HRMS System Testing is Key to Implementation Success

The well-worn phrase is “Try before you buy,” but if you want your HRMS user experience to be exemplary; “Test before you launch” is an equally essential maxim. As in so many situations in life, first impressions are the most important and your user’s first login to the new HRMS will determine what they think of it – the first user experience is often the most memorable so it’s important not to skimp on the HRMS system testing just to hit a pre-decided launch date.

The Outcomes of Poor HRMS System Testing

Your HRMS will contain confidential and personal employee details (and assuming there is a payroll module, those details will include social security numbers and bank accounts) so there really is no room for error during system testing.

Proper testing will throw up the bugs or glitches that are inevitably both in the software itself and also in the HR processes that are being automated and transformed

After a carefully orchestrated and engaging communications campaign, tailored user training, a grand launch and go-live day, nothing is more destructive to user opinion of the new system than to see it fail in some way. And the smaller the failure, the more fatal it can be to the system’s credibility. The smallest inaccuracy may have significant consequences for the individual employee. Get somebody’s name or birthday wrong and the reaction is “Huh – they can’t even get that right!” Get somebody’s salary wrong and then you’ll really hear about it.

HRMS System Testing During Implementation

As part of your HRMS implementation strategy, you should test everything. Everything. Functions, transactions, processes, workflows, every feature. Set up mixed user groups (your beta testers) to test the system ‘to destruction’. Engage in rigorous data cleansing exercises prior to migrating the now-shiny and accurate data to the new database. If moving from one system to another, carry out parallel running tests and compare the results down to the last detail (especially on the payroll module). Run dummy and demo reports and check your analytics.

The Benefits of HRMS System Testing

Proper testing will throw up the bugs or glitches that are inevitably both in the software itself and also in the HR processes that are being automated and transformed. Fail to test, and, well, fail in all likelihood… Of course, the certainty is that even with the world’s most robust testing regime, one or two problems will likely still slip through the net, but if your preparations are rigorous – and are seen to be so – then you’ll find your users will be a lot more forgiving of the new system.

Recommended Reading: HRMS Selection Survival Guide - Find the right HRMS software; reduce likelihood of bugs in the system.

Performing HRMS system testing to work out those bugs in the system proves not only beneficial to the users but also the overall HRMS budget and the HRMS project team credibility. When planning your implementation timescale ensure adequate time has been scheduled for system testing.