Autonomous Regression Testing for Dynamics 365 F&SCM: How It Actually Works, Step by Step

This article is sponsored by XPLUS.

Autonomous regression testing for Dynamics 365 Finance & SCM identifies real business processes from actual system usage, converts them into reusable test cases, and runs them on a predictable schedule before every release. Unlike manual regression testing, it doesn't require business users to record sessions or attend workshops to define what should be tested. IT teams review and approve the AI-identified processes, then schedule and run the resulting tests automatically.

This article walks through how the process works, why manual testing breaks down, how it compares to Microsoft's RSAT, and a free way to get started before RSAT retires.

What is autonomous regression testing for Dynamics 365 F&SCM?

Autonomous regression testing defines regression test cases based on how Dynamics 365 is actually being used, rather than from documentation, assumptions, or manual workshops with business users. Instead of a QA team guessing which processes matter enough to test, the system identifies recurring, business-critical processes directly from real usage data.

This approach works because Dynamics 365 changes constantly. Microsoft ships updates on a continuous cadence, and every one of them can affect a process a business depends on. Manually defined regression suites tend to reflect what someone thought was important at the time they were built. Over time they go stale as usage shifts. Autonomous regression testing keeps the test basis current by tying it to what the system is doing today.

Why does manual regression testing break down over time?

Manual regression testing depends on three things that don't scale: business user availability, someone remembering to update test cases as usage changes, and enough lead time before each release to run everything. In practice, all three tend to fail simultaneously under deadline pressure. Coverage reflects assumptions rather than actual usage, testing depends on business users being available to record processes or validate outcomes, and regression cycles end up being assembled reactively right before a release.

How autonomous regression testing works, step by step

The process follows a four-step cycle, with each step removing a specific point of manual effort from traditional regression testing:

1. Identify real business processes from actual usage. Instead of starting from documentation or a workshop, the system observes how Dynamics 365 is being used and identifies the processes that recur often enough to matter for regression testing. In effect, it surfaces what people are actually doing, not what a test plan assumed months earlier.
2. Convert identified processes into test cases automatically. Observed processes are transformed into structured, reusable regression tests, removing the manual work of recording every scenario by hand and reducing the need for specialized D365 testing knowledge to build the initial test set.
3. IT reviews and approves. Autonomy doesn't mean no oversight. IT teams review the AI-identified processes and approve which ones become part of the active regression suite. Business users are only pulled in to validate outcomes when it's genuinely needed.
4. Schedule and run tests on a recurring basis. Approved test cases are grouped into test suites and scheduled to run automatically - in particular, before Dynamics 365 updates and before new code releases - turning regression testing into a predictable, repeatable cycle.

The coverage difference compounds over time: a manually built suite reflects a snapshot of the system the moment it was written and requires deliberate effort to keep current, while a usage-based suite grows and shifts automatically as real usage does, with no one needing to manually redefine it.

How does this compare to Microsoft's RSAT?

Microsoft's Regression Suite Automation Tool (RSAT) provides basic regression testing capability for Dynamics 365, but it requires more manual setup and script handling than a purpose-built autonomous testing platform. Setting up RSAT typically requires technical support and independent research, while a dedicated platform like Testing by XPLUS can be ready to use within about an hour, including dedicated training. Creating and running a simple automated test in RSAT typically takes 5–10 minutes; the equivalent task on Testing by XPLUS takes roughly 2-3 minutes, since script creation, modification, and execution happen inside a single workspace rather than through manual file handling. RSAT also lacks built-in support for mass script reconfiguration and API-based integration with other platforms.

Note: RSAT is scheduled for retirement on May 15, 2027, which makes this comparison time-sensitive for any team still relying on it as their primary regression testing tool.

Get started free: Testing Freemium by XPLUS

For teams that need to move off RSAT before it retires - without a big upfront commitment - XPLUS offers a free tier built specifically for this transition: Testing Freemium by XPLUS, available directly on Microsoft Marketplace.

The core idea is that you don't start from zero. Testing Freemium imports your existing RSAT or Microsoft Task Recorder recordings (.axtr / .xml) directly, converts them automatically into full Testing by XPLUS test cases, and lets you run them the same day. Testing Freemium also supports end-to-end business workflows, cross-application testing, AI-driven automation, and performance/load testing, at no cost, with no fixed contract length.

What results do organizations see?

Organizations adopting autonomous or automated regression testing for Dynamics 365 report faster release cycles and reduced dependency on business users for testing work. One Dynamics 365 partner using Testing by XPLUS reported that shifting the testing workload away from business users allowed them to release faster while maintaining quality - without adding headcount.

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Photo by Jan van der Wolf