Introduction: The Cost of Manual Testing
Every SAP change triggers risk. Automation limits it while accelerating delivery.
Manually testing SAP changes remains one of the largest hidden costs in IT operations. Each release or maintenance fix requires regression testing to ensure that no dependent processes break. Yet manual execution consumes weeks of effort — testers repeat the same scenarios with minimal reuse or visibility into coverage. Meanwhile, the project backlog grows, and teams delay go-live dates to finish validation.
Automation solves this challenge, but traditional test automation tools have struggled to keep up with SAP’s complexity. High script maintenance and low resilience to UI or configuration changes limit adoption. The new generation of SAP testing — powered by model-based automation — changes that equation.
Every SAP change triggers risk. Automation limits it while accelerating delivery.
Why Incremental Testing No Longer Works
Manual testing slows change and still misses risk.
Even small SAP updates can affect hundreds of processes, from Finance and Logistics to custom developments. Manual regression cycles typically cover only a fraction of these. Because testing happens late, issues are discovered close to go-live, forcing rework and delay. Agile teams lose velocity, and release frequency drops.
Without automation, organizations are forced to choose between coverage and speed — a tradeoff that limits innovation and drives up cost.
Manual testing slows change and still misses risk.
From Reactive to Proactive: Testing as Part of the Pipeline
Automated testing runs continuously, not just before go-live.
- Model-based automation: Tools like Tricentis Tosca create resilient test cases that adapt to SAP UI changes and require minimal maintenance.
- End-to-end coverage: SAP GUI, Fiori, and API testing can be combined in the same automation flow.
- Shift-left validation: Testing starts in development and continues through integration, enabling faster feedback and earlier defect detection.
- Continuous execution: Tests run automatically with each transport or deployment, giving instant insight into system stability.
This proactive model turns testing from a project bottleneck into a continuous assurance layer that supports agile delivery.
Automated testing runs continuously, not just before go-live.
Agility with Integration: Automation that Feeds Results Across Platforms
Automation connects directly to Jira, Azure DevOps, and SAP Cloud ALM.
When testing results feed directly into the same platforms managing SAP changes — Jira, Azure DevOps, or Cloud ALM — quality metrics become part of every sprint. Defects are linked to stories, test evidence is attached to approvals, and teams make release decisions with real-time data.
CoreALM connectors unify this process, ensuring that automation is not a separate activity but an integrated element of SAP change governance.
Automation connects directly to Jira, Azure DevOps, and SAP Cloud ALM.
Demonstrating Value: Measuring Return on Automation
Test automation pays for itself faster than you expect.
A mature SAP test automation practice reduces manual regression effort by up to 90%. Over time, that means:
- Testing cycles shrink from weeks to hours.
- Defect leakage into production decreases dramatically.
- Teams release more frequently with confidence.
- Auditors gain complete visibility through stored execution evidence.
ROI appears within the first few sprints. As automated coverage grows, organizations free up testing capacity to focus on innovation, process optimization, and user experience.
Test automation pays for itself faster than you expect.
Conclusion: Faster, Safer SAP Delivery at Scale
Test automation is not just about efficiency — it’s the foundation of agile SAP delivery. By integrating tools like Tricentis Tosca into CoreALM’s change governance and connecting them to Jira, Azure DevOps, and SAP Cloud ALM, organizations eliminate testing bottlenecks, improve coverage, and accelerate time to value.
With the right strategy, SAP testing transforms from a reactive control into a proactive enabler of continuous change. The result is rapid ROI, reduced risk, and confidence in every release.
