Global Benefits Administration Firm Automates 100+ Regression Scripts Across 7 D365 F&O Modules — Regression Now Runs in Under 3 Hours
How Crestech Created 300 Test Cases, Automated Key End-to-End Flows, and Reduced Regression Execution to Hours — Starting from Zero Automation
The Problem
A leading global benefits administration company running its core operations on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations had no test automation in place. Every release cycle was entirely manual. Regression testing alone required 2–3 testers per D365 process area, running tests manually across seven modules — Project Management & Accounting, Subscription & Billing, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Cash & Bank, Fixed Assets, and Expense Management — before each bi-monthly release.
Functional documentation was limited, with existing test scripts in semi-formal, manual formats. There was no cross-module impact visibility — a change in AP or Subscription & Billing had no automated way of flagging regressions in Project Accounting or Cash & Bank until defects surfaced in production. Critical end-to-end flows like Procure-to-Pay and Customer Billing were validated manually each cycle, consuming significant tester time. Prerequisite tasks such as role assignments depended on the client’s internal MDM and invoicing teams, adding further delays. With Microsoft’s mandatory semi-annual D365 updates adding complexity, the manual-only approach was unsustainable.
The Engagement
The client partnered with Crestech to move from a fully manual QA process to an automation-led testing model on D365 F&O. The objective was clear:
“Own the full test lifecycle. Create and automate test cases across all modules. Deliver bi-monthly regression capability. Reduce manual dependency. Do it fast.”Crestech’s existing library of reusable D365 F&O test assets on the Opkey automation platform meant the engagement could move from zero to production-ready automation in a matter of months. A lean Crestech team — QA Lead, Automation Engineer, and Functional Consultant — collaborated closely with the client’s functional leads to deliver a scalable, maintainable automation framework through a structured three-phase approach.
Our Approach
1. Comprehensive Test Case Development
Crestech created, tested, and obtained sign-off for approximately 300 functional test cases covering end-to-end scenarios, change requests, new feature validations, and ad-hoc testing across all seven D365 F&O modules. This was built from the ground up, given the client’s limited existing documentation — establishing a structured, reusable test suite where none existed before.
2. Automation of 100+ Regression Scripts via Opkey
Leveraging its pre-built D365 test asset library on the Opkey platform, Crestech automated and stabilized 100+ regression test scripts designed to be scalable and reusable across multiple entities. End-to-end automation scripts were developed and made execution-ready, covering two critical business flows: Procure-to-Pay (from PO creation through invoicing and approval workflows) and Customer Billing (from account setup through invoicing and approvals). Automation was successfully implemented for select modules across different entities, with the framework built for expansion.
3. Phased Delivery: Collaborative → Guided → Independent
Given the limited functional documentation, Crestech executed a structured three-phase delivery. In the Collaborative phase (Weeks 1–5), the team worked alongside the client’s functional leads to understand process flows, finalize scope, and structure test cases. During the Guided phase (Weeks 6–9), Crestech drove execution while the client observed runs and provided feedback, with regression initiated and scripts stabilized. By the Independent phase (Week 10+), Crestech was executing regression cycles autonomously with full reporting and suite ownership.
4. Finalized Regression Pack & Ongoing Support
Crestech established a finalized regression pack supporting the client’s monthly releases as well as Microsoft’s bi-annual D365 updates. Automation of prerequisite role assignments reduced dependency on the client’s internal MDM and invoicing teams, removing a key bottleneck from the release cycle. Scripts are continuously maintained and updated with every process or configuration change.
Impact & Results
Within a few months, Crestech transformed the client’s D365 F&O testing from a fully manual, resource-heavy operation to an automation-led model delivering consistent, measurable results every release cycle.
Performance Metrics
| Metric | Before | After | Improvement |
| Test Cases | Semi-formal, unstructured | ~300 signed-off functional test cases | Complete test suite built |
| Automation Coverage | 0% — No automation | ~100+ regression scripts automated | Ground-up transformation |
| Regression Execution Time | Days of manual effort per entity | ~3 hours per entity (50+ test cases) | Days reduced to hours |
| E2E Execution (P2P + Billing) | Manual; multi-day validation | ~1.5 hours for both flows | Rapid end-to-end validation |
| Manual Effort / Release | 100%; 2–3 testers per module | ~20% manual effort | ~80% effort reduction |
| D365 Modules Covered | Manual across 7 modules | Automated across 7 modules | Full module coverage |
| Role Assignment Dependencies | Manual; dependent on MDM team | Automated prerequisite setup | Removed team dependency |
Business Outcomes
- Regression in Hours, Not Days: Automated regression execution completes in ~3 hours per entity (50+ test cases), replacing days of manual effort by 2–3 testers per module.
- End-to-End Flows Validated in 1.5 Hours: Two critical business flows — Procure-to-Pay (PO creation to invoicing and approvals) and Customer Billing (account setup to invoicing and approvals) — now execute end-to-end in ~1.5 hours.
- 300 Test Cases Created from Scratch: A comprehensive, signed-off test suite covering end-to-end scenarios, change requests, new feature validations, and ad-hoc testing — built from limited documentation.
- 100+ Reusable Regression Scripts: Automated scripts designed for scalability across multiple entities, with the framework ready for expansion to additional modules.
- ~80% Manual Effort Reduced: Only ~20% manual effort required for future releases, freeing testers for exploratory testing, new feature validation, and higher-value QA work.
- Internal Team Dependencies Eliminated: Automation of prerequisite role assignments removed dependency on the client’s MDM and invoicing teams, streamlining the release cycle.
- D365 Update Readiness: Finalized regression pack supports both monthly client releases and Microsoft’s bi-annual D365 updates, eliminating the manual scramble with each upgrade.
Conclusion
This engagement proves that rapid, comprehensive automation on D365 Finance & Operations is achievable — even starting from zero automation, limited documentation, and fully manual regression cycles. With a lean team and its pre-built D365 test asset library on Opkey, Crestech created 300 test cases, automated 100+ regression scripts, and reduced regression execution from days to ~3 hours per entity — all within a few months. Critical end-to-end flows like Procure-to-Pay and Customer Billing now validate in ~1.5 hours, manual effort has been reduced by ~80%, and the client has a scalable, reusable automation framework supporting every release.
