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swittest overview

swittest is a full EMV functional test automation system for developers building card-present payment applications including both PCI-PTS payment terminals and softPOS solutions. It enables development teams to autonomously run EMV functional tests, facilitating rapid iteration and ensuring applications are certification-ready without prolonged testing cycles.

swittest is compatible with major EMV libraries and test probes and designed to be easily integrated to run certification tests for any EMV Level 2 stack.

While swittest currently supports EMV Level 2 testing, it will also support EMV Level 3 testing in 2026.

A software defined approach to card processing

Historically, payment terminals were developed with a "Software Last" philosophy—the software was a secondary consideration, layered atop the hardware. Consequently, coding, QA, certification, and maintenance activities have been structured around this paradigm. Now, imagine a "Software First" approach where software takes center stage from the product's inception. This means exceptional software, smooth continuous integration and delivery pipelines, and emphasis on integration speed, flexibility, security, and trust. The result? A lean, mean, software-defined card processing ecosystem.

Why swittest

swittest accelerates EMV Level 2 development and certification by

  • Automating and simplifying EMV Level 2 testing: swittest enables developers to run functional tests directly during development, detecting and debugging EMV-related issues early in the process. This autonomy reduces reliance on QA teams and third-party certification tools, minimizing rework and delays.
  • Streamline certification readiness: swittest ensures builds are pre-qualified for formal certification by passing all test plans before handing off to QA teams. This allows QA teams to focus on final validation instead of repetitive test cycles, enhancing confidence in the application's readiness.
  • Improve EMV (Level 2) software quality: swittest allows teams to develop their own test plans to improve QA coverages, and go beyond certification test plans scopes often.
  • Minimize infrastructure dependencies: With the ability to run virtualized EMV tests, swittest reduces the need for physical hardware during development and QA stages. It is compatible with existing EMV Level 2 libraries from different tools, simplifying the testing environment.

Key features

swittest offers a range of features designed to support developers:

  • Up-to-date EMV L2 test plans: A comprehensive suite of pre-configured L2 test cases, always synchronized with the latest EMVCo and scheme specifications. This ensures end-to-end functional testing aligns with current compliance standards.:
    • Automated testing: Select from pre-configured L2 test suites to run full regression tests or targeted compliance checks.
    • Manual testing: Create custom test cases for specific hardware integrations, edge cases, or known issues. [Manual testing can also be utilized by certification labs to configure and test particular scenarios]
  • Flexible test environment options:
    • Virtual testing: For certain kernels, tests can be executed in a simulated environment, reducing hardware dependencies and allowing quick initial tests during development to identify issues promptly.​
    • Probe-based testing: Compatible with most industry-standard EMV test probes, probe-based testing can be employed towards the end of development to conduct thorough EMV L2 tests in preparation for qualification. For teams without existing probes, Swittest offers a cost-effective probe option in collaboration with PayTestLab.
  • Developer toolbox & integrated debugging tools:
    • EMV tag parser: Extract and analyze individual EMV transaction tags for detailed debugging.​
    • Virtual test cards: Simulate various EMV transaction scenarios without the need for physical test cards, enhancing testing flexibility.​
  • Certification SDK for labs: Offer SDK/testing environment for certification labs sessions

How it works

swittest integrates into existing EMV L2 development workflows, enabling developers to validate builds before submitting them to QA for qualification:

  1. Register for a 30 day evaluation license to receive swittest access credentials.
  2. Implement: Integrate swittest’s protocol into the payment application to facilitate communication with the swittest service during testing and (if applicable) install the swittest probe package in the local environment and configure it using the provided credentials.
  3. Execute Tests: Virtual or Probe-based: Select and run automated test suites or configure and run custom test cases via the swittest UI.
  4. Review Reports: Analyze detailed reports outlining test outcomes, including any failed cases, error codes, and compliance issues.​
  5. Iterate & Re-Test: Modify the application based on test results and re-run tests until all cases pass, ensuring the build is L2 certification-ready.​
  6. QA Handoff: Submit the validated build to QA for final qualification using third-party vendor tools to prepare for certification.​

Get started with swittest

swittest is currently available for beta access. By joining the early access program, you receive:

  • A 30-day free evaluation license.​
  • Flexible pricing based on test executions.​
  • Access to fully managed L2 test plans and automated validation tools.​
  • Compatibility with major EMV kernels and test probes.​