Whenever I went to the rest of the world to visit customers and potential customers, will see two distinct so-called business process management software. If the light from the two software makers promotional materials, most people may think that they in fact very much the same, but one of the prices much higher than it another.
Sales, a complete professional services, another is that as long as the users themselves can DIY. In my view, very often, both for the fact that the same market. In addition to these differences, their similarities with the same name, it was very confusing to customers. Customers can not understand why the software was similar in price, features and product delivery on such a big difference. As the two software has its market, so people will think that these two types of software types of customers should have great differences, and in fact did so.
Different types of customers
The first type of customer is "application-oriented" customers. Its goal is to obtain the lowest price features the largest application software.
Application software are basically oriented customers are mostly developers, these people with all types of applications (including business process management) for the center of gravity and the rest are just minor, and its main task is to let the application software functions better. Such customers, whether they are developers or independent developers, like flexible, lightweight and easy to integrate the functions of its application software. These customers do not like high prices, weight-based applications, because such software is not easy to maintain and support. In addition, developers like to design their own procedures, the implementation does not require the assistance of consultants. When the applications-oriented customers looking for business process management solutions, they really need is a set of existing enterprises in the application software on additional workflow features of the software, or to create a separate custom projects.
In order to highlight its characteristics, we said such software as "workflow tool", of course, manufacturers in order to catching the business process management trend and compare like to call business process management software. Workflow tools usually provide only the basic functions of the workflow, and other features from customers to make up their own development process. Many enterprise applications, such as: ERP, CRM, EDMS, asset management and so on, we need some workflow features to strengthen its core functions. These applications software developers can use workflow tools to provide workflow features, on its own without having to work behind closed doors. In addition, many custom projects also need some basic work flow capacity. For these customized application software developers, off-the-shelf workflow tool is very convenient, it can direct its custom application integration software.
Such application software to meet customer demand-driven, workflow tools must be cheap and easy. As workflow tools have been integrated into the application software, application software for end-users will never see workflow tools, or any of its components.
Finally, application-oriented software development, its vision is limited to the application software itself. Although the application process may be some built-in, but the goal of these software applications, is not so application areas outside the large number of automated processes.
The second type of customer is "process-oriented" customers. The process-oriented clients, is the focus of business processes and applications designed to allow flow more smoothly, more complete. Due process is the basis of business, the efficiency of the process very important.
This type of customer is basically operational staff. business process management solutions to find their goal, is to enable the company to manage business processes throughout the entire life cycle. Therefore, business process management solutions must be complete, but also to many built-in features, including: model, collaborative design, integration, management, user interface, role management, monitoring, evaluation and so on, and a separate rules engine.
Process-oriented, concerned about the operational issues, rather than the development of IT or procedural issues. Its looking for is a set of business solutions, rather than custom of development programmes. In fact, flexibility is very important enterprise, process-oriented customers want to customize the process of development越少越好so that they will not be too difficult to maintain and update. Process-oriented customers typically face a large number of business-related processes. Therefore, the need is a complete solution, but also usually like to help by professional services to accelerate the implementation of speed.
Process-oriented, less concerned about the price, because they felt that the key business processes Zidonghuasuo the return on investment is even more important. In addition, process-oriented, like an independent business process management platform for the need to use all kinds of application software can automate the process. Such customers really need is the so-called "business process management solutions" or "business process management package."
In addition to the first two customers, but also a third customer. Such customers want to business process management package of features, but they just want to pay the price of workflow tools and efforts. Their center of gravity is between applications-oriented and process-oriented between. I encountered one in the Middle East such customers. He is a large government agencies in the information officer, he hoped that the more the better process automation. He wants a complete set of solutions, Arabic interface, and the local Arabic support services. Such a demand for enterprise solutions, is quite reasonable. But eventually return to the issue price. He asked me: "Why you do not use the business process management Intuit QuickBooks software pricing models» "I was really can not bear to tell him that we are not the price of 20 sets of Intuit QuickBooks software can be comparable to the. Faced with such did not know that the application software or process to focus on the customer, the only way is to educate them.
Different types of business process management software
Even if the customer is very clear what is the focus of their own (whether or application-oriented process-oriented), customers still have to face difficult choices. In fact, manufacturers are divided into three categories. The first is pure business process management vendors, provide a full and independent business process management solutions. This was followed by the workflow tool manufacturers, to provide additional software for other work flow capacity of the software. Finally it is in their own workflow features built-in software application software vendors. As business process management recent speculation in the fiery, no matter which type manufacturers have continued strong sales of its so-called business process management programmes. For example, every one of EDMS and manufacturers have claimed ECM or business process management workflow solutions, which again Filenet named by analysts as the leader. Like this is the case, it allows customers Yitouwushui, totally do not know what is business process management, what is not business process management.
I personally think the answer is very simple. If a vendor of business process management products can function independent pricing, sales and support, it should be able to be regarded as the true business process management solutions. If the business process management function with only one application software sales, implementation and support, it is not true business process management applications.
Of course, you really concerned about is that in the end three ways which we can really provide for long-term investment returns. Clients should invest in embedded software application-specific workflow tools, or should invest in independent business process management solutions, so that the core business processes are automated » Clients should rely on their enterprise applications software vendors workflow features » Of course, as a market leader in business process management's chief executive, my personal view may be a bit biased. However, I am willing to share with you why I think an independent business process management solution is the future trend, but also the future of our company. My reasons are threefold:
First, embedded workflow features not only difficult to expand, but also difficult to manage. If a company sets a good use of the application software or custom application software, and each set has its own embedded workflow features, the company must also implement the programme of work processes. Unless these applications work processes are the primary functions (of course, and if so on are not useful), otherwise, these different workflow system will be difficult to manage. Just a set of workflow management system has been very difficult, not to mention a good sets to manage. Each has its own set of design tools, the user interface, rules repository, management, modeling tools and so on must learn. Once the system is changed, will become neither practical nor economic. Instead, business process management packages is an independent process of moving platform, can be coupled with a wide variety of business application software. As long as a company with a set of products, can all the business process automation, regardless of what the enterprise applications software or personnel are contingent.
Second, as service-oriented architecture (Services Oriented Architecture, SOA) and the emergence of progressive universal, business process management solutions more than workflow tool of development. Although every enterprise applications software vendors have tried to business process management will be the ability to integrate its products, but I really can not think of which one is in this context is successful. Instead of these enterprise applications software vendors beginning to understand, its advantage lies in its service areas of expertise, and through the SOA framework will open up these services. So, will be able to complete the successful implementation of business process management solutions for the life cycle of business process management.
Finally, workflow tools originally targeted at low-priced market, with the entry of large manufacturers, these tools will be increasingly low prices. Moreover, also recently heard that Microsoft also interested in its operating system, free to provide more workflow features. Therefore, if the developers want to use its software applications in a simple workflow features, they will use the Visual Studio provided by the tool, and not sold separately workflow tools. Therefore, these workflow tool manufacturers of business will not be following.
