Why application performance is critically important
In today’s business world, where every second of downtime can cost an organisation hundreds of thousands of złoty, performance testing has ceased to be an optional add-on to the software development process. It has become a fundamental element of the strategy for ensuring IT systems’ business continuity. UiPath, a leader in business process automation, has introduced a Performance Testing solution that is transforming the approach to load and performance testing.
According to data presented by UiPath, downtime of critical business applications can cost an organisation more than 500,000 US dollars for every hour of unavailability. This is not limited to direct financial losses from halted transactions and sales. It also includes the costs of recovering the system after a failure, intensive post-production support, and - often underestimated - the loss of customer trust and damage to brand reputation.
What is Performance Testing in the context of UiPath
Performance Testing is a comprehensive approach to assessing system performance under defined loads, aimed at ensuring reliability, efficiency, and scalability of applications. UiPath defines its mission in this area as “empowering testers to push applications to their limits, ensuring peak performance under any load”.
The UiPath Performance Testing solution stands out from the competition primarily through its integration with the entire UiPath automation platform. It is not an isolated load-testing tool, but part of a larger ecosystem that leverages existing test automations, RPA robot infrastructure, and all UiPath platform components, such as Orchestrator, Test Manager, Data Service, and Studio.
Types of performance tests supported by the platform
UiPath Performance Testing enables four basic types of performance tests to be carried out:
Load Testing - used to measure system performance under expected user load. This type of test answers the question of whether the application can handle typical, everyday user traffic.
Stress Testing - assesses the resilience and stability of the system under extreme conditions. During these tests, the system is deliberately overloaded in order to identify the critical point at which it starts to fail.
Spike Testing - determines how the system responds to sudden and extreme increases in load. It simulates situations where the number of users rises sharply within a short period, for example during marketing campaigns or special events.
Endurance Testing - assesses system performance over an extended period under typical load. It helps detect problems related to memory leaks or performance degradation over time.
Architecture and components of the solution
The architecture of UiPath Performance Testing is based on using existing UiPath platform components in a new, innovative way. The central element is Test Manager, with a dedicated Performance Scenarios tab that serves as the control point for all activities related to performance testing.
Studio Desktop and Web enable the creation of UI automations, which are then used as the basis for performance tests. This is a key difference compared with traditional load-testing tools - UiPath uses actual interactions with the user interface, ensuring maximum realism of the simulation.
Orchestrator acts as the command centre, responsible for allocating robots and orchestrating test execution. This is where the pool of robots that will simulate end users during the tests is defined.
Data Service integrates with the testing process, providing test data and storing results. It enables the creation of synthetic test data sets that are safe from a personal data protection compliance perspective.
Robots - both cloud robots and on-premise robots - carry out the actual tests, simulating user actions. Each robot can represent one or multiple virtual users, depending on the scenario configuration.
Data flow in the system
The performance testing process begins with publishing the automation package from Studio to the Orchestrator. Test Manager registers the test scenario and configures parameters such as the number of virtual users, test duration, or load distribution over time.
During test execution, Test Manager launches a job in the Orchestrator, which in turn allocates robots to carry it out. The robots retrieve the automation packages, connect to Data Service for test data, and begin simulating user actions.
All logs and performance metrics are collected in real time and sent to a reporting database. Test Manager presents this data in the form of interactive dashboards and reports, enabling live analysis while the test is running.
Key features and competitive advantages
Maximum Realism
UiPath Performance Testing stands out through its approach based on simulating genuine user interactions with the application. Unlike traditional tools, which often operate at the HTTP protocol level, UiPath uses fully-fledged UI automations. This means that the load test performs exactly the same steps a real user would - clicking buttons, filling in forms, navigating between pages.
This approach is fundamentally important for the credibility of test results. Web applications increasingly use advanced front-end technologies such as React, Angular, or Vue.js, which rely heavily on JavaScript and asynchronous calls. Traditional tools may fail to capture all performance aspects of such applications.
Speed to Value
Organisations that already use UiPath for functional test automation can immediately begin performance testing. Existing test automations can be used without modification, or with minimal changes, as the basis for performance scenarios.
This dramatically shortens the time needed to prepare performance tests. Instead of building scripts from scratch in a specialised load-testing tool, teams can leverage their existing base of automations.
Cost Efficiency
Using the same infrastructure, the same robots, and the same environment for functional and performance testing translates into significant savings. Organisations do not need to invest in additional licences for specialised tools or dedicated infrastructure.
All test artefacts - logs, reports, test data - are located in one place, which simplifies management and analysis. Teams do not need to integrate multiple tools or synchronise data between different systems.
Platform Experience
Integration with the entire UiPath platform means users work with tools and interfaces they are already familiar with. There is no need to learn a new environment or a new methodology. All security, compliance, and access-management mechanisms work in the same way as for other platform components.
Effortless Scaling
The use of serverless and cloud robots enables dynamic scaling of test infrastructure. When a test involving 1,000 virtual users is required, the system automatically allocates the appropriate number of robots from the cloud pool. Once the test is complete, resources are released, optimising costs.
Boosted by AI & Agentic
UiPath introduces the concept of “Agentic Performance Testing” - a dynamic, collaborative process in which humans and AI agents work together in a non-linear way to configure, execute, and analyse performance test scenarios.
The system includes six specialised AI agents:
Planning Agent - defines test objectives, load scenarios, metrics, and success criteria.
Generation Agent - generates automated tests based on defined load scenarios.
Execution Agent - executes automated load tests and monitors system performance.
Analysis Agent - collects data and analyses it in order to identify bottlenecks and issues.
Reporting Agent - summarises load test results and produces reports with actionable insights.
Notification Agent - distributes reports to relevant stakeholders within the application and by email.
Performance Testing for SAP applications
The specifics of testing SAP applications
SAP applications form the operational backbone of many enterprises, supporting critical business processes from finance through logistics to human resources management. Performance testing of SAP systems presents unique challenges, which UiPath Performance Testing addresses particularly effectively.
SAP systems are characterised by a complex, multi-layer architecture, where the presentation layer (SAP GUI, Fiori, Web Dynpro) communicates with application servers, which in turn refer to the database layer. Each of these layers can represent a potential performance bottleneck.
UiPath Performance Testing enables testing of SAP applications at the user interface level, which is essential for capturing the actual end-user experience. The system supports both classic SAP GUI and modern SAP Fiori interfaces, which are built on web technologies.
Test scenarios for SAP
In the SAP context, UiPath Performance Testing can simulate typical business scenarios:
End-to-end processes - for example, the full order cycle, from creating a requisition, through the purchasing process, to invoice posting. A test can simulate hundreds of users performing this process simultaneously, allowing an assessment of whether the system can cope during peak periods, such as month-end close.
Mass transactions - many organisations run batch processing in SAP, for example mass postings or MRP calculations. UiPath can simulate the load generated by these processes and their impact on system performance for interactive users.
Reporting and analytics - generating complex reports in SAP can significantly burden the system. Tests can simulate multiple users generating reports simultaneously, allowing optimal limits and system-tuning needs to be identified.
Integration with SAP Solution Manager
UiPath Performance Testing can work with SAP Solution Manager, using data on actual system usage to create realistic test scenarios. Data from Solution Manager shows which transactions are used most frequently, at what times peak loads occur, and what the typical user workflow looks like.
This integration enables the creation of test scenarios that accurately reflect the actual use of the SAP system within the organisation. Instead of relying on assumptions, tests are based on actual production data.
Testing SAP Fiori performance
SAP Fiori presents particular challenges for performance testing. Fiori applications make intensive use of JavaScript and asynchronous communication with the backend via OData services. Traditional load-testing tools often struggle to correctly simulate such applications.
UiPath, using real web browsers to execute tests, handles Fiori applications flawlessly. Each robot runs the test in a fully-fledged browser, meaning all JavaScript scripts are executed exactly as they would be during normal use.
The system can simulate various Fiori Launchpad usage scenarios - from simple tile browsing to the intensive use of multiple applications simultaneously. Tests can also take into account performance on mobile devices, which is essential for organisations using SAP Fiori in the field.
Analysing results in the SAP context
Performance test results for SAP applications require specialist interpretation. UiPath Performance Testing provides SAP-specific metrics:
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Response time of individual SAP transactions
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Utilisation of work processes on the application server
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Database load generated by individual operations
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Performance of SAP buffers during tests
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Impact of load on RFC queues and inter-system communication
The system also integrates with SAP monitoring tools such as SAP EarlyWatch Alert or SAP Solution Manager Diagnostics, enabling comprehensive performance analysis during testing.
How SNOK’s Intelligent Automation Team delivers Performance Testing projects
SNOK’s methodology for performance testing projects
The SNOK Intelligent Automation Team has developed its own proven methodology for delivering performance testing projects using UiPath Performance Testing. This methodology is based on four pillars: requirements analysis, scenario design, test execution, and optimisation.
Every project begins with a detailed analysis of performance requirements. The SNOK team works with the client to define key performance indicators (KPIs), such as the maximum acceptable response time, the number of concurrent users, or system throughput. An important element is also the identification of critical business processes that must operate reliably even under heavy load.
During the scenario design phase, SNOK experts draw on their extensive domain knowledge to create realistic test cases. Scenarios are designed to reflect actual system usage patterns, taking into account different user profiles, times of day, or seasonal variations.
Approach to test automation
SNOK employs an iterative approach to building test automations. Starting from basic scenarios, the team gradually increases their complexity and functional coverage. Every automation is designed with reusability in mind - for both functional and performance testing.
A key element of SNOK’s methodology is parameterisation of automations. All input data, such as login credentials, document numbers, or transaction values, are stored in external data sources and retrieved dynamically during test execution. This approach enables easy scaling of tests and simulation of diverse scenarios without modifying the automation code.
The SNOK team places particular emphasis on error handling within automations. Every script includes error-recovery mechanisms, ensuring the stability of long-running performance tests. Automations are also equipped with detailed logging, which facilitates problem diagnosis.
Testing infrastructure
SNOK has an advanced testing infrastructure that enables large-scale performance testing. The infrastructure includes both cloud robots running on Azure and dedicated on-premise robot farms for clients requiring testing in an isolated environment.
The team uses a “Robot as a Service” concept, where robots are dynamically allocated to projects as needed. This flexibility allows for efficient use of resources and cost minimisation for clients.
For projects requiring the simulation of thousands of users, SNOK uses a distributed architecture, where robots are located in various geographic locations. This approach enables performance testing of global applications, taking into account network latency and differences in connection bandwidth.
Results analysis and reporting
SNOK has developed its own dashboards and reports, which extend the standard capabilities of UiPath Performance Testing. Reports are tailored to the needs of different stakeholders - from detailed technical metrics for IT teams to high-level summaries for management.
The team uses advanced statistical analysis techniques to interpret test results. In addition to basic metrics such as average response time or the number of errors, percentiles, standard deviations, and long-term trends are also analysed.
SNOK pays particular attention to analysing correlations between different metrics. For example, the team examines relationships between application response time and database load or application server memory utilisation. This comprehensive analysis enables identification of the root causes of performance issues.
Collaboration with client teams
SNOK employs a collaboration model based on knowledge transfer. During project delivery, SNOK experts work side by side with the client’s team, sharing knowledge and best practices. The goal is not only to deliver a solution, but also to equip the client’s team with the competencies needed to conduct performance testing independently.
The SNOK team organises workshops and training sessions tailored to participants’ level of expertise. From the fundamentals of test automation to advanced performance analysis techniques, the training programme is flexible and adapted to the organisation’s needs.
Post-production support and continuous monitoring
SNOK’s projects do not end with the deployment of performance tests. The team offers long-term support, including regular performance reviews, updates to test scenarios, and adaptation to system changes.
SNOK also implements solutions for continuous performance monitoring in the production environment. Using the same automations that serve testing purposes, the system can regularly check the performance of key processes and alert on performance degradation before users report a problem.
Business value - an expert’s perspective
Jan Domański, Director of the Intelligent Automation Division at SNOK, shares his views on the value of UiPath Performance Testing for organisations:
“In my career, I have seen many projects that failed not because of functional bugs, but precisely because of performance issues. A system that works perfectly for 10 users may collapse completely at 1,000 users. UiPath Performance Testing changes the rules of the game, because it allows us to leverage existing investments in test automation to carry out comprehensive performance tests.
The greatest value I see in this solution is its realism. We test exactly as users use the system - clicking buttons, filling in forms, waiting for a response. This gives us confidence that test results genuinely reflect what end users will experience.
Speed of deployment is also key for our clients. Organisations already using UiPath for process or test automation can begin performance testing practically immediately. There is no need to learn a new tool, build scripts from scratch, or set up dedicated infrastructure. This translates into tangible savings in time and money.
AI support in results analysis is particularly valuable. The system does not merely show that a problem has occurred - it helps understand its causes and suggests solutions. It is like having a performance expert working 24/7, analysing every aspect of the system’s operation.”
Implementation within an organisation - practical aspects
Preparing the organisation for performance testing
Implementing UiPath Performance Testing requires appropriate organisational and technical preparation. The first step is defining the objectives and expectations regarding performance testing. The organisation must answer the questions: which systems will be tested, what are the critical business processes, and what are the acceptable performance levels?
An important aspect is also preparing the test environment. An ideal test environment should reflect the production environment as closely as possible - the same architecture, similar configuration, representative data. SNOK helps clients design and build such environments, taking budgetary and technical constraints into account.
Building a competent team
The success of a performance testing project depends largely on the team’s competencies. SNOK recommends building a team consisting of various specialists:
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Business analysts, who understand business processes and can define test scenarios
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Test automation engineers, who create and maintain automation scripts
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Performance engineers, who analyse results and identify bottlenecks
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System administrators, who optimise infrastructure configuration
Integration with the CI/CD process
Modern organisations strive for continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD). UiPath Performance Testing can be an integral part of this process. Performance tests can be automatically triggered after each deployment to a test environment, providing immediate feedback on the impact of changes on system performance.
SNOK implements CI/CD pipelines that include:
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Automatic execution of performance tests
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Comparison of results with previous versions
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Automatic alerting on performance degradation
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Report generation for stakeholders
Test data management
Test data is a critical element of performance testing. It must be representative while also being safe from a personal data protection perspective. SNOK uses UiPath Data Service to manage test data, implementing strategies such as:
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Anonymisation of production data
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Generation of synthetic test data
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Versioning of data sets
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Dynamic data refresh during long-running tests
The future of performance testing with UiPath
Product development roadmap
UiPath has presented an ambitious roadmap for the development of Performance Testing. The Private Preview version, available since March 2025, offers basic capabilities for testing web applications using up to 250 virtual users and cloud robots.
The Public Preview version, planned for summer 2025, will extend capabilities to support on-premise robots, which is essential for organisations requiring testing in an isolated environment.
The most eagerly anticipated General Availability version, planned for October 2025, will introduce support for desktop applications and increase scale to 2,000 virtual users. This will open up entirely new possibilities for testing complex enterprise applications.
Integration with the tool ecosystem
UiPath plans deep integration of Performance Testing with popular application performance monitoring (APM) tools such as Dynatrace, AppDynamics, and New Relic. This integration will enable correlation of performance metrics from tests with data from production monitoring.
Integration with open-source load-testing tools such as JMeter is also planned. Organisations will be able to use existing JMeter scripts alongside UiPath automations, combining protocol-level tests with UI-level tests.
Development of AI capabilities
Artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in performance testing. UiPath is working to extend the capabilities of AI agents to include:
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Automatic generation of test scenarios based on analysis of production logs
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Prediction of performance issues before they occur
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Automatic optimisation of test parameters for maximum efficiency
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Intelligent root-cause analysis of performance issues
Support for new technologies
As technology develops, UiPath Performance Testing will be extended to support new platforms and architectures:
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Containerised applications and microservices
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Serverless applications
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Edge computing systems
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Applications leveraging AI and machine learning
Best practices in performance testing
Test planning
Effective performance testing begins with thorough planning. SNOK recommends the following practices:
Defining clear test objectives - every test should have a specific purpose, whether verifying performance requirements, identifying bottlenecks, or validating scalability.
Creating realistic load profiles - profiles should reflect actual system usage, taking into account different user types, usage patterns, and load distribution over time.
Gradually increasing load - rather than testing with maximum load immediately, it is better to gradually increase the number of users, observing system behaviour at each level.
Scenario design
Test scenarios should be:
Representative - reflecting actual system use cases
Repeatable - producing consistent results across multiple runs
Parameterised - allowing easy parameter changes without modifying the code
Modular - composed of reusable components
Results analysis
Analysing performance test results requires a systematic approach:
Baseline - a reference point should always be established, against which subsequent results will be compared
Trend analysis - trends showing how performance changes over time are more important than individual results
Metric correlation - analysing relationships between different metrics helps identify the causes of problems
Result validation - results that deviate from the norm should be verified by repeating the test
Why choose UiPath Performance Testing
UiPath Performance Testing represents a new approach to performance testing that combines the realism of user simulation with the power of automation and AI intelligence. For organisations already using the UiPath platform, it is a natural extension of testing capabilities. For organisations beginning their journey with performance testing, it is a comprehensive solution that can grow alongside their needs.
The key advantages of the solution are:
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Maximum test realism through UI-level simulation
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Reuse of existing test automations
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Integration with the entire UiPath platform
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AI support in designing, executing, and analysing tests
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Flexible deployment options - cloud and on-premise
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Scaling from a few to thousands of virtual users
SNOK, as an experienced partner in intelligent automation, offers comprehensive support across the entire lifecycle of a performance testing project - from requirements analysis, through design and implementation, to production support and team competency development.
Call to action
Is your organisation ready for the challenges of IT system performance? Do you want to be confident that your applications can cope with any load? SNOK’s Intelligent Automation Team is ready to help you with this transformation.
We offer:
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A free consultation and readiness assessment for performance testing
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Discovery workshops to identify use cases
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A Proof of Concept on a selected business process
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Comprehensive implementation of UiPath Performance Testing
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Training and knowledge transfer for your team
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Long-term support and solution development
Do not wait until performance issues become visible to your customers. Contact us today and discover how UiPath Performance Testing can change the way you test and optimise your systems.
SNOK - your partner in intelligent automation
Contact us -> office@snok.ai
Together, we will build systems that not only work, but work perfectly - regardless of load.