What is inter-systems testing?

Overview

When different systems are sharing one single source of data for verification or extracting data, then the data needs to be shared centrally. This means that systems will be communicating data to each other. Inter-systems testing is when an application is used from different systems and the data retrieved from the system is checked. The data retrieved must be consistent and accurate.

During inter-systems testing, multiple systems are checked, which achieves the objective of verifying the integration of systems with a common source of data. Inter-systems testing also ensures that there is an integration of functions between the systems.

When to do inter-system testing

• Each time a system is connected to the common source of data; the data it retrieves should be compared with the database.
• The parameter communicated between the two systems connected to a common data source is changed.

Disadvantages

Testing each system involved in this process can be costly in terms of time.

Example

An example of inter-system testing is a bank ATM. Let us assume that a person opens their bank account in bank A. However, they use the ATM of bank B to withdraw cash. The ATM of bank B communicates the information of the person with bank A to verify their details. Bank A relays the details back to bank B. This process makes use of one source of data for two systems.