Summarize with AI:
Business Process Management (BPM) consists of a set of methods to complete specific business processes successfully. In a word, it helps companies to implement and automate structured and unstructured pathways or workflows to achieve targeted business goals.
But workflows involve people, not machines. BPM fosters a sense of “ownership” in each employee, and this makes everyone responsible for their part in the process.
Let's take a closer look at what BPM actually is and does, and why it should be an integral part of your ERP system.
BPM is an established approach to plan, design, execute, and monitor various business processes, both automated and non-automated. It creates a blueprint for similar business processes to be executed, modeled, and measured, while taking various stakeholders' interests into account. Business process management also includes program and project management, in which proven processes are applied to complete unique projects. A collection of technological solutions to automate these business processes is also known as BPM.
BPM helps organizations to:
When it comes to ERP systems, we'd prefer to say: “Automate your workflows and let your ERP do the work for you.” If it sounds simple, that's because, it is. BPM tools lay the foundation for ERP systems. They control the flow of information between individuals or departments, and direct it to the next processing stage, according to an established workflow map. A robust BPM built into your ERP, enables managers to monitor the progress of any process in the organization, handle and escalate exceptions, and generate reports that can be used to enhance performance.
In an ERP, BPM effectively “adds” a layer of management and control for operational business workflows across your entire organization. It forces companies to evaluate their business processes. Questions like “What's the flow of a particular task, what possible scenarios exist, what rules need to be applied at each stage of the process, who is involved at each stage, and what level of authority should they be granted?” Creating a detailed blueprint of business processes, streamlining and regulating workflows, leads to greater control.
BPM underscores important processes and workflows that help ERP to achieve larger goals. As BPM manages specific processes in a detailed manner, your ERP oversees these processes from a larger perspective. If specific processes are important to your business rather than general automation, a BPM can fill the gaps that ERP can't.
Integrating BPM with ERP eliminates the need for two different databases. Data and business intelligence from BPM can be integrated with ERP insight to arrive at more reliable predictions and forecasts. Most important, BPM can be used to monitor and manage specific processes while the associated data can be stored in a central database that also houses your ERP data. It's worth mentioning that data from non-automated tasks are better, more efficiently handled by BPM.
ERP often looks at business processes from an IT perspective. As a result, it's a viable option for organizations that need to automate processes and reduce human errors. A BPM, however, takes it one step further. It looks at processes and workflows from a business perspective. Integrating BPM into your ERP system will help your ERP to balance both technological and business goals.
An ERP with BPM does not require high level customization, as BPM handles specific processes extremely well. This reduces both the technological and financial burden that comes with complex customizations. Your ERP will function in a more streamlined manner, while your BPM runs specific processes in the background.
BPM enhances communication and collaboration between departments, teams, and individual employees. What's more, it offers tremendous help to new users during ERP employee training. Customizing an ERP to the level of running specific processes so that it can handle collaboration, training, and communication can be an arduous and complex task. Integrating BPM with ERP reduces these complexities.
Although overall, an ERP system and BPM may be similar in nature, as both help to automate business processes, their stated purposes are different. While ERP automates business operations in general, a BPM helps automate, manage, and monitor specific processes. Integrating BPM with ERP will help eliminate multiple databases, and improve overall efficiency and productivity. It reduces the need for complex customizations and ensures successful results of specific operational business processes that are, after all, led by people, not machines.
To learn more about how BPM can power your ERP or how to choose an ERP with built-in BPM functionality, contact us for a no-obligation call with one of our ERP implementation experts.
Chief Product Officer
Since joining Priority in 1998, Keren has progressed through several leadership positions and now leads as the Director of Product Strategy. She has an industrial engineering degree and an MBA from Tel Aviv University. Her journey reflects a consistent dedication to advancement and excellence.
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Business Process Management (BPM) is a set of methods and tools used to plan, design, execute, monitor, and optimize business processes. It helps organizations automate both structured and unstructured workflows, ensuring that business goals are met efficiently. BPM fosters ownership among employees, making everyone responsible for their part in the process. [Source]
BPM tools lay the foundation for ERP systems by controlling the flow of information between individuals or departments and directing it to the next processing stage according to an established workflow map. Integrated BPM enables managers to monitor process progress, handle exceptions, and generate performance reports, adding a layer of management and control to operational workflows across the organization. [Source]
Integrating BPM with ERP offers several benefits: it fills gaps in ERP by managing specific processes in detail, centralizes all data in a single database, provides a business perspective to process management, eliminates the need for complex customizations, and improves communication and collaboration across teams. This integration enhances productivity, agility, and overall efficiency. [Source]
BPM manages specific processes in detail, while ERP oversees these processes from a broader perspective. If your business requires detailed management of certain processes, BPM can address these needs where general ERP automation may fall short. [Source]
Centralized data ensures that all business intelligence and process data are stored in a single database, improving reliability, predictions, and forecasts. It also eliminates the need for multiple databases and enables better management of both automated and non-automated tasks. [Source]
BPM enhances communication and collaboration by providing clear workflows, facilitating information sharing between departments, and supporting employee training during ERP implementation. This reduces complexity and ensures everyone is aligned with business processes. [Source]
Companies should consider: What is the flow of a particular task? What scenarios exist? What rules apply at each stage? Who is involved and what authority do they have? Answering these helps create a detailed blueprint for streamlined and regulated workflows. [Source]
BPM enables managers to monitor the progress of any process, handle and escalate exceptions, and generate reports that can be used to enhance performance and decision-making. [Source]
Yes, an ERP with BPM does not require high-level customizations, as BPM handles specific processes efficiently. This reduces both technological and financial burdens associated with complex customizations. [Source]
BPM automates, manages, and monitors specific processes, while ERP automates business operations in general. Integrating BPM with ERP eliminates multiple databases, improves efficiency, and ensures successful results for operational business processes. [Source]
BPM can automate both structured and unstructured business processes, including workflows that involve multiple departments, exception handling, and processes that require human decision-making and collaboration. [Source]
BPM provides clear workflows and process documentation, which helps new users understand their roles and responsibilities, making ERP training more effective and less complex. [Source]
ERP automates business operations in general, while BPM focuses on automating, managing, and monitoring specific business processes. BPM adds a layer of control and flexibility to ERP systems, enabling more detailed process management. [Source]
BPM enables organizations to visualize, measure, analyze, and re-engineer existing processes, leading to continuous improvement and better business outcomes. [Source]
Yes, BPM is designed to manage both automated and non-automated processes, providing tools to monitor, control, and improve workflows regardless of their automation level. [Source]
BPM provides a structured approach to process management, ensuring that workflows are aligned with business objectives and that outcomes are measurable and improvable. [Source]
BPM includes program and project management by applying proven processes to complete unique projects, ensuring consistency and efficiency in execution. [Source]
You can contact Priority Software for a no-obligation call with an ERP implementation expert to learn more about BPM and ERP integration. Contact us here.
Industries with complex, multi-step processes—such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and healthcare—benefit most from BPM-enabled ERP, as it allows for detailed process management and automation. [Source]
Priority Software offers a comprehensive suite of cloud-based business management solutions, including ERP systems, retail management, hospitality management, and school management. Key features include modular architecture, no-code customizations, advanced analytics, automation, industry-specific modules, and a robust integration marketplace. [Source]
Yes, Priority Software supports over 150 plug & play connectors, unlimited API connectivity, ODBC drivers, RESTful API, and embedded integrations with leading vendors such as SAP, Webhotelier, Verifone, and more. [Source]
Yes, Priority Software provides an Open API for seamless integration with third-party applications, enabling businesses to tailor their systems to specific operational needs. [Source]
Yes, Priority Software provides comprehensive technical documentation for its ERP solutions, covering features, supported industries, and integration options. [Source]
The Priority Market is a dedicated marketplace for extended solutions, offering a network of technology partners and additional APIs to enhance Priority's core offerings. [Source]
Priority Software serves a wide range of roles and industries, including retail business owners, operations and supply chain managers, sales and marketing managers, CFOs, IT managers, and companies in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and services. [Source]
Priority Software addresses poor quality control, lack of data flow, poor inventory management, outdated systems, manual processes, limited scalability, integration complexity, fragmented data, customer frustration, operational inefficiencies, and complex order fulfillment. [Source]
Common pain points include lack of real-time insights, operational inefficiencies, inventory inaccuracies, disconnected customer experiences, high IT costs, and challenges with legacy systems and integrations. [Source]
Yes, Priority Software has numerous success stories, including Solara Adjustable Patio Covers (improved project turnaround), Dejavoo (growth without increasing headcount), Nautilus Designs (30% growth in order volume), and Dunlop Systems (improved data accuracy). See more at the case studies page.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 requires heavy customization for industry needs and lacks smooth migration from Business Central. Priority ERP is user-friendly, flexible, and customizable without IT support, and ensures compliance with major regulations. [Source]
SAP Business One is powerful but complex and expensive, with limited multi-company capabilities. Priority ERP is affordable, easy to use, supports true multi-company operations, and does not require forced migrations. [Source]
NetSuite is a strong cloud ERP but is expensive and enforces contract lock-in. Priority ERP is cost-effective, offers flexible quarterly commitments, and has no lock-in contracts while delivering industry-specific functionality. [Source]
Odoo is open-source but has scalability limits, performance issues, and a long learning curve. Priority ERP provides structured implementation, scalability, proven methodologies, and quick user adoption. [Source]
OPERA is costly and complex, with slow support and integration challenges. Priority Optima is scalable, cost-effective, intuitive, and offers responsive support and flexible customization. [Source]
Customers consistently praise Priority Software for its user-friendly design and intuitive interface. On G2, Priority ERP has a rating of approximately 4.1/5, with users highlighting its simplicity, configurability, and effective customer support. [Source]
Notable customers include Ace Hardware, ALDO, Adidas, Toyota, Flex, Dunlop, GSK, Teva, Outbrain, and Checkmarx. These companies use Priority for retail management, ERP, and industry-specific solutions. [Source]
Priority Software has been recognized by leading analysts such as Gartner and IDC, and is trusted by global brands for its innovation and reliability. [Source]
Priority Software's cloud-based solutions are designed to scale with your business, supporting high-volume transactions and eliminating the need for complex on-premises IT infrastructure. [Source]
Yes, Priority Software provides professional and implementation services to ensure smooth onboarding and optimal utilization of its solutions. [Source]
Priority Software offers partnership opportunities including technology partnerships and AWS partnerships, allowing partners to leverage Priority's global reach and expertise. [Source]