Business process management software has been gaining prevalence in many operational sectors because it helps organizations maximize their day-to-day functions. Process improvement, however, is often looked at as an important consideration in the enterprise, with other industries looking to different solutions to get the job done. As BPM solutions gain prominence, this trend is changing, as markets ranging from pharmaceuticals to telecommunications and even the legal sector are beginning to embrace BPM. In response, a number of legal industry and process management experts will host a roundtable discussion to talk about the importance of BPM systems for law firms.
Implementing BPM in legal settings
In the release announcing the roundtable discussion,Harvard Business Review contributor, consultant and business process expert Brad Power explained that legal industries have to move beyond initial process improvement exploration and begin finding ways to actually develop better operations.
"The question for top management is no longer whether your organization's processes need to be improved, but rather which ones, how much and when," said Power.
According to the release, many legal industry companies have been using document management, email or other technological systems designed specifically for their needs. However, the industry is gradually shifting tohandleeven more data that has to be managed across various geographical and organizational areas. This creates an environment in which these traditional technological solutions are rarely able to keep up with operational requirements. Instead, BPM and other advanced process-related platforms are necessary to enable better practices and more efficient functionality.
Power explained that emerging technologies for process improvement are giving corporate legal offices an opportunity to improve operations with solutions that are simple to use and require minimal infrastructure investments. This represents a key step forward for the industry, as many traditional data management systems and applications fine-tuned for the legal sector require large quantities of IT equipment that can be expensive and difficult to manage. BPM solutions and similar technologies alleviate this burden.
Considering BPM in various business sectors
ITand data-focused operations are playing a larger role in many types of organizations. As companies in just about every industry become more dependent on data to get the job done, BPM solutions can solve many problems that emerge when technology plays a significantrole in day-to-day processes. As a result, organizations that are proactive about using BPM can gain a strategic edge over the competition.
Malcolm Ross
Vice President of Product Marketing
