How Farshad helped BDR Thermea with end-to-end testing

This is how Farshad helped BDR Thermea in several countries with end-to-end testing of the HRIT system

A successful HRIT implementation requires precise preparation, planning and execution. A crucial part of this process is end-to-end testing. If you go through this procedure carefully, you will ensure that the new system functions seamlessly and meets the expectations of the organization that will use the HCM package. Young professional Farshad Labib helped BDR Thermea with this process on behalf of SuccessDay. In this blog he tells all about it.

Farshad Labib began the Workday traineeship at SuccessDay in April 2023. In this blog he already told more about this. He is currently Project Management Officer (PMO) at BDR Thermea. The global manufacturer and distributor of heating and hot water systems is implementing Workday as an HRIT system worldwide. The company focuses on providing sustainable and energy-efficient heating and hot water solutions for both residential and commercial applications, such as boilers, heat pumps, gas, oil and renewable energy heating systems, and integrated heating and hot water systems.

BDR Thermea is active in various countries and its head office is located in Apeldoorn. The company was formed after several (reverse) take-overs. BDR Thermea’s solutions are sold in more than 100 countries, there are 15 production sites and 12 R&D centers. The company has about 6800 employees. In this customer case, you can read more about the run-up to the implementation of Workday at BDR Thermea.

Testing is crucial

The soft launch of the HRIT system is scheduled for November 2023. Currently, the implementation process is in the testing phase. “This phase is extremely important for a smooth implementation,” says Farshad, who has already assisted the company with end-to-end testing in several countries. “Of course, there are always issues that arise when implementing such an extensive system. You detect these issues with end-to-end testing. Then create a request for change at Workday or adjust the processes. Workday always tells us whether those changes can be made and if not, a work around needs to be devised,” he explains.

According to Farshad, testing usually takes more time and effort than organizations think in advance. Of course, organizations can then call in help from parties such as SuccessDay for support with end-to-end testing. “Often organizations do not employ enough people with testing experience or simply do not have time for this.” Nevertheless, he emphasizes that it is also important to include your own employees in the test team. “They will soon have to work with the system and know the organization and the way of working best. Moreover, it is a great opportunity to gain experience with the system before going live and to go through all the steps of an HR process.”

What is end-to-end testing?

End-to-end testing is a testing method that tests the entire process or workflow of a system, from start to finish. The goal is to check that all parts fit together well and work together and that the intended result is achieved. In the case of an HRIT implementation, end-to-end testing involves simulating real-world scenarios, such as going through an application process – from drafting the vacancy to signing the contract. Or things like updating personal data to generating pay stubs and managing performance reviews.

The benefits of end-to-end testing

In addition to risk management, because it provides insight into potential bottlenecks and risks before the system goes live, allowing timely corrective action to be taken, end-to-end testing provides several important benefits. “HR processes are interconnected and rely on data flows between different modules of the HRIT system. By performing end-to-end testing, it can be verified whether these processes are running correctly and whether data is correctly exchanged between different system components. We call this process validation,” explains Farshad.

In addition, end-to-end testing helps identify potential errors in data input, processing, and output, ensuring data integrity. Finally, end-to-end testing ensures a better user experience. “The ultimate success of an HRIT system depends on how well it is used by end users. Through end-to-end testing, user scenarios can be simulated, which allows the user-friendliness and functionality of the system to be assessed,” explains Farshad.

End-to-end testing in HRIT implementations consists of at least the following steps:

· Scenario definitions

Identify and define key user scenarios, such as creating a new employee, submitting leave requests, and performing performance reviews.

· Realistic test data

Use data that is as close to reality as possible so that the test situations are as accurate as possible.

· A test environment

Create a separate test environment that is separate from the production environment. This minimizes the risk of unintended consequences during testing.

· Test, test, test

Run the scenarios defined in step 1 and verify that all processes are running as expected. Look out for any errors, inconsistencies, or gaps.

· Debugging and corrections

Identify and document any errors discovered during testing. Work closely with the development team to resolve and verify these errors.

· Repetition of the tests

Run the tests again after corrections have been made to verify that the issues have been fixed and that any new errors have been introduced.

Italy, Germany, England and the Netherlands

BDR Thermea is currently implementing the HCM, Recruitment and Talent modules. These modules will soon go live in ten countries. The first country where end-to-end testing took place was Italy. Farshad flew there with Project Manager Thijs Wind to assist the local test team and guide them step-by-step through the process. “We tested intensively for a week. We worked closely with Workday’s developers, who assisted us online, so we could act quickly if things needed to be adjusted.”

Subsequently, Farshad and Thijs also went to Germany and England to assist with end-to-end testing. In between, it was the turn of the Netherlands. “I learned a lot from this period. Both about testing itself, as the system and about HR processes. Learning-on-the-job works well for me. What I like the most is that you encounter so many different people within the organization. We have worked very well together, and a lot of work has been done. The test teams should be proud of that.”

The testing of payroll integrations during end-to-end testing was perhaps the biggest challenge to get right for each country. “This is a vital element to test since we want to be sure that the BDR employees will be paid accurately once the system is live”, Farshad explains.

What’s next?

They are currently in the final phase of the test work at BDR Thermea. The local HR teams provided the data for the so-called Gold Tenant, so Workday can upload the data. The quality of the data can then be checked soon. Various training sessions will also be held in the coming period to familiarize HR professionals with the system. Farshad will stay on as PMO for the time being. “It’s fun to experience the whole process up close, from start to finish. I’m having a great time here and I feel like I’m far from finished learning.”

Would you like to know more about the end-to-end testing support or other services that SuccessDay can offer for HRIT implementations? Please contact us.