SAP Cloud ALM opens up a chance for businesses to fine-tune their testing strategies and smoothly make the leap to the cloud. It offers diverse of features and functionalities—from planning tests to analyzing results—all aimed to provide agility and simplicity and making business processes smoother. However, one of the main questions is, what features does SAP Cloud ALM for Test Management have to offer?

To answer this question, we will explore the three stages of the test flow as outlined by the SAP Activate Methodology in the next sections. These stages include Test Strategy Definition, Test Planning and Preparation, and Test Execution. Based on that, I will address how SAP Cloud ALM aligns with these processes and enhances them by highlighting the benefits it brings.

Test Strategy Definition:

In this initial phase, as a test manager you play a major role in ensuring that all essential testing assets available. This process starts with tool selection, determining how testing will be executed (manual or automated), reporting on test progress and managing necessary corrections or enhancements.

Test Planning and Preparation:

Once the test strategy is outlined and the supporting tools are selected, the focus changes to planning and preparing for the actual testing actvities. So which lead us to the question

What are the benefits of SAP Cloud ALM in the test preparation?

Here is a breakdown of some advantages:

Process-Oriented:

• Based on Business Processes: Tailored to the specific needs and workflows of the organization.
• Derive Structure from Process Flows: Ensuring that it is closely aligned with the logical sequence of activities.

Straightforward:

• Step-Based Approach: SAP Cloud ALM adopts a step-based approach, simplifying the user experience and making it easy to follow and execute tasks. This approach enhances user understanding and efficiency.
• Rich Text Support: The platform supports rich text, providing users with the flexibility to include detailed information, documentation, and contextual content, enhancing the clarity of communication and documentation.

SAP and Non-SAP:

• Simple Concepts: SAP Cloud ALM embraces simplicity in its concepts, making it user-friendly and accessible. The platform’s design ensures that users, regardless of their familiarity with SAP or non-SAP environments, can easily comprehend and navigate its features.
• No Complexity Overhead: Users experience minimal complexity overhead when working with SAP Cloud ALM, whether dealing with SAP-specific processes or non-SAP environments. The platform’s simplicity contributes to a seamless and efficient user experience.

Test Execution

Now, we come to the next question: What does SAP Cloud ALM deliver regarding Test Execution?

In addressing this, let’s explore the notable benefits that the Test Execution in SAP Cloud ALM offers, as illustrated in the figure below:

Simple and Efficient:

• Checklist-oriented: Test Execution in SAP Cloud ALM follows a checklist-oriented approach, making it straightforward and easy to navigate.
• Based on instructions and expected results: Test scenarios are designed with clear instructions and expected outcomes, enhancing the efficiency of the testing process.
• Collaborative: The platform facilitates collaboration among team members, allowing seamless communication and coordination during the test execution phase.

Agile:

• Test as early as possible in the development lifecycle: SAP Cloud ALM encourages early testing in the development lifecycle, aligning with agile methodologies and promoting the identification of issues at an early stage.
• Agile integration (on the roadmap): The platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with agile development processes, ensuring alignment with agile principles and practices.

Simple Reporting:

• Overall test status: SAP Cloud ALM provides a simplified reporting for tracking the overall status of tests, allowing project contributors to stay informed.
• Test execution progress: Detailed progress reports are available, providing insights into the execution status of individual tests, helping teams stay informed about the testing progress.
• Test plan reporting (planned): Planned features include comprehensive test plan reporting, offering a view of the test plan’s status and outcomes.

By speaking of the test execution, we should not forget to mention the defect management.

As illustrated in the figure above, a defect is generated and allocated to a team, role or to the defect processor. The assigned processor receives a notification regarding their defect assignment. Subsequently the processor changes the status of the defect to “In Progress. After this step, the processor analyzes and resolves the issue outlined in the defect. Upon resolving the defect, the processor updates the status to “Retest Required” and reassigns it to the reporter. The reporter is promptly informed of the defect and responsible for conducting a retest using the Test Execution App. Once the retest results are affirmative and the issue has been successfully resolved, the defect status should be set to “Closed”.

This systematic Defect Workflow ensures a structured and efficient process for identifying, addressing, and validating the resolution of defects within SAP Cloud ALM.

Outlook:

Based on the Roadmap Explorer (https://roadmaps.sap.com/welcome) here are some features SAP Cloud ALM will provide in Q1 2024.

Document-based test cases:

• create document-based test cases for manual test execution.
• Integrate test cases with solution documentation.

Extended relations from feature to defect

• Link existing defects to features and features to defects.
• Create defects from features.

Integration of test planning in projects

• Leverage a new task type for test planning.
• Link test plans to the new task type to reflect status, start and end date, and assignee within the project plan and Gantt chart.

Mass upload of test cases

• Upload of multiple test cases in one file.
• Creation of new test cases from file upload.

Support of test sequences in test plans:

• Define sequences in test plans for the execution of test cases.

For additional information:

Introducing SAP Cloud ALM for Implementations

SAP Cloud ALM Das umfassende Handbuch