Business process management technology can provide a great
return on investment, particularly for solo entrepreneurs. The resources
of a solo run business are particularly valuable, since they are
usually relied upon more heavily than in larger businesses, where there
are more available people to handle the many tasks associated with
running a business. Business process management systems can provide the
kind of technology foundation that will support future business
initiatives that can also foster growth.
1. Operational
Efficiency
The following considerations suggest how business
process management can provide better operational efficiency:
- Automate manual data entry
- Integrate work order and applications process
- Manage variable defined processes
- Accountable, traceable and auditable financial processes according to government mandates like Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA
- Protection against contract liability and termination litigation
2. Evaluating Business Process Management Solutions
Finding
the right business process management solutions involves determining
the best solution that will address:
- Reduce cost and improve work flow automation
- Handle IT, Finance, HR, Marketing, Sales and other services
3. Integrate Work Flow and Automation
The best business
process management solutions will integrate work flow along with
automation, for the most effective system designed for a solo business
person. To effectively manage and improve the business environment, the
system should have the following components:
- Ease of use with web interface for improving work flow
- Ability to minimize data entry and eliminate confusion
- Have an intuitive process with form creation, routing and tracking tools
- Reduce manual request and approval process requirements
- Be compatible with existing process infrastructure
- Provide a fast return on investment of 3 months or less
4. Interoperability
The business process management
solution for solo business people should include:
- No need for special IT help or coding skills
- An intuitive form creation device
- Ease of use for process routing
- The ability to access data from both desktop and mobile computer systems
5. Work Flow Portal
The work flow portal should
integrate with the business process management solution and have the
following attributes:
- Web browser-based user work flow portal for task submission and completion
- Easy web form submission
- Simple work flow approval
- Updates on status in real time for accuracy and tracking
The ideal business process management solution for small business and
sole operators is designed for a limited budget and IT resources.
Business process management should focus on the process and the user
experience, as well as the type of data utilized to manage the system.
Business process management vendors such as Lombardi/Siperian, Appian,
and Polymita provide basic tools to define the necessary process
variables.
The Forrester research firm highlighted process data
management in its BPM
Tech Radar report. The new category in the business process arena
is designed to merge business and data process management to provide the
most efficient version of office automation design. Forrester will
further publish a body of research on the process data management
challenge, with best practice advice for combining the data and
management processes (which could be very beneficial for all
businesses). The data will be designed to improve data management
initiatives, presenting case studies detailing successful integration of
business process and data management systems.