CI/CD-Triggered Functional Testing of Billing Engines Using Parameterized Xml Payloads and SQL Checks

Abstract

Automating testing of functional billing engine testing by allowing for test authoring in CI/CD generated pipelines, is a standard for billing applications. By using parameterized XML and SQL database validation, companies can test and validate both transaction accuracy and long term data accuracy. In this paper we highlight our work with Charter Communications of creating Jenkins pipelines to automatically test for functional testing of rating, invoicing and adjustment transactions. We created dynamic parameterized XML template which allowed us to create near any billing transaction with SQL checks to verify both ledger balance, account balances, audit log balance. We implemented double barrier validations, front end validations and back end persistence validations to create two check points for errors as early as possible in the build/release cycle. Dashboards and reporting offered transparency, Jenkins offered the tests, every time a change is made, as regression tests with continuous delivery. Together, we realized efficiencies in process, and reduced human error, and decreased revenue leakage and compliance violations in a high transaction volume billing applications.