BPM Software
BPM Software for Better Business Process Management
BPM software (or business process management software) provides a suite of tools to design, test, and implement automated business processes at a departmental or enterprise-wide scale.
With BPM software, business users or IT pros can rapidly build scalable, automated processes as part of a single departmental automation project or as part of a large-scale corporate initiative to implement process management across the enterprise. Integrify offers both the robust toolset and scalability to ensure these efforts are successful.
A BPM software platform can be cloud-based or installed on-premise depending on the compliance or security needs of the organization. The advantages of cloud-based software have made it a great option for scalability and low-maintenance but we provide flexible alternatives for hosting our software as needed, even within heavily-regulated industries.
Integration has become more and more critical as a business requires a "conduit" between ERP, HRIS, CRM, Accounting and other data systems of record when starting or completing tasks or moving data as part of a process. We provide an open, REST-based API as well as a variety of task types that can access external systems.
Visit our free "BPM Guide" and learn more about how you can use BPM Tools and workflow management to improve productivity, ensure compliance and improve employee satisfaction.
Integrify's BPM software helps organizations reduce costs, improve work output, and increase employee satisfaction by providing process definition, process automation, form and portal deployment and auditing for areas such as Information Technology, Finance, Sales, HR Marketing, and other types of internal functions.
There are a lot of BPM vendors out there providing BPM and workflow automation solutions. It's hard to cut through all the features and messaging to figure out which solution is right for your organization's specific needs. Here are some considerations for making your selection.
BPM software vendors have different approaches to integration. Here are a few that you're likely to run across:
Decide what's best for your organization and find a solution that integrates with what you have and what you may have in the future.
Most software (SaaS or otherwise) purchasers expect to see a return on their investment fairly quickly, with the folks that approved the purchase likely expecting it even more quickly. Rapid implementation isn't always possible depending on the complexity of the solution, the number of people to train, the integrations that need to be set up, etc. However, if the vendor doesn't offer professional services, you're on your own to either figure it all out or hire an outside consultant to help you build and implement your workflows.
Vendors that offer professional services should be able to provide a good estimate of when the solution will be rolled out publicly (or at least to a pilot group) because, while every situation is unique, established vendors have seen pretty much everything and will have a frame of reference from which to draw. They may also have a variety of prototypes or proof of concept options that can be leveraged prior to signing a contract. These will give you both an idea of the vendor's capabilities and the likely timeline for rollout.
Keep in mind that sometimes the biggest torpedo in the side of an implementation project will come from internal sources. Here are some tips for ensuring a successful project:
Thanks to the rise of the "Citizen Developer," some vendors have focused on making their tools easier to use when creating forms and processes. This means a lot of visual, drag-and-drop tools as well as pre-built templates that allow you to hit the ground running without having a degree from MIT.
You can get a sense of how easy a system is to use from watching a live or recorded demonstration but a better approach is to request a trial account with a pre-built process you can reference. This will give you a chance to share the actual working environment with anyone who may be using it. Put yourself in the mindset that you have already purchased the system and you need to get things done in it. How hard is it to use? How does the interface make you feel, considering you and others may spend a lot of time in it? Check out the Help site as well. Vendors who value user experience will leave you feeling secure and confident.
Cloud-based software has distinct advantages over premise-based software but it's not always A) your call and B) allowed by your industry. Some industries require software solutions to be completely under their control and within their firewalls (think financial, government, legal). In addition, some organizations need to integrate with on-premise systems (for instance Active Directory) that will only connect to other premise-based systems. These situations dictate a premise-based solution.
Outside of these scenarios, the cloud option offers a lot of benefits in terms of administration, cost, implementation time, etc. Another option is a private cloud implementation, which offers some benefits of the first two platforms but also some of the downsides. Consider vendors who offer all the options, but if you've already discussed solutions with IT (or you are IT) you probably have a good idea which one you'll need.
Most workflow management vendors will say they're flexible, customizable, configurable, etc. but get a demo and ask to see how workflows are actually built within the system. Ask questions about alternate methods/options for performing certain workflow tasks and if custom programming is possible. For instance, using javascript in a form to add additional functionality. If the system is a "walled garden" you're stuck with what the vendor thinks you need.
Some workflow management companies provide pre-built workflows as part of a "service catalog." While these solutions sound logical on the surface, the reality is that pre-built workflows are usually more trouble than they’re worth. Most organizations have very specific, custom ways of handling requests and pre-built workflows invariably need to be customized to fit those methods. Often it's faster to simply build from scratch than to modify automated workflows that have been designed for wide adoption.
We have a variety of resources to help you on your journey to an automated workflow.
Contact us to discuss your needs and get a customized demonstration of our software. We're also happy to provide a trial of Integrify. You'll discover why Integrify is considered the best BPM software available for mid-sized and enterprise businesses.
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