Off-the-shelf business management solutions often only support configuration changes, such as changing font sizes or colour schemes, and adding user roles and permissions, while a BPM platform provides a framework for organisations to automate and optimise their unique business processes in a standardised way. It offers a set of pre-built functionalities and tools that enable organisations to build, deploy and manage process-based solutions quickly and easily. Advanced customisation typically requires coding, which is also supported by platform BPM software.
So says Denis Bensch, CIO of FlowCentric Technologies, who maintains that BPM software can significantly impact business process optimisation and efficiency, allowing businesses to have complete control over their processes. It enables them to not only identify areas for improvement, but also make necessary adjustments.
By delivering tailored solutions, a BPM platform can help organisations overcome their unique challenges, optimise their processes and improve productivity, while reducing errors and enabling faster, more accurate decision-making.
Platform BPM software allows businesses to integrate their existing systems, making it easier to share data and insights across different departments. As a result, custom-built BPM solutions facilitate better co-ordination and collaboration among teams, departments and stakeholders by providing a single centralised platform for communication and information sharing.
Powerful data analytics can provide businesses with deeper insights into their processes and performance, helping them to identify areas for improvement, track progress over time and make data-driven decisions that drive growth and success. It can also help businesses to achieve compliance with regulations and standards by incorporating rules and guidelines into their workflows, thereby reducing the risk of non-compliance and avoiding costly penalties and legal issues. Another often overlooked benefit of platform BPM software is its ability to scale as a business grows, allowing it to adapt and evolve to changing needs and requirements, helping businesses remain agile and responsive.
But platform BPM software and bespoke BPM solutions are suitable only for large, cash-flush enterprises with complex processes, right?
“Like anything custom-built, it does come at a price,” Bensch emphasises “So it’s important to weigh the business benefits versus the cost before proceeding.”
“Bespoke BPM solutions can be used by companies of all sizes and across all industries. However, large enterprises with complex and highly regulated business processes can derive substantial benefit from custom-built BPM solutions due to their greater need for customisation and scalability,” explains Bensch.
He acknowledges that there are some organisations and industries that are particularly well-suited to bespoke BPM software.
Large enterprises with complex and highly regulated business processes can benefit from bespoke BPM software, Bensch says, as solutions can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the enterprise. This provides complete control over their processes, optimising resource allocation, reducing errors and eliminating inefficiencies. This can result in significant cost savings over time, making the enterprise more competitive.
Similarly, financial services companies, such as banks and insurance companies with their data-intensive processes and obligation to comply with complex regulatory requirements, can gain enormous value from bespoke BPM solutions.
“There’s no doubt that bespoke BPM solutions can help these companies meet compliance requirements and reduce errors, while improving customer service,” Bensch says.
Then there are healthcare organisations, such as hospitals, clinics and pharmaceutical companies, that typically have complex and highly regulated processes that require a high degree of accuracy and precision.
Bespoke BPM solutions can be used to track and manage pharmaceutical supply chains, ensuring that drugs are delivered to patients safely and efficiently. This can be especially important for organisations that produce life-saving drugs or vaccines.
Overall, bespoke BPM solutions can help healthcare organisations to reduce costs, improve patient care and comply with regulatory requirements, while assisting them to remain agile and responsive in the face of changing healthcare regulations and market conditions.
Like pharmaceutical companies, all manufacturing organisations also have complex supply chains and production processes. Operating as many do in a highly competitive environment, they must constantly strive to improve quality, reduce waste and optimise resource allocation. Bespoke BPM solutions can help these companies too.
Finally, Bensch says, government agencies must also contend with complex and highly regulated processes. Here, too, bespoke BPM solutions can help these agencies improve service delivery, reduce costs, comply with regulatory requirements and enforce accountability. Ultimately, bespoke BPM solutions can help government agencies to operate more efficiently, transparently and effectively.
“There’s a case to be made for bespoke BPM software in most businesses as it can help businesses differentiate themselves in the marketplace and achieve sustained growth and success over time. The key, however, is to ensure you choose the right BPM partner to ensure you get the most from your investment,” Bensch concludes.
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