How to Decide on the Best Business Process Management Software

How to Choose the Best Business Process Management Software

As technology advances, restaurant owners may be unsure of which cloud-based tools to invest in. Automated systems can streamline business processes and eliminate repetitive tasks, but there are so many options available. It's particularly overwhelming if one is not well-versed in these highly technical business buzzwords.

Foremost, it helps to know the difference between BPM and BPM software. While easily confused with business process management, BPM software is different. BPM is a discipline that facilitates the modeling and optimization of processes to maximize efficiency. A process includes all of the steps taken to carry out a business goal. For example, taking inventory or scheduling employees are types of business processes. To streamline processes and save time, owners seek tools that can perform these steps with minimal assistance from humans.

On the other hand, BPM software is an automated tool that optimizes and analyzes processes. BPM is a methodology and BPM software is a tool used to carry out the methodology. The purpose of BPM tools is to minimize bottlenecks and eliminate human error.


The overarching goal of process mapping is to improve the general performance of a restaurant or small business. Between constructing flowcharts and process modeling design, the capabilities of BP management tools are endless. Read ahead for tips on how to choose the best BPM software.

What to Know About BPM:

• The business process management market is valued at $3.38 billion
  
• 96% of companies had some form of documented processes in 2015. Yet, only 4% of companies manage their documented processes
  
• Companies have decreased their onboarding expenses by half simply by implementing BPM
  
• 62% of companies have up to 25% of their business processes modeled, but just 2% have all of their processes modeled

Additional Details to Know About BPM Software

Business process management software is a workflow management tool that can guide business tasks. It maps out every automated task to pinpoint bottlenecks and eliminate them. Because inefficiencies result in waste and higher costs, management tools are used to save money. They enable restaurants to streamline the supply chain, so employees can work together to get things done. The best BPM platforms lead to higher profits, happier customers, and a more efficient workforce.

A good BPM tool should do three things- process modeling, task monitoring, and task simulation. Modeling is the graphical representation of a business project. It may use arrows or boxes (depending on the software) to show how a task moves from start to finish. With the best features, users can readjust processes to see how they can be more efficient.

Task monitoring is exactly what it sounds like. BPM software monitors the status of existing or revamped processes to see how they flow. If there are inefficiencies, users can go back to mapping until the workflow is more effective.

Finally, task simulation is a more intensive version of modeling. It allows engineers to virtually model a process with more detail, without having to carry it out in real-time. This saves a lot of manpower, time, and resources. Effective BPM software must be able to carry out the latter three functions. Otherwise, owners will not be able to reap the benefits that come with an effective project management tool.

Identifying the Best Business Process Management Software

Process change tracking software is classified depending on its infrastructure and how it is hosted. Based on the hosting type, there are two critical forms of BPM software. These include -

• On-Premise BPM Software - On-premise solutions are more common than other types. The servers are hosted within the business, rather than off-site.
• SAS - These servers are cloud-based. Software as a server is becoming more popular because they are less expensive, more scalable, and possess greater integration capabilities.

Now that the types of BPM software have been separated by hosting capabilities, it's time to classify them by framework. The three main types of BPM framework include -

• Horizontal BPM Framework - This framework handles the creation and design of business processes. They typically center on the more technical portions of these business activities.
• Vertical BPM Framework - These management process tools facilitate the execution of coordinated business processes, with the use of customized templates.
• Full-Service BPM Suites - Functionality includes process mapping, task modeling, and simulation. It also encompasses data mapping and possesses integration capabilities.

3 Types of BPM Software

The type of BPM software an organization picks depends on various business needs and goals. While functionality varies depending on the tool, the top features to look for include -

• Integrates with Existing Software Solutions - Enables integration with other internal applications and cloud-based systems.
• Business Process Optimization - Reduces the time it takes to identify and improve operational tasks to achieve optimal results.
• Business Analytics - BPM software may come with predictive analytics to generate insights into future events.
• Reporting - Enables reporting to show the status of various business processes. This allows decision-makers to pinpoint inefficiencies and optimize problem-solving.
• Role-Based Functionality - Organizational structures allow users to identify the roles of each stakeholder within a company if they aren't identified in another database.
• Process Mapping - Maps various processes to ensure each workflow operates properly. Utilizes flow charts and diagrams to make mapping data easy to understand.
• Real-Time Monitoring - Monitors the status of processes in real-time to ensure optimal efficiency. Also allows owners to establish a set of KPIs to track the performance of processes.

Key Takeaways for Best Business Process Management Software

In conclusion, here is what to know about business process management software -

• BPM software is hosted in two types of ways. These include on-premise solutions or as software as a server (cloud-based).
• Based on the framework of a BPM solution, the software is classified into three ways. This includes horizontal BPM frameworks, vertical BPM frameworks, or full-service BPM suites.
• Top features to look for in a BPM solution include integration capabilities, business process optimization, business analytics, reporting, role-based functionality, process mapping, and real-time monitoring.