Top 5 SAP Testing Tools of 2024

SAP applications are the backbone of most large enterprises, powering essential business functions like finance, supply chain, and manufacturing.

In fact, SAP reports that a staggering 77% of the world's transaction revenue touches an SAP system. This gives you an idea of the scale and criticality of the processes running through SAP.

Given SAP's central role, ensuring these systems run smoothly is key to maintaining business continuity, and that's where SAP testing tools come in—they help identify and resolve issues before they impact your operations.

In this blog, we'll explore the SAP applications landscape, explore the challenges of testing SAP, and review the top SAP testing tools for 2024.

Skip ahead to:

SAP applications overview
The main challenges when testing SAP
Criteria for evaluating SAP testing tools
Top 5 SAP testing tools of 2024
Conclusion

SAP applications overview

SAP's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform is a powerhouse designed to support the world's largest organizations. According to SAP data, 99% of the largest companies in the world are SAP customers.

Originally built to streamline and integrate core business processes, SAP has evolved into a comprehensive suite that connects with numerous external applications, creating a complex IT landscape. SAP applications manage critical processes across finance (SAP S/4HANA Finance), supply chain (SAP Integrated Business Planning), manufacturing (SAP Manufacturing Execution), and human resources (SAP SuccessFactors).

The interconnectedness of SAP apps makes cross-technology and end-to-end (E2E) testing essential. Effective SAP testing tools must, therefore, not only address SAP-specific challenges but also ensure seamless integration and operation across all connected systems.

The main challenges when testing SAP

Testing SAP systems presents several challenges due to the platform's infinite scale and complexity. 

SAP's deep integration with other applications means that thorough end-to-end testing is imperative to ensure that changes in one system don't negatively impact others or disrupt key business processes.

Here is a summary of the top challenges when testing SAP:

1. Complexity and customization: SAP implementations are highly customized, with each organization tailoring the system to its specific needs. This customization adds complexity to the testing process, as standard test cases may not be sufficient.
2. Interconnected systems: SAP systems often interface with other applications. Testing must account for these integrations to ensure that changes in one system do not disrupt others.
3. Large-scale projects: SAP upgrades and transformations, such as the migration to SAP S/4HANA, are significant undertakings. Testing in these environments must be thorough to prevent disruptions and delays during such large-scale changes.
4. Regulatory compliance: Many industries using SAP, like finance, life sciences, and healthcare, operate under strict regulatory requirements. Testing must ensure that all compliance-related functionalities are thoroughly vetted.
5. User interface variability: With the transition from the traditional SAP GUI to the modern SAP Fiori interface, testing must cover multiple user experiences, adding another layer of complexity.
6. Limitations of certain tools: While SAP offers some native testing tools, such as SAP Solution Manager and Component-Based Test Automation (CBTA), these tools have limitations. They can be complex, difficult to use, and may not fully support end-to-end testing across all integrations and platforms. As a result, many organizations find it challenging to rely solely on these tools, leading them to seek more robust, user-friendly testing solutions from third-party vendors.

Criteria for evaluating SAP testing tools

There are many useful criteria to look at when evaluating SAP testing tools. Perhaps the most important one is compatibility. If the majority of your users are using SAP desktop GUI, then the testing tool needs to be able to leverage this technology. This would rule out a host of tools limited to testing across web browsers.

Here is a summary of the main criteria for evaluating SAP testing tools:

1. Integration with SAP technology: The tool should seamlessly integrate with SAP Solution Manager (SolMan) or CloudALM to manage the software delivery lifecycle effectively.
2. Ease of use: The testing tool should offer a user-friendly interface and straightforward setup to reduce the learning curve and accelerate adoption and ROI.
3. Cross-technology support: The tool should handle not only SAP-specific testing but also the broader IT landscape, including integrations with non-SAP applications.
4. Automation capabilities: Strong automation features are crucial, especially for repetitive tasks like regression testing.
5. Scalability: The tool must be able to scale with the organization’s needs, supporting large volumes of test cases and steps without compromising performance.

Related reading: SAP Regression Testing: What, Why and How

Top 5 SAP testing tools of 2024

Choosing the right SAP testing tool is crucial for ensuring the efficiency and reliability of your SAP environment. 

Below, we highlight five leading tools, each with its unique strengths in automation, cross-technology support, and integration with SAP systems, to help you find the best fit for your testing requirements.

• Leapwork stands out for its ease of use, offering a no-code interface that simplifies test automation for a broad range of users. It supports both SAP and non-SAP applications for end-to-end testing, and its deep integration with SAP technologies and direct support makes it a good choice for enterprise organizations.

• Tricentis Tosca is known for its SAP automation capabilities, making it suitable for managing complex SAP environments. It integrates seamlessly with SAP Solution Manager and supports cross-technology testing, but its sophisticated features may require a steeper learning curve for new users.

• Worksoft Certify is a codeless test automation tool for enterprise-packaged applications. It integrates with SAP tools, and its scalability and cross-technology support make it suitable for large enterprises with diverse IT landscapes.

• Opentext, formerly known as Micro Focus UFT One, provides comprehensive cross-technology testing capabilities, making it suitable for complex environments with both SAP and non-SAP applications. Its automation features and scalability are well-suited for large organizations, though users will require skills in VB and Javascript in order to maintain test cases.
• SmartBear TestComplete is a test automation tool for skilled technical teams with developers and test engineers. It works across various technologies, though integration with SAP SolMan might require additional configuration.

Conclusion

Finding the right SAP testing tool is crucial for ensuring the stability, efficiency, and security of your SAP environment. 

Whether you’re focused on ease of use, seamless integration, or powerful automation, the tools we’ve highlighted here are the top picks for SAP testing in 2024.

By understanding the unique challenges of SAP testing and evaluating tools based on the criteria outlined above, you can find the solution that best meets your organization’s needs.