Implementation Support
Implementation Support
The implementation phase of a project is where the designed solution is put into action.
Arete supports you through all implementation stages with extensive expertise in the industry, custom monitoring tools, proven testing methods, hands-on support and agile management approaches, ensuring your project not only runs smoothly but also maximizes efficiency, reduces risks, and steers successfully towards go-live.
Arete supports you through all implementation stages with extensive expertise in the industry, custom monitoring tools, proven testing methods, hands-on support and agile management approaches, ensuring your project not only runs smoothly but also maximizes efficiency, reduces risks, and steers successfully towards go-live.
Sandbox Testing
The Implementation stage of the project, sandbox testing, refers to a phase where a virtual replica of the live environment is used to thoroughly test the system on the test environment before any testing on-site with the real system. This will also enable necessary training for the client team to reduce operational errors and downtime. Effective management and coordination keep the testing on schedule, while stakeholder management ensures that communications and alignments are clearly made across all parties involved.
Acceptance Test Plan
A customized acceptance test plan based on a proven model outlining system specifications, KPI’s, test cases & success criteria required to validate the functionality and performance in the sandbox environment.Test Execution
If not sufficient or well trained personnel is available, Arete covers overseeing & executing sandbox tests to whichever extent required.Training & Support
A tailored training program & support to the client’s team is provided to ensure they understand how to operate the new system, run test cases & report issues properly.Stakeholder Management
Managing and aligning stakeholders isn’t just about keeping them informed—it’s about ensuring their interests align with the project’s goals. This is where Arete jumps in and facilitates the communication and alignment between key stakeholders.Issue Management & Coordination
All activities during the sandbox testing phase are managed and coordinated by Arete, including test execution timelines, resource requirements, communication between teams and result reporting.Host Interface Integration
The primary objective of the Host Interface Integration Phase is to establish and test the communication between the WCS, WMS, ERP and other hosts or subsystems. This involves requirements validation, detailed test plans and setting up a testing environment with the goal to align data exchange protocols, error handlings, and performance criteria between all systems.
Requirement Verification
Detailed reviews of the host interface requirements are conducted ensuring they align with system specifications & operational needs by confirming that the protocols & performance criteria are accurately defined.Test Plan Creation
Thorough and detailed host communication test plans, including objectives, scope, test cases, and acceptance criteria lead to a successful integration of one or multiple host and sub systems.Test Environment Setup
Assistance is provided in overseeing, communicating and managing the delivery and setup of a proper test environment that accurately reflects the production environment.Stakeholder Management
Managing and aligning stakeholders isn’t just about keeping them informed – it’s about ensuring their interests align with the project’s goals. Arete facilitates the alignments between key stakeholders.Progress Monitoring & Issue Management
Arete takes the lead on tracking the test execution activities, identifying any issues, and ensuring that they are addressed, logged and prioritized promptly using agile approaches.Bugfix Verifications
Bugfixes are verified & regression testing is performed and overseen to ensure the fixes are effective and do not introduce new problems into the system.Mass & Performance Testing
Supplier Performance Testing (SPT)
The Supplier Performance Testing (SPF) phase focuses on validating that the system meets performance standards set by the vendor before transitioning to client-driven performance testing. The vendor needs to make sure that components can work efficiently under stress and peak scenarios on a physical level while also validating the software’s perforamance efficacy.
Supplier Performance Validation
The vendor’s performance test plan and results need to be closely analyzed, ensuring the system meets the agreed-upon performance standards. This includes reviewing various metrics via Arete’s performance validation model.Supplier Performance Test Acceptance
After validating the supplier’s performance test results Arete facilitates the formal acceptance of the performance tests by ensuring that all agreed-upon criteria have been met.Efficiency Evaluation
Through a detailed efficiency evaluation report & a comparative analysis against industry benchmarks Arete assesses and recommends improvements to identify areas for potential optimizations.Customer Performance Testing (CPT)
The purpose of the CPT is to ensure the system meets defined KPIs and can handle expected workloads by executing performance tests with simulated orders orders supplied by the ERP system.
Besides making sure that the physical equipment works properly under stress the customer varifies if all software controlled systems and sub systems (WCS, WMS, ERP, etc.) can deal with high loads.
Performance Test Plan
A performance test plan that defines KPIs, benchmarks system performance under load, covers the required throughput, simulates peak load scenarios is deveoped to identify critical components & bottlenecks.Data Aggregation & Documentation
Response times, throughput, operational and technical bottleneck & other critical metrics are documented and reported in real-time monitoring tools & dashboards.Test Execution Assistance
Hands-on support is provided by guiding the customer in executing tests, ensuring test scripts are run correctly and troubleshooting any issues that arise.Progress Monitoring & Issue Management
Open issues and tasks are logged, prioritized & managed using agile approaches. Regular updates to stakeholders are provided in forms of documented test results, dashboards & issue logs.Performance Tuning & Optimizations
In areas with possible performance improvement or other risks mitigation strategies are developed & expert advice is provided on optimizing the system’s performance.Risk & Contingency Planning
Recommended contingency plans if the system does not meet the expected performance levels are provided through Risk Assessment Reports.End-to-End - Supplier Integration Tests
The Factory Acceptance (FAT) or Supplier Integration Testing (SIT) phase is the final testing conducted by the material handling supplier before handing the system over to the customer. Even though the customer does not have hands-on access to the system yet at this point key responsibilities including status monitoring, thorough test plan reviews, risk identifications and mitigation strategies help address potential problems before they arise during CIT testing or go live.
Risk Identification & Mitigation
Proactive risk management through risk assessment reports & the right mitigation strategies are important even without having hands-on access to the system yet.Test Plan Review
A thorough review of the vendor’s end-to-end test plan is conducted to ensure that it covers all critical scenarios while meeting quality standards, including functional, performance, and integration tests.Technical & Processual Optimizations
By assessing the technical setups of the delivered WMS, WCS or WES during the FAT phase, crucial recommendations to optimize flexibility, performance & usability of the system are delivered.Stakeholder Management
Managing and aligning stakeholders isn’t just about keeping them informed – it’s about ensuring their interests align with the project’s goals. Arete facilitates the alignments between key stakeholders.Status Monitoring
The status of the supplier’s internal end-to-end tests is continuously monitored, deviations or issues tracked and real-time updates delivered to prevent any impacts on later testings stages.End-to-End - Customer Integration Tests
In the CIT phase the system is fully or partially handed over to the customer who then receives hands-on access. It ensures that the system aligns with customer expectations, functions in real-world conditions and the delivered solutions meet the specific operational needs. It allows both the customer and the solution supplier to validate that all systems (ERP, WMS, WCS, etc.) and components function correctly together in a live-like environment.
Requirement Verification
Through a collection of industrially proven pre-CIT requirements we make sure that the supplier has met all contractual obligations and functional expectations before moving further, reducing the risk of a CIT failure due to unmet requirements.Test Planning
A comprehensive test plan is developed including defined scope, goals, test cases, resource requirements, material needs, acceptance criteria the expected timeline in alignment with the suppliers.Test Execution
If the client’s team does not have sufficient or sufficiently trained personnel, Arete covers overseeing or executing the end-to-end tests to whichever extent required, from full CIT testing to certain functionalities.Risk Identification & Mitigation
Technical, operational, and thus financial risks associated with the system are identified through various methods and monitored, tracked and communicated via risk assessment reports.Process Improvements
Functional & operational improvements are suggested to improve the system’s reliability and efficiency including optimizing operational or technical workflows, system configurations, or applied test execution methods.Progress Monitoring
Issues and tasks are logged, prioritized and managed using agile approaches. Regular updates to stakeholders are provided in forms of documented test results, summarizing dashboards, issue logs and mitigation strategies.User Acceptance Tests (UAT)
By involving key and end users in testing real-world scenarios the UAT phase ensures that all operational needs and busness requirements in a system are fulfilled. Actual users identify any issues that may have been overlooked during earlier stages and test the system and approve it aligns with their needs and is ready for production.
This phase is the final verification before the system goes live.
This phase is the final verification before the system goes live.