Six Considerations to Set Testing Up for Success in OMS Transformation Programmes

By Senior Consultant, Shireen Quadir, and Consultant, Edward Wimble

The success of an Order Management System (OMS) transformation programme depends on a strong Quality Assurance (QA) approach. Testing is not an isolated process; the realities of the wider project influence it. Different approaches may be required to achieve the best results depending on the project context. However, core principles of good testing apply across all programmes.

This article highlights six key considerations to optimise your testing strategy and ensure a successful transformation.

1) A Clear Test Strategy & Objectives

This is the North Star of your project. A test strategy should have distinct phases, each with a clear objective. A test plan should cover functional, integration, user acceptance, and regression testing phases. Clear objectives minimise duplication of effort and unnecessary replication of test cases, preserving project credibility and ensuring high-quality delivery.

A test plan is based on analysing business requirements and workflows. It provides additional value if QA is involved early in the requirements analysis stage. Testing is the final validation of built solutions, ensuring they align with business and operational needs. Given an overview of critical round-trip processes, a test strategy can cover the entire workflow -from front-office functions such as order modelling to back-office processes like settlement and IBOR.

2) Test Planning and Scenario Creation

Efficient testing requires thorough planning to create scenarios that support the testing strategy. Dependencies need to be identified whether that be data availability or solutions still in the release testing phase. Integration points where different systems interact should be understood as potential failure points for test cases.

In round-trip testing, reliant on batch processing, missing prerequisites or undefined scenario objectives can needlessly extend testing timelines. This method involves testing a process from start to finish and then back to the beginning again, often used in batch processing systems. ‘Entry and exit gates’ are a method for QA to set standards for when solutions are ready to be tested and establish pre-determined criteria for passing tests. Proper scenario creation is a vital step in supporting the overall testing strategy.

3) Testing Environments & Tooling

Unrealistic test data and poorly maintained environments often hinder effective testing. Environment unavailability leads to time loss and disrupts ongoing testing. Poor data increases complexity in verifying test results during earlier stages and reduces business confidence in user acceptance testing. Investing in a well-maintained test environment with realistic data enables high-quality testing and ensures robust solutions.

Equipping testers with the right tools is essential for efficiency. A lack of proper defect management, repositories, or automation tools hampers execution and delays project timelines. Ideally, tools should be in place before testing begins. Introducing new tools mid-project, while sometimes necessary, diverts resources from executing the test strategy.

4) Balance of Automation & Manual Testing

Automation is increasingly valuable for regression and volume testing, as it allows repetitive tests to be executed efficiently. This frees up test analysts to focus on areas where manual input provides more significant value. For example, complex, user-driven workflow testing benefits from manual testing, as usability issues and judgment-based decisions are difficult to automate.

Exceptions identified through automation should be manually reviewed to determine their validity and design re-testing scenarios. A manual review of automated testing provides an opportunity to improve automation and better handle future test scenarios. A risk-weighting approach can also be adopted, with increased manual oversight for higher-risk workflows. This approach involves assigning a risk level to each test case, with higher-risk cases receiving more manual oversight. Rather than choosing between automated and manual testing, it is about strategically deploying both methods to best support the test strategy.

5) Proactive Defect Management & Risk Mitigation

Fostering a collaborative environment where defects are proactively managed is crucial for programme success. Early identification, concise documentation, accurate tracking, and efficient resolution contribute to smoother project execution. Thorough testing helps identify functional gaps and system risks before they become late-stage surprises.

Establishing clear handover standards for solutions given to testing reduces miscommunication. Similarly, implementing standardised defect reporting enhances issue transparency across the project team. ‘Prod-like’ deployments act as a dress rehearsal in lower environments, allowing teams to catch bugs and defects before they are implemented in production. In an increasingly agile landscape, proactive defect management is essential, as iterative improvements are continuously developed and released.

6) Joint Ownership & Accountability

QA should partner with the broader project team, sharing ownership of project delivery. Allowing time for a testing strategy early in the project clarifies development teams and assurance to the business. Positioning QA as a core component of the project fosters collaboration between developers, vendors, and business stakeholders. This collaborative approach results in faster issue resolution, enabling QA to contribute actively to developing solutions and becoming a proactive force that enhances overall programme success.

Conclusion

Successful OMS transformation relies on a structured, well-planned QA strategy. Organisations can mitigate risks and improve project outcomes by addressing key areas such as test planning, automation, environment setup, and defect management. Implementing these best practices ensures smoother deployments, higher system stability, and greater business confidence.

At Liqueo, we bring hands-on experience in test strategy, scenario creation, and execution. If you’re looking for expert guidance to drive your transformation success, we’d love to help.