The Role of Automated Testing in Software Product Development
According to a study by Capgemini,
automated testing can reduce testing costs
by up to 50% and time-to-market by 40%.
Automated testing involves using software tools to automate the repeated manual process of reviewing and validating a software product, traditionally done by humans. Nowadays, automated testing is a standard practice in modern agile and DevOps software projects right from the start. Yet, to grasp its true significance, it’s crucial to consider the hurdles encountered in software development prior to its widespread acceptance.
Before Testing was Automated
Back when manual testing was the norm, software companies typically employed a full-time QA team. This team’s primary responsibility was to develop ‘test cases,’ which were detailed checklists designed to ensure that specific features of a software project behaved as expected. After creating these test cases, the QA team would manually execute them whenever a new update or change was applied to the software project. Subsequently, they would report the results back to the engineering team for review and further development to resolve any identified issues.
The Setback in Manual Testing
However, this manual testing process was slow, expensive, and error-prone. The manual execution of test cases demanded substantial time and resources, resulting in delays in the software development timeline and escalated costs. Additionally, human error was always a risk, as manual testing could overlook specific issues or fail to catch bugs effectively.
Post Automated Testing
Automated testing has since revolutionized the efficiency and return on investment (ROI) of quality assurance (QA) teams. By putting ownership responsibilities in the hands of the engineering team, automated testing allows test cases to be developed alongside regular roadmap feature development. These test cases are then executed automatically by software continuous integration tools, significantly reducing the time and resources required for testing.
Furthermore, automated testing promotes leaner QA team sizes, as it streamlines testing processes, reduces manual effort, and increases the efficiency of test execution. This allows the QA team to focus on more sensitive features of the software, ensuring that critical issues are identified and addressed promptly. Automated testing offers the benefits of cross-platform testing, ensuring compatibility across different operating systems, and multi-language testing, ensuring software functionality in diverse linguistic environments.
Overall, automated testing has become essential in modern software development, offering reliable test results, significant gains in team efficiency and boosted ROI for QA teams.
Types of Automated Testing
Unit testing: Unit testing focuses on testing individual units or components of a software application in isolation, ensuring each unit functions correctly per its design.
Example: In a CI/CD pipeline, changes to the shopping cart function prompt the pipeline to run tests to verify the correct calculation of the total price.
Integration testing: Integration testing verifies the interaction between different modules or components of a software system to ensure that they work together seamlessly.
Example: Ensuring that data flows correctly between a web application’s frontend and backend components when a user submits a form.
Functional testing: Functional testing evaluates the functionality of a software application by testing its features against the specified requirements to ensure they meet the desired outcomes.
Example: Verifying that clicking on a “Submit Order” button in an e-commerce application adds the selected items to the user’s shopping cart.
Regression testing: Regression testing is the most commonly automated process. It is performed to ensure that recent code changes have not adversely affected existing functionalities. It helps in maintaining software quality and stability over time.
Example: Checking that a software update to a mobile app does not cause previously working features, such as login or search, to malfunction.
Performance testing: Performance testing evaluates the responsiveness, speed, and overall performance of a software application under various conditions, helping to identify and eliminate performance bottlenecks.
Example: Simulating a large number of users accessing a website simultaneously to measure its response time and identify potential performance issues.
Considerations for Manual Software Testing in an Automated Testing Era
When deciding which software tests to perform manually, it’s essential to consider factors like the nature of the testing required and the ROI of automation.
Tests like exploratory testing, which relies on human creativity to uncover bugs in unscripted ways, can be more efficiently executed manually, as current automated tools for exploratory testing still need to be fully mature.
Similarly, visual regression testing, which detects visual design flaws in a software UI, often benefits from human observation due to the cost and limited adoption of automated tools in this area.
Building a test automation framework can require out-of-the-box thinking, considering factors like release frequency, available tools, and product market fit. Not all projects may benefit from automated testing; in some cases, a manual approach may be more effective, as there are no predefined steps.
Manual testing is necessary for scenarios where testing is required infrequently, such as validating color schemes in a user interface.
The Strategy of the Shift-Left Approach
The shift-left approach in software development refers to the practice of integrating testing earlier in the software development lifecycle, typically starting at the requirements or design phase. This helps in identifying and fixing defects as early as possible rather than waiting until later stages of development or during post-release.
Relevance of the Shift-Left Approach
Early Issue Identification: By testing earlier in the development process, issues and defects can be identified and taken care of before they escalate into more complex and costly issues to resolve.
Cost and Time Savings: Fixing defects early in development is generally less expensive and time-consuming than fixing them later. This can result in significant cost savings and shorter development cycles.
Improved Quality: By catching and fixing issues early, the overall quality of the software is improved, leading to a better user experience and higher customer satisfaction.
Better Collaboration: The shift-left approach encourages collaboration between developers, testers, and other stakeholders early in the development process, leading to a more cohesive and efficient development process.
Continuous Feedback: Testing early and often provides constant feedback to developers, allowing them to make informed decisions and improvements throughout the development lifecycle.
Alignment with Agile and DevOps Practices: The shift-left approach aligns well with agile and DevOps practices, emphasizing iterative development and continuous testing and integration.
The Role of Automated Testing in Software Product Development for Continuous Delivery
Continuous Delivery (CD) stands out as a crucial methodology aimed at swiftly delivering new code releases to customers. At the core of this methodology lies automated testing, a critical component ensuring the delivery process’s efficiency and reliability.
Another Approach: Shift-Right Testing
Shift-right testing is a forward-thinking approach that complements traditional shift-left methodologies. It emphasizes testing in production or after deployment to gather real-world feedback and enhance test coverage. This approach acknowledges the dynamic nature of software development and aims to improve software products’ overall quality and reliability.
Development teams prioritize time to market, while application security (AppSec) teams focus on ensuring secure software. This creates a balancing act, as security testing (AST) can only delay deployment, risking prioritizing time over security. The concept of “shift left” emerged as a response to organizations waiting to perform security testing until the end of development, causing delays. However, in the iterative and continuous nature of DevOps, which is more like a figure-8 infinity loop, there is no clear “left” or “right.” Instead, embedding software security solutions throughout DevOps, or “shifting center,” is a more practical approach to ensure security without sacrificing speed.
Integration of Continuous Delivery and Automated Testing
The CD is not a standalone process but rather part of a broader deployment pipeline. It is closely intertwined with Continuous Integration (CI), which precedes it. CI’s primary responsibility is to execute automated tests against any new code changes, ensuring that these changes do not disrupt existing features or introduce new bugs. Once CI successfully completes the automated test case, the CD process is triggered.
Benefits of Automated Testing in Continuous Delivery
Embracing automated testing has revolutionized the development process, enabling rapid, reliable, and scalable testing. Implementing automated testing frameworks has significantly reduced manual efforts, improved test coverage, and accelerated release cycles. The relationship between automated testing, CI, and CD yields numerous benefits for high-velocity software teams. Automated testing thus plays a pivotal role in maintaining quality throughout the development cycle. It ensures that new commits do not introduce any bugs, therefore keeping the software deployment-ready at all times.
Embracing the Future: Trends and Technologies in Automated Testing with CI Global
The future of automated testing is exciting, with advancements like AI, shift-right testing, containerization, low-code/no-code tools, and API testing reshaping the journey. Implementing Docker has transformed deployment practices, ensuring uniformity across various stages like development, testing, and production. Through containerization, improved resource utilization, scalability, and adaptability have been achieved, simplifying infrastructure management. Embracing Kubernetes for orchestration has optimized the management of containerized applications, enhancing scalability and resilience.
To stay ahead, connect with us to understand the complete testing cycle and determine which parts to automate, ensuring your testing practices align with changing market requirements and technological trends.
Unlocking the Power of Sage 100: Building Connectors for ProvideX
Sage 100, formerly known as Sage ERP MAS 90, has been a trusted solution for businesses since its inception in 1985. With its robust features and modern architecture, Sage 100 helps companies to manage their accounting and business processes efficiently.
A Comprehensive Solution: Features of Sage 100
Sage 100 offers a wide range of features, including:
Inventory management
Sales orders
Purchase orders
Return merchandise authorization
Barcodes
Credit card processing
Automated shipping
Ease of Use and Customization
One of the critical strengths of Sage 100 is its ease of use and powerful customization options. It provides a low total cost of ownership, making it an attractive choice for businesses of all sizes.
Breaking Down the Walls: Connecting Sage 100 to SQL Server
In enterprise resource planning, Sage 100 stands out as a stalwart solution for managing accounting and business processes. But for all its strengths, Sage 100 has a unique challenge: it doesn’t have a direct database connection. This means that extracting or integrating data with other systems, like SQL Server, isn’t as straightforward as one might hope.
The Old Meets the New: The Legacy of ProvideX
At the heart of this challenge lies ProvideX, an aging language that Sage 100 relies on. While ProvideX has served its purpose over the years, its limitations are becoming more apparent as technology advances. This is where the need for building connectors comes into play.
Building Bridges: The Need for Connectors
Companies can build custom connectors to enable Sage 100 to communicate with other 3rd party applications. One way of building a connector is by writing scripts to move data from ProvideX to SQL Server, a task that requires a deep understanding of both technologies.
The CIG Touch: Simplifying Integration
Building connectors is time-consuming for many Sage 100 users and requires niche expertise. Thankfully, solution providers like CI Global specialize in providing connectors for Sage 100. These connectors streamline the integration process, reducing the implementation cycle and minimizing downtime.
The Benefits of Integration
Integrating Sage 100 with SQL Server offers numerous benefits. It provides a more efficient way to access and analyze data, improves reporting capabilities, and enhances overall business agility. Moreover, it allows companies to leverage the power of SQL Server’s advanced features and scalability.
Data Availability Over the Web: Integrating Sage 100 with SQL Server enables businesses to make their data available over the web. This accessibility allows for remote access to critical information, facilitating collaboration and decision-making from anywhere with an internet connection.
Improved Data Accuracy: By connecting Sage 100 with SQL Server, businesses can ensure that data is consistent and up-to-date across all systems, leading to more accurate reporting and decision-making.
Faster Access to Information: Integration allows for real-time access to data stored in Sage 100, enabling employees to retrieve information and respond to customer inquiries or business quickly needs promptly.
Better Decision-Making Capabilities: With integrated data from Sage 100 and SQL Server, businesses can analyze information more effectively, leading to better decision-making and strategic planning.
A Step-by-Step Guide
For those looking to integrate Sage 100 with SQL Server, here’s a simplified guide:
Understand Sage 100 modules and data dictionary:Identify the modules you want to integrate, such as sales orders, purchase orders, or inventory management.
Ensure access and permissions
Identify data to extract: Determine which data you want to extract from Sage 100. This could include information such as inventory, sales, customers, vendors, etc.
Set up SQL Server: Set up a SQL Server instance where you will store the extracted data
Set up the necessary ODBC drivers for Sage 100 and SQL Server based on the specifics of the connection end points.
Connect to Sage 100 and extract data
Connect to SQL Server
Create SQL tables and insert data
Commit transactions and close connection
Tips for Integration:
To successfully integrate Sage 100 with SQL Server, consider the following tips:
Ensure Data Compatibility: Ensure that the data structures of Sage 100 and SQL Server are compatible before integrating. This may require mapping fields and ensuring that data formats match.
Test the Integration Thoroughly: Before going live, thoroughly test the Integration to identify and resolve any issues. This will help ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruptions to your business operations.
Embracing Integration with CI Global
Integrating Sage 100 with SQL Server is a strategic move that can unlock new possibilities for your business. While the process may seem complex, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. You can streamline your operations and drive growth in the digital age by leveraging the right tools and expertise.
Remember, the future of ERP is Integration. Are you ready to break down the walls?
Driving Success: A Guide to POS Analytics for Retail and Restaurant Growth
The Point of Sale (POS) system does more than handle transactions; it acts as a valuable source of insights. Point of Sale Analytics, or POS Analytics, collects, analyzes, and understands the data generated during customer transactions at the point of sale. It involves dissecting information to understand better how a business performs and what customers prefer.
Point of Sale Analytics: Significance in Retail and Restaurant Businesses
The right KPIs for POS Analytics provide real-time visibility into sales patterns, customer preferences, and operational efficiency. By harnessing the power of POS Analytics, businesses can make informed decisions, optimize inventory management, enhance customer experiences, and ultimately drive sustained growth.
Read this blog to know more about the right KPIs to track to tap into the potential for positive transformations.
Sales KPIs for POS Analytics in Retail
Retailers and consumer goods manufacturers have the enormous responsibility— and opportunity—to reinvent themselves and reimagine their next normal. As per the findings in the McKinsey report, numerous companies face a shortage of consumer and retailer point-of-sale data. The available assets, including internal financial, product, and customer master data, are often stored in isolated legacy systems, posing challenges in terms of accessibility and harmonization. Consumer goods companies do not have well-established data governance processes for utilizing, securing, and sharing data across the organization in accordance with privacy regulations.
Some consumer goods companies, recognizing these inadequacies, mistakenly believe that they must change their entire data infrastructure simultaneously. Giving priority to the enablers that offer the highest value is more effective and ensures the consistency of enablers across various domains.
Let’s take a look at three fundamental sales metrics:
Total Sales:
Definition: The cumulative revenue generated from all sales transactions within a specific timeframe. Example: If your clothing store earned $50,000 monthly, that constitutes the total sales figure for that period.
Average Transaction Value:
Definition: The average amount a customer spends during a single shopping transaction. Example: If 100 transactions occurred in a day, and the total revenue for that day was $5,000, the average transaction value is $50.
Items per Transaction:
Definition: The average number of items a customer purchases in a single shopping transaction. Example: If 50 customers made purchases, and 200 items were sold, the items per transaction would be 4.
Sales Reports and Analysis
The right KPIs can help you generate the following reports.
Aging – Managing Shelf Life:
Example: Imagine you manage a grocery store. By analyzing sales data, you notice that certain perishable goods have been on the shelf for an extended period. This prompts you to adjust stocking strategies to minimize waste and ensure the freshness of products.
Careful Stocking Strategies:
Example: A retail electronics store examines its sales reports and recognizes that specific brands or models are consistently popular. This insight guides them to strategically stock more of those items to meet customer demand effectively.
No Stock Reports for Inventory Optimization:
Example: A home goods store monitors instances of items being “out of stock.” This analysis helps them optimize inventory levels, ensuring popular items are consistently available.
Mode of Payment Analysis:
Example: A fashion boutique notices an increase in credit card payments. This insight encourages them to ensure their point-of-sale system supports various payment methods, enhancing customer convenience.
Door Delivery, Pick Up, and Walk-In Orders:
Example: A department store discovers through POS analytics that a significant portion of their orders come through Dunzo for doorstep delivery. This prompts them to optimize delivery partnerships and streamline in-store processes for walk-in customers.
These examples showcase how a nuanced understanding of retail sales metrics and strategic analysis can empower businesses to refine their operations and drive growth.
Sales KPIs for POS Analytics in Restaurants
Boosting the operational efficiency of stores includes various initiatives, including minimizing food wastage, optimizing staff schedules, and increasing the speed and precision of customer order fulfillment. For restaurants, it’s crucial to streamline processes related to digital delivery orders, in-car pickups, and drive-through operations—channels that experienced a surge during the pandemic and are now integral to the industry. These efficiency enhancements cut costs and align with evolving customer preferences.
Let’s take a look at three fundamental sales metrics:
Total Revenue:
Definition: The overall income generated from all sales transactions within a specified period. Importance: Indicates the overall financial health and performance of the restaurant. Example: If a restaurant earned $30,000 in a month, that represents the total revenue for that period
Average Order Value:
Definition: The average amount spent by a customer per order. Importance: Reflects the average customer spending, aiding in menu optimization and upselling strategies. Example: If a restaurant serves 500 customers weekly, and the total weekly revenue is $15,000, the average order value is $30.
Table Turnover Rate:
Definition: The number of times a restaurant’s tables are occupied and vacated during a specific period. Importance: Measures the efficiency of service and how quickly tables are utilized, impacting overall revenue. Example: If a restaurant has 20 tables and serves 100 customers daily, the table turnover rate is 5 (100 customers ÷ 20 tables).
Sales Reports and Analysis
The right KPIs can help you generate the following reports.
Average Per Cover:
Definition: The average revenue earned per customer served. Example: If a restaurant serves 200 covers daily and generates $4,000 in revenue, the average per cover is $20 ($4,000 ÷ 200).
Number of Covers:
Definition: The total count of customers served within a specified period. Example: If a restaurant serves 1,000 covers per week, the number of covers for that week is 1,000.
Menu Item Sales Analysis:
Purpose: Identify popular and less-ordered menu items. Example: Discovering that a specific pasta dish consistently sells out can prompt the chef to feature it more prominently or create variations.
Dining Time Analysis:
Purpose: Evaluate the duration customers spend at tables. Example: Recognizing that lunch service sees quicker table turnovers than dinner may lead to adjusted staffing schedules for optimal efficiency.
Sales by Daypart Analysis:
Purpose: Understand sales patterns during different times of the day. Example: Observing a surge in breakfast orders during weekdays may inspire introducing a breakfast promotion to capitalize on demand.
Customer Order Channel Analysis:
Purpose: Differentiate orders from dine-in, online delivery, etc. Example: Identifying a significant increase in online delivery orders can prompt the restaurant to optimize online platforms or consider exclusive promotions.
Customer Satisfaction and Feedback Analysis:
Purpose: Evaluate customer reviews and satisfaction scores. Example: Noticing recurring feedback about slow service might lead to staff training initiatives or procedural changes to enhance overall customer satisfaction.
CI Global: Your Partner for POS Analytics
At CI Global, we provide cutting-edge solutions tailored to your unique needs. Our Point of Sale Analytics expertise empowers you to unlock valuable insights, optimize operations and inventory management, and elevate customer experience. Partner with CI Global for a transformative journey towards data-driven excellence in the competitive world of commerce.
Building Multi-Language Capabilities In Products
In today’s interconnected world, bridging language barriers is more critical than ever for businesses seeking to thrive in diverse markets. Building Multi-Language Capabilities in Products isn’t merely a matter of vernacular adaptation; it’s a strategic imperative. This blog delves into catering to diverse audiences understanding the challenges and boundless opportunities. From the technical nuances to understanding cultural sensitivity, this guide navigates how to enable seamless communication across borders.
Understanding the Importance of Multi-Language Support
Multi-language support in product development provides a range of strategic advantages such as:
Expanded Audience Reach: Embracing multi-language support broadens horizons by reaching a global audience. Breaking language barriers enables connection with diverse demographics worldwide, promoting inclusivity and greatly expanding the user base.
Enhanced User Experience: Tailoring products to multiple languages goes beyond just translation; it crafts an experience that resonates with users on a cultural and linguistic level. This makes users feel like they belong and understand, which makes them happier and more likely to stick with the product.
Competitive Edge in Global Markets: In a fiercely competitive global market, offering products in multiple languages is a strategic advantage. It shows that a brand cares about being reachable and fitting in with different cultures. This makes the brand stand out and look good compared to other choices out there.
Improved Market Penetration: By accommodating various languages, products become more relatable and approachable to different regions and cultures. This helps businesses get into new markets and connect better with customers all around the world.
Cultivation of Brand Trust: Speaking the language of your audience—literally and figuratively—builds trust. It shows that you respect where they come from and makes them feel sure that you really want to help and understand them, no matter where they are.
What do Companies need to do to build MLC in their Product?
At the core of enabling seamless integration across diverse languages lie the vital components of multi-language capabilities. This framework pivots around two fundamental pillars:
Understanding Globalization vs. Localization vs. Culture
Understanding the nuanced differences between globalization and localization is pivotal in crafting products for diverse markets. Globalization involves designing products quickly adapted to various regions and languages, while localization tailors these products to specific cultural nuances and linguistic preferences. Acknowledging and respecting cultural differences within these frameworks ensures products resonate authentically across diverse demographics.
Unicode and Character Encoding
Unicode support is critical for effective multi-language display. Its significance lies in its ability to represent and process text from different writing systems and languages within a single encoding standard. Established Unicode support ensures that characters from diverse languages, whether Latin-based or ideographic, can be rendered accurately, enabling seamless communication and comprehension for users worldwide. Its implementation ensures that a product’s interface and content are accessible and legible across various languages.
Technical Foundations for Multi-Language Support
Building strong technical foundations is crucial for effective multi-language support in products. This encompasses:
String Externalization and Resource Files
Separating text strings from the codebase is foundational for streamlining translation efforts. This approach facilitates easier translation and adaptation by centralizing all textual content, allowing efficient modifications without altering the core code. Using separate files or techniques to move text outside the main code is crucial. It helps quickly change words to fit different languages without affecting how the product works.
Language Selection and Switching
Empowering users to choose their preferred language effortlessly is essential for a seamless multi-language experience. Implementing intuitive methods, such as language selection during onboarding, in-app settings, or automatic language detection based on what they like or where they are, makes it easier for users. Switching between languages within the interface ensures a fluid user experience, allowing individuals to navigate effortlessly and engage with the product in their language of choice.
Collaborate with Localization Experts
Working well with translation teams and language experts is important to make sure that a product’s translation is accurate and fits different cultures. These experts know languages well and understand cultures, which is crucial for making translations that go beyond just words. This teamwork links the product with its different users, making sure the message feels true for each language community. By providing these experts with comprehensive context and guidelines, they can capture the brand’s style and meaning, making users all over the world feel more connected.
Ensure Consistency and Adaptability
Making sure that users get the same experience in every language is important to earn their trust. Working closely with translation teams helps keep the design and how the product works consistent, making it easier to use and familiar for everyone. Listening to feedback from different groups of users helps make ongoing improvements. Companies use this feedback to make the design better, consider different cultural details, and meet what users want as things change. Doing this keeps people interested and shows that the company really cares about making things that users like.
CI Global – Connecting your Company to the World
The journey toward creating accessible, user-centric experiences goes beyond language barriers, delivering your product across diverse audiences. At CI Global, we understand the power of linguistic diversity and its impact on global outreach. Elevate your product’s global presence with our expertise in multi-language support. Explore how CI Global can enhance your product’s accessibility and resonance worldwide.
Development Using Microsoft Fabric
In the dynamic landscape of data-driven decision-making, Microsoft Fabric emerges as a beacon of innovation, poised to revolutionize how we approach analytics. This transformative platform introduces the concept of unified analytics, seamlessly weaving together various data tools under the umbrella of a single, cohesive ecosystem. At its core lies the robust OneLake architecture, an architectural marvel that simplifies data management and optimization. Imagine a virtual data lake consolidating structured and unstructured data, offering a consolidated view that fuels insights.
This informative blog unravels the essence of Microsoft Fabric, exploring its unified analytics approach and the game-changing OneLake architecture, all set to propel businesses into a new era of analytics prowess.
“In the past five to 10 years, substantial innovation has resulted in a wide array of new technologies in the modern data stack. However, this has led to significant fragmentation, with countless products and open-source solutions available. Many data and analytics tools maintain isolated data silos. Customers express frustration at the integration challenges and costs, highlighting a consistent desire to move beyond this integration tax.” – Arun Ulag, Microsoft’s corporate VP for Azure Data.
How To Get Started
Setting Up Your Environment:
Begin by logging into Microsoft Power BI with your Developer Account, where you’ll observe a familiar interface with the OneLake icon at the top left.
Enable Microsoft Fabric for your tenant, enhancing your access to Fabric resources and functionalities.
For an optimized experience, create a new Workspace and add the Microsoft Fabric License to it, enabling the full advantage of Microsoft Fabric.
Installation and Creation:
Ensure you have a Microsoft 365 Developer Account with Admin rights to access the Power BI Pro account.
Upgrade your Power BI License to Microsoft Fabric for a seamless transition.
Prerequisites For Development
Prerequisites for development in Microsoft Fabric encompass the strategic considerations that guide businesses toward harnessing its capabilities. Fabric shines when businesses seek streamlined analytics, unifying diverse data sources and eliminating the fragmentation that can hinder insights. The question becomes not only when but also why businesses should adopt Fabric.
Fabric is a solution tailored for those aiming to transcend conventional reporting, unlocking predictive capabilities, and empowered decision-making. When evaluating Fabric adoption, businesses should consider their data landscape, the complexity of existing analytics infrastructure, and the potential for rapid time-to-value. With Fabric, the promise of a unified analytics ecosystem, simplified development, and actionable insights converge, providing a solid foundation for data-led growth and addressing the evolving demands of today’s data-driven landscape.
Development – Building Connectors In OneLake
Development in Microsoft Fabric unveils the Power of OneLake, an all-encompassing SaaS data lake that brings data synergy to life. Synapse Data Engineering takes the lead, providing the necessary technology to build connectors that seamlessly integrate structured and unstructured data into the fabric of insights. Synapse Data Engineering leverages distributed computing capabilities to process large datasets quickly and efficiently. It allows you to build data pipelines, schedule jobs, and automate workflows, enabling a seamless data flow from source to destination.
Data lakehouse becomes the bedrock, accommodating diverse data formats under one roof. The process follows the familiar pattern of building gateways to sources, channeling data into the lakehouse. The transformative shift lies in Fabric’s coherence; gone are the days of scattered data warehouses, disparate PowerBI deployments, and multiple portals. Within the fabric’s embrace, the PowerBI consumes data directly from the lakehouse, building visuals that unravel insights in a unified and intuitive manner.
Building PowerBI Dashboards With Microsoft Fabric
Building Power BI Dashboards within the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem brings a new dimension to data visualization. One of the remarkable aspects is its user-friendly nature – it automatically generates insightful visuals, eliminating the need for a data science expert to write complex code. With a no-code approach available in Fabric, business users can harness the power of data visualization without technical barriers. Leveraging Power BI in Microsoft Fabric allows for the creation of stunning dashboards that clearly and effectively showcase data-driven insights.
The unified analytics fabric provides a centralized data repository, ensuring the visuals are based on accurate and up-to-date information. This streamlines decision-making processes by presenting real-time information in an easily digestible format. Users can drill down into data points, filter information dynamically, and interact with visuals to uncover hidden patterns and trends. This interactivity empowers users to explore data from various angles, extracting valuable insights and contributing to informed business decisions.
Using Microsoft Fabric for RubiCube
Revolutionze your data-led growth strategy as you use RubiCube which unlocks the potential of Microsoft Fabric. Leverage Retail POS integrations, where REST APIs become your bridge to connect critical systems like CRMs, POS, and ERPs such as Sage Intacct, Sage 300, MS D365, and NetSuite. Harness the power of Microsoft Fabric’s unified analytics ecosystem to streamline and automate data flow, ensuring crucial insights reach stakeholders at the right time.
But it doesn’t stop there. Elevate your data-driven decision-making with meticulously crafted Sales dashboards in PowerBI. Visualize demand-supply patterns, predict sales capacities, and forecast revenue with precision. Microsoft Fabric empowers you to harness the AI-driven capabilities of RubiCube, paving the way for informed strategic choices. Unveil new dimensions of growth by utilizing the dynamic synergy between Microsoft Fabric, RubiCube, and PowerBI, and stay ahead in the competitive landscape.
CI Global – Bridging The Gap Between Users And Developers
In a world driven by data, Microsoft Fabric emerges as a transformative force that empowers businesses to harness the true potential of their information. The possibilities are boundless, from creating unified SaaS data lakes with OneLake to seamlessly building PowerBI dashboards for insightful visualizations.
If you’re eager to embark on this journey of analytics transformation and data-driven success, visit CI Global’s website today. As a leading IT solutions company, CI Global stands ready to guide you through the intricate landscapes of modern analytics, ensuring you uncover opportunities, make informed decisions, and propel your business forward. Embrace the power of Microsoft Fabric and discover a new era of data-led growth with CI Global.
Why Building Automation Testing Frameworks are Key to Accelerating the Testing Process?
Imagine the scenario: After weeks of dedicated effort, you and your team have achieved a remarkable milestone – the development of an exciting software application that has generated immense excitement among stakeholders. However, before celebrating, the daunting task of testing looms ahead. As a software developer or tester, you are well aware of the immense pressure to meet tight deadlines while upholding impeccable software quality.
Evolution Of Software Testing
Software testing is crucial for ensuring quality and a smooth user experience. However, manual testing can be slow, repetitive, and prone to errors. Automation testing solves these issues by using frameworks, tools, and scripts to automatically execute test cases, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
By harnessing the power of automation, testing processes can be accelerated and streamlined, saving time, effort, and resources. This means higher productivity, faster release cycles, and improved software quality. So, let’s understand automation testing and discover why it is a game-changer for software development.
How Does Automation Testing Work?
Building automation testing frameworks are essential for accelerating the testing process by streamlining and optimizing test execution. To understand their significance, let’s explore the automation testing process.
Test Environment Setup
Testers configure servers, install the necessary software, and prepare databases to create a testing environment that closely resembles the production or target environment.
Test Script Development
Testers then create automated test scripts with instructions that simulate user interactions and validate expected outcomes. These scripts capture various test scenarios and workflows.
Test Data Management
The testers create and manage datasets the test scripts use to validate different scenarios and business rules. Test data enables comprehensive test coverage and the evaluation of various input combinations.
Test Execution
They execute the automated tests, where the test scripts simulate user actions, interact with the application’s interface or APIs, and validate expected outcomes.
Automation frameworks provide mechanisms for executing tests on different environments and devices.
Discover how to enhance your software development and delivery through automation testing. Visit CI Global today and explore our comprehensive range of services.
Organizations adopting automation testing frameworks witnessed a remarkable boost in efficiency, with an average reduction of 30% in overall testing efforts. By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, testers were able to focus on more critical aspects of testing, such as exploratory testing and analyzing test results.
Benefits Of Automation Testing
Automation testing offers several benefits that contribute to improved software quality and development efficiency.
Efficiency And Time Savings
Automation testing offers a significant benefit in eliminating repetitive manual effort, leading to faster test cycles. Unlike manual testing, automation allows the creation of consistent and accurate test scripts, saving time and reducing the risk of human errors. The frameworks enable scheduled and event-triggered test executions, ensuring round-the-clock testing for maximum efficiency.
This efficiency allows testers to focus on critical aspects of software quality assurance, further enhancing the overall testing process.
Enhanced Test Coverage And Consistency
Automation testing ensures enhanced test coverage and consistency, which is critical for software quality. Testers achieve comprehensive coverage with efficient and consistent execution of numerous test cases. Unlike manual testing’s limitations, automation allows for extensive test suites, including edge cases and negative scenarios.
Consistent test execution and validation deliver reliable and reproducible results by following predefined scripts, eliminating human errors, and validating software functionality consistently. This boosts testing accuracy and reliability and ultimately improves software quality.
Regression Testing And Early Defect Detection
Regression testing is vital for validating existing functionalities after software updates, but manual execution is time-consuming and resource-intensive. Automation testing frameworks efficiently and accurately perform regression tests by automating validated test cases. Early defect detection allows prompt issue resolution, reducing costs and effort in later stages of software development.
Automation testing ensures software stability and reliability through efficient regression testing, benefiting the development lifecycle.
Cost Savings And ROI
Automation testing’s cost-effectiveness results from eradicating repetitive manual work and reducing human errors. Though there’s an initial investment in setting up frameworks and test scripts, long-term savings arise from reduced testing time, resource utilization, and defect resolution costs. Automation also boosts ROI through faster time-to-market, improved software quality, and increased customer satisfaction.
Implementing automation frameworks brings lasting benefits, such as heightened productivity, reduced maintenance effort, and improved scalability, resulting in higher ROI for organizations embracing automation testing.
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CI GLOBAL – Modernize, Optimize, Succeed
When embracing automation testing, CI Global is a trusted partner ready to guide you through your modernization journey. Our team of experts are dedicated to helping businesses like yours achieve seamless transitions, enhanced functionality, and increased productivity. Don’t miss the opportunity to revolutionize your operations and stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape. Visit the CI Global website now to discover how our comprehensive solutions and industry-leading expertise can drive your business forward. Partnering with CI Global today takes the first step towards a successful modernization.
Demystifying Add-on Development: Why Building Add-ons Is Not As Challenging As It Seems
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, ERP’s are constantly being enhanced and expanded to meet the diverse needs of businesses and customers. One powerful way to extend the functionality of existing software solutions is by developing add-ons. While building add-ons may initially seem challenging, this blog aims to demystify the process and highlight its benefits. We will explore the journey of software addon development, the importance of understanding customer personas, and the specifics of add-on creation. By the end, you’ll discover that building add-ons is not as complicated as it seems.
With a good understanding of ERP and market needs, ability to add functionalities that simplifies customer processes, structured development process and a deep understanding of customer personas ISV’s can develop add-on/products opening up a new revenue stream in the ERP marketplace.
This knowledge is used to discover current software gaps and determine the scope of the ERP add-on. Understanding the complexities of ERP systems allows organizations to create add-ons that seamlessly connect and increase existing capabilities, resulting in a smooth and efficient user experience.
Understanding the customer persona: A business perspective
Businesses may ensure improved user happiness and higher adoption rates by designing add-ons to individual client requirements. This customer-centric strategy promotes the add-on as a beneficial solution, significantly increasing the value of the customer’s ERP system.
A modular design approach is essential when it comes to developing add-ons. Creating add-ons as standalone modules increases flexibility and simplifies maintenance for both software suppliers and end users. It enables organizations to constantly extend and improve their ERP systems by adding additional modules that interface smoothly with the core system. Furthermore, extensive testing of the add-on ensures its dependability, performance, and compatibility with the ERP system.
Adding functions, adding functionality: Making an add-on
This section focuses on creating an add-on, which includes detecting current software gaps, defining the scope of the add-on, and smoothly integrating it with the core ERP system. Effective communication and collaboration between software suppliers and add-on developers are critical for creating successful add-ons.
Module development is essential in the creation of add-ons. It includes several crucial components:
Module Development Process: Module development involves designing and building specific components or functionalities to enhance the core ERP system. This process follows the software development life cycle, including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, and deployment.
Modular Design: Modular design is crucial for developing flexible, scalable, and easily maintainable add-ons. Breaking down the add-on into smaller, self-contained modules enables efficient management and updates. It allows for customization and future enhancements as per evolving needs.
Scalability: Add-ons should be designed to accommodate potential growth and changing business requirements. Ensuring scalability allows the solution to adapt and evolve alongside the ERP system and the organization.
Thorough Testing: Rigorous testing ensures the add-on functions properly, integrates seamlessly with the core ERP system, and avoids compatibility or performance issues. Comprehensive testing guarantees a reliable and robust add-on that meets user expectations.
Before delving into the add-on development process, it is essential to acknowledge the critical role of ERP knowledge. This knowledge allows businesses to identify the existing gaps or limitations in the ERP system and develop add-ons that seamlessly integrate and extend its capabilities. ERP knowledge is the foundation for designing add-ons that address specific customer requirements and enhance the overall ERP experience.
By combining ERP knowledge with effective add-on development practices, businesses can leverage the power of modular design, scalability, and thorough testing to create valuable add-ons. These add-ons bridge the existing gaps in the ERP system and provide flexibility and easier maintenance for software providers and end-users. The result is a more efficient and adaptable ERP solution that aligns with evolving business needs.
CIG: Leading and solving your problems the software way
CI Global (CIG), a tech-first innovation company, specializes in add-on development for ERP ecosystem. With years of experience and a team of skilled professionals, CIG is well-equipped to solve complex business challenges through software solutions.
By leveraging CIG’s expertise, businesses can tap into their add-ons and experience significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and overall performance. In conclusion, understanding the critical role of ERP knowledge and customer personas is key to successful add-on development. Embrace the power of add-ons and unlock new opportunities for your business today.
Relation between KPIs, Actionable Insights, and ERPs
Any information essential to the business becomes valuable data. With over 120 zettabytes of data generated daily, the world has a data overload across channels. It’s critical to take a step further from data-based decisions to insight-guided decisions. For that, data needs to transform into ideas and actions for decision-makers to understand when using the correct method so that you can visualize the impact.
In this blog, we uncover what data is and follow it through its journey to becoming insights through well-established KPIs. These indicators are vital in keeping track of progress and help the decision-makers take the correct route to the solution.
Analyzing the numbers that matter
Predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms are helping businesses make reliable decisions by leveraging accurate predictions. They can repeatedly simulate scenarios based on existing data to forecast the business’s future direction and potential standstills. Business intelligence uses these algorithms to teach itself to predict through a KPI.
What turns data into insights?
Data can be processed using statistical and analytical methods to identify patterns and trends. This analysis can involve looking for correlations between variables, identifying outliers, and using machine learning algorithms to uncover hidden insights.
Statistics: Create patterns that show and identify clear actions and reactions.
Patterns: Show the reason for a drop or a spike and how to manage it.
Trends: Contribute and affect your businesses due to the market dynamics.
Data visualization can take many forms, such as charts, graphs, and ERP KPI dashboards, and can be used to share insights in an easily understandable and interactive way.
How to create ML projections?
Securing and creating the proper dataset is a task half complete; it has to follow a suitable ML model that can be trained and developed in the required direction. This can be done on a few statistical concepts like linear regression, decision trees, and neural networks.
A process to create an ML model follows:
Training an ML model is the first step in the process; expect the error to pop up frequently initially, but as you continue to train the model, you can see a substantial improvement.
As the model’s training continues, it can create projections by getting present in-market data and allowing it to make predictions based on the learned patterns. The projections’ accuracy can evaluate performance metrics such as mean squared error or accuracy.
Ultimately, the projections must be visualized and communicated to stakeholders using charts, graphs, and other visualization tools. This allows decision-makers to use the insights gained from the predictions to inform their actions and strategy.
Why are well-established KPIs important?
An indicator becomes a KPI when it gives a company the upper hand in three key areas when it affects cost, revenue or it gives strategic advantage. Through measuring specific KPIs, organizations can ensure that their activities achieve their goals and align with their overall growth plan.
KPIs are vital because they:
Measure performance and identify areas for improvement.
Ensure accountability and transparency within an organization.
Provide a common understanding for stakeholders within an organization.
How to measure a KPI?
From selecting the correct methodology to measure the KPI to the data source from the ERP and constant analysis techniques, there are many things to understand before getting to the root of KPI measurement.
After creating the KPI, you need to:
Understand your goals from the KPI and break down the statistical method.
Set the targets you want to hit when establishing a KPI to benchmark your process.
Represent data how your stakeholders need it and create an automated report.
How to accelerate business capacity?
An ERP system can integrate different departments and functions into a single data system to better utilize resources and make informed decisions based on real-time data. Analyzing data is at the heart of growing a business of any size, whether micro-enterprises, SMBs, or from the ground up. Identifying the difference between the to-do list and the wish list is the primary step in accelerating a business; let’s see how that happens.
How to make decisions based on what your company needs vs. wants?
When you can identify patterns, trends, and opportunities that might not be immediately apparent through intuition or experience alone, you make more informed and better decisions backed with insights rather than assumptions or opinions.
Sales data analysis determines whether there is an actual demand for a new product, the fit into their product line, and what potential impact on profitability. A detailed study can help you prioritize the right features to focus on.
Financial data analysis is critical to identify inefficiencies in their processes, pinpoint areas where they can cut costs, and optimize their spending. An internal cost report can give you a view of your cash quadrants.
Manufacturing data analysis is crucial for companies to understand their supply chain and metrics such as throughput, attainment, and utilization. With numbers on your side, you can understand which part of your supply chain needs an upgrade.
What is an actionable insight?
An actionable insight is a suggestion that you can implement in the present to directly impact your business in the future. Let’s take an example of a power grid; sorting and analyzing data in a dataset as vast as running a power grid requires understanding specific organizational metrics.
The power connection can be from a rural area, a remote area, or an urban area; while the consumption might look the same on a total level, the patterns can vastly differ.
Average power consumption and the number of homes per household are KPIs that can lead to insights into the distribution industry.
This can follow proper processing until you reach a point where you end up with a to-do list of things you can do today. Likewise, when the concept is applied to the wine and beverage industry, the meaning of an insight changes depending on the KPI.
These metrics are dependent on different depletions based on the sales and on-hand signals towards the store’s inventory.
The metrics can depend on RAD, Retail Account Data, which shows whether the store is a chain or a single store.
The IRR, Inventory Run Rate, can be useful as it checks the details of stock volume at each particular store.
Module development at CI Global: Visualizing data for you
At CI Global, we understand business data can be overwhelming when displaying all numbers without visualization. We build software modules that can extend your ERP’s functionality, create a vision for the future and automate the report with the idea to you as a notification wherever you are.
Now that you know why insights matter, don’t you want to know what we can do for you? Click here.
Extending ERP functionalities through Add-Ons
Building software is about understanding the manner and direction of designing a solution; some solutions have strengths in a few particular aspects, while some build all-around features applicable across industries. ERPs are feature-directed software; they ease operational overhead for businesses and enterprises. If one needs an accounting feature -that Sage Intacct is most optimized for- into their integrated Sage 300 system, they need to build the add-on that can support the currently installed system that addresses the gap that needs to be filled.
This blog explains why building purpose-driven add-ons that extend functionality is essential for business and how it solves specific use cases.
Why does software need an add-on?
Add-ons help businesses optimize the ERP by giving it specific accounting, manufacturing and distribution features. Depending on the needs, one can develop a purpose-driven add-on that gives functionality beyond the norm. While the off-the-shelf software is built for a macro-view of the business, one can use an add-on to make it specifically for the purpose.
Sage 300
It was previously known as Accpac and is the most well-rounded ERP in the market. It is the perfect business accounting system for small and medium-sized businesses(SME/SMB).
Sage 100
It is the mid-point between a comprehensive ERP like Sage 300 and an accounting-specific ERP software like Intacct. Its strengths lie in process management across accounting and manufacturing.
Sage Intacct
Sage Intacct is an ERP software specific for accounting but needs adjustments and utility extensions to suit the business needs and the problem at hand.
How does expertise matter in building purpose-driven software in the ERP ecosystem?
The process of building an add-on is like product development. Like every software product, you need clarity on simple points and follow a wireframe, for example:
The purpose of building it and the use case it solves.
The method and roadmap for making the solution.
The execution of the solution and testing the efficiency.
The removal of any data pitfalls within the system.
An add-on complements and enhances the ERP by implementing business processes not addressed in the ERP. For building one, the business needs a software development team that functions from a business perspective, can optimize ideas, and has software expertise that implements the promises.
Add-ons: The value proposition in extending utility
ERPs are a platform that can give a view of what’s happening in the organization. Let’s take the example from a logistics perspective; the add-on extends the business point of view from just the rudimentary numbers on sales or purchases to a complete control system on sales, purchases and inventory.
With the ERPs and add-ons, the idea is cohesion between operations and the needed results. Automate with the add-on and observe with the ERP through perfect implementation for cohesion. The following are a few examples of add-ons we’ve worked on for the logistics industry:
Digitizing operations with bar-code scanning- Add-on for Sage 300
View data and understand the sales better when delivering products to customers’ needs faster.
Get a complete view of daily, weekly and monthly stock transfers, along with the feature for stock shipment.
Order entry module in Sage Intacct- Automating invoices and receipts
When a salesperson generates an invoice for sale, the order entry helps develop an invoice specific to the deal they made.
In logistics, the commission is measured through different permutations and combinations of the same metric, depending on the demand and sale probability; a PO/OE/AR module helps in dispersing the money.
Multi-bin module for Sage 100- Strategizing the solution
The multi-bin gives a dynamic view of the inventory and the position of each product in the warehouse.
The view helps track, organize and establish control for date-tracking products that can be arranged according to dates.
CI Global: Finding problems, building solutions
From identifying the need, understanding the cause and breaking down the solutions, CI Global has led several projects with expertise that only grew with experience. With over 25 years of experience across industries as a software development team, we’ve worked on critical projects that later became features recognized by the ERP provider.
Want to know more about what we offer? Click here.
Product Integration: Whys and hows
Imagine a black pen with a blue refill and a red cap; it gets confusing a little too quickly. Having multiple products that do not have a seamless feel is like having a messy desk; at one point or another, you need to sort them from scratch again. Product integration in the software world is all about coordinating different products to make your life easier. For example, an e-learning app needs to integrate video-calling software into its interface and organize and support documents for each class conducted. Proper integration is critical for improving productivity and channelling your operations across industries.
In this blog, we discuss CI’s experience in the product integration journey of connecting 10+ ERPs using 15+ custom and standard connectors, connecting more than a thousand metadata. So how does integration work? What are the challenges in the industry?
How to integrate software products?
A complete understanding of your need lets you know what you can ask. Let’s break down the different points of product integration.
Defining your integration goals gives you a plan to work towards.
Choosing the proper method for products that have different kinds of syntaxes.
Implement and test ideas across APIs, database flows, and SDKs.
APIs, SDKs, and databases are integrated differently. The correct option is chosen based on the needs and integration platforms offered.
What are the best practices in product integration?
Breaking down a complex process into steps and methods makes a process as daunting as software product integration. The following are a few practices we ensure at CI:
Data compatibility: The ability of different software systems to exchange data and work together. When this is ensured, products can interpret and process data as intended.
Security and data privacy: After ensuring that the data is compatible, the next step is ensuring there are no privacy concerns and that sensitive data is handled carefully.
Monitor and optimize integration: Monitoring the integration is vital in identifying vulnerabilities and executing security audits to ensure there are no opportunities for data leaks and staying on the right side of avoiding data penalties and privacy breaches.
What are the challenges in product integration?
From interoperability to seeing how the product can be scaled across different sizes and environments, there are multiple challenges in product integration as a field. Let’s go over a few common problems that CI solves for :
Technical challenges: The technical knowledge and know-how of compatibility across different products are vital for optimal integration.
Interoperability: Exchange data within different products to communicate and create a flow of information that cannot be disrupted.
Data management: Different products use different interpretations of data, so it’s essential to ensure that data is compatible with the integration architecture.
Scalability: A perfect solution similarly solves the issues of 1, 10, and 100. Plan for growth within the product integration as demands always increase.
RubiCube: Bridging integration gaps the CIG way
RubiCube is a data analytics product that integrates data from multiple sources, including but not limited to Sage 100/Sage 300/Sage Intacct/CRM/ HRMS, with any of your in-house products. RubiCube’s data lake has been developed using proprietary frameworks and custom connectors for significant ERPs.
Integrating RubiCube brings predictive analytics to your ERP, CRM, and in-house systems. RubiCube is implemented for your use case to either increase revenue, reduce operational costs, or gain strategic advantage. Never go back to an off-the-shelf solution to fit into your processes. Instead, integrate RubiCube as the solution that seamlessly integrates into your system and gives you the room to find the exact fit to move forward in your business. Want to know more about the use and utility? Click here.
