Today there are various solutions based on technology to optimize the results of a business. However, to choose the best option it is important to know them, so today we want you to learn more about two of them: BPM and workflow.
Confusing these two solutions is quite common since they have many similarities, as well as differences. For this reason, we have prepared this article and, thus, we will help you better understand what each of these concepts encompasses.
So, read the next few lines and discover how these methodologies can benefit your company.
What Is Workflow?
The workflow, also known as workflow, is limited to the management of a process and specifies the division of tasks and the best way to execute them, delegating those responsible for each of the stages.
In the workflow, processes are not designed or modified, but the best way to work them is found so that efficiency prevails in each of its stages, already defined by the BPM.
What Are The Advantages Of Workflow For Your Business?
The main benefits of the workflow are:
- It presents a more transparent workflow, making it easier to follow.
- Contributes to the standardization of processes.
- Increase productivity.
- Reduce errors.
- Presents more fluidity in the progress of tasks.
- It allows more agile management.
- Simplify internal communication.
- Reduce costs.
- Optimize the customer experience
What Is BPM?
BPM is the acronym for Business Process Management, which in Spanish we translate as Business Process Management. This discipline is responsible for optimizing processes as a whole, making them more effective and efficient.
For this, it is often necessary to work on each one of the processes from the beginning: its design, the administration of the tasks, the flow for its execution, the analyses, its constant modifications, the integration between them, etc.
In short, workflow is one of the many components that are part of process management.
What Are The Advantages Of BPM For Your Business?
When talking about the contributions of BPM we can cite all the advantages of the workflow mentioned above and add the following:
- Allows you to control complex processes.
- Helps avoid wasting time and resources.
- It provides a complete understanding of the organization’s processes.
- It offers greater agility in the processes.
- Deliver more efficient operations.
- It allows you to achieve bigger and bigger goals.
- Helps streamline confusing operations.
- It contributes to constant monitoring and continuous improvement.
- Leads towards digital transformation.
What Are The Main Differences Between BPM And Workflow?
As you have noticed, BPM covers much more than workflow, now let’s see their specific differences:
- A BPM solution helps to organize the entire company, since it allows the integration of systems, processes, and people, while the workflow makes it easy to organize documents and people independently.
- Although workflow systems are sometimes simpler, they are less scalable. On the other hand, BPM software is scalable, can be as fast to implement as workflow software, and consolidates data for the entire business.
- A BPM system can manage a large number of workflows at the same time, while a workflow defines a sequence of tasks to obtain only one result.
- The objective of BPM is to efficiently manage all the processes of the company in parallel and that the workflow focuses on only one independent result so that it is obtained in the least amount of time and in the best possible way.
- BPM integrates various workflows with automation tools and the human capital of a company. In addition, BPM systems can be integrated with other solutions, such as IPaaS ( Integration Platform as a Service or, in Spanish, Integration Platform as a Service).
How Do BPM And Workflow Work Together?
Both BPM and workflow optimize company processes. The workflow focuses on specific tasks, while a BPM solution centralizes all the company’s processes and seeks their total efficiency.
Workflow is important, as well-designed workflows must be a focus in company strategy control.
Let’s imagine the operation of a fast-food cafeteria. One of the many processes begins when a customer places an order. From that moment on, the staff that prepares the order is notified and follows a workflow so that the customer receives their order quickly.
Despite the importance of refining this set of tasks, other processes must work in an integrated manner for greater efficiency.
For example, it is important to integrate the purchase and management of raw materials and marketing products, the prior preparation of food and its maintenance at the appropriate temperature, the organization of the infrastructure, the management of human capital, etc., since any of these can interfere in the workflow so that the client receives his order as expected and with agility.
In this example, the workflow is the set of tasks from the time the customer makes the payment until they receive their order, while BPM manages and integrates all the processes of the cafeteria so that the business operation has less and less waste of resources and becomes more effective, providing you with the best customer experience.
Read This Article: BPM And ECM: How To Optimize Process And Document Management?
BPM Or Workflow? What Is The Most Useful Choice For Your Business?
As you can see, BPM is a more far-reaching methodology, which tends to require major changes in a company, especially if a large part of the processes are not yet automated and have not undergone optimization.
This discipline will allow you to take your organization to another level and, best of all, it is accessible to companies of all sizes.
When BPM is used, efficient workflows are a consequence. Therefore, to obtain increasingly significant results throughout the business, changes must be made that impact the company as a whole. Only then can truly consistent effects be seen.
Today there is software to automate both the management of business processes and the workflow and to achieve the maximum development of a business, the ideal is to use solutions that allow managing both fronts together.
BPM Software And Workflow Software
Workflow software allows the organization of the workflows independently. Therefore, its use will automate only certain steps of a process.
However, automating individual processes is not enough to maximize business results. To take much better advantage of technology in a company, it is necessary, first of all, to carry out an analysis that allows us to verify if the processes can be optimized and how to do it – and this is what Business Process Management will take care of.
BPM software allows you to organize both complex and simple processes, provide advanced reports and monitor them. In the same way, it is possible to map, model, document, automate, execute, manage, and optimize both flows and processes in an integrated way.
Thus, BPM software allows you to do much more for the business as a whole since it reduces costs, optimizes time, and increases productivity throughout the company, allowing you to do more with less and in less time.