For business technology decision-makers, the prospect of a major enterprise software upgrade, like moving to Oracle EBS R12, often conjures a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The potential for disruption, the drain on resources, and the scrutiny from auditors and regulators are all significant concerns.
The case of ViaSat, a leading innovator in satellite and digital communications, offers a compelling blueprint for navigating such upgrades with a focus on reducing risk and improving quality thanks to a strategic approach to testing.
Outlining the Challenges
ViaSat, a publicly traded company with government oversight, faced the impending upgrade to Oracle E-Business Suite R12 with a clear understanding of the stakes. As Aaron Sager, Director of Business Systems and Processes at ViaSat, explained, with the increasing frequency of major software changes, they found themselves “more or less constantly in test mode.”
This continuous testing put significant time demands on finance, HR, and other crucial functions, raising concerns about employee retention if their focus became solely testing. Furthermore, Sarbanes-Oxley requirements meant any changes to their financial systems faced heavy scrutiny from external auditors, making comprehensive testing assurance paramount. The upgrade to their chart of accounts, the largest financial system change in years, amplified this need.
Faced with these challenges, ViaSat recognized the limitations of traditional testing methods, and wanted to avoid record keeping on simple spreadsheets. They sought a solution that would streamline software testing for business users, enabling faster and more accurate execution of tests for any application change. Crucially, the solution needed to document every test, creating a repository for financial audits, regulatory compliance, and continuous process improvement. ViaSat also required tools that were “system agnostic,” capable of supporting their Oracle ERP applications, Agile product data management software, Concur expense reporting, and other technologies.
After evaluating various options, ViaSat selected Original Software’s platform for test management, capture, and automation. A key factor in this decision was the platform’s ease of use for business users, eliminating the need for specialist programmers or manual code writing, which had led them to rule out solutions from HP and Oracle. As Business Systems Analyst Patrick Hooper noted, “If a software testing solution requires me to write code, it won’t appeal to me.”
The implementation of Original Software yielded significant benefits for ViaSat. The upgrade of the chart of accounts became the first project leveraging the new tools, resulting in a very straightforward audit process that previously would have been significantly more time-consuming and less conclusive. Management, auditors, and regulators gained greater confidence due to the lowered risk of change.
The platform’s capabilities for full documentation of every test case, execution, and captured screenshots proved invaluable for governance and compliance. Now, managers can review tests with complete visibility of the data entered and the output, and if production issues arise, they can trace back to the exact test carried out. Furthermore, Original Software facilitated real-time reporting during the R12 upgrade, allowing daily status reviews based on current platform reports, a significant improvement over the previous time-consuming and less accurate manual data collection process.
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, ViaSat is well-positioned for future projects, as the results of their initial testing have been captured for automation, enabling them to build a complete set of automatic regression tests. This will allow them to test far more comprehensively with fewer staff, raising software quality while lowering the risk of business disruption. As a bonus, the animation feature will even be used to create video training guides for new employees.
ViaSat’s success story underscores the importance of a strategic and user-friendly testing platform in managing complex enterprise software upgrades. By choosing Original Software, they not only streamlined their Oracle EBS R12 upgrade but also established a foundation for continuous improvement, reduced audit burdens, and ultimately, lowered the risk associated with critical technology changes.
For business technology decision-makers facing similar challenges, ViaSat’s experience provides valuable insights into how the right testing solution can transform a potentially disruptive project into a catalyst for efficiency and quality.
What this means for ERP Insiders
User-friendly, system-agnostic testing tools reduce risk and improve efficiency. ViaSat’s success in upgrading to Oracle EBS R12 highlights the value of adopting intuitive testing solutions that don’t require coding expertise. By choosing a platform that business users could operate independently—and that worked across multiple systems—ViaSat streamlined testing, improved test accuracy, and minimized reliance on IT resources.
Comprehensive test documentation strengthens audit readiness and compliance. With heavy regulatory oversight, ViaSat needed complete traceability for every test. The chosen solution enabled automatic documentation and screenshot capture for every test case, simplifying audits and ensuring Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, while also supporting continuous process improvement.
Test automation enables scalability and reduces long-term disruption. By capturing reusable test data during their initial project, ViaSat laid the groundwork for full regression testing automation. This not only accelerates future upgrades but also allows broader, more reliable testing with fewer resources—boosting software quality while minimizing disruption to core business operations.
