The 6 top process management software in comparison

According to a recent study on process management software and its use in companies (BearingPoint and BPM&O), process management has arrived in companies.

The study shows that 80 percent of the experts surveyed considerprocess management to be an important success factor, which means that sooner or later, many companies dealing with process optimization in the context of digitalization and process management will be faced with the question of which process management tool is most suitable.

It is not only the functional scope of the software that is relevant here, but also the level and structure of the costs incurred.

One-off costs for the purchase of the software and subsequent maintenance must be considered and compared, as must any ongoing costs that may be incurred, for example through the use of cloud software. As the use of process management software has an impact on the entire company, it is worth comparing different options and solutions in detail.

In this article, we present the top 6 process management software and their providers. Of course, we make no claim to completeness, as the market is too heterogeneous for that. However, you will get an overview of the features of the most frequently used providers. We also provide an overview of other process management software that we can recommend. First, however, we would like to discuss the advantages, areas of application and components of process management software.

What is process management software?

Process management software are tools designed to support teams in carrying out systematic process management. The scope of services ranges from simple drawing programs for displaying processes to comprehensive programs that can simultaneously analyze process flows. The latter are also capable of carrying out process simulations and process modeling. However, the effort involved should not be underestimated. The more comprehensive the program, the higher the costs and personnel costs for acquisition and operation.

The use of process management software offers numerous advantages:

• Increased efficiency: the automation and standardization of processes leads to faster processing and less effort.

• Error reduction: Clear process definitions and automatic monitoring minimize errors.

• Transparency: Processes are easier to understand and can be monitored and analyzed more easily.

• Flexibility: Adjustments and optimizations can be implemented more quickly and easily.

However, process management is much more than just using software to map processes. If you want to know more about realizing competitive advantages through the use of process management, you should read this article.

Diverse areas of application for process management software

Process management software can be used for workflows, end-to-end processes, strategic process management and much more.

These tools are usually used by internal project teams, the company's own IT department or in-house consultants. They are also used in various industries such as production, logistics, healthcare, financial services and public administration.

Specific areas of application include the optimization of supply chains, the automation of approval processes, compliance with regulatory requirements, quality management and customer relationship management (CRM). By integrating process management software into existing ERP and CRM systems as well as into compliance management, companies can increase their efficiency, reduce costs and improve the transparency and traceability of their processes.

Advancing digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in modern BPM tools also enable proactive process optimization and the identification of improvement potential in real time.

Components of process management software

The Process Discovery Modeling, Process Portal Enabler, Process Automation and Process Dashboard components are closely interlinked and together form the core of a holistic Business Process Management (BPM) system.

A comprehensive BPM solution such as the BIC Platform offers standardized functions for importing existing models, process mining technology for analysing ERP systems and enables end-to-end transformation of business processes.

• Process discovery and modeling (process discovery modeling): Starting point for creating detailed process models.

• Central entry point (Process Portal Enabler): Platform that enables access to process models, automation tools and dashboards.

• Automation (Process Automation): Uses the process models created to automate tasks and workflows.

• Monitoring and Analysis (Process Dashboard): Enables real-time monitoring and analysis of processes to drive continuous improvement.

Process Discovery Modeling identifies and models the processes that are made available centrally in the Process Portal Enabler. These models are then automated through process automation. Finally, the Process Dashboard provides real-time insights and analytics that enable continuous process improvement. Each of these components plays a crucial role and ensures that BPM initiatives can be effectively implemented and optimized.

These components are essential parts of BPM solutions that help companies model, automate, monitor and continuously improve their business processes.

1. Process discovery modeling

Process discovery modeling is an essential component of BPM that focuses on the identification, analysis and modeling of business processes. It is about discovering and documenting the actual processes in a company in order to create a better understanding and a basis for optimizing these processes.

Objectives:

1. Gain transparency of existing business processes.

2. Identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks.

3. Create the basis for automation and optimization.

Methods:

1. Data collection through interviews, observations and IT systems.

2. Analysis of transaction and log data.

3. Creation of process models using BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation).

Tools: Abbyy, Celonis, Apromore, Lana, Aris Process Mining.

2. Process portal - most important enabler

A process portal is the most important component within a BPM suite and offers users a central platform to manage, monitor, administer and optimize business processes "end-to-end".

Functions:

1. Centralized access to process information and tools.

2. (a single source of information)

3. Real-time monitoring and process execution.

4. Training

5. Management of user roles and rights.

6. Notification and alerting of process events.

7. Reporting and analysis tools.

Advantages

1. Improved transparency and control of business processes.

2. Increased efficiency through central administration.

3. Rapid problem identification and resolution.

4. Promotion of cross-departmental cooperation.

Tools: Signavio, Aris, Bic, Adonis

3. Process Automation

Process automation refers to the automation of business processes through the use of technology to reduce or eliminate manual tasks. The aim is to improve the efficiency, accuracy and speed of processes.

Goals

1. Reduction of manual interventions and errors.

2. Increase in process speed.

3. Reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Methods

1. Use of BPM tools to automate workflows.

2. Use of robotic process automation (RPA) to automate repetitive tasks.

3. Integration of AI and machine learning for intelligent process control.

Tools: Bizagi, Process Maker, Red Head, Camunda.

4. Process dashboard

A process dashboard is a visualization tool within a BPM suite that provides real-time insights into the performance and status of business processes. Dashboards help to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and make informed decisions.

Features:

1. Real-time data visualization and monitoring

2. Display of KPIs and metrics.

3. Customized dashboards for different user roles.

4. Drill-down functionality for detailed analyses.

Advantages

1. Quick overview of process performance.

2. Identification of bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

3. Support for decision-making through data-based insights.

4. Improved process control and optimization.

Tools: Celonis, Apromore, Aris, Trisotech

The following is an overview of the best-known providers and the functional scope of process management software. First the pure mapping tools, then workflow engines through to process mining systems.

If you have any questions about process management software in your company: We will be happy to help you!