BPM: the Strategic Tip of Enterprise Computing
Chess is the ultimate game of strategy. Players have lots of options, but choosing the right one involves thinking about the downstream consequences of each. Make the wrong move and a key piece is sacrificed.
Process management is no different. There are numerous ways for data to be channeled into useful streams of information, so the question becomes which channel yields the most benefit. If it's process A, will the right information get to the right people at the right time? If you choose Process B, will there be opportunity costs of missed deadlines, lost opportunities or unrealized potential?
Today's business process management (BPM) systems help organizations maximize data by incorporating it into automated processes that lower costs and increase productivity. This way, organizations get the best use of data and overcome wasteful, manual steps.
BPM Decision Support
BPM systems need not only to receive, route and report on data, problems, opportunities and other occurrences, but also to research, respond to and resolve them. This lets process users both "decide" and "do," which is a big change from the days of managing processes around data or systems. Business users should control their processes because they are closest to them and need to make quick decisions—like a chess player adjusting tactics to capitalize on opportunities.
For example, users can modify the process to add a new executive to the approval process to meet the reporting requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The IT department sets up the infrastructure for users to perform this, but the power to control the process lies with the business user.
However, there are additional, critical features beyond this baseline BPM functionality. A business rules engine tightly integrated with BPM enables organizations to benefit from the consistent, enterprise-wide deployment of numerous policies and practices.
Automated process flows are distinct from automatic application of rules, and without this "DNA," the processes depend on users to select the right rule based on the purpose, product, rule set and version, customer circumstance and security. Rules engines overcome process delays caused by users who either have the rules in their heads, or in volumes of documentation.
For example, for insurance companies to process claims according to the rules in effect when a policy was issued, a rules engine senses that the underlying data has changed (the time frame) and retrieves the appropriate rule. Then the process is initiated. There is no need to tie rule logic together with each and every combination of data, which could mean other time segments, geographic factors or current underwriting standards. Without an engine to store and control rule data, validation of all potential rules applications would occur at each process step, thus hindering speed and accuracy.
A critical characteristic of tier-one BPM is the full suite of functionality. Sometimes referred to by Gartner as "round tripping," this includes not just the basic workflow functions, but also monitoring, process analysis, simulation and optimization.
Monitoring, and providing continuous and instantaneous feedback about processes, shows potential problems to users, who can modify rules with appropriate authorization or take other corrective action.
The Importance of Simulation
Analyzing and simulating processes is essential to deriving maximum value from BPM. It involves a warehouse of actual and simulated data for process improvement, and the ability to test new processes in "what-if" scenarios that compare the potential for enhanced service levels, time savings and a lower error rate. This leads to optimized processes, which can apply to critical functions like case management, where users link multiple tasks within electronic covers, schedule events, issue alerts and announce and track meetings so that projects with multiple processes are completed efficiently.
Because of the various systems within organizations, widespread integration is also a must. A library of industry-standard enterprise connectors and adapters is necessary, as is a toolset for portal integration, or to permit another application to subscribe to the BPM system as a service. Last, content management integration is compulsory to keep rules, documents and image repositories easily retrievable. For BPM shoppers, any wish list would include the ability to quickly optimize processes according to changes in customer, competitor or market conditions. But there's no point in half steps—you wouldn't play a high-stakes game of chess without knowing what the rules are and when you should apply them, just as you would be well advised to seek full-featured BPM. Its tightly integrated rules engine executes rules in the context of process flows so that organizations can build for change, and thus remain agile and competitive.
Pegasystems empowers businesses to easily automate and change their business process and practice through "smart" business process management software, delivering radically improved agility and ROI.We provide "Simply Smart" BPM solutions for businesses that need to respond quickly to changing customer, market and competitive conditions. Our products enable business users to change the way they do business with just a few mouse clicks.
Whether using one of our industry-specific, pre-built applications for financial services or healthcare, or our enabling technology for enterprise BPM, our customers are using the only products on the market today that combine a patented business rules engine with built-in process management software. We offer the only products that automate both the business decisions and the processes that drive them. For additional information on Pegasytems and our Simply Smart BPM products please visit Pegasystems