Successful implementation and testing of ERP, HR and payroll applications worldwide

International IT service provider

This international IT service provider helps organizations manage and transform their businesses by harnessing the power of technology. The right technology is key to success, as technological innovations increasingly shape how professionals work and live around the world. The provider focuses on four core areas: strategy and transformation, applications and technology, engineering, and business operations. To support organizations globally, the company operates local chapters in more than 50 countries.

International standardization of IT processes and applications

To better support customers across diverse sectors, the IT service provider is implementing new applications for all employees worldwide as part of the Group Transformation Agenda (GTA). The primary objective is to achieve international standardization of the application landscape and related processes. When employees across different countries work in the same way, they can collaborate more efficiently, share knowledge more effectively, and ultimately deliver better service to customers. Additionally, centralized IT management becomes faster and more efficient when everyone uses the same technology.

Global testing of ERP, HR and payroll applications

The IT service provider sought a partner to implement and test three new applications under the Group Transformation Agenda (GTA): an ERP application for time registration, an SAP module for HR, recruitment, and onboarding, and an AFAS payroll solution. The chosen test partner needed to validate both the standard packages and the localized custom components of these applications across all global branches. Many departments operate under local laws and regulations, which require distinct workflows. As a result, several local GTA applications include custom functionalities. Finally, the test partner was also responsible for ensuring seamless integration of the new applications with existing systems.

Sogeti as a strategic test partner

The IT service provider selected Sogeti as its testing partner, primarily due to Sogeti’s extensive expertise in software testing. As a thought leader in the field and the owner of TMAP®, Sogeti has deep knowledge of how to test and integrate both standard application packages and custom functionalities. Notably, Sogeti has developed a specialized method for SAP testing: TMAP®, Quality Engineering for SAP. Another key factor in the decision was Sogeti’s ability to provide localized support across the globe, ensuring consistent quality and collaboration at every site.

Risk Based Testing for efficient and targeted software quality

How can we maximize testing efforts and deliver high-quality applications in the shortest possible time? To achieve this, Sogeti adopted a Risk-Based Testing approach. In collaboration with the organization, Sogeti identified the most business-critical processes and applications, assigning testing priority accordingly. The prioritization was guided by the formula: Risk = Probability of Failure × Impact. This helped determine the optimal testing sequence for each application. To ensure seamless integration with the existing IT landscape, Sogeti also conducted end-to-end testing. For instance, the HR application was tested across the entire employee lifecycle—from hiring to retirement.

Three IT benefits of standardized testing and management

Sogeti’s approach to testing the three GTA applications delivers four clear IT advantages.
One of the most significant benefits is increased organizational flexibility.

For example, the IT service provider can now easily scale operations to regions like India when needed, thanks to standardized systems and processes.

• First and foremost, all stakeholders—both Sogeti’s testing professionals and the local IT staff of the service provider—can collaborate more effectively on developing and optimizing applications. This is because they all follow a consistent approach. The result is more efficient and comprehensive testing.

• Secondly, testers around the world can share insights and best practices with one another, which enhances both testing quality and application performance. Standardization also enables smarter management: many application updates or regression tests now only need to be executed once across all international departments. This results in significant time and cost savings, along with improved test quality.
• Finally, the IT organization has become more flexible, enabling the IT service provider to easily scale operations to regions like India when needed.

Business benefits of unified IT systems and application quality

Based on the test results, the IT service provider can further enhance the quality of its applications. The outcome? More user-friendly solutions that seamlessly align with local business processes and existing systems. Since end users across the globe work with the same systems in the same way, they can collaborate more effectively and leverage each other’s knowledge and expertise. Ultimately, this enables the IT service provider to better serve customers worldwide and support them in their technological transformation.