What Is Business Process Management And Why Is It Important?

A business process is a single activity or a set of activities that allow an organization to reach a specific goal. Where there is a business process, business process management needs to follow, but some companies don’t take this seriously enough.

A large number of organizations don’t put enough effort into their BPM, which is a huge issue. If they don’t realize how important it is to streamline their business process, they will face losses sooner or later.

This article will help you get the basics of BPM. However, if you want to learn more, take a look at this Prolifics: business process management: a step-by-step guide to get a better grasp on the topic.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

What Is Business Process Management?

Business process management, or BPM for short, is a discipline in operations management where the main goal is to improve a business process from end to end. It requires the people who are involved in it to analyze the business, model how it works in various scenarios, and measure it.

Once the business is thoroughly analyzed, the next step is to execute improvements wherever it’s possible, monitor how this improved process functions, and keep optimizing it over time. When done right, BPM reduces chaos a company may have within its collective workflows that make up a process.

BPM isn’t a type of technology, but it usually involves the automation of tasks within almost all business processes. Still, this isn’t always the case, as process improvements are still possible to achieve without any type of technology or automation.

Another important thing to remember is that BPM is not a one-time task. Rather, it’s an ongoing activity that requires constant improvement and process re-engineering. Its main goal is to achieve operational efficiencies, but also to help organizations realize their overarching goals.

Business Process Management Activities

Depending on what BPM expert you ask, this process includes a different number of steps. While some experts argue there are six or more steps, it’s widely accepted there are five individual steps, and those are the ones that have shown the best results.

• Most BPM processes include a form that collects all the necessary data, as well as a workflow that allows you to process it. In the first step, you need to build this form and specify which employee will be responsible for each task in this workflow.
• Model. In the second step, you need to create a visual layout for this process. Once you have a clear picture of the sequence of events, fix any issues you notice such as deadlines and conditions, and you will have a clear flow of data.
• Execute. Executing the process requires a live test. However, don’t do this test with all users, but select a small group for it. If the process proves to be successful, expand it. Just make sure that users don’t have access to any type of sensitive information.
• Monitor. As the process runs through your company’s workflow, make sure to keep a close eye on it at all times. Monitor it with the use of the right metrics so you are able to measure efficiency, see the progress, and identify any bottlenecks.
• Optimize. As we already mentioned, BPM isn’t a one-time task, and it needs to be constantly analyzed. As time goes by, notice if it’s necessary to make changes to your workflow to make it more efficient.

After applying all of these steps, you will be able to streamline the business process and eliminate bottlenecks.

Types Of Business Process Management

There are a few different types of business process management systems, and the type you use will depend on the purpose it serves.

• Integration-centric BPM. The first type describes a process where you don’t have too much human involvement in your BPM system. Instead, the processes primarily jump between your existing systems, and they have extensive connectors and API access so the process can be as fast as possible.
• Human-centric BPM. If a process in your company is mostly executed by humans, then you will require this type of BPM. Tools for human-centric BPM come with quick tracking, a user-friendly interface, and easy notifications.
• Document-centric BPM. If you have any type of contract at the heart of your process, a document-centric BPM will allow you to perform all tasks related to the document with ease. This includes verifying, routing, formatting, and signing.

Why Is Business Process Management So Important?

Good organization is important for any company. If you leave your business process without the proper system or unorganized, you can’t hope for long-term success.

If you look at a process at the individual level, you can only see one part of it. It’s impossible to see its full effects, what kind of data is necessary, and where inefficiencies can appear. When you don’t see the entire process from start to finish, it will cause many errors and a lot of wasted time.

BPM allows organizational leaders to improve more than just individual tasks. It lets them optimize end-to-end business processes, which can have an overall greater impact on business outcomes. If it’s well-executed, it will lead to better services and products, as well as constant improvements.

What Are The Benefits Of BPM?

There are many benefits of BPM, but the main ones include:

• Gaining control. Since an unwieldy process can bring too much chaos into your business, having control over the process can eliminate any kind of disorder.
• Having more efficiency. Even though it will take time to set up a good BPM process, it will be worth it in the long run as it will result in a much more efficient process and everyday operations.
• Realizing bigger goals. When you run an organization without proper business process management, it’s impossible to set bigger, long-term goals. As soon as you solve this issue, it will open opportunities for bigger, better, and more profitable projects.
• Embracing digital transformation. Even though it isn’t necessary to include digital transformation in your BPM, it’s the better option because it’s easier, more efficient, and allows you to keep track of technology that’s constantly improving.

Final Thoughts

Business process management is something that all companies need to take seriously and implement it into their daily routine. However, many still don’t see the importance of it, which will cost them a lot of growth in the future.

If you’re serious about finding success with your business, you need to be serious about business process management as well. So, what are you waiting for?

If you are interested in even more business-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH