A Case study on building a Test Automation Framework for a Mobile software". The ERP application developed by our Customer was both mobile and browser compatible. A hybrid Test Automation Framework was developed to address the Software Testing needs involving both Mobile and Browser interfaces in the same workflow. Selenium and Appium tools were used.
2. Application under consideration
A Distribution Management System that is part of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) involving order
processing ecosystem connecting Producer to Distributor and Retail stores in merchandise trade
predominantly into apparels. Available with Web based and Mobile application front-ends.
3. Features of the Application
➢ Application is a DMS [Distribution Management System] with 3 levels of sale; viz. Primary, secondary,
tertiary. Has sales, stock modules.
➢ Mobile channel: It was a native app delivering solutions in Demand Chain Execution space covering –
Sales Influencing, Demand Fulfilment and Delivery Optimization, ensuring best in class Sales
Management, Order Taking, Direct Store Delivery, Merchandizing and Delivery functionalities using
optimization algorithms to provide fast and efficient supply.
➢ It Encompassed the space of Demand Chain Execution with solutions covering Sales force
effectiveness, Secondary sales execution and delivery optimization
➢ There were features available on android mobile which are on field data capture or transactions
which are real-time or offline (later integrated). Plan was on to make available on iOS
➢ For web based interface, only chrome browser was supported.
4. Trigger for Automation
➢ There were quarterly Planned Software releases to address defects and enhancements. Even if the
release had few modifications, the Manual Testing of the release including the Regression Testing
was consuming lot of effort and time. While meeting the release dates, the testing used to be
curtailed resulting in release of partially tested product.
➢ Mobile application being newly built, compounded the problem of inability to produce clean
releases
➢ End to End test cycle covering both mobile devices and Browser interfaces was growing (Around
600 test case per device)
➢ Manual Testing was prone to errors due to repeating same tests on Multiple Mobile OS and
Multiple Browsers
➢ In addition, Multi-country (localization) tests were also increasing due to implementation of system
across geographies
5. Our Solution Architecture
➢ Hybrid test automation framework to address both browser and mobile app interface
seamlessly
➢ Dynamic selection of test candidates (application areas) for execution was facilitated
➢ Robust design for future enhancements (scalability)
➢ Use of open source tools to reduce TCO.
➢ Accordingly framework built in Appium (it supported both Android and iOS interface),
Selenium (java based) using JavaScript and Database interface (instead of Spreadsheet)
using python. Database interface ensured that the automation was faster
➢ To provide technical documentation for incorporation of new test cases into framework
6. Test Automation Engineering
➢ Several Automation methodologies like Page Object Model, Data Driven Approach were evaluated.
Considering size of automation, Data Driven Approach was adopted
➢ Design to ensure adaptability to all leading Desktop OS browsers (Edge, Firefox, Chrome) and Mobile
OS viz. iOS, Android
➢ Advised a disciplined approach of development to make uniform UI interface
➢ Redefining expected outcome of tests to suit automation needs
➢ Successful tests adapted for automation
➢ Database storage instead of traditional approach of Spreadsheet for storing test data. Due to
database usage, speed of automation increased.
7. Outcome
➢ Hybrid test automation framework to address both browser and mobile app interface seamlessly
➢ Browsers Covered
▪ IE
▪ Firefox
▪ Chrome
➢ Mobile devices Covered
▪ iOS (v9.x)
▪ Android v6.x
▪ Android v8.x
➢ Country-specific (localization) tests
➢ Scalability to add new tests
➢ User Friendly interface to store test attributes in database
8. Return on Investment - 1
➢ As Freeware tools were used for automation, there was no investment on automation tools
➢ The framework provided to easily add New feature Tests needing no automation
enhancements
➢ 95% of tests automated as against the industry std recommendation of 85-90% possible
automatable tests
95%
85%
5%
15%
Actual achieved Industry std
%geofTestsAutomated
9. Return on Investment - 2
➢ Testing effort in each release is drastically reduced. One-time investment made for test
automation will be recovered in testing 2-3 releases, after which, it is free.
Automated Test EffortManual Test Effort
10. Return on Investment - 3
➢ Every release is 100% regression tested thus improving confidence in the product and
reducing instances of production defects
➢ Faster execution of tests and nightly execution (more than 70% reduction in Testing
schedule) enabled more time for developers to fix the defects and ensured timely market
release
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Automation Testing
Manual Testing
Development Testing Fix & Release
Product Development
Product Development
Testing (regression + new features)
Testing (regression +
new features)
Elapsed Time (Calendar Days)
Very less/no
window to fix
the defects
within release
date
Completely
Tested and bug
free Product
delivered ahead
of time.
11. Thank you!
Oak Systems Pvt. Ltd.
#27, NGEF Lane, Off 100 Feet Road,
Indira Nagar, Bengaluru – 560 038, INDIA
Tel : +91-80-4126 7681
Email: contact@oaksys.net
URL: www.oaksys.net
We add value through engagement