Testing CRM Solutions

 

Testing CRM Solutions in Dynamics 365:

When you're developing and deploying CRM solutions—whether managed or unmanaged—it’s essential to validate that changes are correct, stable, and deployable. Testing applies across several layers of the CRM application.

1. What to Test in a CRM Solution:

  • Entity Customizations: Fields, relationships, business rules, form layout.

  • Business Logic: Workflows, Business Process Flows, Plugins, Custom Workflow Activities.

  • Security: Role-based access, field-level security, team-based sharing.

  • Automation: Power Automate Flows, SLA Timers, Email templates.

  • Integrations: APIs, Azure integrations (Functions, Logic Apps, Service Bus).

  • UI/UX: Form performance, navigation, ribbon commands, JavaScript behaviors.

2. Environments Used in Testing Strategy:

  • Development – For active customization and unit testing.

  • Test/SIT – System Integration Testing with mock or masked real data.

  • UAT – Final approval by business users with full business scenarios.

  • Production – Only after thorough testing and validation.

Best Practices for Testing CRM Solutions:

✅ 1. Test Early, Test Often (Shift Left):

  • Begin testing from the development phase itself.

  • Automate unit tests for Plugins using frameworks like FakeXrmEasy.

✅ 2. Use Solution Layers for Safe Customization:

  • Always test in a clean environment to identify any solution layering conflicts.

  • Export and import both managed and unmanaged versions during test cycles.

✅ 3. Regression Testing After Each Deployment:

  • Test key business functions to ensure nothing breaks.

  • Automate regression with tools like EasyRepro or Selenium.

✅ 4. Validate Business Rules and BPFs:

  • Confirm that field-level logic and process stages trigger as intended.

  • Test all edge cases (optional fields, invalid input, skipped stages).

✅ 5. UAT Best Practices:

  • Provide scripts for test scenarios.

  • Include key personas (Sales Manager, CSR, etc.) in the testing process.

  • Track feedback and defects in Azure DevOps or Jira.

✅ 6. Managed vs Unmanaged Testing:

  • Unmanaged for dev/testing; Managed mimics production.

  • Always test the upgrade path—from one solution version to another.

  • Validate solution dependencies before packaging.

✅ 7. Post-Deployment Smoke Tests:

  • Confirm successful deployment, plugin registration, role mappings.

  • Test critical business flows like lead to opportunity conversion, case escalation, etc.

✅ 8. Test Power Automate & Plugin Integration:

  • Trigger flows via test data and inspect flow runs/logs.

  • Enable plugin trace logs and monitor Application Insights.

✅ 9. Use Sandboxes and Backups:

  • Clone production environments for accurate testing.

  • Take backups before solution import for rollback if needed.

Common Issues Caught During CRM Testing:

  • Missing field mappings during solution import.

  • JavaScript errors on form load due to field removals.

  • Flows not triggering due to changes in schema.

  • Plugin registration errors or assembly version mismatches.

  • Broken lookup references or relationship mappings in data.

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