The Importance of Building a Good Test Case Workflow

When it comes to retail payments, a single hiccup in a merchant’s Point-of-Sale (POS) system can trigger a cascade of negative consequences, including unhappy customers, lost sales, a damaged reputation, and even security breaches. 

One important way to prevent costly errors from occurring is to develop, document, and deploy a robust test case workflow. 

Such a workflow serves as a comprehensive roadmap for testers, outlining a clear sequence of steps and milestones to follow throughout the testing lifecycle. It starts with well-defined objectives and requirements, which act as the foundation of the entire process.  

Establishing these objectives ensures that testers understand the purpose of the testing effort and what specific functionalities, features, or performance metrics need to be validated. This alignment with business goals is particularly crucial in POS system testing, where accuracy, reliability, security, and a seamless user experience are all critical. 

The Typical Stages of a Test Case Workflow 

Once objectives are set, the workflow typically moves into the test planning phase. During this stage, testers create detailed plans specifying the scope of testing, resources required, timelines, and risk assessments. For POS systems, this might involve planning scenarios that cover various payment methods, transaction types, hardware integrations (e.g., barcode scanners, receipt printers), and network conditions. Prioritization of test cases based on risk and business impact also occurs at this point. 

Next is the test case development phase. Testers design comprehensive test cases and scripts, often utilizing both manual and automated approaches to maximize coverage. Test cases for POS systems may involve validating core payment workflows, tax calculations, loyalty program applications, or inventory management. Automated tools may be employed to execute repetitive tasks, such as regression tests or stress tests, ensuring faster and more accurate results. 

The workflow then advances to the test execution phase, where testers follow the predefined scenarios and execute the test cases. Automated checkpoints and validation mechanisms are frequently incorporated into the process to monitor test progress and ensure consistent testing quality. For example, automated systems may flag discrepancies in transaction totals, identify UI inconsistencies, or detect performance slowdowns in real time. 

Additionally, the workflow includes robust issue-tracking and reporting mechanisms. When defects or unexpected behaviors are encountered, testers log detailed reports into issue-tracking systems. These reports typically include screenshots, logs, and detailed descriptions to aid developers in diagnosing and resolving problems efficiently. Feedback loops between testers, developers, and stakeholders facilitate clear communication and ensure that issues are addressed promptly. After defect resolution, testers may re-execute test cases to verify fixes and confirm that no new issues have been introduced. 

Transitioning to Certification 

Certification is often required for POS systems to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, industry requirements, and payment network guidelines. A rigorous testing workflow, focused on functional accuracy, system reliability, and security compliance, lays the essential groundwork for a smooth and successful transition over to the critical certification phase.  

During this stage, the POS system undergoes certification testing by external bodies, payment processors, or acquirers. Certification ensures that the system is compatible with various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets. Additionally, it verifies adherence to security standards such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), ensuring that any and all consumer personal data is protected. 

Certification may also involve validating EMVCo compliance for chip card transactions, contactless payment functionality, and encryption protocols. Some certification processes include End-to-End (E2E) testing with real payment network simulators to assess how the system handles transaction authorizations, declines, refunds, and reversals. 

Test reports and logs generated during internal testing play a crucial role in the certification process. Certification bodies often request detailed documentation that outlines test coverage, defect resolution, and any exceptions handled during testing. Maintaining accurate records streamlines the certification submission and approval process. 

Once certification is granted, the POS system is officially approved for production deployment. Regular maintenance and updates may still require periodic re-certification, especially when introducing significant changes to the system’s functionality or integrating with new payment methods. 

By following a structured workflow with defined checkpoints, automated validation, and seamless feedback loops, organizations ensure comprehensive test coverage, timely completion, and reliable results. Rolling into certification with confidence not only expedites time-to-market but also guarantees compliance, security, and a high-quality customer experience in real-world POS system operations. 

How Paragon Can Help 

For more than 30 years, Paragon Application Systems has been helping some of the largest and most sophisticated payment industry leaders keep their mission-critical processing systems secure, compliant, and operating at peak efficiency.  

The team at Paragon believes that a comprehensive testing strategy, supported by a suite of innovative payment testing tools and processes, can help any financial services company to maximize testing accuracy and efficiency while minimizing errors and defects. 

Are you interested in learning more about how Paragon can help your organization streamline and optimize its payment testing operations? Request a consultation today and talk to our team of industry experts.