Test data: 5 benefits of applying TDM

Test Data Management (TDM) comes to solve the multitude of headaches that arise in a company when it needs to achieve quality data in software testing.

Cost reduction, accurate planning, and security guarantees are some of the challenges that testing information systems need to face. By contrast, test data managed by a TDM system tends to facilitate all of these functions, making them simpler and faster.

Briefly, Test Data Management can be defined as the collection of processes that are aimed at managing test data in software development and testing.

Thus, its main function is the generation of data comparable to that of production, guaranteeing its safety and, at the same time, maximum efficiency.

What exactly are the benefits of TDM in terms of QA, productivity, and cost savings? icaria Technology, with its experience in the development of TDM systems, is here to answer these questions.

Test data management: the benefits for software testing and beyond

1. Improved test performance

Test Data Management is a crucial tool for efficient performance in software testing for the following reasons:

• It automates tasks, ensuring a continuous flow.
• It allows working with small data sets, shortening work cycles and storage needs.
• It centralizes management and communication, avoiding incompatibilities that can occur when using various programs.
• It improves deadlines and reduces waiting times that would otherwise lengthen the software testing process.
• With automatic reports, it is also possible to make the right decisions faster.
• Storage space is optimally redistributed. The appropriate system will ensure that the size of the data used is reduced to what is necessary. In turn, the remaining storage can be used for other uses.

2. Quality Assurance of Test Data

The quality of the test data will largely determine the success of software testing.

By using a proper Test Data Management tool, companies avoid using out-of-date data or irrelevant subsets that would have a noticeable impact on the quality of the resulting software.

Quality assurance is generated on several fronts:

• Human errors are avoided thanks to the automation of all processes.
• The possibility of anticipating security risks appears. The right Test Data Management system provides a global view of structured data and subsets, so you can anticipate errors and reduce associated costs.

3. Increased security in test data management

Data masking is crucial to strengthen data security in software development and testing environments.

With this in mind, the importance of Test Data Management is even better understood: an automatic TDM system takes care of applying the appropriate masking techniques to eliminate security risks.

In turn, it guarantees compliance with current legislation regarding the protection of personal data.

To do this, it identifies sensitive data and applies the necessary de-identification techniques to enable its use in environments outside of production, maintaining its integrity and quality.

4. Increased tester productivity

The appropriate Test Data Management tool is responsible for freeing the human team from a large part of the most repetitive tasks.

In addition to avoiding human errors and waiting, this means that the testers are free to perform other tasks that do require their work and knowledge.

In turn, reliable and quality data is available to these human teams at all times, presenting a central location that streamlines all processes and makes options more flexible.

5. Cost savings

The increase in productivity and efficiency that Test Data Management promotes and that we mentioned above have an undoubtedly fundamental benefit in the context of the development of information systems: the very significant reduction in associated costs.

In a summary, this economic saving is due to the following reasons:

• The possibility to use smaller data sets, minimizing the need for storage space, processing needs, and other resources. Among other advantages, unnecessary duplicates are eliminated and it is guaranteed that the data available is useful and essential. In addition, it complies with the legal requirements of GDPR since it minimizes risks.
• Reduction of those errors that delay the process and potentially generate less effective final products and misaligned with market demands.
• Boosting the productivity of human teams. The agility and quality of the projects are also benefited from faster and, at the same time, more accurate research and data analysis processes.

Test Data Management and competitive advantages

More and more companies understand the usefulness of Test Data Management in their software development and testing processes.

In this sense, the market value of TDM-related technologies continues to grow: it’s estimated that it will reach 1752.5 million US dollars by 2027, according to Verified Market Research, presenting a CAGR growth rate of 11.6% between 2020 and 2027.

These numbers on the expansion of TDM tools are tangible proof of the benefits that companies are already experiencing.

In short, it is a safe way to access a key competitive advantage that, in turn, guarantees a good Return on Investment (ROI).

Through a simpler and more automated software testing process thanks to TDM, it is possible to guarantee adaptation to current market demand, generating brand differentiation and, ultimately, advancing toward the success of the project.

Are you looking for a Test Data Management technology tool that can help you improve software quality and, in turn, reduce your test data management costs? icaria Technology can help you.

Learn more about our TDM tool and request a demo to see first-hand how this system can help your business.