By turning to business process management software, IT departments can create opportunities for automation. This process makes IT an even greater asset to an organization because it allows them to turn process into functions without needing input from non-IT entities, eBizQ reported.
BPM in a process-focused IT department
The news source explained that nearly everybody on the business side of enterprise operations understands the processes that are performed on a day-to-day basis. Operational efficiency can be achieved when IT also knows how these processes work. By using BPM software, an IT department that understands operations can identify all of the processes that do not need direct input from personnel and automated functionality.
According to the report, automating processes turns something that would have been done by an employee into something that technology has to handle. This has two major implications on a day-to-day basis. The first is that employees are no longer handling menial tasks that can be handled with technology. The second is that IT becomes much more valuable within an organization.
In most companies, value is created by the entity that performs functions, not by the process itself. As a result, an IT department that uses BPM to automated operations becomes the entity that is making functions happen. This creates significant value for IT in the enterprise, eBizQ explained.
BPM in an IT department that isn't attuned to processes
When the IT department does not have a clear understanding of business processes, BPM solutions still have value, though it is not as great as it is when IT understands operations. In this setup, the IT department focuses on the lower-level operations that it can create tools for. The news source said that this turns IT into a service provider. In this setting, BPM is used to improve operations, but not to enough of an extent that the IT department becomes a true partner in the enterprise.
BPM and contemporary IT needs
With the rise of cloud computing, mobile devices and social media, many experts agree that IT departments are moving away from being background facilitators. Instead of just supporting business functions in a passive way, IT is increasingly taking a strategic role in guiding process innovation. When a strategic IT department that understands processes uses BPM, the efficiency gains can be considerable.
Ben Farrell
Director of Corporate Communications
