Information technology is quickly becoming an integral part of every business across the country. There is no business, regardless of its size and the industry it is in, that doesn’t rely on IT one way or another. There are also more solutions available for different kinds of businesses.
Despite the increasing popularity of IT solutions, many businesses still rely on out-of-the-box solutions and expect to get the best results. While this may be a good approach for common businesses, it is not always the most efficient way of implementing an IT solution. In fact, there are several advantages gained from starting the process with good business process modeling.
The Underlying Business Needs
One of the main advantages of doing thorough business process modeling before choosing and implementing the right IT solution is discovering the business’s underlying needs. Not all IT solutions are created equal; some are designed to answer specific needs while others can be customized to suit a business perfectly.
By understanding the actual needs of a business, information technology, and the solutions available can be adjusted to meet those needs. During a custom enterprise resource planning software development, for example, business analysts and systems engineers can work side by side in creating the system that will match the information needs of the business perfectly.
After all, the solutions we have today are designed to answer problems. The best way to use the right ones is by knowing the problems that need to be solved in the first place. Business process modeling is the perfect first step towards achieving that.
The Flow of the Business
Process modeling does so much more than turn business processes into visual charts. The step is actually designed to help software engineers understand the flow and processes within the business better. It answers even the most specific questions and translates those answers into actionable, often visual insights.
Some process modeling tools take the idea a step further. Bizagi, for instance, can be used not only to create a comprehensive process model of a business but also to create a solution on top of it. Instead of having to manually convert the business process model into frameworks or structures, developers and business owners can work together in quickly developing solutions based on the business’s needs.
Improved Process Communications
Communication is one of those things that can either make or break a business. Businesses that have a clear way of communicating with their staff tend to have employees that are aware of what they need to do, how they need to do it, the role they play, and anything else that is important. This is key to success, and it’s something that business process modeling can help with.
By documenting the business’ communication processes, a business can easily train new recruits and avoid losing existing ones. Managers can communicate their ideas in a clear manner in a very short space of time. And processes and rules can be implemented almost immediately. On top of this, all communication will be recorded and stored for use at a later date if required. This is something that can prove to be invaluable for businesses of all sizes.
Access to Optimizations
Last, but certainly not least, creating a comprehensive business process model will also help both business stakeholders and IT developers find ways to optimize the different flows and processes. Through the use of automation, data analysis, and other instruments, a suitable IT solution can be developed to help the business operate with immense efficiency.
This is the final goal of every IT implementation. The fact that it can be achieved from the very start through business process modeling makes taking the first step and completing it properly that much more rewarding. The tools and frameworks currently available make the process of translating business processes into a comprehensive process model for further developments very easy to do.
Kidal Delonix is a contributor to Mr. Hoffman's blog. The views and opinions are entirely his/her own and may not reflect Mr Hoffman's views.
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