We've said this before and we'll say it again. User adoption can make or break the success of your IT projects. Without your users adopting the new tools, your efforts of modernizing your business processes will ultimately be futile and the end result can only lead to wasted time and money. While strategic change management plays a great deal of role in a successful user adoption program, user testing is where the first step of adoption starts.
If you're a finance manager currently involved in implementing Dynamics 365 Business Central within your organization and trying to understand the role your users will play in the smooth implementation process, you've come to the right place! In this blog, we will delve into what makes user testing a critical step in the software development lifecycle and the best practices for ensuring it contributes to the success of your Dynamics 365 Business Central project.
But first things first. What is User Testing?
User testing, also known as usability testing or user acceptance testing (UAT) involves evaluating a software application or system by testing it with representative users to ensure that it meets their needs, is easy to use, with functions as intended. UAT is usually done manually, with users creating real-world scenarios and testing how the software reacts and performs.
It can be used to determine if your end users will accept the configurations and customizations made into your Business Central environment before it's made available to your wider user base. With a UAT, you can identify and fix any issues that might impact your user's satisfaction or performance of Business Central.
What are the best practices when doing User Testing?
Inevitably, you will work with your Business Central partner in effectively doing this phase of your project. But to ensure the success of your User Testing, here are some tips and best practices when going through this phase.
Test Planning
The Test Planning phase is the process of designing, preparing, and executing tests to verify the quality and functionality of your Business Central ERP. When test planning, you should:
First and foremost, define your goals and objectives specific to testing your Business Central, such as evaluating the usability of its user interface or validating user workflows in specific modules.
Identify representatives of your target users who will be using Business Central in your organization.
Plan the test scenarios and tasks that align with your typical usage of Business Central, covering various modules and functionalities.
Provide clear instructions and guidelines for your participants on how to navigate and perform tasks in Business Central.
Test Execution
The Test Execution phase is where your users test Business Central to make sure it can handle the necessary tasks in real-world scenarios in accordance with your business' specifications. In this phase, you must:
Encourage participants to interact naturally with Business Central, performing their usual tasks and providing feedback on their experiences.
Allow the participants to explore the system independently, minimizing interferences during testing.
Use a mix of evaluation methods, such as observing participants' interactions with Business Central, recording their sessions, and gathering their feedback through surveys or interviews.
Data Collection and Analysis
This is the phase where you analyze the collected data, including observation notes, video recordings, and survey responses, to identify patterns and usability issues specific to Business Central. You should:
Categorize and prioritize the identified issues based on user experience impact within Business Central.
Apply analysis techniques to gain insights into user behavior, preferences, and challenges specific to using Business Central.
Issue Identification and Prioritization
As issues arise during testing, it is important to document and prioritize them. Do the recommended steps below to effectively manage the issues.
Identify and document usability issues within Business Central, such as confusing navigation, complex data entry processes, or inconsistencies in terminology.
Prioritize the identified issues based on their severity and potential impact on user productivity and satisfaction.
Use the findings to inform design and development decisions, proposing improvements to address the identified issues.
Iterative Testing
User testing isn't a one-off process. You should do it iteratively throughout the development and implementation process of Business Central to identify improvement areas.
Address major usability issues identified in early-stage testing, ensuring improvements are made before wider user adoption.
Validate design changes and enhancements in subsequent rounds of testing to ensure they effectively address the identified issues within Business Central.
Collaboration and Feedback
It is important to foster collaboration between the testing team, Business Central consultants, developers and stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of your users' needs and challenges. It is important to:
Gather feedback from the users who interacted with Business Central during the testing process, incorporating their insights and suggestions into the design and development of the system.
Maintain a collaborative approach, ensuring that user feedback is considered and integrated into the ongoing improvements of the ERP.
Iteration and Validation
Address usability issues identified during user testing through iterative design and development cycles within Business Central.
Implement changes and enhancements based on user feedback, ensuring they align with the specific needs and requirements of your Business Central users.
Validate the effectiveness of the changes by conducting subsequent rounds of testing within Business Central to ensure improved usability and user experience.
User testing is a critical component of any project implementation as it focuses on involving end users in the evaluation and validation of a system or software solution.
It goes beyond traditional testing methods by actively engaging users to provide feedback, insights, and real-world usage scenarios. By actively involving your end users throughout your Business Central implementation process, you can optimize your systems to meet your users' needs, enhance user experience, and maximize the value derived from the solution.
Need further Business Central training for your team?
We got your back! From product reorientation, navigation, administration, and role-based training to workflow automation and reporting dimensions, we can help you develop and deliver the training content that your users need. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
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