“Like an entire team dedicated to testing”: How First American transformed Workday testing with Kainos Smart Test.
"Smart Test has eliminated the need for manual testing. Now, we have a system that handles everything, from side-by-side payroll comparisons to integration testing. It’s like having an entire team dedicated to testing, without the resource strain."
About First American
First American Financial Corporation is a financial services company which is a leading provider of insurance and settlement services for real estate transactions. Serving clients globally and with over 135 years of financial experience, the company combines cutting-edge technologies with unparalleled data assets to drive digital innovation across the industry.
A journey of transformation: Overcoming testing challenges
First American Financial Corporation embarked on its digital transformation journey with Workday in 2017. “We needed a system to bring all employees onto one platform, create efficiencies, and eliminate silos,” shared Jessica Harnett, Senior HRIS Project Manager. By 2019, Workday was deployed across the U.S., Canada and India allowing First American to create new possibilities for its global team. While Workday simplified processes, managing change, particularly during biannual updates, became increasingly complex. “Testing was entirely manual,” Jessica recalled. “Each update required a massive coordination effort involving over 25 employees from our Centers of Excellence (COEs) across India, Canada, and the U.S.”
Regression testing alone spanned five weeks, with teams manually executing 75-80 scenarios just to ensure change didn’t have a negative impact. Carol Nguyen, HRIS Functional Manager, noted, “Recruiters couldn’t focus on hiring, payroll teams were stretched thin, and we were pulling people away from their regular roles. It was exhausting.”
A game-changer: Smart Test automation
The solution came with Smart Test, Workday’s preferred testing tool, which transformed First American’s approach to testing and change management.
“Smart Test has eliminated the need for manual testing,” said Carol. “Now, we have a system that handles everything, from side-by-side payroll comparisons to integration testing. It’s like having an entire team dedicated to testing, without the resource strain.”
With Smart Test, testing cycles were significantly reduced – regression testing dropped from five weeks to just one. The system automated over 10,000 test scenarios, enabling robust payroll and integration testing. Automation also enhanced compliance by ensuring detailed and consistent documentation, which was critical for First American’s heavily regulated industry. The automation freed up over 25 employees, allowing them to return to their core roles and, focus on more strategic initiatives.
“All those concerns about something breaking? They’re gone,” Jessica added. “Smart Test catches everything. We’re no longer in firefighting mode - we’re innovating.”
Advancing Workday innovation and agility
With Smart Test, the HRIS team has reclaimed valuable time, shifting focus from maintenance to progression. “The first week of each release cycle is now spent running automated tests and verifying scenarios,” Carol explained. “That leaves us with three to four weeks to explore new features and collaborate with our COEs.”
This agility has enabled First American to adopt Workday features like Journeys and Candidate Engagement faster, delivering immediate value to employees.
“Smart Test brings us speed and confidence,” Jessica said. “We can innovate with new features, knowing the system’s integrity is intact. It’s opened possibilities we hadn’t imagined.”
A future built on automation
The impact of Smart Test extends beyond efficiency and a culture of continuous improvement. While HR teams focus on strategic initiatives, compliance teams benefit from robust documentation. “Our compliance team loves Smart Test,” Jessica shared. “Auditors can see that our testing is not only thorough but also consistent and automated. It’s a win for everyone.”
By streamlining testing, Smart Test has allowed First American to reimagine Workday operations. “Smart Test has saved us hundreds of hours,” Jessica concluded. “It’s allowed us to innovate, collaborate, and deliver a better experience for everyone at First American. It’s been a transformative journey.”