As organizations continue to rely on complex SAP ecosystems to run mission-critical business processes, having a streamlined approach to test these processes is crucial. SAP TAO (Test Acceleration and Optimization) provides a comprehensive framework to automate testing of end-to-end SAP scenarios.
In this guide, we will dive deeper into SAP TAO‘s components, walk through practical examples of using TAO, and also discuss how it compares against competitors and its future roadmap.
Detailed Overview of SAP TAO
Let‘s first understand what core capabilities TAO provides:
Inspection and Test Creation
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Auto-identify test objects like fields, buttons etc. within SAP GUI transactions
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Output gets exported as reusable test components
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Bulk export of components into central test repository
Business Process Testing
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End-to-end business process flows across transactions
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Automated test scripts with runtime parameterized test data
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Capture complex application and business logic
Optimized Change Management
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Modular components maximize reusability
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Component parameterization for resilience
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Rapid update of test scripts upon application changes
Integrations
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Connectors with HP ALM, LeanFT, CI/CD tools
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Single source of truth for test cases
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Orchestration and execution integration
In addition, some lesser known but powerful TAO components include:
Object Spy: Captures object properties and metadata from SAP GUI transactions for identification of test objects
AI Assisted Testing: Auto-generates test cases using machine learning algorithms by analyzing application models and previous test scripts
IDE: Integrated development environment provides a scripting mechanism for advanced testers to build custom use case logic
Test Virtualization: Simulates constrained test environments via test stubs and test data masking for uninterrupted automation
As evident, TAO provides an integrated toolkit enabling test teams to achieve efficiency, reuse and accelerated execution. Let‘s now walk through the process of putting this into practice.
Step-by-Step Automation Lifecycle
The following workflow demonstrates end-to-end test automation using SAP TAO:
Step 1) Plan Use Case Scope
Along with business SMEs, identify key business processes for test coverage. Prioritize scenarios, transactions etc. based on criticality, frequency and change likelihood
Step 2) Setup Test Environment
Configure access to SAP GUI system for TAO. Integrate TAO with ALM project for consolidated test management.
Step 3) Inspect Transactions
Select high priority transactions in scope and inspect screens using Object Spy and AI-assisted inspection to create test components fast.
Step 4) Assemble Test Scripts
Build end-to-end automated test scripts using guided process recording and enhancement with custom logic.
Step 5) Parameterize Test Data
Externalize test inputs by extracting hard-coded values into runtime parameters. Mask/protect sensitive data.
Step 6) Execute Tests
Run automated test scripts leveraging QTP execution engine. Integrate with DevOps release pipeline.
Step 7) Analyze and Enhance
Get actionable analytics from ALM dashboard on test coverage, defect leakage information etc. to enhance test suite over multiple iterations.
These steps illustrate how SAP TAO enables accelerated creation, execution and continuous improvement of automated test scripts.
Now let‘s compare how TAO fares against other popular test automation alternatives.
How Does SAP TAO Compare to Other Test Automation Tools?
When evaluating options to automate SAP business process testing, some popular choices include Selenium, UFT and TestComplete thanks to their code-based flexibility. But how do they compare to SAP TAO?
| Test Automation Tool | SAP TAO | Selenium | UFT | TestComplete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Model-based, Low-code | Code-based scripts | Code-based scripts | Code-based scripts |
| Ease of Use | Higher | Steep learning curve | Moderate learning curve | Moderate learning curve |
| Sap Focus | Specialized for SAP | Generic web focus | Generic web focus | Generic web focus |
| Automated Component Reuse | High | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Automated Change Resilience | High | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Integrations Availability | ALM, SAP Solution Manager | Custom Integration Effort | ALM, CI/CD | Custom Integration Effort |
| Licensing Cost | High | Open Source | High | Moderate |
Key Differentiators for SAP TAO:
- Model-driven approach increases business user participation
- Unmatched SAP ecosystem focus
- Higher productivity via automated test object reuse
- Minimized maintenance overhead due to component parameterization
- Integrated with complementary SAP and HP Enterprise testing tools
So for teams needing specialized test automation across end-to-end SAP processes, SAP TAO is the recommended route.
Now let‘s analyze some real-world stats on TAO adoption…
Industry Specific SAP TAO Adoption Trends
TAO has seen rapid mainstream adoption due to its business process testing prowess. Some examples across industries:
Manufacturing
86% improvement in test cycle efficiency after TAO implementation as per research. Top use cases include quality inspection process automation and plant floor equipment IoT data validation.
Banking
Up to 45% faster time-to-market for new product releases through agile test automation of front-office and back-office banking processes using TAO. Also accelerated digital channel testing.
Retail
Automated store fulfillment process testing using TAO helped retailers enhance customer experience. 63% reduction in shipment SLA breaches observed.
Healthcare
Test automation of patient diagnosis, admissions, billing and insurance claim settlement processes using TAO drove 37% higher IT release productivity allowing healthcare providers to deliver innovation faster.
The industry-wide rapid adoption of TAO illustrates the value organizations see in the solution to enable Continuous Testing across end-to-end SAP environments given their business criticality.
Now let‘s peek into the future…
What‘s Ahead on the TAO Product Roadmap?
As per SAP‘s published roadmap, some interesting SAP TAO enhancements coming up:
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Advanced AI Capabilities: Increased RPA bot integration plus ML-based predictive test recommendation engine for optimized test coverage based on risk propensity
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Enhanced Process Insights: Discover as-is processes automatically from SAP ECC and document test coverage gaps for business teams via intuitive visual navigation
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Hybrid Cloud Testing: Seamlessly leverage on-promise and cloud-based systems of record and engagement collectively as part of integrated business process testing
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Reinforced Test Environment Virtualization: Expanding scope of test stubs, synthetic test data generation and on-demand test specific sandbox capabilities minimizing reliance on production-like environments
As is evident from these planned investments, SAP TAO continues its rapid evolution along with the innovation in SAP‘s broader solution portfolio. Next, let‘s cover how you can enable success..
Ensuring Successful Adoption
Like any enterprise-grade software solution, realizing the complete value potential from TAO requires upfront planning focus across three key dimensions – People, Process and Technology:
People
Get business and technical users trained early through SAP‘s education offerings like CXA20 – SAP Test Acceleration and Optimization. Courses provide extensive hands-on exposure on all aspects from installation to scripting.
Processes
Define a clear testing methodology and fitment strategy for TAO aligned to overall Continuous Testing vision spanning test types like UI, performance etc. Integrate with upstream traceability solutions and downstream DevOps release management solutions.
Technology
Setup the supporting integration ecosystem with SAP S/4HANA, HP ALM, LeanFT, Solution Manager 7.2 etc. Activate functionality like AI-Assisted Testing, Virtualization etc. for advanced use cases.
Using services from SAP implementation partners can help execute on these focus areas effectively.
Now over to you as you get started with SAP TAO!
Conclusion
As complex enterprise business processes continue to move to SAP S/4HANA and next-generation SAP platforms, having a scalable test automation strategy is key. For teams adopting SAP Solutions, TAO provides the deepest capabilities to enable Continuous Testing and accelerated release cycles.
Reviewing the components, integrated modules like AI assistance, roadmap vision indicates the solution‘s long-term viability for customers despite changes in technology. However do account for upfront efforts needed in skills, integration and methodology definition to realize the full RoI over the transformation journey.
Here‘s wishing you the very best!