How to Choose the Right Process Management Software for Your Business

With so many business management software programs available on the market, it is no easy task to pick one that is just right for the type and size of your specific business. While an increasing number of developers are now offering industry-specific software that can be customized to the needs of each client, the fundamental features of good process management tools remain the same.

Here is a simple and quick buying guide to help you make an informed decision when buying a business process management (BPM) solution for your company.

List the end results the software must accomplish for your organization

Get your core team to prepare a list of pain points and issues the software is expected to resolve. This way, your research will be focused on the outcomes that a BPM product can accomplish for you rather than the plethora of features it offers, which may or may not be all relevant to your business requirements.

Will the program help streamline your day-to-day operations? Will it improve the efficiency and productivity of your workforce? Will it aid in fixing accountability and enable faster decision making? These are only some of the questions a business owner or manager should ask when shortlisting various BPM products.

Consider the size of your organization

Large organizations with complex and multi-level business processes should look for process management software that can handle the complexities and scale of their processes. On the other hand, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups should ideally not invest in an expensive tech tool that comes packed with features they may not need for a long time to come.

If you’re looking to save some money, explore open source BPM solutions that are easy to implement, use and maintain.

Weigh the benefits of employing an advanced customizable BPM solution

A medium-sized organization that’s projected to grow and expands in the near future may be better off investing in a system that can take the load of its growing operations in the months or years to come.

Buying advanced business management software has several benefits, and it helps to consider what all a system will achieve for you before rejecting it outright for being too complex. Some benefits of sophisticated BPM software include improved efficiency; reduced operational costs; greater control over projects; real-time reporting and thereby faster decision-making; standardization of processes; low risk of errors; elimination of wastage, repetition and inefficiencies; greater profits for the business; improvement in employee morale; and several more.

Do a cost-benefit analysis of your chosen tool, and if the benefits outweigh the cost of buying and using the system, go for it.

Opt for the latest cutting-edge technology

Based on the scale of your business operations and your budget, choose a business process management product that’s based on new technology rather than dated legacy systems. A BPM software program must be scalable in order to adapt to the changing needs of your business, and traditional software that worked well for all kinds of organizations is fast losing favor with modern businesses.

Modern-day process management software programs use cloud computing and data analytics to identify hits and misses in process improvement, can be easily integrated with other existing software, and utilize AI to optimize process flows to save both time and money. Explore and learn more about the use of artificial intelligence in BPM and cloud-based business management software to know what they can do for your organization that legacy software probably can’t. With evolving technology, it is less cumbersome and more economical to implement a cloud-based system than it is to use and maintain a legacy system.

Define the long-term strategic objectives of automating your business processes

The key aim of business process management tools is to help a business enhance and streamline its processes through analysis, monitoring, redesigning and modification of inefficient processes. As the software is employed throughout the organization, its impact can be seen and measured across departments and hierarchies.

Typically, process management software should aid your business in achieving its strategic goals. Whether through increasing employee productivity, enhancing customer satisfaction, providing data-based insights into various sub-processes, or improving employee motivation and engagement, a process improvement tool worth its price will help your improve your profitability by working at various levels through the organization.

While no two BPM products are created equal, buying management software becomes easy when you’re equipped with the right information and knowledge to choose a solution that will fix your process woes.