frameworks can run thousands of test cases at once, ensuring complete coverage without requiring manual intervention.

• Data Integrity: Automation tools can efficiently and accurately validate migrated data, comparing the source and target systems at scale.

• Downtime: By running tests in parallel, automation reduces validation time, helping minimize any disruptions to business operations.

• Validating Customizations: Tools like process mining can map out workflows and automatically generate test cases to validate custom functionalities.

• Complex Business Processes: Automation makes end-to-end process validation easier by simulating real-world scenarios across different modules.
• Frequent Updates: Automated regression testing ensures that the system remains stable, and functions as expected after each monthly or on-demand update.

Q: What role does Roboyo play in helping organizations simplify SAP migration testing?

Siva: At Roboyo, our mission is simple: we’re here to make SAP migrations as smooth and stress-free as possible with our Shift-left testing approach. (Quick plug: I did a webinar with UiPath about this a while back!). We’re all about helping our clients get the most out of their investment.

We use advanced tools like UiPath to handle the heavy lifting, and with Agentic AI now in the mix, we’re able to enhance the process even more. With UiPath’s Autopilot™, we can boost testing from start to finish by converting manual tests into automated UI or API tests, using low-code or coded options. It also helps us generate test data, refactor automation, fix validation errors, generate expressions, perform fuzzy verifications, and auto-heal tests during runtime.

UiPath’s advanced orchestration capabilities make it easy to connect all these phases seamlessly and by automating functional and regression testing, we slash testing cycles while maintaining high accuracy and stability. We also rely on automation to validate data, ensuring data integrity and minimizing errors throughout migration.

When it comes to user acceptance testing (UAT), UiPath helps us simulate real-world user interactions by reusing already developed assets, creating a realistic testing environment and ensuring a smooth post-migration experience for end users.

Compliance is a top priority for us, too. UiPath’s robust security framework includes defense-grade security, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), end-to-end encryption, and Veracode-certified code. Trusted by over 50 government agencies, it gives our clients peace of mind knowing their data and processes are secure and fully compliant.

Q: What advice would you give to organizations planning SAP migration?

Siva: My top piece of advice is to invest in test automation right from the start of the migration project. It helps with shift left to reduce risks and ensures your system can scale for future updates. Also, it’s crucial that your team has a strong understanding of both SAP systems and automation technologies, as they go hand in hand. If there are any knowledge gaps, consider upskilling your team—it’s an investment that will definitely pay off in the long run.

Conclusion

SAP migration testing is essential for successful system transformation. Sure, there are challenges along the way, but test automation makes it a lot easier. By working with Roboyo, organizations can access best in class automation tools and expert guidance, ensuring a faster, smoother, and more reliable migration.

Big thanks to Siva for sharing these great insights! If you’re planning an SAP migration, don’t hesitate to get in touch or check out Siva’s webinar to learn how Agentic AI can revolutionize your SAP migration testing.

Test automation isn’t just an option, it’s the key to unlocking next-level success.