Our series on business process modeling has explained how process modeling can optimize business by identifying areas for improvement and setting proper benchmarks for success.
The last post in our series will discuss how to use process modeling not only to solve problems and fix flaws in business processes but also how to optimize processes to give companies an edge over their competitors.
Process Modeling: What We’ve Learned So Far
Business process mapping and modeling paves the way to process optimization by providing comprehensive insight into business processes. The detailed information and increased transparency provided by process modeling arm management with the tools to measure employee performance and resource allocation. Monitoring operation using process models also generates data about how processes function normally. This helps executives determine KPIs and benchmarks used to measure process improvement and implement change management. It also aids in setting a standard of operations so employees uniformly complete tasks in the same way.
Moving Past Process Improvement to Process Optimization
The last question that remains is how companies can use this information to go beyond simply fixing processes and achieve optimization to stay ahead of competitors. As mentioned previously in this series, business leaders can take steps toward process optimization by setting attainable goals. Using the process model, executives can take a look at each element at work in the process as a whole. Common candidates for process optimization include:
- Employee efficiency – Will incentivizing certain employee behaviors and activities improve efficiency?
- Resource allocation and acquisition – Where are resources being used? Are employees using resources efficiently? Are the available resources sufficient to complete the task at hand?
- Exception handling and reduction – Why do exceptions occur? Can they be resolved more quickly? Can exceptions be reduced altogether?
To start answering these questions, business leaders can look to their process models and KPIs to determine where investment would have the most impact. Since process models highlight the relationship between input and output, business leaders can see the effect of investment on the outcome of the process. This makes it easier to see which areas to optimize for the lowest cost. Then, executives can apply KPIs to see the effects of changes or new investments made in the process. Not only is the cost of process optimization lower, but change is also less risky. Process models make it easier to analyze and predict the effect of investment, reducing risk.
Using Workflow Optimization to Stay Ahead of Competitors
After companies have standardized their processes and determined points for optimization, they can continuously make changes to processes. The freedom to innovate that process modeling provides is a major factor in staying ahead of the competition. As technology advances, process modeling helps gives insight into which new tools and applications are beneficial for process optimization. Process models can help management determine if new technology fits into existing processes. If the benefit is not worth the cost, companies avoid wasting money on expensive, but essentially useless, gadgets. This puts companies one step ahead of competitors that decide to go for bad investments.
Data generated using process models also helps conclude that new technology might result in a major increase in productivity. During cost-benefit analysis, process models help management find where or how new technology can provide the most benefit. Using data generated from standardized processes, management can make more accurate projections for savings. This way, executive decisions are based on hard data, reducing guesswork and risk. After acquiring new resources, executives can use process models and KPIs to monitor the return on their investments. The cycle of monitoring improvements and analyzing outcomes leads to constant process optimization over time, pushing companies ahead of competitors.
Get Started
Now that we’ve explained how business process modeling is good for business, it’s time to see firsthand how ProcessMaker’s BPM suite can help your business become more efficient. Click here to schedule your personalized demo.
