Definition
An enterprise application (EA) is a large software system platform designed to operate in a corporate environment such as business or government. EAs are complex, scalable, component-based, distributed and mission critical. An EA software consists of a group of programs with shared business applications and organizational modeling utilities designed for unparalleled functionalities. EAs are developed using enterprise architecture.
EA software is a critical component of any computer-based information system. It ultimately enhances efficiency and productivity through business level support functionality.
Testing is a critical aspect and we understand the criticality and importance of testing Enterprise applications, which run as backbones to many profitable business organizations across many industries. Increasingly, enterprise testing has become harder to execute not for lack of tools, but due to the complexities of processes and transaction data density.
Testing Approach
- Modular testing to test requirements: The entire application is divided into major functional modules and each of them is tested as a sub-system. Later a system test confirms that these subsystems work fine when integrated with each other.
- Regression, Integration and System testing
- Usability Testing
- Performance Testing
- Functionality Testing
- Business Logic testing
- Database Interaction
- Interdependencies between various business layers and relational mapping: This is to test that the various layers communicate with each other properly and data flow between these layers is smooth.
- UI, usability and dataflow
- Compatibility (on various h/w, s/w configurations)
- Installation and Deployment: Deployment testing is done by simulating user environment and then doing installation on similar platforms as used by the end user.
- Reliability, performance and load tolerance
- Recovery and fail-over testing: This test ensures that the system recovers to the last stable state after a fail-over or crash. It is always a good practice to prepare an effective bug report. Fixing a bug depends on how effectively you prepare your bug report.
Advantages of Enterprise Application Testing
- Enterprise Application is of High Quality.
- Enterprise Application Software delivers what is expected.
- Faster Installation.
- Quicker Launch.
- High Load Tolerance
- Better User Interaction.
- Consistent Performance.
- Faster failover during interruptions.
- Compatible on different hardware/software configurations
- Reliable Integrity and Authentication.
- Higher assurance of security.
- A shorter time to market.
Integration and Deployment
Enterprise applications are typically designed to interface or integrate with other enterprise applications used within the organization, and to be deployed across a variety of networks (Internet, Intranet and corporate networks) while meeting strict requirements for security and administration management. Proprietary enterprise applications are usually designed and deployed in-house by a specialized IT development team within the organization. However, an enterprise may outsource some or all of the development of the application, and bring it back in-house for deployment.
Application Service Providers (ASP)
Nowadays, using enterprise application service providers (ASP) is more prevalent. In this, the enterprise application is designed by a third-party application service provider and leased to the enterprise, as an on-premise or hosted service. This is also often referred to software-as-a-service (SaaS) or Web-based applications. Another trend in enterprise applications is the move to cloud computing, where the enterprise moves some or its entire infrastructure to the cloud – a type of Internet-based computing, where services are delivered to an organization’s computers and devices through the Internet as an on-demand service. Some enterprises may also choose a hybrid solution where cloud applications are integrated with on-premise systems.
