With more companies driving cloud transformations and upgrading to modern ERPs like Microsoft Dynamics 365, test automation has become an essential way to ensure critical business processes stay reliable and efficient.
In this guide, we break down what test automation is, why it matters for organizations using modern ERPs like Microsoft Dynamics 365, and how it helps teams move faster and with more confidence.
If you are exploring automation for the first time or want a deeper understanding of how it fits into your organization, you are in the right place. We will show you how moving from manual checks to automated testing reduces risk, saves time, and helps you stay ahead of every update.
What Is Test Automation?
Test automation is a software testing approach where automated tools perform a set of pre-defined tests or actions on an application to quickly verify its functionality before release, minimizing the need for manual testing.
In simple terms, it means using software to test software. Automated tests handle repetitive checks faster and more consistently than manual testing, freeing up your team to focus on higher-value work.
While manual testing is still important for exploratory checks or unique scenarios, automation takes care of the heavy lifting that slows teams down.
Do I Still Need Manual Testing if I Automate My Testing?
Yes. Manual and automated testing work best together. They are complementary, not replacements for each other.
Automated testing is excellent for repetitive, large-scale, and business-critical validations. It ensures your core processes continue to work smoothly after updates, like those frequently pushed by Microsoft Dynamics 365.
However, manual testing remains essential for areas where human judgment, flexibility, and creativity matter most. The insight that people provide when manually exploring workflows or catching subtle usability issues is irreplaceable and critical for a complete quality strategy.
As TheTestMart’s Chief Product and Technical Officer, Matthew Sabath, puts it: “Automation should empower people, not replace them. When humans and automation work together, one person can do the work of many, without losing the critical insight that only people can provide.”
Why Is Test Automation Important?
Updates, new features, and customizations keep your ERP system secure and competitive, but they also introduce risk. Even small changes can impact financial postings, integrations, or supply chain workflows.
Automated testing helps you catch issues early before they disrupt operations or reach your end users. It reduces last-minute surprises and allows you to adopt updates on schedule without compromising stability.
Organizations that invest in automation see faster, more predictable release cycles and fewer production issues. JMP Equipment Company shared in their story that automation helped them adopt Microsoft updates on time and improve team confidence in each deployment.
Automation also strengthens compliance and audit readiness by providing clear, automated evidence that your processes work as intended. It builds trust with IT, business teams, and leadership by proving updates can move forward without putting operations at risk.
What Types of Tests Can Be Automated?
Automated testing covers multiple types of tests to protect every layer of your system:
Unit tests check that individual areas of an application work correctly on their own.
Integration tests ensure your application connects and works properly with other systems or external services.
End-to-end tests confirm that complete, real-world process flows (like order to cash) work as intended from start to finish.
Performance tests ensure the system stays stable under heavy loads and peak usage.
Regression tests check that existing features continue to work after changes or updates.
When identifying strong candidates for automation, focus on these three areas:
Stable and predictable functionalities, which change infrequently and can be reliably automated.
Repetitive and time-consuming tests, which drain resources and are prone to human error.
High-risk and critical business functions, where failures would cause significant operational or financial impact.
Is Test Automation Hard or Expensive to Implement?
Many organizations think automation is too complex or too costly to get started. That perception comes from the early days when automation required heavy coding and specialized skills that only a few IT team members had.
Today, no-code tools and prebuilt test libraries make automation far more accessible and practical for organizations of all sizes.
The initial investment pays off quickly by saving time, reducing the risk that comes with new updates pushed from Microsoft, and avoiding operational disruptions.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that relying on manual testing alone also carries a cost. Not just in time and resources, but in delayed updates, increased errors, and higher long-term risk. As we shared in The Hidden Costs of Manual Testing, these hidden drawbacks often end up being more expensive and disruptive than organizations expect.
Why Automated Testing Matters for Dynamics 365
Microsoft’s One Version model means updates are mandatory and delivered on a set schedule. While organizations can still choose when to take certain updates within a limited window, they have far less flexibility than before and must stay current to remain supported and secure.
Even small changes can disrupt critical processes like financial postings, supply chain flows, and integrations if not thoroughly tested. This is why regression testing is not optional. It is a critical requirement with every update.
Automated testing ensures your core business processes continue to work as expected after each update. It helps you stay on track with Microsoft’s One Version cadence, minimize downtime, and adopt updates without putting your business at risk.
How TheTestMart Helps
At TheTestMart, we believe testing should empower business users, not burden them with complex tools built for developers.
Our platform provides a seamless experience designed to help teams validate critical workflows without needing to write code or rely on IT resources.
With prebuilt test libraries maintained in line with every Microsoft release, your team can skip the heavy lift of scripting and maintenance. We handle execution and updates for you so you can focus on your business instead of chasing broken processes.
Key advantages include:
No developers needed. Business users can easily digitize and validate workflows.
Zero in-house QA overhead. We manage everything for you.
Lower total cost. Eliminate hidden expenses from manual test maintenance and rework.
Expert oversight. Every test is validated to reduce errors and avoid retests.
Our platform combines intuitive recording, automated test execution, and real-time analytics to give your team confidence in every release, minimize downtime, and support safer, more reliable updates.
Automated testing is not just a technical upgrade. It is a strategic investment that supports stability, faster innovation, and business confidence.
As more organizations move to the cloud and push forward with digital transformation, reliable and scalable testing has become essential to keep pace with updates and protect critical processes.
Whether you are just starting or looking to strengthen your current strategy, investing in automated testing empowers your team to move faster, reduce risk, and focus on what drives your business forward.
How to handle test maintenance across Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O updates without starting from scratch.
Every month, Microsoft pushes proactive quality updates that include bug fixes and performance improvements. In addition, major service updates are delivered quarterly, with two of them required for organizations to take each year.
These service updates may introduce new features, interface changes, or deprecated elements. While Microsoft designs updates to avoid breaking existing configurations, they can still disrupt business workflows, key processes, or brittle automated tests.
If you’re using the Regression Suite Automation Tool (RSAT), relying on manual testing, or working with a third-party platform, test breakage and maintenance remain a constant challenge.
At TheTestMart, we hear questions like these all the time:
“Do we have to rebuild our tests every time there’s a UI or logic change?”
“How do we keep up with Microsoft’s upgrade release cadence”
“How can we reduce the cost of test maintenance?
The good news: Test automation doesn’t have to collapse when Microsoft moves fast.
Why Test Maintenance Is a Top Concern for D365 Teams
Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations allows for customization to meet specific business needs, which offers valuable flexibility but also introduces challenges for test stability. That flexibility is great for tailoring business workflows, but it also introduces challenges for test stability. Even small updates to forms, fields, labels, or business logic can cause tests to fail unnecessarily. The result is delays, false positives, and frustrated teams.
The more customized your environment is, the harder it becomes to rely on one-size-fits-all tools like RSAT. These tools tend to be brittle and require significant effort to maintain.
Microsoft does perform internal testing before releasing updates, but they cannot account for every customer’s unique configuration or environment. Most deployments include extensions, integrations, or custom logic that go far beyond Microsoft’s default test coverage.
“Microsoft does regression testing, but the data composition, specific customer configurations, and unique extensions mean customers must perform their own regression testing in their own environment”
What Test Automation Should Look Like for D365
To be effective, test automation in a Dynamics 365 environment should offer:
Environment-aware execution that supports sandbox, UAT, and test environment flows
Built-in audit trails and reporting for compliance and validation
Centralized test management to track what breaks and why
No-code test creation for easier updates
Service-backed support to keep your test suite healthy
This is especially important given Microsoft’s One Version policy, which ensures all customers are on the same version. That makes timely, reliable test maintenance critical.
How TheTestMart Solves This
TheTestMart was purpose-built for Microsoft D365 ERP environments. Our platform and team:
Maintain and update your test cases as part of our service
Use intelligent test design to minimize brittleness
Support D365 applications such as Finance & Operations, Customer Engagement, and POS
Keep your tests in sync with Microsoft’s update cadence
Help you prioritize what to test, and when
You don’t need to hire more engineers to keep up with Microsoft’s updates. You need a solution that does the heavy lifting for you.
What This Means for Your Team
With TheTestMart, test maintenance fades into the background instead of becoming a roadblock. Rather than rebuilding test cases from scratch, your QA and IT teams can stay focused on delivering value.
No more last-minute scrambling. No more brittle test scripts. Just clean, stable, automated testing.
Not sure where to start with test automation in D365?
Let’s talk through your use case and we’ll map out a practical path forward.
What it means for your business and how to stay ready for every update
If your organization runs Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, you’re likely already working within Microsoft’s managed update model known as One Version. This model defines how and when updates are delivered and ensures all F&O customers stay current with Microsoft’s latest features and security improvements.
This article focuses specifically on the One Version update lifecycle for Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. While Dynamics 365 Business Central follows a different update process, we will briefly outline its cadence for comparison — particularly as both platforms require disciplined testing strategies to stay ahead of change.
What Is the One Version Model?
Microsoft’s One Version model is a unified release approach designed to keep all Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations apps running on the latest version of the product.
Instead of delivering large version upgrades every few years, Microsoft now pushes regular quarterly service updates and twice-yearly feature updates that all customers must adopt. It is a shift to a cloud-first model where software evolves continuously, not in large jumps.
The goal is to keep every customer current, secure, and able to take advantage of the latest capabilities without major disruption.
How the One Version Update Schedule Works in Finance and Operations
Microsoft follows a predictable quarterly update schedule for Finance and Operations, helping organizations stay aligned with the latest features, performance improvements, and security enhancements.
Quarterly Releases: Updates are delivered in February, April, July, and October.
Update Requirements: Customers must take at least two updates per year and may pause one update at a time.
Each service update includes performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features that help your system stay secure, compliant, and aligned with Microsoft’s evolving roadmap.
Flexible Auto-Update Windows: Each release offers two auto-update windows, spaced four weeks apart. If no action is taken, Microsoft will apply the update automatically.
Organizations are strongly encouraged to validate updates in sandbox environments early using realistic data and real-world processes. This is the most effective way to identify and resolve issues before they affect your production systems.
Microsoft’s Targeted Release Schedule for Finance and Operations in 2025 and 2026. Dates subject to change. Photo source: Microsoft
What About Proactive Quality Updates?
As part of the One Version approach, Microsoft also releases Proactive Quality Updates, or PQUs. These monthly updates are automatically applied to all Dynamics 365 applications and are a required part of the platform’s lifecycle.
Unlike other updates, PQUs cannot be delayed or opted out of. Every organization using Dynamics 365 is automatically enrolled and receives these updates according to Microsoft’s published schedule.
To give teams time to prepare, Microsoft provides early access to each PQU in sandbox environments roughly one week before it is applied to production. This allows customers to run targeted tests and confirm that key processes still perform as expected.
While PQUs typically contain small fixes and stability improvements rather than new features, they can still affect workflows or integrations. Proactive testing remains important to avoid disruption.
Although not part of the One Version model, Dynamics 365 Business Central also follows a consistent update pattern that requires attention and preparation.
Wave Releases: Microsoft delivers two major updates per year, known as Wave 1 (April) and Wave 2 (October). These include significant functional, performance, and platform enhancements.
Monthly Updates: Between waves, monthly cumulative updates provide minor improvements, bug fixes, and regulatory changes.
Testing & Release Strategy: Customers are encouraged to deploy wave updates to sandbox environments immediately, then pause production updates for up to 60 days. This allows time to test for compatibility issues, especially with ISV solutions or customizations.
Even though Business Central is not governed by One Version, the need for proactive testing and planning remains just as critical.
Why Should I Test or Care About This?
Each update may introduce:
Changes to platform behavior
New features that interact with existing customizations
Modified APIs, integrations, or business logic
Even if a change seems small, a failed posting, missed approval, or integration error can lead to serious business disruption.
Without testing, you risk:
Financial discrepancies in reporting
Delayed shipments or purchases
User confusion and escalated support tickets
Broken integrations with upstream or downstream systems
The bottom line is this: you cannot afford to skip testing, even for updates labeled as minor.
How Can I Stay Ahead and Ensure a Smooth Update Process?
Smart teams follow a simple formula:
Know the release schedule Monitor Microsoft’s targeted release calendar.
Test early in sandbox Use realistic test data and simulate key business flows.
Automate what you can Manual testing is repetitive time-consuming and difficult to scale.
Stay informed and evolve your test library As your business changes, so should your tests.
In a One Version world, automated testing is no longer optional. It is the only sustainable way to reduce risk, move quickly, and keep your systems stable.
Automated testing helps organizations:
Reduce the risk of defects by validating changes before they reach production
Shorten testing cycles from weeks to hours, making it possible to test every update thoroughly
Increase confidence in each release by consistently verifying that business-critical processes still work as expected
Lower the risk of downtime or disruption, even during back-to-back update cycles
At TheTestMart, we have built our testing platform specifically for Microsoft Dynamics 365 environments, including both Finance and Operations and Business Central. We help organizations move fast without breaking things by delivering:
A prebuilt test library across core modules like Finance, Supply Chain, and Warehouse Management
Test maintenance with every Microsoft update so your tests do not break when the platform changes
A no-code builder so analysts, not developers, can manage testing
Auto-generated documentation to support audit and training efforts
TheTestMart supports both the One Version update model for Finance and Operations and the wave-based release cycle of Business Central — with tailored testing strategies for each.
Highlights from the newest Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Release Wave 1 Update
Microsoft has officially rolled out Update 26.2 for Dynamics 365 Business Central, part of the 2025 Release Wave 1. This is a minor update following the major platform and application improvements introduced in April with Version 26.0. Update 26.2 is available as of June 2025 and includes key platform stability, performance, and compliance enhancements to keep environments secure and current.
At TheTestMart, we’re closely tracking each update cycle to help teams validate, test, and deploy changes with confidence. Here’s what you need to know about this latest release.
Update 26.2: What’s Included
According to Microsoft’s official release notes, this update contains:
Application Build: 26.2.34832
Platform Build: 26.0.34736
While no major new features were introduced, this release continues Microsoft’s emphasis on incremental improvement. You’ll find updates focused on:
Minor bug fixes across finance, warehouse, and configuration
Localization improvements for regulatory compliance
Performance optimizations in batch processing and page loading
These refinements are essential for maintaining reliability between major update waves.
Understanding the Business Central Release Cadence
Microsoft delivers two major Business Central updates per year, typically in April and October. These major updates introduce new features, architecture improvements, and usability upgrades. Each major update is followed by monthly minor updates like 26.1 and 26.2, which deliver bug fixes and optimizations without introducing breaking changes.
Recent Business Central update schedule showing application and platform builds for Release Wave 1 in 2025, including Update 26.2 released in June.
Why These “Minor” Updates Still Deserve Testing Attention
Even when no new features are introduced, minor updates can still affect core business processes. That’s why TheTestMart recommends validating every release—especially in areas like:
Workflows across finance, supply chain, or sales
Role-based permissions and user training
While preview environments are only provided for major updates, organizations can still use sandbox environments to test the impact of monthly updates like 26.2. This is especially important for customers with custom extensions or integrations.
You can manage your update timing and configuration settings in the Business Central Admin Center, where Microsoft provides controls for update deferral, scheduling, and environment setup.
TheTestMart Can Help
Whether you’re preparing for a minor patch or a full-wave upgrade, TheTestMart helps teams ensure updates don’t introduce risk. Our no-code platform automates validation and testing across Dynamics 365 environments, helping you catch issues before they impact users.
Want to talk about how we can simplify your update cycles? Contact us here to set up a quick call.
A guide for manufacturers, distributors, and ERP-driven teams running on D365
Implementing or upgrading Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a major undertaking. Whether you are a food distributor managing inventory and compliance or a manufacturer coordinating production across sites.
But no matter how much you invest in licenses, consultants, or change management, one overlooked element continues to derail go-lives and slow down digital transformation. Testing.
At TheTestMart, we have worked with dozens of teams across industries like manufacturing, logistics, and retail who struggled with quality assurance during D365 projects. Many made the same avoidable mistakes.
If your organization is using Dynamics 365 Finance, Supply Chain, or Business Central, here are the top 10 ERP testing mistakes to avoid.
1. Treating Testing as a Final Phase Instead of an Ongoing Process
ERP testing should not start three weeks before go-live. In D365, where features are updated continuously and environments are often deployed iteratively, testing needs to begin early and run in parallel with development.
Manual testing is not just time-consuming. It is unsustainable in a cloud-based environment. Dynamics 365 updates frequently, and without automation, your QA team cannot keep up with regression testing.
Impact: We have seen clients reduce test cycle time by up to 90 percent by automating core workflows.
3. Failing to Test Real-World Business Scenarios
Testing isolated modules like Accounts Payable or Sales Orders is not enough. You need full end-to-end tests for workflows like Order to Cash, Procure to Pay, or Pick Pack Ship. Especially when those workflows span multiple modules in D365.
D365 Example: Sales Order flows from D365 Commerce through to Finance and Operations. Test the entire chain, not just the forms.
4. Ignoring Integration Testing Across Systems
Most D365 deployments are not isolated. You have likely got integrations with WMS, CRM, EDI, Power Platform, or legacy systems. Not validating these connections leads to data sync issues and post-launch chaos.
Risk: A broken pricing sync or inventory integration can grind your operations to a halt.
5. Not Involving Business Users in the Testing Process
Your QA team can validate forms. But business users know what a successful workflow looks like in their department. Involving them helps catch misconfigurations and ensures usability.
Solution: TheTestMart makes it easy for business users to participate in testing. No code required.
6. Underestimating the Impact of Microsoft Updates
Microsoft pushes regular platform and service updates across D365. Without proactive regression testing, even minor changes can break customizations, workflows, or reporting logic.
Real-world example: One client’s invoice automation failed after a platform update because the updated field mapping was not caught.
7. Neglecting Data Quality in Test Environments
Testing with outdated or unrealistic data sets leads to false positives. D365 data structures are complex including ledger setups, inventory dimensions, and tax rules. They must reflect real business scenarios to test effectively.
Tip: Refresh test environments regularly and validate data inputs before running automated tests.
8. No Centralized Test Management or Documentation
Scattered Excel sheets and tribal knowledge slow everything down. Without a centralized, version-controlled test library, D365 testing becomes inconsistent and hard to scale.
Fix: Centralize your test library in a platform like TheTestMart that supports documentation, versioning, and collaboration.
9. Skipping Performance and Load Testing
D365 environments especially those supporting high-transaction volumes like retail or distribution can become unstable under load. Skipping performance testing means risking slow response times during peak operations.
Scenarios to test: Large order uploads, warehouse allocations, month-end financial posting.
10. Lacking an Automation Strategy Built for D365
Generic test automation tools often fail with D365’s UI complexity, security roles, and frequent updates. You need an ERP-specific platform that understands Dynamics objects and can evolve with Microsoft’s roadmap.
TheTestMart is purpose-built for automated Dynamics 365 testing. Fast to deploy, easy to scale, and used by manufacturers, distributors, and logistics leaders.
Final Thoughts
ERP testing is not just a technical step. It is a critical part of business readiness that directly impacts operations, compliance, and user confidence.
Avoiding these common mistakes leads to faster deployments, fewer disruptions, and a more resilient Dynamics 365 environment. Strong testing supports every department that relies on your system to function.
If your organization is working in Dynamics 365 and struggling to keep up with testing demands, TheTestMart provides automated solutions built for real-world ERP complexity. We help you reduce risk and move faster without compromising quality.
Have questions or want to explore a tailored solution? Contact TheTestMart and talk with our team.
If you are working with Microsoft Dynamics 365, you have probably asked yourself this question or heard it raised in planning meetings. Testing is always part of the process, but identifying when automated testing should become a core strategy is not always straightforward.
The Dynamics 365 environment is built around constant change. New features are released in public preview, platform upgrades are scheduled regularly, and monthly quality updates introduce improvements that require validation. For many teams, the challenge is not deciding whether automation will help, but recognizing the point at which waiting becomes the riskier path forward.
A Constant Stream of Change
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is designed for continuous evolution. Updates arrive on a fixed schedule, bringing feature enhancements, bug fixes, and performance improvements. These are valuable, but they also require organizations to consistently validate customizations, integrations, and business-critical workflows.
Over time, the burden of testing every change manually becomes unsustainable. It is not just about confirming if something works in isolation. It is about ensuring it continues to work in combination with everything else already in place.
This is where automated testing becomes essential. At TheTestMart, we have seen teams succeed when they shift from a reactive approach to one that builds automation into their delivery rhythm.
The Early Signs It Is Time to Start
Most teams do not wait until testing breaks entirely. The shift tends to happen gradually. A regression bug surfaces late in the cycle. A last-minute fix pushes a deployment. QA capacity starts to feel thin with every new release. These are not failures, but they are signals.
Teams that respond to those signals early can start small. They focus on workflows that are high risk or frequently touched. Over time, they build a foundation that scales as the product matures.
TheTestMart has profiled organizations that did just that. By identifying repeatable test cases and introducing automation early, they gained efficiency without disrupting their delivery cadence.
Automated Testing Is Not a Project. It Is a Foundation.
There is often a misconception that automated testing must be fully scoped and deployed all at once. In practice, the most successful implementations begin incrementally. Teams may start by automating login processes, pricing rules, or approval paths, and then expand as the value becomes clearer.
The benefits show up quickly. Test time is reduced. Defects are caught earlier. Confidence increases across development and QA.
Automated testing becomes more than a tool. It becomes the way a team keeps pace with a platform that does not slow down.
Manual Testing Still Matters
As much as automation improves efficiency, manual testing continues to play a critical role in a complete quality strategy. There are scenarios where human input is essential. Exploratory testing, usability reviews, and domain-specific edge cases all benefit from the intuition and perspective of experienced testers.
The goal is not to eliminate manual testing. It is to make sure that manual effort is spent where it matters most. When automation covers the repetitive and the routine, manual testing becomes more focused, strategic, and impactful.
A blended approach gives teams both scale and insight.
Ready to Start? Here Is Where to Focus
If your team is already discussing testing bottlenecks, stretching QA resources, or bracing for the next update, it may be time to take a closer look at where automation fits. But knowing where to begin can be just as important as the decision to start.
Teams that succeed in high-change environments like Dynamics 365 are not the ones who try to automate everything. They are the ones who start early, scale gradually, and invest in a process that grows with their platform.
Take the Next Step
If you are ready to explore what automated testing could look like for your team, get in touch with us or schedule a quick consultation. We are here to help you move from interest to action with a practical, tailored approach.
