Worksoft Certify from Worksoft is an “automated functional testing platform for SAP”. What is unique about Worksoft Certify is that users can create automation without any script or code. Worksoft Certify is very tightly integrated with SAP. The alternative to using Worksoft is using tools like HP’s QTP or IBM’s Rational Functional Tester.
The only action that users take when creating automation in Worksoft is to identify the fields used to enter data or user actions, e.g., a checkbox. Note that this is not like the mainstream record and playback technology. The result of such ‘recording’ is a set of steps. Each step has a ‘narrative’. For example, “Input the value ‘OR’ into the order type CtextField”. Note that this is presented in language which can be understood by a non-technical business user.
Worksoft also provides some related products which are interesting.
- Worksoft Data allows users to use data which is very close to actual data. It allows you to copy data from one SAP system to another. They key here is the tight integration with SAP and shielding users from technical details.
- Worksoft Impact is another key software. One of the challenges in automation is to make sure that the changes in the software don’t ‘break’ the scripts. Worksoft completely avoids this problem. It helps analyze the changes in the implementation and highlights which tests are impacted. It presents the changes in language which can be understood by the end user.
Here is some of the motivation for Worksoft’s approach:
- “You don’t write code to test code”
- Allows business analysts and users to ‘test’ the software
- Avoids the ‘tedium’ of manual testing
Worksoft claims that users can easily automate 80-85% of their manual tests. Software upgrades are completed rapidly, 1-2 days, compared to weeks.
Here are a few more features worth highlighting:
- Worksoft works with SAP on multiple platforms.
- Worksoft Certify can be used from SAP’s Solution manager
- Worksoft Certify can be used along with SAP’s Business Process Change analyzer
- Compared to BPCA Worksoft provides guidance on changes at a higher level.
In the last few years there has been a huge focus on agile development and a focus on automation. In software testing communities testers seem resigned to the fact that automation is an essential skill for testers. The automation I am referring to is using scripting languages like Ruby, Python and tools like Watir, Selenium. Note also that this is probably more prevalent in software product companies, rather than enterprise IT departments. Given this environment, Worksoft has created a unique product which is focused on solving an important business problem. I don’t think this will or can change any of the development and testing practices in other industries. However, testers should be aware of this unique solution.
