Workflow tools have been specifically designed to streamline business processes. And while there are several options available, all BPM software solutions are not the same. Similar features may exist, so it is important to know exactly what you want and need from your workflow tools, both to solve current business challenges, as well as what you feel you may need in the future.

We have found when businesses consider the future, it changes their decision in which BPM solution they choose. Many are choosing agile business workflow tools rather than proprietary in-house solutions due to their ability to innovate and grow with the business and the speed of change in BPM technology.

Process Director from BP Logix has the ability to streamline business processes. An intelligent BPM platform, it offers more than simple forms, document management, and project approval workflows. It provides organizations the ability to automate, manage, report and track critical business processes. It’s an award winning BPM software due to several unique features, including:

No Programming Expertise Required

Low code rapid application development features means no coders or programmers are needed. Easily create and change processes in line with your needs, policies, procedures, and regulations. Being able to develop your own digital applications, including reports, eForms, graphs and more, will save you valuable resources, including your IT department from being overloaded.

Process Timeline ™

Gantt-style charts are automatically produced and updated through this proprietary business process automation software. Compose, manage and modify your processes while focusing on the key performance indicators you require, such as process duration, critical path, downtime predictions, and more to help streamline business processes.

Application Integration

Most businesses are running multiple complicated workflow processes concurrently and sequentially and rely on several platforms to accomplish the wide variety of tasks to be completed throughout the day. Because Process Director is an intelligent BPM platform, it’s BPM application easily integrates with other enterprise and third party software allowing you to access, combine and update information without redundant data entry.

Extendable

Your business is always growing, which means you need workflow tools that expand as well. Being able to extend your applications with custom features allows you to continue to improve and grow with the speed of customer demand and technology. Process Director allows you to insert custom logic in your workflows to streamline business processes along with the ability to track, change, and report, for simple, effective management and predictive analysis.

Cloud-Based BPM

Any browser and major platforms (including iOS and Android) are supported with Process Director, making everything you create cloud based and mobile friendly. View reports, submit forms, manage field workers including geolocation and photos, and more. A true mobile BPM, Process Director can be used and accessed with or without WiFi.

Document Workflow Management

A document workflow management system that allows you to quickly and easily filter searches, run reports, and manage multiple documents, including approval processes. Search for a specific item, browse folders, review task lists, set up notifications, email, and even manage document interaction permissions. Access forms with required data fields to create consistent data entry and reduce errors and incomplete information.

Streamline Businesses Processes Today

Have questions about how you can streamline business processes with Process Director? Ready to see it in action? Contact us to speak with a BPM expert and schedule a free demonstration of Process Director today.

Image Credit: CEO.com

At BP Logix we understand the amount of time and research it takes before you choose the right BPM solution for your organization. BPM use cases and workflow automation examples help play a role in the decision-making process by offering a glimpse at the software that BPM vendors provide. These BPM use cases and workflow automation examples are one way to help you determine if their software meets your organization’s specific requirements.

Process Director BPM software has helped  introduce enterprise workflow automation technology to several companies which has led them to digital transformation as manual workflow processes have been upgraded to automated ones. Below are a few BPM use cases and workflow automation examples and case studies of how Process Director has been employed.

Multi Chem HR Enterprise Workflow Automation

Today with the execution of Process Director, the company Multi-Chem is able to better enforce Human Resources workflow policies and has uniform business processes which are more effective and efficient. A more structured environment for form submission was implemented with better monitoring and auditing to create additional accountability. An approval process system is now used to push required documents to the appropriate people automatically, while forms are used to mandate required field to capture all needed information.

Learn more about this BPM example

Festival Foods Business Process Management Use Case

Instead of building a resource intensive in-house program, Festival Foods looked at Process Director in part because of its low code BPM integration and ease of use. This was a plus as this functionality didn't require tying up the IT department thus keeping them from other important tasks.

After the implementation of award winning BPM Software, Process Director, Festival Foods eliminated errors caused by manual input in the inventory process. This improvement allowed them to scale their business to expand the number of guests they could serve in additional locations.

Choosing Process Director allowed them to make better use of company data and more efficient use of internal applications, as well as more effectively manage based on real-time business monitoring and predictive analytics. Simplified, automated processes created the ability to expand and grow while reducing errors.

Learn more about this BPM example

National Eye Institute Managing Regulatory Compliance

National Eye Institute leveraged Process Director to demonstrate its BPM compliance to regulatory and legislative mandates. Improving their document management and retention process and procedures was a way to demonstrate their fiscal responsibility and decision-making to their supporters as well as their ethics in reporting.

Constant industry changes meant they needed a solution with enough flexibility to adjust annually to new laws while not overwhelming staff, their budget or the IT department. Process Director now handles document management including disposition, storage, and retention while also maintaining the security required within the medical industry.

Learn more about other BPM use cases and workflow automation examples here.

More Information

• Read BPM success stories from our customers
• More on Process Director enterprise workflow automation solutions
• Ready to learn more about the value Process Director BPM software can support your goals? Contact us today for a free BPM software demonstration from a BP Logix expert.

Likely, if you are considering a BPM solution, it is because you have heard about the benefits of business process management tools that BPM software provides. Those companies who have already implemented Process Director BPM tools are seeing a 75% reduction in data entry, improved process efficiency, and faster decision making.

What is Business Process Management (BPM)?

Business process management (BPM) is the act of managing a single or multiple workflow processes. BPM software helps with business process management because it's equipped with a series of business process management tools that improves process efficiency which leads to more profit.

Business process management tools can organize simple, complex, and even one-off or ad-hoc processes. Intelligent and flexible in their use, BPM tools can work in a variety of situations such as mobile, applications, forms, automation and more.

What are BPM tools?

If BPM is the act of managing business processes, BPM tools are a variety of strategies to accomplish the end goal. Each BPM tool can accomplish a specific result through automation, optimization/reducing waste, and/or performing analytics. The tools connect the dots between the resources needed and the person who needs them, while also creating metrics in order to continually improve and refine the processes.

The tools can be used together to create a customized solution that is agile enough to grow with the business, integrate new processes and work with existing enterprise systems, faster and easier than ever before.

Business Process Management Tools of Process Director BPM Software

The BPM tools of Process Director offer versatility to create the custom process management you need with less time and expense than former software development and coding allowed. These business process management tools include:

Extensible Software: Process Director is BPM software solution that extends your workflow application with custom features and easy integration with other programs already in place. Innovate and grow faster than ever before.

Application Integration: Provides built-in workflow and BPM application integration with many third-party and in-house applications and databases. No learning curve for new programs. Keep what works for you now and integrate, systemize and automate with ease.

Process Timeline™: This patented workflow engine allows you to construct, manage, optimize, analyze and manage, and modify business processes with ease.

Web-based and Mobile Friendly: Field service personnel, vendors and even customers aren’t tied to a desk, and your business shouldn’t be either. Process Director provides field service management software solutions for employees on-premise and out in the field..

eForms Software: Create electronic forms without coding to create consistent input and reduce data entry. Track changes easily, retrieve the most up-to-date content, and establish user permissions.

Document Workflow Management: Process Director's document workflow management system approval-based workflows, form tracking, compliance, task lists, and browse document folders to search for specific items .

Schedule a Demo

Contact us today for a free demo from a BP Logix BPM software expert and learn how to accelerate and improve service, oversight and customer satisfaction.

Business Process Management Software Evolves Into Intelligent BPM

The evolution of BPM technology, like most technology, has happened quickly. Within the industry, we have seen great strides and early adopters have come along on that journey to see truly revolutionary advances. As more enterprises look to streamline business processes and build leaner, more efficient business models, so must BPM technology become more effective. Intelligent BPM software (iBPMS) is then the evolution, a choice to keep improving by leveraging analytics and intelligence capabilities.

What qualities make Process Director an Award Winning iBPMS Solution?

Process Director low code/no code BPM technology is ever evolving. Below are some qualities that make Process Director an award winning iBPMS solution:

Artificial Intelligence

Internet of Things (IoT)

Process Director’s AI capabilities are seamlessly integrated into Process Timeline (BP Logix’s patented business process automation solution) enhancing and reinforcing it’s already industry leading predictive features. Process Director goes even further, making the same machine learning tools it uses internally available for you to exploit in your custom digital applications. Connect this foundation of Big Data streams using Process Director’s BPM IoT integration, and the possibilities are endless.

Mobile BPM

Mobile BPM technology is allowing technicians who work remotely in the field to access specialized applications for more complete data, faster processing and reduced redundancies. Developed quickly with minimal coding and integrated with the office via the cloud, these low code applications support everything from logistics to approval workflows, installations and inspection processes.

Social BPM

Great and consistent customer experiences are one big way intelligent BPM is changing the face of business. Automation in response to particular client actions and predictive responses to customers are creating better engagement, interaction, and sales.

Cloud based BPM

Through Process Director's cloud based BPM technology, you can create processes that utilize the best of online products such as Dropbox, Google Docs, SharePoint, Salesforce and more. Easy integration means you are never stuck with an outdated, archaic system. Cloud-based BPMs are agile, transformative, innovative and always improving, just like your business.

Workflow Automation

Workflow automation allows redundant tasks to be handled consistently so human capital can focus on higher business functions. Again, consistency is a goal of iBPMS solutions and automation means less gaps in both simple and complex workflows, including data entry, compliance and approval based business processes.

Process Timeline™

Case Management Solutions

Case management solutions require the ability to have “exceptions to the rule”. Being able to have workflows that are event and/or time driven, plus any ad hoc activities, and sequential workflows all moving toward the same outcome, are critical. Without iBPM, these types of business processes can experience significant loss through redundancies and down time.

To learn more about Process Director business process management software and how its BPM technology has evolved visit our BPM capabilities page.

Process Director is your intelligent BPM solution. Ready to see for yourself? Contact us for a free Process Director demonstration from a BP Logix business process management expert.

What is Digital Transformation?

Simply put, digital transformation is the leveraging of technology to improve efficiency and provide more value in your business. Reaching this goal can be much more complicated than the definition given here may suggest, however, it can radically change business processes, activities, customer relationships and even value propositions.

Technology To Help With Digital Transformation

Considered disruptive in nature, digital business transformation has executives in nearly all industries on alert to changes in the industry. They watch in order to get a glimpse into the future to see how they can integrate new technologies to grow revenues, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, improve differentiation, and increase their speed-to-market. In essence, forward thinking executives are looking at ways to use technology to refine, and accelerate their businesses.

“The best companies…combine digital activity with strong leadership to turn technology into transformation. This is what we call Digital Maturity. Companies vary in their digital maturity, and those that are more mature outperform those that are not.” MIT Sloan Management Review

Therefore, the goal of a digital transformation platform is to create a more agile business to keep up with the constant flux of technology advancements, environmental changes, and customer demands. The additional benefits are more streamlined business processes, reduced waste, and increased productivity and efficiency.

What Is Digital Transformation To BP Logix?

Well, all aspects of business process management (BPM) – its functions, tasks, processes, and assets are interconnected. A BPM platform pulls all these items together and in that process eliminates redundancies and inefficiencies, increasing profitability and improving the user’s experience. BPM software, such as Process Director, additionally serves management with business process automation solutions offering predictive analytics to allow for immediate intervention and correction, further reducing down time, costs and ineffectiveness. Consider for a moment the main drivers for using a BPM platform and digital transformation:

Technology Advancements: Changes in technology means things are moving faster – production, delivery, demands . A big problem in the past has been in the interconnectivity of legacy programs and new technology. Constant updates to new programs leads to employee frustration, and a loss in productivity due to training and implementation. However, low code BPM with rapid application development allows seamless integration between programs to reduce “learning curve” challenges that come with new product deployments.

Basically, digital business transformation platforms, or BPM, allow for a level of customization never seen before without the high costs, significant time investments and specialized coders.

Environmental Changes: Changes in supply chain, regulations and compliance law, competition, and even the economy can have an impact on businesses and are mostly unforeseen. Agility, through the use of Process Director digital transformation platform, helps accelerate the transformation of workflow processes to allow the business to make adjustments as needed and set themselves apart as market leaders.

Digital business transformation allows changes to be integrated quickly through low code, rapid app development technologies.

Customer Demand: Along with technology advancements comes the changes in demand and expectations of customers. Businesses who are digitally mature have the ability to provide a better customer experience, resulting in increased revenue. Imagine if a customer is able to engage with your company, find exactly what they are looking for, and make a purchase within minutes instead of hours or days. How could this increase your revenue growth?

Process Director makes this possible through predictive analytics, custom forms and mobile apps.

Process Director Is Your Digital Business Transformation Solution

Digital business transformation is upsetting the old way business has been done. Innovation, disruption, agility, and a constantly improving environment is the way business will thrive in years and decades to come. Executives are tasked with change management as a way to unlock revenue streams, reduce waste, and gain competitive advantages by creating outstanding customer experiences.

Process Director BPM software provides business process automation solutions that allows your company to develop more agility and innovation, streamline systems, and create people-oriented processes quickly, easily and at less cost than in the past. The ability to move faster in response to demands, forecast challenges, and adhere to compliance and regulations leads to better decision making, healthier management, and an improved customer/supplier/staff experience.

Process Director from BP Logix is a versatile digital business transformation platform designed to support forward thinking businesses looking to improve efficiency, manage workflows and compliance, and create a valuable experience for all those engaged with them. For a demonstration of Process Director and to see how automating processes with BPM software can help you with your digital transformation strategy, contact us today.

Order Processing, Quality Assurance, Change Control, and Compliance are Improved with BPM Software

Our work with our manufacturing customers is not ‘just’ about implementing technology for manufacturing process automation. For Process Director BPM software to be most effective to our manufacturing customers we needed to understand their business, how they work with their own customers, and what makes them unique. The manufacturing sector provides a particularly outstanding business environment for process-minded individuals – and teams.

The complexity of building and delivering goods and services in the global economy is probably felt most profoundly by manufacturing companies. With software or services, input and communication renders location essentially unimportant, but those in the business of building hard goods need to ensure they have materials to do their work, and the ability to deliver finished products irrespective of geography. Because of the increasingly detailed nature of accomplishing ‘work’, there is a greater need for these kinds of businesses to have manufacturing process automation solutions that adopt and adhere to their business processes.

Why Manufacturing Process Automation Is Important

Order processing, quality assurance, engineering change control, government and industry compliance represent areas for manufacturing process automation. When those processes are automated they enable near real-time decision-making and auditability. With the IT ecosystem needing to be more dynamic, rigid and form- fit processes must be replaced to ensure that the company can adapt (and respond!) to changing market conditions.

Process Director BPM Software

While repeatability is desirable in any manufacturing process, so too is the ability to be flexible. We understand that companies need to adapt processes real-time. It would be costly and ineffective to halt all manufacturing while a process change request slowly travels through the IT queue. That is one of the reasons that manufacturing process automation with Process Director BPM software requires no programming skills to make changes to running processes.

Manufacturing is also a highly-regulated industry. Audits from the government and agencies are performed to ensure compliance with financial laws and industry guidelines. We built Process Director to implement the rules and procedures that demonstrate and ensure business process governance.

Being beholden to governance, risk and compliance usually means a higher likelihood of audits. For compliant organizations, the need to back-track, research, identify and review previous actions, decisions and requests is part of the audit scenario. BPM software facilitates that by allowing access to information that can be displayed, reviewed and approved for all decisions and actions.

When a manufacturing organization implement manufacturing process automation solutions with BPM software they operate according to well-defined actions and operations, gaining an advantage in terms of both repeatability and accountability. The organizations that rely on processes to handle the ‘heavy lifting’ are then able to focus on quality which, in turn, creates loyalty and competitive advantage.

Schedule A Demo

Schedule a free demonstration of Process Director BPM platform and discover for yourself how this unique business process management software platform empowers you to innovate, respond to market demands, and delight your customers. Or, contact us to learn more about how our BPM and digital transformation solutions have helped our customers conquer their digital challenges.

Understanding Your BPM and Workflow Needs

It is important to assess the needs of your organization to determine whether or not business process management software (BPM software) is applicable to what you are doing. The process of analyzing your workflow efficiency needs will provide a deeper recognition of what your company needs to be more successful. Having a solid grasp of that will enable you to give more thoughtful consideration to both the BPM tools and solutions that work for you — and will help you avoid the trap that a BPM solution in and of itself can make you faster, better organized and more profitable. (Since we all are occasionally all too eager to map our needs to what others tell us they can provide)

Coming to the issue of value, which is a very personal one, to really ‘get value’ for what you buy, you have to be discerning. Product marketing teams know that there is a ‘sweet spot’ within which most customer problems exist. Around that sweet spot the key marketing messages for a product are designed.

The BP Logix marketing group partners closely with our sales and product teams to understand what our customers need. That is the foundation of the way we do business. To that end, we have helped all manner of companies and organizations derive great value from business process management — not just as a tool but, also, as a way of doing business. Some of that comes from market analysis, research and observing BPM trends — the rest of it comes from understanding and putting ourselves in our customers’ shoes. We understand the value of BPM and go to great lengths to help our customers implement BPM software solutions in a way that is applicable to their needs.

Improve Workflow Efficiency With BPM Software

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Our infographic, The Value of BPM, illustrates some of the key BPM elements that an organization needs to consider— and the degree to which some of our customers have benefited from using them. Everyone likes to see big numbers, and as you will see in the infographic, we certainly like to highlight where companies have seen an increase in workflow efficiency and reduction in cost or the elimination of redundancy. You will also recognize that the BPM examples we use in The Value of BPM point to specific BPM use cases. These are clearly specific to these individual companies, yet they demonstrate a sense for what BPM delivers towards workflow efficiency.

Working with a process-focused direction will undoubtedly deliver specific and measurable results when there is a well-articulated mapping of business needs with the BPM implementation process.

The BP Logix team is interested in why a prospect considers exploring BPM software in the first place— so we dive into that prospect’s business (with him, her or them) to understand how it is currently conducted. We look at the five key BPM elements:

• Workflow Efficiency: Does the organization experience a duplication of efforts, manual interactions, and/or delays in approvals?
• Productivity: Is an inordinate amount of time spent on singular tasks— and does lack of insight into the business limit their ability to provide direction?
• Process Change: As business needs and requirements change, does the organization adapt and, if so, how well does it adapt?
• Automation: Is the organization spending a lot of time on repetitive tasks, or trying to fit its needs into solutions that are not flexible?
• Knowledge: Does the organization recognize and act with regard to best practices and guidelines?

We could certainly tell you that your company will be faster, smarter, better and richer as a result of implementing Process Director BPM software — and leave it at that.

Please make no mistake. We think those are worthy and attainable goals. Where we see results and progress towards workflow efficiency, however, is when the goals focus on fixing workflow processes, not just on profitability. The value of BPM comes from the changes that occur on the way to becoming a better run company! That is the value we seek to provide.

Request a Demonstration

Process Director is your intelligent BPM software solution. Request a demonstration and discover for yourself how this unique enterprise business process management software empowers you to innovate, respond to market demands, and delight your customers. Or, contact us to learn more about how our BPM solutions have helped our customers conquer their workflow efficiency challenges.

Pointing a finger at a team and saying, “Be innovative,” won’t lead to success. However, creating an environment that allows for innovation, agility and a fast turn-around will. This is where a rapid enterprise application development platform comes into play.

If innovation is a core value of a company, there are several benefits to implementing an enterprise application, like Process Director.

Benefits of An Enterprise Application Development Platform

The development of enterprise applications have helped organizations in a variety of industries and sizes with a variety of tasks, including collecting more information from customers, staying in touch, vendor connectivity, and digital forms.

But it doesn’t stop there. Here are a few more ways an enterprise application development platform can benefit businesses.

Automate Processes

An enterprise application development platform can streamline processes that include repetitive tasks or data, even if the data is in multiple software platforms. It also reduces input redundancies by creating a single silo of information.

Simplify

Learning curves can be steep when new programs are introduced. Application development helps smooth out processes by combining data into its most useful form. Compiling data becomes easier by eliminating the creation of more IT work or re-training staff on a new software program.

Share Information

A single location for information, accessed by a variety of people at different security and/or access levels, allows the most current and relevant information to be used for decision-making. Consolidating information will reduce errors and foster more collaboration.

Long-Term Vision

Overall business growth for the long term is the goal of innovation, and application development takes this into consideration. Agile enough to grow and shift, low code platforms can assist with everything from getting a CRM to integrate with an e-mail campaign, manage disruptions in vendor-supplied materials, or stay compliant with changing laws.

Better Management

Enterprise application integration allows current information to be better managed and bridges the gap between software programs that don’t normally “talk” to each other. This creates a dashboard that allows for cleaner business processes.

With all of these opportunities, you and your team are freed up to focus on work that inspires, to see the big picture, to collaborate. Spending less time on the details that are now automated means more time for innovation.

Process Director for Enterprise Applications

Process Director is a perfect fit for companies looking for a complete and simple solution for streamlining business processes. Our enterprise application development platform is able to scale with business growth and innovate along the way. Continually reducing redundancies and having access to quality, high-level information, is the key to true business process management and profitability.

Ready to discover Process Director’s capabilities? Contact us to see how Process Director can simplify the most complex business systems.

There may be some confusion between low code BPM and low code platforms and it’s important to understand the differences, especially when searching for solutions for improved business process management. Let’s clear it up.

What are Low Code Platforms?

Low code platforms are a growing and changing technology to reshape the future. These platforms replace the need for coding by using form builders, drag-and-drop features, object mapping, and the like.

Low code platforms are designed to allow web applications to be made quickly by people with little to no coding experience. They are a solution for both professionals and laypeople who are looking for fast and scalable “templated” products that scale and grow with the business.

A variety of built-in services give these low code platforms the ability to be agile in a changing marketplace by automating workflow processes and streamlining data for multiple users. These platforms allow organizations to have quickly developed IT solutions to help meet their needs.

What Are Low Code BPM Platforms

Low code BPM platforms replace the BPM software development of old — that slow, expensive process of creating a solution that may outgrow itself upon release. Rapid application development (RAD) allows businesses to design IT solutions that enhance efficiency and performance without the help of IT specialists.

Being able to act quickly and provide agile BPM solutions on the spot allows a business to be more efficient in day-to-day tasks as well as keep the business on the cutting edge of customer fulfillment by staying in line with marketplace trends.

Low Code BPM Platform Solutions

Recently, PC Magazine put several low code/no code BPM platforms to the test. In their example, they had seasoned developers use the drag-and-drop tools to create a scheduling application that could:

“...add a new event (name, date/time, duration), invite users to the event, a save button to create the event, and the ability to view a list of events in calendar view or chronological list.” Source: PC Magazine, "Building an App With No Coding: Myth or Reality?"

In this test, all the developers were able to create results in less than an hour, some in as little as 10 minutes. These business process management capabilities create low-cost solutions for businesses looking to streamline business processes and better manage them.

Process Director BPM Platform

Process Director is a low code BPM platform that can support businesses with quick application solutions to streamline processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. Create workflow and business process management solutions and implement changes before your competitor even begins to write code, even without a programmer!

With Process Director’s Process Timeline feature, you will have a patented workflow engine that updates on the fly. Respond to the most accurate information available with data at your fingertips — including alerts to when deadlines are likely to be missed and when a customer triggers a specific event. Electronic forms make handling even complex data entry a simple process that can be used with suppliers, customers, and employees.

To learn more about how Process Director BPM Platform can help your business, contact us today.

BPM vs Workflow. There can be some confusion about the differences between BPM and workflow, partly because they are used interchangeably by some professionals. The confusion is understandable. Early business process management (BPM) solutions focused on the coordination of processes--they were focused on workflow. Today, workflow is a component of a good BPM, but they are not the same.

What Is Workflow?

Simply put, workflow helps organizations to see an overview of a process to monitor results, reduce inefficiencies and incorporate automation. At its best, it serves to align the processes with the business goals and systematize how documents and tasks are completed and executed for quality and/or compliance.

Workflow software is a tool for automating the process. It can provide support for steps in the business process and can trigger alerts for the appropriate users to take action. It is a single process within a more complex system.

As an analogy, it would be the steps for making the crème in a Twinkie, but not the entire creation, assembly or packaging of such.

What Is BPM?

BPM is a larger system of processes that incorporates multiple workflows, automation tools and human capital to optimize them all. It is a system that gets all the cogs working together in harmony to create an ideal end result.

All companies use business processes to produce the end result, and BPM software streamlines those processes to create a more agile and efficient business.

“BPM has been defined as a method of efficiently aligning an organization with the wants and needs of its customers, both internally and externally.” --Jay O’Brien, CTO BP Logix, Inc.

[embed]https://youtu.be/HduhwGtEMKI[/embed]

How Does BPM Software Work?

BPM software looks at the current state of the business and its processes and works with the management team’s goals to identify future objectives. In the most ideal situations, this team would create an ever evolving feedback loop and a continuously improving process that grows with the business. Automating workflow to make it faster, more efficient, and more consistent creates a measurable result on the company’s bottom line, while at the same time improving the organization’s compliance capabilities.

The structure of BPM incorporates policies, procedures, methods, metrics, human tasks, software tasks and IT to manage and optimize all levels of business functions.

Overall, BPM monitors, evaluates and even activates processes for better management. This allows businesses to serve more customers, have a better workforce and profit margin, just to name a few of the benefits.

BPM vs Workflow Bottom Line

The need for streamlining and automatization tools come from the increasingly competitive nature of business. Eliminating wasteful practices and procedures to achieve optimal performance allows businesses to control quality and costs and can be the difference between success or failure. So instead of thinking it as BPM vs workflow, think of it as BPM and workflow operating together to improve efficiencies. However, BPM takes it a step further by allowing multiple workflow scenarios, across multiple channels, to run in peak way. Simply put, BPM improves at the organizational level.

To learn more about BP Logix BPM tools and how they can help you, request a demonstration. Before the demo, we will contact you to learn about your goals and requirements so we can tailor the demonstration to meet your specific needs.

Process Timeline Workflow Engine

BP Logix is the only company to offer a BPM software solution (Process Director) with Process Timeline technology-- a workflow engine that incorporates the dimension of time all the way from model to execution. Traditionally, BPM software has been driven by two key factors:

1. Better outcomes from higher efficiency processes.
2. The need for appropriate controls.

However, many BPM solutions have neglected the element of time. Time allows businesses to obtain additional control over processes by allowing for prediction elements, or business process intelligence, to determine timeliness.

Imagine if your BPM software included an automated solution that could alert you when the timeline for a specific task wasn’t met, or if future tasks are at a risk of not being met? How could that change efficiency for your organization?

The Critical Element of Time and the iBPM

The element of time management is crucial to planning and oversight. Intelligent Business Process Management (iBPMS) allows for human intervention when a workflow process gets off track, or can trigger a different event in the process. Traditional BPM focuses on quality and business process governance, but adding a workflow engine with business process automation capabilities along with the predictive element of time gives the user the ability to see how later process stages will be affected by the previous ones. This adds huge value to the managed process by allowing the earliest possible notification of potential delays to allow intervention before timeline problems arise.

In workflow processes, there is a review and approval step in place, but it doesn’t answer the questions:

“When will this task complete?”

“When will this entire process complete?”

These questions are of great importance in management, because while it may be great to know you are on track to hit a specific goal, it is still important to know what is currently happening. It is similar to comparing the act of looking at a transactions in a register to discover errors, rather than simply looking at a monthly profit and loss statement.

Flowchart Model Failures

Time efficiency is achieved often through business process automation, with cost savings as the most obvious goal.

Example of Process Timeline Workflow Engine with Predicted Timelines

Outside of automation, these savings come about by removing process redundancies  and streamlining business processes, usually through the support of BPM software. More efficient use of time, less paper consumption, and business process automation can certainly tighten processes and reduce expenses, creating a higher ROI. Reduced risks and lowered costs of non-compliance issues also effect the bottom line.

A flowchart will say, “What happens next,” while Process Timeline's workflow engine will more importantly ask, “What must be completed before this step begin and how long will it take?”

The two benefits of BPM software, process efficiency and process governance, are now improved on by incorporating the critical element of a time-focused process technique, found only in BP Logix Process Director. Process Director BPM platform includes Process Timeline workflow engine, which results in even greater benefits.

Benefits of a BPM Software With A Business Process Automation Solution

1. Simple models allow businesses to go from discovery to full automation faster. Each activity is listed with its duration estimate, to create fast workflow processes. Activities can run at the same time, without complicated coding to configure parallel behavior.
2. The status of the entire process, as well as sub-processes can be determined at a glance, allowing for proactive response and the earliest notification of potential delays to allow for quick intervention.
3. Predictive nature “sees” future problems and can trigger actions to the changing circumstance so obstacles can be overcome before deadlines are missed or production halts. Process Timeline records predicted execution versus actual time, every time the process runs and adjusts the time estimates for even better management.
4. Process Director stores every aspect of the process for audits, internally or externally, for improved compliance.

BP Logix developed Process Director BPM software and the workflow engine, Process Timeline, in order to address the critical element of time in business process management. Process Timeline equips businesses to build robust process models without the need to develop code, making it a preferred BPM software solution. And because flowchart workflow automation is appropriate for some processes, Process Director has integrated both models, allowing traditional and intelligent processes to work together to create complex and manageable processes for optimal effectiveness, quality, and compliance needs. Contact us to learn more and schedule a free demonstration of Process Director today.

What is Rapid Application Development (RAD)?

Rapid application development is a software methodology that allows for minimal planning in favor of rapid prototyping. Back in the day, engineers created RAD because they were frustrated with how slow it took to design software. Often times, you’d release a program only to find it was already out-of-date.

What Rapid App Development Looks Like Today

Rapid app development is now an integral part of business process management (BPM). BPM helps a company to understand and restructure information and activities used to achieve business goals. BPM process designs are used to drive process re-structuring and software development.

Standard BPM gives a business the ability to communicate and understand their internal procedures in a more graphical manner. This, in turn, allows them to more quickly and easily adjust to new circumstances, both internal and external.

Benefits of BPM and Rapid App Development

Obviously, having a BPM solution that acts as rapid application development platform is a definite plus. It brings IT development and operations staff together. Integrating into a DevOps approach improves collaboration and streamlines testing. Best of all, it results in a beneficial software that pays for itself.

What is Rapid Application Development to BP Logix?

What is rapid application development to us? It means that customers can create customized enterprise applications and BPM solutions without the need of tying up company IT resources. BP Logix created Process Director, a business process management (BPM) software solution with an easy-to-use interface. Process Director allows you to search through documents, oversee task lists, and look-up specific items without difficulty. This workflow management software is extremely customizable and allows you to modify every step of the process without the need to know code or bring in a programmer.

Most conveniently, all aspects of Process Director BPM software can be accessed from any web browser or mobile device. This smart BPM platform collects all the necessary elements of a project and makes it easy for you to access data, update information, and coordinate with other departments.

Process Director has many useful features unique to BP Logix, most notably Process Timeline and Smart Forms. Process Timeline is a patented business process automation software technology that automates business processes. Charts and data are automatically updated as the process runs, which allows for accurate, up-to-date information to be viewed with ease.

Smart Forms makes it possible to use only electronic forms throughout an entire company. The software connects the company to both suppliers and customers, so the handling of electronic documents goes smoothly. BP Logix BPM software makes handling even the most complex electronic forms a simple process that most any business user can handle.

No Programmer? No Problem.

Let’s say you need to create a new functionality within Process Director. You can do that without knowing code and without the assistance of a programmer thanks to rapid app development!

Your goal is to deliver data digitally…and fast. With Process Director, you can focus on solving business issues instead of creating software to do so. BPM that relies on low-code/no-code is relevant to business users today.

To learn more about Process Director’s business process management capabilities, which includes rapid app development (RAD), contact BP Logix.

What is BPM (Business Process Management)?

What is business process management (BPM), you ask? We here at BP Logix think of the BPM definition a little more simply: business process management (BPM) is a practice of refining business processes that will improve process efficiency and profitability. Really, BPM is what it sounds like -- identifying, improving, and maintaining processes within a business.

Passing a routine piece of paper to a co-worker is a business process. It’s when you establish rules and a method, either a manual method or technology-driven method, to govern how and when that piece of paper is distributed that you enter the realm of BPM. That’s our specialty.

What BPM Is Not

It's not a job or role within the process. If you use BPM software to manage work orders, the person completing those orders is not managing BPM, they are working within it. However, the manager or admin who designs the work flow to get the job done is participating in BPM.

It’s important to be clear. Business process management does not tell you how to do your job. It informs your entire organization how a business process gets done efficiently and ensures it gets done right every time.

What is BPM Software?

• eliminate redundancies
• minimize errors
• complete work sooner
• shorten project time lines
• make decisions easier
• follow compliance requirements correctly
• reduce paper consumption
• automate processes and alleviate workloads

Your organization is different from the next. Your needs are special to you.

That’s why a customizable solution is required for success. You can see specific examples of how organizations use BP Logix’s customizable BPM software, Process Director, throughout our site. To start, check out BPM examples on the successful use of Process Director in busy organizations.

One Last Note…

So, what is BPM? While outcomes differ, business process management matters globally because of the headaches it prevents. Process Director from BP Logix will empower your organization for all the reasons we list above and so much more. Ready to see for yourself? Learn more about our free BPM software demo of Process Director and contact us today for a demonstration from a BP Logix software expert.

View Infographic

There are a lot of perceptions about how productivity and business goals are handled by organizations. Most view attempts to gain efficiency as the domain of IT but it turns out it is not solely the result of implementing technology. Efficiency is also attributable to how all groups in the company collaborate to achieve  growth.

While this kind of thinking makes a neat delineation between the business and technology sides of an organization, it is short-sighted in failing to recognize that technology does not operate in a vacuum. Rather, it is the CIO and the IT department that are driving business growth through technology solutions and, most importantly, business process management.

IT is no longer the invisible place where requests are sent and solutions magically delivered. Rather, IT is firmly ensconced in what goes on within the business— and IT leaders are integrated into business planning so they can deliver better, more purposeful solutions.

Some enterprise applications can markedly reduce the time employees need to spend on specific tasks. Taking less time and using fewer resources to achieve desired results creates the kind of efficiency that all companies seek to achieve. To achieve those results requires an IT leader who can identify the solution that can do the job, encourage collaboration, integrate successfully with existing applications (and the company’s security infrastructure) and be acceptable to stakeholders. After all, with the right mix of applications and tools, an IT department's actions can contribute to reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Most companies enable IT managers to make the changes necessary to enable the organization to become incrementally more successful. But organizations that seek excellence and want to grow more dramatically have come to rely on a different kind of IT manager: one that knows both the technology AND business requirements needed to achieve revenue growth. One of the ways this happens is through building a business process-based foundation, on top of which tasks and activities move fluidly towards business goals.

Progressive IT managers recognize that irrespective of how work is inputted, transacted and delivered, processes and workflow are always key to their work. Understanding how workflow software and BPM software impact business goals demands that these IT managers first understand the various parts of the business and their goals. With that knowledge, they can lead the effort to make changes rather than just respond to what C-level execs demand of them. A deep understanding of the organization, how all the pieces work together and their goals enables IT to create BPM solutions that will actually be used. This is an important distinction because without new tools and strategies, no advantage can be gained.

BP Logix customers are building solutions that address a variety of business issues —and Process Director is at the heart of how they address them. The product is a tool for business users as it is inherently capable of mapping specific business requirements to actual outcomes without having to invoke the skills of a developer or architect. It is also embraced by IT as it lightens the load of IT, enabling them to address other applications and requirements, while still satisfying the needs of the business.

Process Director is also able to operate beyond company walls so events and actions that benefit customers, partners or other third-parties can become part of processes and workflow. The feedback we receive repeatedly is that Process Director provides the flexibility and comprehensiveness that a single application simply cannot touch.

When IT departments deploy Process Director, they emphasize both business and technology goals equally. The act of establishing business processes instills a sense of what is possible because it breaks down any walls that might exist between the tech and business sides of the enterprise. Interestingly, BPM then becomes a rallying point for business growth. IT leaders can evangelize the notion that the company is prepared for anything because the business foundation is built on a tool that is optimized for business growth. That becomes a powerful weapon for the organization.

Business processes (BPM) takes the best of your enterprise applications and makes them both measurable and sustainable.

Many years ago Peter Drucker, the great management thinker, predicted the rise of what he called the "knowledge worker". As evidenced over time, Drucker was truly a thought leader. Today, we can acknowledge that we have arrived at “the place” Drucker envisioned: a place where almost all jobs require some element of knowledge work. Yet it is not true that everyone with a computer on his or her desk or a smartphone in his or her pocket qualifies as a knowledge worker.

The rise of the knowledge worker has also led to an impetus for business process management (BPM). BPM enables people to access more data. That, in turn, can facilitate new insights for knowledge workers who might not ‘normally’ have access to that same data.

Most enterprise applications run better and more efficiently when used by those who have what we call a ‘process mindset’. Of course, there are a variety of ways to use BPM to gain that process mindset and the insights that are derived from greater access to more kinds of data.

Case management software is a prime example. When case management software is paired with BPM software, business users can build, modify and manage sophisticated digital applications in a human-directed way. Case magnifies the effects of BPM because it is an agile way of integrating data from disparate sources and managing how it is used. As a result of detailed analytics, case management provides information that can be used to derive additional insights.

The true impact of BPM case management is best understood in the context of workflow. The market has a lot of BPM-only tools that rely on the "if, then" concept. They have been developed to manage sequential, time-driven events and operations. Yet many processes are more complex in what they deliver, who they touch and how they handle obstacles and changing conditions.

This is an important differentiator for case management because it is framed around processes that are not necessarily beholden to a timeline or a sequence— but are more often about the logic and actions taken within the process. A well-constructed adaptive case management solution can take into account things like business data (through the integration of information from different sources), business logic, deadlines, and insights derived from the data.

It is important to think about case management not as a "thing" like a project or a folder. Rather, it is the accumulation of all the elements that comprise the activity, all formed around the varying aspects of an issue, or case. The beauty of case management is that the goal is known, the premise understood, yet there is flexibility to pull in the necessary information so as to make better decisions based on deeper insights into the issues one is trying to solve.

Consider, for example, how a decision is made using a simple "T-Chart". We have all, at one time or another, sat down to weigh pros and cons of a T-Chart. To do that, we have to frame the outcome and provide details based on what we know. If it is buying a car, well, we know what we care about most that will sway us in making a decision. If gas mileage, air conditioning and color are critical, we would put them on the list. Maybe we do not care about cruise control and seat warmers, so we can exclude them. If cruise control contributed to gas mileage, and if better gas mileage could give you a better rebate, would that be a factor in your decision? All features have to be assessed and factored in at times independently, and at other times, collectively. A T-Chart (and most human brains), is incapable of calculating so many interconnected variables. Case management, however, is designed to do just that, and by doing so, provides users with an advantage in terms of perspective and understanding.

Peter Drucker also said, “The basic economic resource - the means of production - is no longer capital, nor natural resources, nor labor. It is and will be knowledge.” If you apply that to today’s enterprise, you will recognize the difference between data and, as Drucker says, “Knowledge.” Knowledge brings understanding, and understanding leads to a better decisions.

Case management is a methodology that can help organizations better address and use the information it collects. In so doing, BPM case management solutions enables companies to optimize their most prized asset.

The exciting news is that I’ve been given approval to implement workflow and business process management across our entire organization and find a vendor to partner with. After a lot of internal evangelizing, I have executive support to make it happen! I have accumulated a lot of great insights from colleagues about the functionality we need, and now have that most critical piece...budget!

I feel like I have already spent a ton of time on this, and we haven’t even started looking at products. So, for this next phase, I'm evaluating all manner of tools and applications, seeking the right solution for my company, and taking into consideration products (and their viability), appropriateness for our company, price, time-to-deploy, and the ‘fit’ with the vendor. Our goal is to ensure that we can get more work done faster, with improved communication and better results. We will certainly do our due diligence, but there are a lot of moving parts.

It is not hard to find software applications that are labeled as "BPM" or "workflow". There are lots out there. Since I’ve spent considerable time learning about the needs of different groups within our company, I have a specific set of requirements based on those BPM and workflow needs. First and foremost, the product must meet our standards and desired goals: 1) Increase efficiency in our operations, 2) Streamline how work is accomplished, 3) Improve collaboration, and 4) Expand our (collective) business insights. More than anything else, of course, it needs to address our business issues— but has to do that without creating extra layers of work. In other words, this workflow solution should help us get the right people involved, give them the ability to make decisions based on better information, process the results of those decisions, trigger each step in the process, and provide a track record of what transpired. Whew!

In evaluating vendors, one thing that stands out is how many say they provide BPM and workflow tools, but on deeper inspection, it looks like that's not actually the case. Instead of offering a unique workflow solution, many of these companies have what appears to be a workflow-based engine that was intended to work specifically with some other application; maybe ERP, CRM or SFA. That’s not what we are looking for— and I can spot an inadequate solution within two minutes into a demo.

Part of my evaluation is based on WHAT the product does, but also WHO the company is. This is not a pair of shoes that we are buying. I need to know that I can trust the people behind the product, that they take pride in what they do, and that they are easy to work with. After all, we are betting a major part of the foundation of our business on this.

I have taken part in a few demos and it is striking how most begin with a PowerPoint and 45 minutes of talking (a vendor monologue…) What I am looking for is a team who listens and wants to know my story. I want them to be honest and forthcoming, and to understand how they can help me and my company, given our unique characteristics.

The right vendor will be able to give me an accurate portrayal of what life will be like with its solution, and can address these questions:

• Can the product they provide address processes both across all internal groups and externally to third-parties? How is integration and collaboration handled?
• Does the product they provide improve workflow as a result of HOW it will be accessed?
• Can the product they provide effectively facilitate workflow and processes through mobile, social and other types of digital interaction?
• How much functionality does the company offer relative to electronic forms? Do they have the ability to accurately be called "smart forms"?
• What is the ease of building apps and forms? Can non-developers and business users participate in creating and modifying processes?
• Will I be able to take advantage of predictive capabilities with the product they provide?
• Are there data and analytics capabilities that I can use to better understand how my processes are performing?

The answers to these questions will determine how we move forward and which vendor we choose. We want to start with a conversation and a dialogue, though, not sit through a one-size-fits-all presentation. My hope is to find a vendor who is interested in more than my purchase order. I am looking for a partner that is invested in me achieving the results we need. If I can find that company, then I know I will be closer to project success.

Summer has finally arrived and with it come opportunities to catch a wave, dig your toes into the sand, grab a cold one, and decompress. If a nearby beach is calling your name, we'd like to send you off with that long-standing tradition of loading up on workflow-related material for your beach reads. While the beaches are filled with teens frolicking to summer grooves and kids kicking sand into your guacamole, you'll be content and ready to re-charge, as you ‘entertain’ yourself by flipping through some of the finest thinking on how BPM software and workflow software are changing the way the world works….

In all seriousness, it's true that we usually don't take time to ‘learn’ because we're so heads-down in "doing." It becomes easy to stick with what we know, but summertime gives us a reminder that slowing down and looking around usually presents some interesting opportunities.

We think about BPM and workflow all the time, and our website is loaded with best practices, knowledge and BPM resources to help you become smarter about BPM solutions and methods that can impact your business. For the purposes of convenience (and not to overwhelm you), we've chosen a few key pieces to help you better understand how BPM and workflow actually work, how to prepare your organization for using them, and what you can expect to gain. So here is the essential list of BPM and workflow beach reads (and your cue to grab that cold one):

1. The Project: Process Pat and the Journey to Process Improvement
This blog series follows Process Pat as he embarks on a path to improve his company's decision-making and outcomes by using BPM and workflow. Part 1 shows how Pat introduces the project to colleagues, then follows with how he gets executive approval in Part 2. In Part 3, Pat uncovers some important truths about how things get done within his company. This impacts how he proceeds with his project.

2. BPM Means Business. So Does Workflow.
This blog provides an understanding of the differences and similarities between BPM and workflow, and how different types of organizations benefit from them.

3. Business and the Clock: Workflow and Time
Time can be both the greatest asset and, potentially, biggest enemy, of any business. Failing to meet a schedule or not delivering on expectations can be disastrous. This blog explains the importance of having the element of time included in your BPM and workflow solution.

4. Business Process Outcomes: What an Enterprise Should Expect for Its BPM Investment
The blog outlines seven key outcomes that an organization should expect after implementing BPM. It provides a roadmap for ensuring success and driving towards important business-process improvement.

At this point, you should be well-versed in the language, trends and key elements of BPM software and workflow software. Feel free to grab another cold one, catch a wave, and start a process. Cowabunga!

Business is going really well at our company. We have seven consecutive quarters of significant growth, dramatic improvement in margins, we are hiring good people, and morale is great. In the midst of this, the last thing anyone wants to do is kill the momentum. Which is why, if I don't nail the project I'm planning, I could easily become the guy who ruined all the fun.

The truth is, I think we have the potential to improve. Even with all this success, I see areas that would benefit from business process improvement— in areas like how we manage tasks, how we communicate, and how we make decisions. I see this from the perspective of an employee whose work depends on business processes and workflows. Yet, as Director of IT, I also know that with the right solution, the right internal buy-in, and collaboration, we can improve on how our company achieves its goals. If I can get agreement and support to drive a project that identifies and implements a business process improvement solution, I have no doubt that every department within the company will get on board.

It is interesting how success can sometimes breed complacency. Some might attribute it to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" syndrome. In other words, since business is going so well, why introduce something that will require ‘change’ and modify our business operations? My vantage point tells me that this is precisely the right time to make a change. We are already running efficiently and have a focus on our goals. Some could translate that as we're already where we want to be. Yet, I’m sure we can do better.

So the challenge is for me to sell it. I need to get senior management to approve and support the project. In fact, I even need them to champion it. The first step, however, is to get my CIO and other executives to recognize that this is not the time to sit on our hands. I need them to see that with action, we can prepare our company for a future where we can replicate the things we are doing well right now— and even do them more effectively.

In order to get their approval and for me to then be able to move forward, I have to explain it in their terms. I need to inform and persuade our executives by focusing on outcomes. I want them to see the critical improvements that our company will realize with the implementation of this kind of thinking (yes, I need to talk to them about business process management), and I also need to assuage any concerns they have. My approach will be a mixture of salesmanship and exploration. I recognize that in the course of doing this, I will also learn more about the issues they think are important, and ultimately, I may bake those into our solution.

These are the issues I will address in order to get executive approval:

ROI: As they say, accentuate the positives. Our executives need to answer to their Board and investors; their performance is based on how well they manage costs and increase revenue. I am doing a fairly rudimentary cost/benefit analysis that demonstrates significant cost savings from deploying a robust BPM solution. It includes estimates of reductions in the number of hours employees spend on time- consuming tasks, the impact of faster and more collaborative decision-making. And because I am looking at a BPM solution that doesn’t require coding to create processes, my ROI shows significant savings that will come from avoiding the IT application queue (plus having the ability to create, modify and manage their own processes.)

Empowerment: Executives love it when people can do more. A BPM software solution, especially one that does not require IT to build and manage processes, empowers employees to improve their workload by creating more efficient ways to accomplish tasks. I know they will love to learn that we can reduce the IT burden and give staff the ability to build, implement and manage processes. That means there will be cost savings and change management all in one.

Risk mitigation: There are always concerns, with any new BPM or workflow software, around allowing access to company and customer data. I completely understand that! If our data falls victim to a hack or security breach, it could have a major impact on our brand; if customers cannot trust us, they will not remain customers for very long. I have already built in tight security controls for our network and our environment. To ensure that our BPM system will be secure, I have developed specific guidelines for usage and access, and, with the solution I'm proposing, I will be able to monitor usage trends and behavior.

Automation benefits: Most of our business activities consist of repeatable processes. The issue is finding time to actually codify them as processes and commit them to how people work. In my company, even the C-level execs are frustrated with the length of time it takes to accomplish certain tasks. I am going to demonstrate what a BPM solution with workflow automation capabilities can do to automate certain tasks, thereby reducing red tape and increasing efficiencies across the organization.

My work is cut out for me. Our execs, like all execs, are a demanding bunch— but that is why I like being here. I want them to really poke at my project because it will ultimately help me create a better plan.

I will be back shortly...and I will let you know if I got the green light. Wish me luck!

Continue The Journey

The Project, Step 2: Process Pat Seeks Executive Champions

Spring is in the air, and for students, that means that freedom is close at hand. Although their plans may include summer jobs, internships and vacations, college administrators are using this time to re-tool and plan for the coming academic year.

Establishing and maintaining processes for the diverse activities that occur in a college environment is critical to helping students become successful, as they prepare to navigate school and life.

Colleges and universities live by a rigorous calendar that includes many repeatable process activities. Having a business process foundation underlying these actions enables the institution to run smoothly, servicing the needs of students, professors, vendors and other stakeholders. From enrollment to course selection, student services to employee management, the entire college experience (at least, for those responsible for operations and management) requires participation, collaboration, and effective repeatable process management of records and processes.

Let us consider the situation that most institutions of higher learning are in: they are not-for-profit (money is tight), their deadlines are driven by a strict calendar (one that cannot be changed if something goes wrong), they serve a diverse population (students with different needs, from different backgrounds, all with different expectations), and are beholden to a noble, but somewhat vague, goal (create a more educated citizenry). Imagine creating a business plan that has this kind of backdrop. Venture capitalists would run in the opposite direction.

While this scenario might look unwieldy and insurmountable to some, for smart colleges — those that have deliver a great education while existing on a solid foundation of organizational best practices — operating with process efficiency and generating solid results means the same thing as it does for a Fortune 500 company. As with any well-managed and forward-thinking organization, for colleges, BPM software and workflow software are critical tools.

BP Logix has worked with a number of colleges universities and technical colleges, gaining insight into their needs and expectations. Davis Applied Technology College (DATC) in Utah has a goal to continuously innovate and improve, whether delivering programs to students or services to support staff. Recognizing that it had cabinets filled with paper forms —and processes that would benefit from workflow automation— the IT team reviewed its requirements, scope and criteria, then issued an RFP for a repeatable process automation solution to automate its processes and more effectively manage its forms and data. Determined not to build the solution in-house and with the support of the President’s Council, DATC selected Process Director BPM software.

DATC then rolled out the repeatable process management solution to a number of departments. In student services alone there are already 17 completed processes with five in the queue. In Finance there are seven processes. In HR and IT the progress is equally impressive. The Director of IT paid us a compliment when he said, “Knowing where our business processes and workflow are without having to chase them down is invaluable. What used to take days is taking hours — what used to take weeks is taking days.”

Columbus Technical College is one of 28 colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia, and its focus is on providing education for the 21st Century workplace in areas like healthcare, business, applied sciences and general studies. Columbus serves about 4,000 students per quarter and operates on an $18 million budget. CTC’s innovative IT department identified BPM software and workflow software as essential elements in solving a long-standing issue: repeatable process management of the vast amount of information required for approvals and decision-making for all types of issues.

The IT group recognized a need to eliminate manual routing of data and documents and replace it with an automated system. They evaluated a number of repeatable process management solutions and decided on using Process Director. As a result, they have been able to streamline business processes on campus—and provide enormous benefits in terms of information access, efficiency and cost savings.

The lesson for today, students, is that irrespective of what the organization does, it has goals, and operating with greater process efficiency while reducing complexity is among them. BPM software and workflow software are proven repeatable process management solutions that enable institutions to ‘do’ business more effectively and remain focused on their greater purpose, no matter what that purpose is.

Ready to see for yourself?  Contact us today and schedule a free workflow software demo of Process Director from a BP Logix BPM software and workflow software expert.

Spring is in the air, and for students, that means that freedom is close at hand. Although their plans may include summer jobs, internships and vacations, administrators in the higher education industry are using this time to re-tool and plan for the coming academic year.

Establishing and maintaining processes for the diverse activities that occur in a college environment is critical to helping students become successful, as they prepare to navigate school and life.

Higher education institutions live by a rigorous calendar that includes many repeatable process activities. Business process management software enables the institution to run smoothly, servicing the needs of students, professors, vendors and other stakeholders. From enrollment to course selection, student services to employee management, the entire college experience (at least, for those responsible for operations and management) requires participation, collaboration, and effective management of records and processes.

Let us consider the situation that most higher education institutions are in: they are not-for-profit (money is tight), their deadlines are driven by a strict calendar (one that cannot be changed if something goes wrong), they serve a diverse population (students with different needs, from different backgrounds, all with different expectations), and are beholden to a noble, but somewhat vague, goal (create a more educated citizenry). Imagine creating a business plan that has this kind of backdrop. Venture capitalists would run in the opposite direction.

While this scenario might look unwieldy and insurmountable to some, for smart colleges — those that have deliver a great education while existing on a solid foundation of organizational best practices — operating with process efficiency and generating solid results means the same thing as it does for a Fortune 500 company. As with any well-managed and forward-thinking organization, for colleges, business process management software and workflow software are critical tools.

BP Logix has worked with a number of higher education institutions, gaining insight into their needs and expectations. Davis Applied Technology College (DATC) in Utah has a goal to continuously innovate and improve, whether delivering programs to students or services to support staff. Recognizing that it had cabinets filled with paper forms —and processes that would benefit from workflow automation— the IT team reviewed its requirements, scope and criteria, then issued an RFP for a business process management software solution to automate its processes and more effectively manage its forms and data. Determined not to build the solution in-house and with the support of the President’s Council, DATC selected Process Director BPM software.

DATC then rolled out the business process management software solution to a number of departments. In student services alone there are already 17 completed processes with five in the queue. In Finance there are seven processes. In HR and IT the progress is equally impressive. The Director of IT paid us a compliment when he said, “Knowing where our business processes and workflow are without having to chase them down is invaluable. What used to take days is taking hours — what used to take weeks is taking days.”

Columbus Technical College is one of 28 colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia, and its focus is on providing higher education for the 21st Century workplace in areas like healthcare, business, applied sciences and general studies. Columbus serves about 4,000 students per quarter and operates on an $18 million budget. CTC’s innovative IT department identified business process management software and workflow software as essential elements in solving a long-standing issue: management of the vast amount of information required for approvals and decision-making for all types of issues.

The IT group recognized a need to eliminate manual routing of data and documents and replace it with an automated system. They evaluated a number of business process management software solutions and decided on using Process Director. As a result, they have been able to streamline business processes on campus—and provide enormous benefits in terms of information access, efficiency and cost savings.

The lesson for today, students, is that irrespective of what the organization does, it has goals, and operating with greater process efficiency while reducing complexity is among them. Business process management software and workflow software are proven business process management solutions that enable higher education institutions to ‘do’ business more effectively and remain focused on their greater purpose, no matter what that purpose is.

Ready to see for yourself?  Contact us today and schedule a free workflow software demo of Process Director from a BP Logix BPM software and workflow software expert.

In One Hour, You’ll See Your Business in a Whole New Light

https://youtu.be/ueJL0lgHIXM

No one wants to do the same thing, day in and day out. Especially in your job. If you’re not finding ways to improve and innovate, you probably aren’t providing much value.

At the same time, the idea of change is often scary. Sometimes it requires you to move out of a comfort zone —and at other times to buy into a new vision. That might seem daunting to some of us, but what if, as a result of this ‘movement’, you could improve the foundation of your business operations —with minimal stress? And what if you could share a workflow software solution that had the flexibility to change as the business changes and grows? THAT would be worth the effort, wouldn’t it?

Change in the business environment is inevitable. There are big changes (replacing key executives, losing major customers, market swings), and there are small changes (updating reporting requirements, re-organizing distribution lists). Some are anticipated and manageable; the big ones can, however, pull the rug out from under you. When you have employed the right tools, however, the business can keep moving in the direction of its goals.

A Free Workflow Software Demo Will Put Organizational Change at Ease

We know about change. We have been fortunate to partner with dozens of customers as they use Process Director workflow software to improve operations, increase collaboration, create new processes, and effectively change how their organizations get stuff done.

You know what change means within your own organization — now we would like to invite you to experience Process Director. Having first learned about your organization and its goals, our free workflow software demonstration of Process Director will provide a customized view. We will show how the workflow software can address issues in the context of your organization. Our customers tell us that they appreciate the fact that we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ mentality —and that we customize what we share to make the conversation more relevant.

It is important for organizations to adopt workflow tools that enable them to be more efficient and adaptable to changing business requirements. Just like the weather, business priorities and tactics can change rapidly and sometimes before we are completely prepared to deal with them. Process Director has business process automation software with predictive capabilities built in that enable users to meet changing demands. And, of course, all of this can be done without programming.

The free workflow software demo and discussion we engage in will provide you with insights as to how Process Director works —and give you a feel for the ease with which you can make changes and adapt to your company’s needs. We can point to awards and customer validation; their story is not your story. What you have going on in your group, division, and across the entire company is unique and we want to talk specifically to your issues and concerns.

The best way for you to understand what Process Director can provide is to see it in action. Be able to map Process Director to your specific challenges and needs is our goal. Where it can make the biggest impact is up to you.

While we can provide a list of what Process Director can do, seeing it in action will give you the context as to where it might best fit in your organization. And, of course, it helps us to have a more meaningful conversation regarding where you want to take your business.

We invite you to contact us and schedule your free workflow software demo of Process Director today!

Organizations run as a result of human interaction: nothing gets done without the effort of many people bringing their unique skills to the effort of achieving goals.

In our current digital age, businesses rely on communication and collaboration more than ever before in making decisions. That is generally considered a positive outcome of the ultra-connected digital world in which we live —and operate. The downside, however, is that there is a dizzying array of tools, applications and solutions that promise great value for sharing and connecting.

Deciding which tools to use, how to use them, and how to ensure they are delivering on their promise can create confusion and indecision (precisely the things they are supposed to overcome.)

Businesses must remember to use their technology investment for the purpose of growing the business. This is done by facilitating better internal processes— and getting closer to customers. Better processes beget a more optimal working environment. Proximity to customers provides an opportunity to learn, analyze and predict user behavior. No single tool provides a cure-all, or a way to do both of these things; a combination of the right tools and an adaptable organizational mindset can change how collaboration and communication are handled among stakeholders.

To map what an organization does for its employees, partners, and customers requires a solution that supports internal goals along with easy access for end users. In today’s market, customers are used to on-demand access from almost any and all devices. Delivery of information through social channels does not just bring more touch-points. It actually signals that the business wants to engage and is ready to transact in a way that is convenient for the user. Social tools and cloud-based availability are among the ways that companies can deliver value — and leverage their existing technology investment when connecting with customers.

Social media, mobile apps, and cloud-based services have been the primary drivers behind the shift to increasing customer engagement. Consider the traditional non-storefront commerce model (and by “traditional” we refer to the way we purchased goods before the 21st century). That customer service model included a phone center accessed via IVR (interactive voice response) systems, staffed with call center representatives, in which every contact was handled by this rep, acting as a middleman. The rep had the benefit of knowing the company processes, however once products left the warehouse, there was little knowledge as to how they were used or what the reaction to them was. Even for customers who called with complaints or questions, there was little way of capturing that.

With the help of workflow that supports social functionality, that model has been upended by the simplicity and immediacy of Twitter and Facebook. Customers are mobile, connected, and have high expectations! Process Director is equipped to give those customers non-stop touch points with vendors.

Our customers who use the social functionality of Process Director share how this has dramatically changed how they integrate the ‘customer connection’ with their internal processes. Process Director gives them, and you, the power to:

• Drive workflow behavior from social media events (such as a tweet or Facebook status update)
• Respond to customers via Twitter (tweet, RT, DM, reply)
• Manage Facebook campaigns (likes/unlikes, comments)

The preponderance of social media tools have helped to advance the ability of organizations to deliver results to their customers. With capabilities that facilitate connecting and communicating both inside and outside of their corporate walls, Process Director is improving response time and enhancing communication.

Using social functionality to encourage productivity and efficiency enables our customers to become more responsive. Through social media, both internal and external processes can be improved, delivering better results to the intended audience.

The world we live in is a more scrutinized place than it was a generation ago. In our personal lives, that provides a sense of security. For companies, however, it means that virtually any activity or transaction can be used to determine if business operations comply with company, industry and/or legal standards. Companies need to not only operate according to specific rules and regulations, they also need to be able to track and audit their actions. For this type of work, compliance automation with workflow software can be a huge asset in ensuring all aspects of business process governance, risk and compliance (GRC).

Workflow software is a perfect complement to GRC because it is fundamentally about breaking down business activity to smaller steps and distributing that information to those who can address the issues or tasks. GRC and business process governance concerns itself with ensuring that activities are resolved or advanced — and that the right people provide the right level of approval to enforce desired behavior.

Workflow software solutions, like Process Director, use alerts and triggers to identify actions that deviate from expected outcomes and have a built-in document workflow management system with storage capabilities to record the lifecycle (and history) of document versions. These compliance automation solutions should also integrate with existing security and directory applications, to be able to operate seamlessly within existing application architecture.

Compliance can impact the financial and legal condition of a company. And as more companies look to their workflow frameworks, or create new ones, they create a risk and compliance environment that minimizes exposure and enhances transparency.

Compliance Automation With Industry Regulations

Government regulations are usually specific to particular industries. OSHA, the SEC, the FDA and a host of other agencies mandate an ever-changing number of regulations and policies, and adherence to them is mandatory. FERPA, SOX and HIPAA guidelines are intended to drive specific actions and produce specific results.

There are some compliance automation solutions that purport to address certain regulations; they often have difficulty keeping up with changes to policies and laws. Because workflow software is focused on the business and has the flexibility to change to meet changing needs, it can overlay industry-specific regulatory requirements into the routine actions of employees involved in a particular process.

Workflow software tends to operate as a conductor of business processes, yet with a layer of governance built in. Process Director, for example, has built-in capabilities like electronic signature technology, multi-factor authentication, document usage and storage rules that can be applied to any type of document or process. And because each asset and action is tracked, your organization can analyze business functions to determine if an employee, a group, or even the entire company is compliant.

Ready for audits

Business audits are an inevitable factor of business life. Whether for internal purposes (Are we maintaining our internal SLAs? Have we met authorization standards?) or to ensure industry compliance (like Sarbanes-Oxley), there is almost always an oversight organization that requires knowledge about some past activity.

Workflow software solutions offer a storehouse of transactional activity that includes timestamps, user information, and approval tracking. For whatever purpose is needed, one can see the “who,what,where and when” of every business action. This prevents employees from providing false information (either intentionally or inadvertently), and provides insights that ensure the error can be corrected in the future.

Like the insurance policy you may buy but hope to never use, one hopes to never be audited or questioned on any risk-related issue. Because the price of doing business in our global, connected economy requires adherence to certain business principles, however, it is critical to use the right compliance automation tool to deliver optimal and compliant business activity.

Ready to see for yourself? Contact us for a free demo from a BP Logix business process management expert and learn how your organization can maintain compliant with Process Director workflow software.

Business Process Outcomes: What an Enterprise Should Expect for Its BPM Investment

We talk with companies of all sizes and shapes and, even though their industries vary, their business challenges are usually quite similar. Some have preconceived notions of what a business solution “should” look like. And they have perceptions as to what success looks like as well.

It is not our job to suggest a workflow solution where one is not warranted. We always have to consider a customer's predilections when creating the right solution for them. It is important, however, for decision makers to understand the reality of what workflow is— and what it provides.

The first part of our engagement with any customer is to listen to their story and learn what is important to them. We are workflow and business process experts, but we can’t identify how to help a customer until we understand their challenge. Once we “get it”, we can work with that customer to suggest where BPM and workflow could help.

For us to be successful, and for our customers to derive value, we must also help them achieve a significant ROI. And our customers tell us they have achieved measurable improvement in these areas:

1. Document format standardization: Different types of documents are used within organizations, with differences attributed to functional needs and design preferences. This is totally normal. As long as all documents adhere to business rules and some level of guidance, which are provided by a workflow solution, variances in look-and-feel can be accommodated.

2. Deeper user engagement: The whole point of workflow is to increase transparency and eliminate bottlenecks caused by participants who are unaware of changes and updates. A workflow solution must alert people to changes in documents, request approvals where needed, and provide real-time updates. Those enable the business owners to manage expectations and be better equipped to anticipate where issues might occur. They enable them to be more informed and able to adapt.

3. Integrate data: No matter how you look at it, data drives an enterprise. There's almost nothing that happens that is not ‘informed’ by data that resides somewhere else within the organization. Irrespective of company size, data needs to be shared and workflow is the best enabler of that communication. An effective workflow and process management solution should be able to easily pull data (that includes specified, selected sets of data) from different documents and applications, and integrate it into a usable, functional presentation layer. This data forms the foundation of the workflow— and it is critical that it be easy to create and manage.

4. Make use of replicable patterns: A key element of business efficiency is automating processes. Workflow provides a foundation upon which processes can be built, and is done in a way that mirrors human activity. Doing so allows participants to optimize what works best for them, and use what they've learned in other processes. The goals can be different however the workflow foundation and processes supporting it can be re-used and re-purposed.

5. Better governance: Once created, workflows can be adapted and changed, however the workflows themselves must be carefully managed. You want everyone included who should be included — yet access needs to be limited to those who are actively involved. A solid workflow solution will facilitate easy change management, so that new players can get involved and contribute.

6. More user and admin flexibility: With all the great things a workflow provides, one of the most important things it needs is flexibility. This means it has to be changeable, easily, to adapt to new business needs, new participants, and updated goals. Workflows are not built then left to fend for themselves. This limits what workflows can provide. The true test of an effective workflow is one that is able to constantly change, like the business it supports.

7. Increased predictive capabilities: Irrespective of what you are trying to achieve through your workflows and processes, you should be able to have visibility in to what a post-workflow world looks like. Your solution must provide intelligent, thoughtful predictions about the improvements you will see, then measure whether or not you are actually achieving them.

Business challenges come in all shapes and sizes, and they are not easy to predict. But if you have implemented an effective workflow solution and adhere to a smart business process framework, you will be well positioned to deal with any issues you might face. You are trying to build something that will enable growth; your workflow and BPM will prove time and again that they can be effective tools to help you do that. Contact us to learn more about Process Director and schedule a free demonstration today.