Business Automation (also known as "Business Process Automation" or "BPA") systematically replaces manual processes with intelligent rules-driven automation, just-in-time analytics, and open collaboration. Often this is achieved with business automation tools.
To see how quickly you can begin automating your business processes, request a demonstration or trial of Integrify.
By automating manual business processes, significant benefits can be realized:
A workflow engine (sometimes called a "business rules engine") is an application that runs with a business automation system and makes decisions automatically based on preset rules. These decisions usually involve transitioning to a specific path, task or action in a workflow definition, for instance assigning a task to someone or saving a document to a particular folder in a document management system.
Business metrics related to automated processes are stored in a relational database. Reports and information can be displayed in real time and scheduled for distribution when users need them. Use visual reports and dashboards to paint a complete picture that can easily be shared around your organization. With dashboards and reports, a business can follow team progress against Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and use business scoreboards to track the overall efficiency of business processes to drive improvements.
Even the most automated business processes require human involvement and collaboration at some point in the process. While smart rules, bots, and similar intelligent tools can help make business workflows more efficient, a process that runs entirely on auto-pilot can eventually generate unexpected outcomes. When people are involved in a process, they need tools that allow them to collaborate and answer questions. For instance, someone might provide insufficient information to request an expense and wonder why their request was returned. Including discussion tools as part of the process allows stakeholders to communicate directly, whether it's before, during or at the end of a process.