New BPM applications as well as other types of enterprise business software are being designed to make processes more efficient and bring automation, simulation and optimization features to users, while leveraging new technologies and adapting others to expand the reach of BPM tools. These efforts bring BPM to a wider number of users and frees them from the desktop.

Changes in the BPM space look to provide users with the following three major advantages:

1. Enhanced User Experience

Software providers with BPM offerings are more than ever aware of the importance of providing the best possible user experience, incorporating specific functionality for this purpose. An important means for improving process efficiency is to enable all users involved in process-related activities - from designers, business analysts, to users directly involved in the process - to operate their software in an optimal manner. By giving them the necessary tools to enable greater and friendlier interaction with the system, all users can save time performing their process-related tasks and potentially improve their productivity.

Automation of some of the process design and configuration tasks, and the ability of BPM applications to provide contextual information based on the type and position of each user can have a great impact on the productivity of users. BPM applications can give users the information they need to perform their tasks in the format and configuration users they deem appropriate"”not the way dictated by the BPM system"”and according to the context or situation of each user.

2. Increased Process Efficiency and Monitoring

The main goal of BPM applications is to enable organizations to model, design and implement an automated approach to executing business processes. Today's BPM applications have come to play a central role in the organization, expanding their reach to enable two major functionality sets: integration within the information technology ecosystem and ability for monitoring and measuring efficiency.

Businesses are expecting an increased number of functional and integration features in BPM solutions such as automation and analytics. They can expect the development of not only new applications to fully encompass new business processes but also complete, independent process-oriented applications (requiring no coding).

3. Device Independence and Mobility

To enhance user experience as much as possible, BPM software providers will continue to grow their mobile offerings. Most importantly, they need to ensure consistent functionality across a variety of devices, bring seamless functionality to every device, and increase user transparency irrespective of the device being used. Mobile applications will be seen as more than just data visualization tools"”as virtual desktops with extensive functional features.

                                      The Outlook

The year 2013 will certainly be an interesting one for BPM and other business software applications. BPM software providers will continue to see users as a central component of the IT schema, providing important enhancements to their offerings to enable users to collaborate and be more efficient in performing process-related activities, thereby transforming the business. Furthermore, they should offer new platforms for reinforcing technology transparency and enabling users to proactively design and implement business processes.


Keywords: supply chain management IT, supply chain solutions, BPM applications, BPM software