{"id":238865,"date":"2025-05-28T13:33:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T10:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/?p=238865"},"modified":"2025-05-28T13:35:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T10:35:35","slug":"common-mistakes-in-test-automation-implementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/2025\/05\/28\/common-mistakes-in-test-automation-implementation\/","title":{"rendered":"Com\u00admon mis\u00adtakes in test automa\u00adtion implementation"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_\u200bpb_\u200bsection fb_built=\u201c1\u201d _builder_version=\u201c4.24.3\u201d _module_preset=\u201cdefault\u201d da_disable_devices=\u201coff|off|off\u201d global_\u200bcolors_\u200binfo=\u201d{}\u201d da_is_popup=\u201coff\u201d da_exit_intent=\u201coff\u201d da_has_close=\u201con\u201d da_alt_close=\u201coff\u201d da_dark_close=\u201coff\u201d da_not_modal=\u201con\u201d da_is_singular=\u201coff\u201d da_with_loader=\u201coff\u201d da_has_shadow=\u201con\u201d][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201c4.24.3\u201d _module_preset=\u201cdefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201c4_4\u201d _builder_version=\u201c4.24.3\u201d _module_preset=\u201cdefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201c4.24.3\u201d _module_preset=\u201cdefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d]<\/p>\n

In a pre\u00advi\u00adous blog post<\/a><\/strong><\/span>,<\/span> we explored some test\u00ading ter\u00admi\u00adnol\u00ado\u00adgy and cov\u00adered the fun\u00adda\u00admen\u00adtal con\u00adcepts of soft\u00adware test\u00ading. Now, we will delve deep\u00ader into prac\u00adti\u00adcal chal\u00adlenges and exam\u00adine the most com\u00admon mis\u00adtakes that can under\u00admine the effi\u00adcien\u00adcy and reli\u00ada\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty of test automa\u00adtion. Care\u00adful plan\u00adning and best prac\u00adtices help avoid pit\u00adfalls and max\u00adi\u00admize the ben\u00ade\u00adfits of test automation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Test automa\u00adtion is still too often dis\u00admissed when plan\u00adning ERP trans\u00adfor\u00adma\u00adtions. Anoth\u00ader pit\u00adfall is that the time allo\u00adcat\u00aded for plan\u00adning and imple\u00adment\u00ading test automa\u00adtion is often too lim\u00adit\u00aded, which is why it is not uti\u00adlized in all ERP projects. How\u00adev\u00ader, the demand for con\u00adtin\u00adu\u00adous test\u00ading is increas\u00ading due to the fact that orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions are run\u00adning their ERPs in cloud more and more. Cloud ERPs bring reg\u00adu\u00adlar and fre\u00adquent updates and short\u00ader inno\u00adva\u00adtion cycles which in turn shifts the focus toward test automa\u00adtion, mak\u00ading it a rec\u00adom\u00admend\u00aded option even for sup\u00adport\u00ading small\u00ader ERP initiatives.<\/p>\n

On the oth\u00ader hand, some\u00adtimes orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions have unre\u00adal\u00adis\u00adtic test automa\u00adtion imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion expec\u00adta\u00adtions, assum\u00ading that automa\u00adtion will solve all test\u00ading chal\u00adlenges. If the test\u00ading process\u00ades are already defi\u00adcient, automa\u00adtion alone will not improve the situation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Avoid\u00ading pit\u00adfalls in test automa\u00adtion implementation<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Plan\u00adning<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    One of the most fre\u00adquent mis\u00adtakes in test automa\u00adtion imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion is inad\u00ade\u00adquate test plan\u00adning. Test\u00ading should com\u00adpre\u00adhen\u00adsive\u00adly cov\u00ader dif\u00adfer\u00adent lev\u00adels and types of tests, but too often, automa\u00adtion is used inap\u00adpro\u00adpri\u00adate\u00adly. Tests may fail due to issues relat\u00aded to tim\u00ading or depen\u00adden\u00adcies, reduc\u00ading their reli\u00ada\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty and mak\u00ading devel\u00adop\u00aders skep\u00adti\u00adcal about test automa\u00adtion. Instead of striv\u00ading to auto\u00admate 100% of the tests dur\u00ading the imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion project, more atten\u00adtion should be paid to strate\u00adgic risk analy\u00adsis, which helps iden\u00adti\u00adfy the most suit\u00adable test sce\u00adnar\u00adios for automation.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Main\u00adte\u00adnance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Anoth\u00ader com\u00admon mis\u00adtake is neglect\u00ading test automa\u00adtion main\u00adte\u00adnance. Test cas\u00ades should be easy to main\u00adtain and inte\u00adgrate. If updat\u00ading tests takes more time than run\u00adning them man\u00adu\u00adal\u00adly, automa\u00adtion can become inef\u00adfi\u00adcient and cost\u00adly. It is rec\u00adom\u00admend\u00aded to refac\u00adtor the test code, which means improv\u00ading the struc\u00adture of the code with\u00adout alter\u00ading its func\u00adtion\u00adal\u00adi\u00adty. Refac\u00adtor\u00ading enhances code read\u00adabil\u00adi\u00adty, sim\u00adpli\u00adfies main\u00adte\u00adnance, and sig\u00adnif\u00adi\u00adcant\u00adly reduces bugs in test\u00ading. It also sup\u00adports the elim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion of dupli\u00adcates and ensures com\u00adpli\u00adance with estab\u00adlished test\u00ading qual\u00adi\u00adty stan\u00addards. It is advis\u00adable to apply the same prin\u00adci\u00adples to test code as to pro\u00adduc\u00adtion code: a clear struc\u00adture, reusabil\u00adi\u00adty, and doc\u00adu\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion con\u00adtribute to reli\u00adable and high-qual\u00adi\u00adty test\u00ading. More\u00adover, envi\u00adron\u00adment man\u00adage\u00adment and test data qual\u00adi\u00adty should not be over\u00adlooked, as auto\u00admat\u00aded tests can\u00adnot yield reli\u00adable results with\u00adout prop\u00ader test data.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Test data<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Dur\u00ading an imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion project, test cas\u00ades are high\u00adly depen\u00addent on the data used, caus\u00ading numer\u00adous chal\u00adlenges for many orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions. In some cas\u00ades, gen\u00ader\u00adat\u00ading arti\u00adfi\u00adcial data dur\u00ading test\u00ading results in unre\u00adli\u00adable test out\u00adcomes. Test data should ide\u00adal\u00adly be pre\u00adpared well in advance. Ide\u00adal\u00adly, this should be part of the data har\u00admo\u00adniza\u00adtion process before the actu\u00adal ERP project. In the ear\u00adly stages of the imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion project, it may not be nec\u00ades\u00adsary to han\u00addle the full amount of orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion\u00adal data, but good and reli\u00adable test results can already be achieved when real exam\u00adples from the cur\u00adrent pro\u00adduc\u00adtion envi\u00adron\u00adment are avail\u00adable in the test envi\u00adron\u00adment. If the pro\u00adduc\u00adtion system\u2019s data is not yet avail\u00adable, a solu\u00adtion could be using so-called stan\u00addard\u00adized test data, which improves test diag\u00adnos\u00adtics, accel\u00ader\u00adates test exe\u00adcu\u00adtion, reduces test unre\u00adli\u00ada\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty, and enhances secu\u00adri\u00adty by ensur\u00ading that real cus\u00adtomer data is not involved in the system.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Uni\u00adfied approach<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Occa\u00adsion\u00adal\u00adly, imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion projects face sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtions where test automa\u00adtion is frag\u00adment\u00aded with\u00adout a uni\u00adfied approach. In the worst-case sce\u00adnario, dif\u00adfer\u00adent teams imple\u00adment automa\u00adtion in dif\u00adfer\u00adent ways, mak\u00ading it dif\u00adfi\u00adcult to man\u00adage and devel\u00adop effi\u00adcient\u00adly. This can result in sub\u00adop\u00adti\u00admal ben\u00ade\u00adfits from test automation.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Tech\u00adni\u00adcal challenges<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Tech\u00adni\u00adcal chal\u00adlenges can also hin\u00adder test automa\u00adtion imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion. Issues such as tool com\u00adpat\u00adi\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty prob\u00adlems or the rapid evo\u00adlu\u00adtion of tech\u00adnol\u00ado\u00adgy may lead to out\u00addat\u00aded test\u00ading sys\u00adtems. Addi\u00adtion\u00adal\u00adly, inter\u00adnal orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion\u00adal chal\u00adlenges, such as lack of man\u00adage\u00adment sup\u00adport, insuf\u00adfi\u00adcient resources, and lack of train\u00ading, pose sig\u00adnif\u00adi\u00adcant obsta\u00adcles to suc\u00adcess\u00adful automa\u00adtion implementation.<\/p>\n

            <\/p>\n

            Test automa\u00adtion is a pow\u00ader\u00adful tool, but it can\u00adnot replace care\u00adful\u00adly planned and exe\u00adcut\u00aded test\u00ading. It should be part of a com\u00adpre\u00adhen\u00adsive test\u00ading strat\u00ade\u00adgy that con\u00adsid\u00aders both man\u00adu\u00adal test\u00ading and the pos\u00adsi\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adties and lim\u00adi\u00adta\u00adtions of automa\u00adtion. In our next blog post, we will focus on the ben\u00ade\u00adfits achieved through test automation.<\/p>\n

            <\/p>\n

            [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_team_member image_url=\u201chttps:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Asta_Lehto_Beanie_Round-150x150.png\u201d _builder_version=\u201c4.24.3\u201d _module_preset=\u201cdefault\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d]<\/p>\n

            Blog Author<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

            Asta Lehto is SAP Spe\u00adcial\u00adist in Islet\u2019s ERP team. With over 17 years of expe\u00adri\u00adence, she has been involved in sev\u00ader\u00adal SAP imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion projects in com\u00adpa\u00adnies from dif\u00adfer\u00adent industries.<\/em><\/p>\n

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            <\/p>\n

            More infor\u00adma\u00adtion:<\/p>\n

            [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u201c1_4,1_4,1_2\u201d _builder_version=\u201c4.16\u201d background_size=\u201cinitial\u201d background_position=\u201ctop_left\u201d background_repeat=\u201crepeat\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201c1_4\u201d _builder_version=\u201c4.16\u201d custom_\u200bpadding=\u201d|||\u201d global_\u200bcolors_\u200binfo=\u201d{}\u201d custom_padding__hover=\u201d|||\u201d][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u201c1_4\u201d _builder_version=\u201c4.16\u201d custom_\u200bpadding=\u201d|||\u201d global_\u200bcolors_\u200binfo=\u201d{}\u201d custom_padding__hover=\u201d|||\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201chttps:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Jukka_Penttinen_Beanie_Round.png\u201d title_text=\u201cJukka_Penttinen_Beanie_Round\u201d url_new_window=\u201con\u201d align=\u201ccenter\u201d align_tablet=\u201ccenter\u201d align_\u200bphone=\u201d\u201d align_last_edited=\u201con|desktop\u201d _builder_version=\u201c4.16\u201d width=\u201c85%\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201c4.24.3\u201d custom_margin=\u201d|-10px||-30px|false|false\u201d global_colors_info=\u201d{}\u201d]<\/p>\n

            Juk\u00adka Pent\u00adti\u00adnen
            CBO\u2009\u2014\u2009ERP
            jukka.\u200bpenttinen@\u200bisletgroup.\u200bfi<\/a>
            +358 40 355 1973<\/p>\n

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            In a pre\u00advi\u00adous blog post, we explored some test\u00ading ter\u00admi\u00adnol\u00ado\u00adgy and cov\u00adered the fun\u00adda\u00admen\u00adtal con\u00adcepts of soft\u00adware test\u00ading. Now, we will delve deep\u00ader into prac\u00adti\u00adcal chal\u00adlenges and exam\u00adine the most com\u00admon mis\u00adtakes that can under\u00admine the effi\u00adcien\u00adcy and reli\u00ada\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty of test automa\u00adtion. Care\u00adful plan\u00adning and best prac\u00adtices help avoid pit\u00adfalls and max\u00adi\u00admize the ben\u00ade\u00adfits of [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":238874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[453],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-238865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-story"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=238865"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":238943,"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238865\/revisions\/238943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/238874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=238865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/isletgroup.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=238865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}