Until a few years ago, BPM (Business Process Management) software was strictly reserved for large companies. Recently, however, new software publishers have begun offering access to this technology to SMEs and small and medium-sized businesses. This has enabled these companies to move towards automation and improved operational efficiency.
This article presents an overview of BPM (Business Process Management) software and its importance in the modern business world. It explains how these tools optimize business processes, improve collaboration between teams and automate repetitive tasks. All this is possible thanks to their 100% customizable workflow creation features, integration with existing software and no-code. Finally, you’ll also find a comparison of the best BPM software: Kissflow, Lapala, Nintex, Appian, Process Maker, Heflo, Pipefy, Iterop.
What is a BPM tool?
BPM software definition – Business Process Management
BPM software is the universal answer to many operational problems. These dysfunctions are often the result of bottlenecks in existing business software. It’s true that organizations have equipped themselves with high-performance business software, but this brings with it a number of limitations:
- Lack of customization. Difficult to adapt to specific business processes
- Lack of connection with other software. They often communicate poorly with each other
- They require multiple complementary Excel spreadsheets
- And they can disrupt collaborative work.
Business Process Management software means the right tasks for the right people, at the right time, without unnecessary clicks, and automation of non-value-added tasks.
Without BPM software
Without BPM software, employees have to know their process by heart, and find the functions they need from the numerous menus.
With BPM software, a guided experience
1. Pop-up of an action or launch of a scenario
2. Automated information retrieval by BPM software from ERP, CRM, HRIS…
3. Automated data entry
4. BPM automatically redistributes data to personalized interfaces, applications and spreadsheets.
The main no-code features of BPM software:
Workflow designer
Improve collaboration with
100% customizable processes
Software automation
Free
employees from non-value-added tasks
No-code and low-code
Gaining speed
for rapid ROI
The workflow engine, also known as the process designer, is a powerful feature of BPM software. It lets you parameterize any process without writing a single line of code. With just a few clicks, you can create forms and input fields, display areas for data from other software, create validation and signature circuits, conditions and operational paths. Actors and roles can also be configured here. The BPM Designer also allows you to model, map and document the process without any additional effort.
In addition, a BPM tool enables you to connect and integrate your existing software directly into your systems. In no-code, thanks to native connectors or generic APIs, it is possible to connect data sources from ERP, CRM, specific business software, HRIS…
Unlimited and 100% customizable use cases with BPM
BPM software is the cradle of a company’s know-how and business processes. By configuring roles and rights, use cases can be pooled on a single platform, and a specific employee only sees the processes that concern him or her.
What’s more, every process implemented is natively documented on the platform. This solution produces a simple, unified working experience for all users, without changing their preferred software, and masking the underlying complexity.
Examples of use cases :
- Sales administration (costing, quotations, invoices, etc.)
- Compliance diagnostics (environment, quality, rgpd…)
- Purchase approval
- Supplier management
- Project/worksite/production organization
- Eliminate administrative and repetitive tasks
- Intervention management
- Processing requests and complaints
- Or any other HR, financial, accounting or legal use case…
Why use a BPM?
Based on workflows and multi-actor task sequences, BPM software models the entire operation of a process, making it “alive” and “usable” by all collaborators. This is made possible by dynamic forms, validation circuits, condition management and feedback loops.
But BPM isn’t just that: a process can include both tasks that can be carried out by employees AND tasks that can be automated, such as displaying business software data, updating it automatically, sending emails, reminders and alerts, generating documents, transforming them into pdf format, archiving and storing documents…
The main benefits of BPM software
Perfect knowledge of how things work
Implementing BPM software requires you to identify and understand your existing processes, so that you can digitize them. It enables a new way of documenting a process, going beyond “paper” documents which are rapidly becoming obsolete.
Identify problems and sub-optimizations
BPM makes it much simpler to identify process malfunctions. With the ability to quickly correct them using no-code, or to replace a non-value-added task with automation.
Productivity, quality and team satisfaction
Without even mentioning automation, pushing the right task to the right person at the right time brings an initial gain in efficiency, collaboration quality and mental workload. Automation then frees up teams to spend more time on quality.
Our article on process automation
Comparison: the 6 best BPM software packages – Business Process Management
BPM software for large groups with IT departments
Nintex, the Rolls-Royce of BPM for large enterprises
General presentation
Nintex is a process automation and workflow management platform. It is recognized for its strong integration with the Microsoft ecosystem and its comprehensive range of features.
Main features
- Robust process automation
- Creating dynamic forms
- Document management and electronic signatures
- Strong integration with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint
- Integrated RPA (Robotic Process Automation)
- On-premise and cloud versions available
Price
- Prices are not public, and are based on customized quotes, depending on the features you choose, the number of users and the number of processes.
- Base prices should be between $1,500 and $2,500 per month.
Corporate customers
Particularly suited to large companies with large IT departments.
Accompaniment, support and training
- Full technical support
- Online training and certification available
- Network of implementation and consulting partners
Administration
May require some technical expertise to configure.
ProcessMaker, a BPM tool for IT departments
General presentation
ProcessMaker is a low-code BPM platform designed for medium-sized and large companies with IT departments. It is renowned for its data monitoring functions
Main features
- BPMN workflow modeling
- Low code designer
- Workflow analysis
- Workflow automation via API REST
- On-premise and cloud versions available
Price
- Prices are not public, but you can expect to pay between $1,300 and $2,300 per month.
Corporate customers
Used by ITs of large companies, with a strong presence in the finance sector.
Accompaniment, support and training
- Technical support for enterprise versions
- Consulting services available
- Online training and extensive documentation
Administration
Requires some technical expertise for configuration.
Appian, another BPM behemoth for large enterprises
General presentation
A BPM pioneer founded in the 90s, Appian is BPM workflow management software for large enterprises. Thanks to low-code and its application designers, it offers a wide range of functionalities for ITs
Main features
- Low-code application development
- Intelligent process automation
- Integrated AI and Machine Learning
- Native RPA
Price
- Prices are not public, based on the number of users and features used, but you’re likely to be looking at around $2,000 a month as a base price.
Corporate customers
Used by ITs of major groups
Accompaniment, support and training
- Full technical support
- In-depth consulting services for process optimization
- Appian University for training and certification
Administration
Powerful administration interface, requiring some technical expertise.
Iterop, the French BPM software for companies with more than 500 employees
Iterop is a French BPM tool that was acquired in 2021 by the Dassault Systèmes group. It enables you to centralize all your business processes in a single system, with powerful modeling functionalities based on the BPMN standard.
Main features
- BPMN process modeling
- Process automation
- Performance monitoring and analysis
- No code
Price
Iterop’s price is not publicly available, so you’ll need to ask their sales team for a quote. However, after a demonstration by its sales teams, Iterop offers free access to the platform for 30 days.
Corporate customers
In terms of ergonomics, functionalities and communication, Iterop is primarily aimed at large groups. If you have fewer than 500 employees, it may be a difficult step to take, but don’t hesitate to give it a try and make up your own mind.
Accompaniment, support and training
Unlike some publishers who let their customers appropriate the software on their own or via external partners. Iterop’s teams are there to support you in a caring way.
Administration
Iterop offers autonomous administration without technical intervention
New-generation BPM software accessible to all
Lapala, the French BPM for SMEs, even without a IT
General presentation
Lapala is a software publisher that is revolutionizing BPM and making it accessible to SMEs and SMBs thanks to its no-code functionalities and easy configuration. This Business Process Management software is also available in a free version with no time limit.
Main features
- Creation of workflows including “human” and “automated” steps
- Integrations with other tools via API REST
- Customized dashboards
- No-code ergonomics
- Onpremise and SaaS versions
Price
- The platform is free of charge, with no time or user limits below a certain task level. Prices then increase in increments. The first price starts at $39/month, then $189/month, and gradually rises to $590/month. The price level is linked to the number of tasks performed.
- Unlike some BPMs, the price is not tied to functionality, so all customers can benefit from high-performance tools, whatever their subscription.
Corporate customers
Its vocation is to give access to BPM technology to all companies – VSEs, SMEs – even if they don’t have an IT department.
Accompaniment, support and training
- Lapala’s teams will help you set up your first simple workflow, free of charge.
- Then, as you see fit, you’re free to choose whether to go ahead in-house (with basic support included) or via integrators.
- Accompaniment in French or English.
Administration
Simple, autonomous administration. Total control of data storage media by the customer company.
Pipefy, the fast-growing American start-up
General presentation
Pipefy is an American start-up offering modern BPM software. It is highly ergonomic and no-code. Like Lapala, it is particularly suited to teams seeking to optimize their workflows without in-depth technical expertise.
Main features
- Process automation via API
- Creating customized forms
- Real-time dashboards and reports
- Full SaaS
Price
- Pipefy offers a free version limited to 10 users. Paid plans start at $18/user/month, so $360/month for 20 users.
Corporate customers
Suitable for startups, SMEs and corporate departments looking for an agile, easy-to-use solution.
Accompaniment, support and training
- Customer support by chat and email
- Knowledge base and online tutorials
Administration
Highly intuitive administration interface, designed to be used without any particular technical expertise.
Kissflow, the solution for many models
General presentation
Kissflow is an Indian cloud-based BPM platform for process management. The solution offers tools for workflow management, form creation, process automation and performance analysis. It is designed for any type of company with an IT department.
Main features
- Process automation with defined rules
- Integrated teamwork
- Creating customized forms
- Integration with numerous third-party applications
Price
- 30-day trial period
- First pay plan at $1,500/month limited to 50 users
Corporate customers
Any company of any size with an IT department
Accompaniment, support and training
- Online documentation, video tutorials and training courses available
- Technical support via chat, email and telephone
- Mainly English-speaking integrators
Administration
Highly intuitive administration interface, designed to be used without any particular technical expertise.
Conclusion for adopting BPM software
Business Process Management (BPM) software plays an important role in digitizing business processes and automating tasks for modern companies. It offers solutions for optimizing workflows, improving collaboration between teams and boosting operational efficiency.
To make your choice, start by choosing platforms that are adapted to your company size and IT organization. To choose from among the possible candidates, don’t hesitate to test those offering free trials. Don’t hesitate to talk to the teams to get a better understanding of the investment you need to make to implement a BPM.
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