CHALLENGE
A global third-party logistics (3PL) company specializing in international shipping, courier services, and transportation faced a significant challenge with Blue Yonder Billing Management. The procedure of receiving and validating new releases for configuration and process was cumbersome. The manual testing required after each new deployment was not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, making the testing process arduous and complex.
SOLUTION
DLOGIX, a Blue Yonder reseller and accredited consulting partner specializing in Dispatcher WMS and Billing Management, leveraged the extensible Cycle® platform to develop the Blue Yonder Billing Management Cycle Test Library. This comprehensive test library is comprised of hundreds of prewritten test cases and reusable building blocks that can be assembled to fit various business processes, saving significant time that would otherwise be spent creating automated scripts from scratch. Serving as a foundational framework, the library was further customized to meet the specific requirements of the customer, ensuring a tailored and efficient testing solution.
Utilizing this innovative test library, DLOGIX efficiently executed automation test scripts directly on the customer’s Billing Management solution, delivering results on newly deployed releases within days. The primary advantage of using the library for test automation is its repeatability, allowing scripts to be run multiple times to ensure consistency and accuracy. Additionally, automated testing facilitates thorough and reliable validation of results, significantly enhancing the overall testing efficacy and reducing manual errors.
RESULTS
The implementation of the Blue Yonder Billing Management Cycle Test Library has transformed the 3PL company’s testing processes. Regression testing execution times have been significantly reduced, making it 10x faster and more efficient to verify system functionalities after updates or changes. Tasks that typically required 5+ days of manual testing now take only 3-5 hours using the library powered by Cycle®.
The automation has established a repeatable process, ensuring consistent testing procedures that can be replicated precisely across different testing cycles. Moreover, the automated validation process enhances the accuracy and reliability of testing outcomes, reducing the likelihood of human error. At the conclusion of each execution cycle, comprehensive success/failure reports are generated automatically. These reports provide detailed insights and actionable data, allowing the customer to make informed decisions swiftly and improve their systems continuously.
This strategic approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports ongoing improvement in software quality and performance.
"Cycle® has revolutionized testing of Billing Management. Monthly release testing can be completed within a day or two of receiving the new release using customer-specific data. This gives users confidence when updating their production systems and allows the updates to happen weeks earlier than would be possible with manual testing."
Philip Ashworth
Solution Architect