Founded in 1902 and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Reily Foods Company has a rich history that spans over a century. What began as a small business focusing on coffee and tea has blossomed into a major distributor of a wide array of food and beverage products. However, like many growing companies, Reily Foods faced significant challenges when they transitioned to Dynamics 365 Finance, particularly in the realm of testing.

The Challenge: Navigating the Complexities of Manual Testing

As Reily Foods upgraded to Dynamics 365 Finance, the need for comprehensive and efficient testing became paramount. Initially, the company relied on manual testing, which quickly proved to be not only time-consuming but also logistically challenging. The process often required team members to travel for on-site testing, adding to the already burdensome manual effort.

In search of a solution, Reily Foods turned to Microsoft’s Regression Suite Automation Tool (RSAT). However, they soon discovered that RSAT was not the silver bullet they had hoped for. The tool required extensive expertise to build and maintain tests, and despite their efforts, it did not deliver the expected reduction in testing duration or costs. The complexity and resource intensity of maintaining RSAT tests added to their frustrations.

The Solution: Partnering with TheTestMart for Automated Testing

Faced with these challenges, Reily Foods began evaluating alternative automated testing solutions and found their match in TheTestMart. The partnership with TheTestMart provided Reily Foods with a comprehensive, automated testing solution that drastically improved their testing processes.

The key benefits of this partnership included:

1. Reduced Test Duration: With TheTestMart, Reily Foods significantly cut down the time required for testing. What once took a team of four people up to three weeks could now be handled by one person in just two days.
2. Resource Efficiency: TheTestMart offered Reily Foods the flexibility to essentially rent a dedicated QA department. This approach allowed Reily Foods to avoid the high costs of maintaining full-time testing resources while still ensuring thorough and timely testing support.
3. Ongoing Maintenance and Support: TheTestMart didn’t just provide the tools; they also maintained and updated the tests for Reily Foods. This ongoing support ensured that every update to Dynamics 365 Finance was met with fully functional and reliable tests.
4. Collaborative Partnership: The relationship between Reily Foods and TheTestMart was more than just transactional. TheTestMart’s responsive and supportive team became an integral part of Reily Foods’ operations, offering valuable guidance and assistance whenever needed.

The Results: A Streamlined and Predictable Testing Process

Thanks to TheTestMart, Reily Foods now enjoys a streamlined testing process that is not only faster but also more predictable in terms of both effort and cost. They’ve reduced their internal testing efforts from over 100 hours to less than 8 hours per update cycle, allowing their team to focus on more strategic initiatives. 

Learn More About TheTestMart

Reily Foods’ success with TheTestMart is just one example of how businesses can transform their testing processes and achieve greater efficiency. If you’re facing similar challenges in your own organization, TheTestMart could be the solution you need.

Ready to revolutionize your testing? Learn more about how TheTestMart can help your business achieve faster, more efficient, and cost-effective testing processes.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and ensure your business is fully prepared for the latest updates. Let’s work together to streamline your processes and keep your operations running smoothly. 

With the release of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41 just around the corner, businesses using the software are eager to explore the new features and enhancements that this update brings. Scheduled for general availability in September 2024, this version promises to deliver a range of improvements across modules like Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash and Bank Management, Credit and Collections, and Fixed Assets. 

As always, with any new update, there comes the challenge of ensuring that your systems are ready to integrate these changes seamlessly. Automated testing plays a crucial role in this process, helping organizations mitigate risks, maintain compliance, and ensure that their operations continue smoothly post-update. In this post, we’ll dive into the key features of Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41 and share strategies to optimize your automated testing processes in preparation for the release. 

Key Features and Enhancements in Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41 

Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41 introduces several notable features across various modules, each aimed at improving efficiency and accuracy. Here are some highlights:

1. Accounts Payable:
   • Financial Tag for Purchase Order Invoicing: This feature enhances the tracking and analysis of financial data in procurement-to-pay transactions, ensuring greater accuracy.
   • Vendor Invoice Automation with Tax Registration: Enabled by default, this feature simplifies the automation of vendor invoices, improving the overall efficiency of the accounts payable process.

2. Accounts Receivable:
   • Prepayment Customer Invoice: This feature streamlines the management of customer prepayments, allowing businesses to require deposits before fulfilling sales orders.
   • Free Text Invoice Performance Boost: By optimizing the loading of the free text invoice page, this enhancement significantly reduces performance issues, particularly in workflows involving large data volumes.

3. Cash and Bank Management:
   • Modern Bank Reconciliation: This feature introduces several enhancements, including automatic clearing of bridged transactions and improved matching rules, making bank reconciliations faster and more accurate.

4. Tax Management:
   • Multiple VAT Registration Numbers for Sales Orders: This feature addresses the complexity of handling multiple VAT numbers in a single sales order, ensuring compliance and accuracy in tax reporting.
   • Global Withholding Tax Performance Improvement: With enhancements to the withholding tax calculation process, businesses can now handle tax settlements more efficiently.

5. General Ledger:
   • Validation Feature for Year-End Close: This new feature validates the year-end closing process, detecting and suggesting resolutions for any issues, thereby ensuring accurate ledger balances.

Why Automated Testing is Essential 

Automated testing is essential for several reasons, particularly when it comes to implementing updates like Version 10.0.41:

1. Risk Mitigation: Automated testing allows you to identify and fix issues before they impact your business operations. By running tests regularly, you can ensure that your systems are stable and that new features or updates won’t cause any disruptions.
2. Efficiency: Automated tests can be executed faster and more frequently than manual tests, allowing you to keep pace with the rapid deployment cycles typical of modern software updates.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: Over time, automated testing reduces the need for extensive manual testing efforts, leading to significant cost savings, especially in complex environments like Dynamics 365.
4. Compliance and Security: Automated testing ensures that your systems comply with regulatory requirements and security standards, providing peace of mind that your data and processes are protected.

Preparing for Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41: Testing Best Practices 

To fully leverage the benefits of automated testing for Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41, here are some best practices to consider: 

1. Prioritize Critical Areas

• Focus on testing the areas that are most critical to your business operations, such as financial transactions, customer invoicing, and bank reconciliations. The new features in Version 10.0.41, particularly in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Cash and Bank Management, should be at the top of your testing priority list. 

2. Update Your Test Scripts

• Ensure that your existing test scripts are updated to reflect the new features and enhancements in Version 10.0.41. This will help you capture any potential issues that could arise from the update. 

3. Leverage Test Automation Tools

• Utilize advanced test automation tools that are compatible with Dynamics 365 to streamline your testing processes. Tools that offer integration with Dynamics 365 can automate repetitive tasks, reduce human error, and provide detailed reports for analysis. 

4. Conduct Regression Testing

• Regression testing is critical after any update to ensure that existing functionalities are not negatively impacted by the latest changes. Automate these tests to quickly identify any discrepancies or issues. 

5. Engage in Continuous Testing

• Adopt a continuous testing approach to ensure ongoing quality and performance. This involves running automated tests regularly as part of your development and deployment pipelines, providing early feedback on any potential issues. 

The release of Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41 brings exciting new features and enhancements that can help businesses optimize their financial operations, improve data management, and enhance overall efficiency. However, to fully capitalize on these improvements, it’s essential to have a robust automated testing strategy in place. 

By prioritizing critical areas, updating test scripts, leveraging automation tools, and engaging in continuous testing, you can ensure a smooth transition to the updated version while minimizing risks and maximizing benefits. As always, staying proactive and prepared is the key to success when managing updates in complex environments like Dynamics 365.

Ready to optimize your automated testing strategy for Dynamics 365 Version 10.0.41? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and ensure your business is fully prepared for the latest updates. Let’s work together to streamline your processes and keep your operations running smoothly. 

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses rely heavily on enterprise software solutions like Microsoft Dynamics 365 to streamline their operations, enhance productivity, and maintain a competitive edge. As organizations increasingly adopt Dynamics 365, the need for robust testing processes becomes paramount. One critical aspect of this is automated testing, which has emerged as an essential practice for ensuring the reliability, security, and performance of Dynamics 365 applications. The recent update issues related to CrowdStrike offer a compelling case for why automated testing is not just beneficial, but absolutely necessary. 

The CrowdStrike Incident: A Wake-Up Call for All 

Recently, many organizations experienced significant disruptions due to an update in the CrowdStrike security software, which caused unexpected issues with Microsoft software. This incident highlighted the potential risks involved when updates, whether they are for security, system enhancements, or third-party integrations, are deployed without thorough testing. The update in question led to compatibility problems, causing the software to behave unpredictably, affecting everything from basic functionality to critical business operations. 

The aftermath was challenging for many companies, as they scrambled to identify the root cause of the issue and implement quick fixes. The incident underscored the importance of a rigorous testing strategy that includes automated testing as a central component. 

Why Automated Testing is Essential 

1. Speed and Efficiency 

Automated testing allows for quicker execution of test cases compared to manual testing. This is especially crucial when dealing with frequent updates like those in Dynamics 365. With automated testing, organizations can rapidly validate that updates and patches do not introduce new issues, significantly reducing the time to deploy updates safely. 

1. Comprehensive Coverage 

Dynamics 365 is a complex suite with numerous modules and integrations. Manually testing every aspect of the system after each update is not only time-consuming but prone to human error. Automated testing can cover a wide range of scenarios, from basic functionality checks to more intricate workflows, ensuring that all parts of the system work seamlessly together. 

1. Consistent and Reliable Results 

Automated tests are repeatable and provide consistent results, which is crucial when monitoring for regressions or unexpected behavior after updates. This consistency helps in quickly identifying issues, such as those caused by the CrowdStrike update, before they impact the production environment. 

1. Cost-Effectiveness 

While the initial setup of automated testing frameworks requires an investment, the long-term savings are substantial. Automated testing reduces the need for extensive manual testing, lowers the risk of costly downtime, and prevents the financial impact of system failures—issues that could arise from updates or integrations. 

1. Continuous Integration and Deployment 

Automated testing is a key enabler of continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices. In a CI/CD pipeline, automated tests can be run as part of every build and deployment cycle, ensuring that any potential issues are caught early in the development process, not after the software has been deployed. 

Preparing for the Future: Implementing Automated Testing for Dynamics 365 

The CrowdStrike incident serves as a reminder that no system is immune to update-related issues, but with automated testing, businesses can significantly mitigate these risks. Here are some steps to get started with automated testing for Dynamics 365: 

• Identify Critical Scenarios: Start by identifying the most critical business processes within Dynamics 365 that require testing. Prioritize automating tests for these scenarios to ensure they are always functioning as expected. 

• Invest in the Right Tools: Choose automation tools that are compatible with Dynamics 365 and offer robust support for testing various modules and integrations. 

• Develop a CI/CD Pipeline: Integrate automated tests into a CI/CD pipeline to enable continuous testing and ensure that every update is thoroughly vetted before it reaches production. 

• Regularly Update Your Test Suite: As your Dynamics 365 environment evolves, so should your automated tests. Regularly update and expand your test suite to cover new features, integrations, and potential vulnerabilities. 

Automated testing is no longer a luxury but a necessity for organizations using Microsoft Dynamics 365. The recent CrowdStrike update issues serve as a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls of relying solely on manual testing. By investing in automated testing, businesses can safeguard their operations, ensure continuous performance, and maintain the high standards of reliability that today’s digital economy demands. 

At TheTestMart, we specialize in providing cutting-edge automated testing solutions tailored to Microsoft Dynamics 365. Contact us today to learn how we can help you implement a robust testing strategy to protect your business from the unexpected. 

We are thrilled to announce that TheTestMart has partnered with Ellipse Solutions. This exciting collaboration merges Ellipse Solutions’ exceptional expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 with TheTestMart’s innovative automated testing solutions. Together, we aim to deliver unparalleled value, streamline operations, and accelerate growth for our clients.

Unlocking New Potential with Combined Expertise 

Nicholas Vaccaro, our VP of Sales, shares his enthusiasm for this partnership: 

“Partnering with Ellipse Solutions opens new doors for our clients by merging their comprehensive Dynamics 365 expertise with our cutting-edge automated testing solutions. Together, we can deliver more efficient, reliable, and scalable solutions that drive business success.”  

Bobby Small, Channel Development & Alliances Manager at Ellipse Solutions, adds: 

“Our clients are hustling to understand the automated testing options and TheTestMart team has done a great job at educating the community on testing strategy and how their product enhances the experience and creates measurable ROI. Our partnership offers a unique blend of advanced automated testing and deep Dynamics 365 knowledge. We are excited to work together to provide solutions that enhance efficiency, reliability, and overall business performance.“

 

How Our Partnership Benefits Customers: 

• Enhanced Efficiency: By integrating TheTestMart’s automated testing with Ellipse Solutions’ Dynamics 365 expertise, clients experience more streamlined and efficient operations. 

• Increased Reliability: Automated testing ensures systems remain robust and secure, minimizing the risk of downtime and disruptions. 

• Scalable Solutions: Our combined strengths offer scalable solutions tailored to the specific needs of businesses, regardless of size or complexity. 

• Accelerated Growth: Leveraging advanced technologies and expert consulting, we help clients accelerate their digital transformation and growth. 

• Reduced Testing Time: Clients benefit from significantly reduced testing durations and effort, allowing teams to focus on core business activities. 

Ellipse Solutions: A Trusted Microsoft Dynamics Partner 

Ellipse Solutions is renowned for its unrivaled customer satisfaction, experienced consultants, and comprehensive range of services. Their expertise spans across ERP, CRM, and Azure Cloud Services, empowering businesses to optimize operations, streamline processes, and drive growth through data-driven insights. 

We extend our gratitude to Bobby Small, Ellipse’s Channel Development & Alliances Manager, for his instrumental role in making this partnership a reality. 

Stay tuned for more updates and success stories from our partnership with Ellipse Solutions! Learn more about TheTestMart’s automated testing solutions for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Ellipse Solutions business solutions, software development and implementation services. 

Discover How to Optimize Your Automated Testing Strategy with Proven Best Practices for Microsoft Dynamics 365

Businesses leveraging Microsoft Dynamics 365 need to ensure their systems perform flawlessly. Automated testing is crucial in achieving this goal, allowing companies to validate functionalities, ensure performance standards, and minimize manual effort. TheTestMart’s latest guide, “Seven Best Practices for Automated Testing in Microsoft Dynamics 365,” provides invaluable insights to enhance your testing strategies. Here’s a teaser of what you can expect from this comprehensive guide.

1. Develop a Comprehensive Test Strategy

A well-defined test strategy is the cornerstone of successful automated testing. This guide highlights the importance of aligning your testing objectives with business goals and selecting tools that integrate seamlessly with Dynamics 365. You’ll learn how to design thorough test scenarios that cover critical functionalities, ensuring your system performs optimally under various conditions. 

2. Establish a Dedicated Testing Environment

Testing in an environment that mirrors your production setup is vital for catching potential issues early. Our guide emphasizes the importance of replicating production settings, managing test data effectively, and regularly reviewing your testing environment to maintain relevance and accuracy. 

3. Prioritize Test Automation Areas

Not all areas of your system require the same level of attention. By focusing on high-risk areas and balancing cost with potential benefits, you can maximize the return on your automation efforts. Continuous evaluation of your automation impact ensures your testing strategies evolve with your Dynamics 365 environment. 

4. Implement Continuous Integration and Deployment

Integrating automated testing into your CI/CD pipeline can significantly boost the quality and speed of your deployments. The guide covers best practices for early automation, robust configuration management, and effective monitoring and reporting to streamline your development process. 

5. Utilize Modular Test Scripts  

Modular test scripts enhance efficiency by being easier to maintain and reusable across different scenarios. You’ll discover how to develop reusable components, test multiple security roles, and leverage script libraries to make your testing process more efficient and scalable. 

6. Conduct Regular Regression and Performance Testing

Regular testing ensures new developments don’t disrupt existing functionalities. The guide provides strategies for scheduling frequent tests, setting performance baselines, and adapting tests to new changes in Dynamics 365, ensuring continuous oversight and system resilience. 

7. Engage Stakeholders with User Acceptance Testing

Automated testing is powerful, but human insights are crucial for assessing user experience. Our guide details how to automate UAT setup and cleanup, establish effective communication channels for feedback, and incorporate user insights into your continuous improvement processes. 

Conclusion 

By adopting these seven best practices, you can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your automated testing for Microsoft Dynamics 365. Each practice contributes to a more robust, reliable, and efficient system, ensuring smoother deployments and more resilient operations. As Dynamics 365 evolves, so should your testing strategies to keep pace with new functionalities and industry demands. 

Download the Full Guide Today! Ready to revolutionize your automated testing approach for Dynamics 365? Download the full “Seven Best Practices for Automated Testing in Microsoft Dynamics 365” guide now and take the first step towards achieving seamless and reliable system performance. 

Ready to revolutionize your testing process? Click here to download the guide now.

Make your automated testing journey smoother and more effective with TheTestMart’s expert guidance. Don’t miss out on these essential best practices—download the guide today and take the first step towards flawless automated testing in Dynamics 365.

Discover the Transformative Power of Automated Testing in Dynamics 365: Real-World Success Stories and Best Practices

In our OnDemand Webcast, we partnered with MSDynamicsWorld (MSDW) to showcase two remarkable case studies that highlight the transformative power of automated testing in Microsoft Dynamics 365. This webcast is a must-watch for any organization aiming to leverage technology to enhance operational efficiency and streamline business processes within Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (F&O) and Dynamics 365 for Sales (CRM). 

Real-World Success in Dynamics 365 

The webcast provides an in-depth look at how two innovative customers have successfully implemented automated testing strategies in their Microsoft Dynamics 365 environments. By watching this webcast, you will gain insights into real-world applications of automated testing that not only reduced manual effort but also led to significant efficiency gains. 

Streamlining Operations 

Both success stories focus on customers using Dynamics 365 F&O. Both customers were able to streamline their operations dramatically. By implementing automated testing solutions, they reduced the time and effort required for testing, which in turn accelerated their operational workflows and enhanced productivity across departments. 

Enhancing CRM Efficiency 

One of the case studies dives into the experiences of an organization utilizing Dynamics 365 for Sales (CRM). This customer tackled common challenges in sales and customer management by deploying automated testing tools. The result ensured consistent performance, accuracy in data management, and streamlined sales processes, ultimately enhancing overall system reliability. 

Best Practices and Methodologies 

One of the key takeaways from the webcast is the range of best practices and methodologies these organizations employed. Learn about: 

• The selection of appropriate tools and technologies for automated testing. 
• Strategies for integrating automated testing into existing workflows without disrupting daily operations. 
• Techniques for maximizing the coverage and effectiveness of automated tests. 

These insights are invaluable for any organization looking to optimize their testing strategies within Microsoft Dynamics 365. Watch the webcast OnDemand. 

Overcoming Challenges 

The journey to implementing automated testing is not without its hurdles. The webcast also highlights the challenges faced by these organizations, such as adapting to new technologies, training staff, and modifying existing processes to accommodate automated systems. More importantly, we discuss the innovative solutions each company developed to overcome these challenges, providing a roadmap for others facing similar obstacles. 

Don’t Miss Out on Practical Knowledge 

This session is packed with actionable takeaways that can help elevate your Dynamics 365 F&O testing journey. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, the practical knowledge shared during this webcast is sure to provide valuable insights. Watch the webcast OnDemand. 

Watching this webcast will equip you with the knowledge to implement more streamlined and efficient testing processes, ultimately leading to greater success in your Dynamics 365 projects. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the success stories of those who have already navigated the path. Watch today and unlock the secrets to achieving streamlined success in your own Dynamics 365 testing projects! 

View the OnDemand Webcast now!