Gold Standard testing for Workday Finance.

Sports Media & Entertainment: Achieving Gold Standard with Workday Finance.

What is gold level testing?

Gold level testing refers to a comprehensive and rigorous approach to Workday testing that involves thorough examination of all aspects of a system or application. It is characterised by extensive test coverage, meticulous attention to detail, and a focus on achieving the highest level of quality and reliability and typically includes:

  • Extensive functional testing: Testing every feature and function to ensure they behave as expected and meet all specified requirements.
  • Comprehensive integration testing: Verifying the interactions and interoperability between different modules, systems, or components to ensure seamless operation.
  • Rigorous regression testing: Repeatedly testing the software after each change or update to ensure that new developments do not introduce defects or regressions into existing functionality.
  • Performance testing at scale: Assessing performance under heavy loads, high volumes of data, and various usage scenarios to ensure optimal performance and scalability.
  • Robust security testing: Identifying and mitigating potential security vulnerabilities, such as those related to data privacy, authentication, authorisation, and protection against cyber threats.
  • Thorough usability testing: Evaluating the user interface, user experience, and accessibility to ensure they are intuitive, user-friendly, and meet the needs of intended users as described in business requirement specifications.
  • Compliance testing: Ensuring compliance with relevant industry standards, regulations, and best practices, such as GDPR.

    Background:

    A leading sports media and entertainment company, renowned for its innovative content and captivating experiences, embarked on a journey to elevate its financial operations with Workday Finance. The company aimed to achieve operational excellence and streamline financial processes to support its dynamic business needs and growth objectives.

    Impact:

    The implementation of Workday Finance had significant impacts on the sports media and entertainment company:

    • Operational Efficiency: Workday Finance streamlined financial processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting, enhancing operational efficiency and agility within the organisation.
    • Data Visibility: The integrated nature of Workday Finance provided real-time visibility into financial data and insights, empowering decision-makers with accurate and timely information for strategic planning and analysis.
    • Compliance Confidence: Workday Finance’s robust compliance capabilities ensured regulatory compliance and adherence to industry standards, mitigating compliance risks and enhancing corporate governance.

    Root Cause:

    The successful implementation of Workday Finance at the sports media and entertainment company was attributed to meticulous planning, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration between cross-functional teams. Rigorous testing and validation of Workday Finance configurations, integrations, and functionalities ensured a smooth deployment and transition to the new financial system.

    Mitigations for Testing:

    To ensure the successful implementation of Workday Finance and mitigate testing challenges, the sports media and entertainment company implemented the following mitigation strategies:

    • Testing Partnership: Established strategic partnerships with testing consultancies specialising in Workday Finance testing services. These partnerships augmented in-house testing capabilities and provided expertise for comprehensive testing and validation of financial processes and functionalities.
    • End-to-End Testing: Conducted end-to-end testing of Workday Finance configurations, integrations, and customisations to ensure compatibility, stability, and reliability across the financial ecosystem.
    • User Training and Adoption: Prioritised user training and adoption programs to familiarise employees with Workday Finance functionalities and promote user engagement and satisfaction with the new financial system.
    • Change Management: Implemented robust change management practices to manage organisational change and transition effectively to Workday Finance, addressing employee concerns and resistance to change.
    • Continuous Improvement: Established mechanisms for continuous improvement and feedback collection to identify areas for optimisation and enhancement in Workday Finance processes and functionalities post-implementation.

      Outcome:

      By implementing these mitigation strategies, including testing partnerships, the sports media and entertainment company successfully achieved the gold standard with Workday Finance. Enhanced testing protocols, end-to-end testing, user training, and change management initiatives facilitated a smooth transition to Workday Finance, driving operational excellence, compliance confidence, and strategic decision-making capabilities.

      Final Thoughts:

      This case study highlights the transformative impact of Workday Finance on sports media and entertainment companies, enabling them to achieve operational efficiency, data visibility, and compliance confidence. As companies continue to leverage Workday to streamline financial operations and drive business growth, prioritising robust testing practices and strategic partnerships is essential to ensure successful implementations and long-term success.