Testing Strategy for S/4HANA
A structured testing approach is critical for S/4HANA success. Learn how to plan, execute, and automate testing across all phases of your transition.
test phases
automation target
cutover rehearsals
UAT pass rate for go-live
Test Phases
Unit Testing
During Build
Validate individual components work as designed. Focus on custom code, BAdIs, user exits, and configuration settings.
Integration Testing
Post-Build
Verify end-to-end process flows across modules. Test interfaces with external systems and middleware.
System Testing
Pre-UAT
Execute complete business scenarios including exception handling and negative testing.
User Acceptance Testing
4-6 weeks pre-go-live
Business users validate system meets requirements. Sign-off required for go-live.
Performance Testing
Parallel to UAT
Validate system performance under expected and peak loads. Identify bottlenecks.
Cutover Testing
2-4 weeks pre-go-live
Rehearse complete cutover process including data migration, system configuration, and go-live activities.
Test Data Management
Data Strategies
- Production Copy:Full or partial copy with data masking
- Synthetic Generation:Tool-generated realistic test data
- Subset Extraction:Slice of production for specific scenarios
- Manual Creation:Hand-crafted for edge cases
Data Masking Requirements
- ●Personal identifiable information (PII)
- ●Financial account numbers
- ●Customer names and addresses
- ●Employee salary and HR data
- ●Vendor banking details
- ●Credit card and payment data
GDPR/Privacy: Ensure test data complies with data protection regulations. Never use unmasked production data in non-production systems.
Test Automation
Automation Strategy
Regression test automation target
Time to build automation suite
ROI on automation investment
Automation Tools
Tricentis Tosca
EnterpriseModel-based test automation with SAP-specific connectors
SAP Solution Manager
SAP NativeTest Suite and Change Impact Analysis
Worksoft Certify
EnterpriseCodeless automation for SAP processes
Selenium + SAP GUI Scripting
Open SourceCustom automation framework
Panaya
CloudChange impact analysis and test recommendations
SAP Cloud ALM
SAP NativeCloud-based test management for S/4HANA Cloud
Defect Management
Severity Classification
Go-Live Defect Criteria
- 0 Critical defectsMandatory
- 0 High defects without workaroundMandatory
- <5 High defects with workaroundRecommended
- <20 Medium defectsRecommended
- All deferred defects documentedMandatory
Go-Live Readiness Criteria
Testing Checkpoints
- UAT sign-off from all business owners
- All critical business processes tested
- Performance tests meet SLA requirements
- Security penetration testing complete
- Integration tests pass with all external systems
- Cutover rehearsal successful (2+ times)
- Rollback procedure tested and documented
Supporting Documentation
- Test summary report with pass/fail metrics
- Defect status report and closure plan
- Performance test results and baselines
- User training completion records
- Cutover runbook with timing estimates
- Support team readiness confirmation
- Hypercare plan and escalation matrix
Related Resources
Last Updated
January 1, 2026
Information based on publicly available SAP documentation and industry sources. For the latest details, consult SAP official materials or qualified partners.