Int4 Explores why Service Virtualization is a Hidden Gem in SAP Transformation Programs

⇨ Int4 messenger, part of Int4 Suite, is a service visualization technology that is designed natively to support SAP S/4HANA transformation programs.

⇨ Establishing service virtualization is an operation performed only once and as it will bring benefits during the rest of the project, it’s advised to apply it early on.

⇨ Introducing the service virtualization for the build phase allows for improvement of the unit test coverage without the burden of setting up external integrated systems or involving external parties.

An SAP S/4HANA transformation project can often be pretty complex and take a few years to complete. Users want to avoid having to place their SAP S/4HANA projects on an on-hold phase, which can lead to the project stopping in some cases, Michal Krawczyk, Int4 co-CEO says. Service virtualization is a software that allows organizations like Int4 to conduct simulations of legacy applications and non-existing systems.

In this article, Int4 explores why service virtualization is a hidden gem in SAP transformation programs. Int4 messenger, part of Int4 Suite, is a service visualization technology that is designed natively to support SAP S/4HANA transformation programs.

It doesn’t need third-party systems or EDI partners to be available in the majority of testing phases. Service virtualization is not automation and requires tests to be carried out by SAP functional consultants and developers and verified manually. By simulating EDI partners and third-party systems, the testing time during development and string integration testing phases of the project are significantly decreased, in turn helping SAP developers and functional consultants.

Krawczyk said: “Since most of the test landscapes for third-party systems can be simulated, SAP S/4HANA projects can reduce the overall project cost and also make it more sustainable compared to the traditional approach where all the third-party systems need to be installed and supported by external resources.”

By introducing service virtualization, organizations can enable smoother execution of transactions in the S/4HANA sandbox and accelerate the blueprint phase. Establishing service virtualization is an operation performed only once and as it will bring benefits during the rest of the project, it’s advised to apply it early on, Krawczyk said.

Introducing the service virtualization for the build phase allows for improvement of the unit test coverage without the burden of setting up external integrated systems or involving external parties.

The application of service virtualization increases testing coverage at the early stages of the implementation – known as shift left, which is an approach to software and system testing in which testing is performed earlier in the life cycle.

Service virtualization is an enabler for the shift left approach, bringing testing early on in the project to avoid issues related to late testing. Service virtualization enables test automation for processes that require cross system integration to run.