Business process management (BPM)

In most business, managing business processes is a big issue. Many business owners believe it is an expensive investment or that it is only worthwhile for large processes. BPM, on the other hand, is critical regardless of the size of your company. Here’s a step-by-step guide on using automation to manage your business activities.

What is Business Process Management (BPM)?

Business process management (BPM) is an organizational discipline in which a corporation examines all of its processes, both collectively and individually. It examines the present situation and suggests opportunities for improvement in order to make the organization more efficient and productive.

The way a firm designs, changes, and analyses the predictable procedures that make up the core of its business is called business process management (BPM).

Each department in an organization is in need of transforming some raw material or data into something. Each department may be responsible for a dozen or more simple procedures.

Is BPM similar to task or project management?

Task management (which focuses on individual tasks) and project management are not the same as business process management (which handles one-time or unpredictable flows).

Task management refers to the process of managing or coordinating a group of activities that originate from a project. These are frequently one-time and non-repeatable projects. A project management software like ‘Microsoft Project’ is employed when these projects are well-organized, such as in construction work. Trello and Asana Project are excellent project management software for ad-hoc projects.

Process management, or business process management, focuses on recurring and continuing procedures that follow a predictable pattern.

What is the importance of business process management?

 

BPM-business process management

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Poor business procedures can create disruption if they are left unmanaged and unsystematized. People only view one portion of a process at a time, and only a few can scan out and see the complete impact of a process, including where it begins and finishes, the critical data required, and any obstacles and inefficiencies.

Unmanaged, disorderly processes are harmful to a company and can result in one or more of the following scenarios:

  • Time wasted
  • More errors
  • Lack of data
  • Demoralized employees

Organizations may optimize their processes and keep all areas of operations running smoothly by implementing business process management.

Steps of BPM lifecycle

Step 1:  Design

A form is used to collect data, while a workflow is used to process it in the majority of operations. Create your form and decide who will be responsible for each step of the process.

Step 2: Model

Create a graphic representation of the procedure. Fix specifics like deadlines and conditions to give a clear picture of the process’s sequence of events and data flow.

Step 3: Execute

Test the procedure in real-time with a small group of people before making it available to all users. Make sure that sensitive information is only accessible to those who need it.

Step 4: Monitor

As the process moves through the workflow, keep an eye on it. To track progress, measure efficiency, and identify obstacles, use the appropriate metrics. This phase is discussed in further depth in the following article.

Step 5: Optimize

While you’re analyzing, keep an eye out for any modifications that need to be made to your form or workflow to make it more efficient. Consider how you can improve your business processes.

What types of business process management are there?

BPM systems are classified according to the purpose they serve. The three categories of business process management are as follows: 

BPM for Documents:

This BPM is required by an organization’s daily process, which is mostly focused on documentation, such as an insurance firm. The majority of the business operations revolve around creating documents, sending them through several layers of approval, verification, and storage once they’ve served their function.

BPM for Workforce:

An organization that relies heavily on authorized individuals to review and approve processes requires workforce-focused business process management. To complete tasks on schedule, the BPM is supposed to keep the employee, team leader, and management informed. Constant reminders, accountability, and visibility make approvals easier.

BPM for Integration:

Business process management must be integrated into the workflow of firms that deal with software development and comparable operations. It must be a flexible solution that integrates with HRMS, CRM, ERP, and other automation and coder-friendly tools. Business process management software is frequently supplied as a packaged package that can handle all three sorts of usage scenarios without requiring you to buy one for each. Every type of company will be able to use a good BPM to streamline their everyday tasks because it will be comprehensive and versatile.

Advantages of business process management (BPM) are as follows:

Increased productivity:

BPM assists in the creation of strong frameworks for most of an organization’s processes. All critical processes are documented, tracked, and improved. Process efficiency improves when processes run smoothly and with minimal disruptions.

Process analysis is done on a regular basis. Tasks which is of no value are quickly discovered and eliminated, resulting in a boost in total productivity.

An Agile Organization:

Teams are more adaptable to changes when BPM is properly implemented in a business. Teams are well-versed in their processes and why they work the way they do. Explaining the why and how of a new change to teams is simple when processes are well understood.

Because the process roadmap is clear, course correction is simple. Any adjustments may be rapidly identified and implemented.

 Reduced Errors: 

When processes are controlled on spreadsheets, it’s also impossible to track errors. When there are no users for each step in a process, errors are common. Employees have a habit of throwing things over the wall rather than accepting responsibility for actions. The probability of errors is considerably minimised with good BPM practice. Each step’s users are educated of their responsibilities and must ensure that they meet the established requirements. Errors can simply be traced back to their source if they occur.

Ensured policy compliance: 

BPM is a one-time solution for increasing productivity and establishing a framework that complies with all internal and external policies. BPM ensures that processes are well-understood and adhere to strict regulations.

Controlled data accessibility:

Employees require access to data from several sources in order to function effectively. But that doesn’t imply they have to have access to everything. Allowing access to superfluous data leads to confusion and delays. The best technique for bridging the gap between data overload and inadequacy is business process management (BPM). You can control access to data that is essential to complete a task and choose to hide the rest.

Digital Transformation:

The term “digital transformation” is no longer unique. Using digital technologies and techniques to deliver organizational stability and adaptability is a key component of digital transformation.

Employees assess what is best for their teams and develop their own solutions, which aids in the digital transformation process.