Business Process Automation (BPA): Streamline Operations

by Daniel Raymond · September 19, 2024

The earliest forms of business process automation were primarily back-office tasks, such as data entry and processing for large organizations. But nowadays, nearly any business or business unit can automate specific activities. For many major business functions and departments, automating a single task, or even a single step of a task, can be the first step towards transformation, enabling completely new products and services, increasing efficiency, decreasing costs, and developing new organizational capabilities.

Table of Contents

Let’s explore the topic of a BPM platform and its significance for small and large businesses a bit more.

What is BPA software?

Business Process Automation (BPA) is a broad term that comprises different types of digital process automation software. This software provides a powerful platform for organizations to streamline business systems by automating processes and communication across multiple systems, databases, and people, improving business process efficiency.

Many universal software and applications on the market already automate the auto-typing, registration, collection, and processing of consumer reviews. Systems also automate internal communication and employee work. For example, they calculate working hours and vacation pay, remind employees about deadlines or events in the organization, and so on.

Benefits of using BPA

As computation has become faster, cheaper, and more standardized, some companies have begun leveraging vast digital data to create new business models. These moves are transforming some aspects of business at the macroeconomic level, but they also significantly impact businesses at the microeconomic level.

Here are the main advantages of BPA software for companies:

Increasing productivity and efficiency of business processes.
Reducing time costs and eliminating routine operations.
Improving the quality of the company’s services and products.

Generally, BPA can help you streamline and standardize each business process and solve routine tasks.

3 Key Features of BPA Software

Study the key features that make BPA indispensable for modern businesses to understand how it can help your business.

1. Graphical modeling of business processes

Graphical modeling capability allows users to visualize business processes through intuitive diagrams and flowcharts. By representing workflows graphically, businesses can quickly identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement. Furthermore, graphical models make it easier for stakeholders to understand complex processes, facilitating team communication and collaboration.

Example: A logistics company uses BPA software with graphical modeling to map out their entire order fulfillment process. The diagram highlights inefficiencies in the warehouse picking procedure, allowing the team to adjust the workflow and eliminate bottlenecks. As a result, the company improves its delivery times and reduces operational costs.

2. Automation of work processes and task management

Automation reduces the necessity for manual intervention, thus decreasing the chances of human error and freeing up valuable employee time for more strategic initiatives. With BPM platform, repetitive tasks such as approvals, notifications, and data entry can be programmed to run automatically. Teams get to assign, track, and monitor the progress of various tasks, ensuring accountability and timely completion, which leads to an overall increase in productivity.

Example: A human resources department uses BPA software to automate the employee onboarding process. When a new hire is added to the system, tasks such as sending welcome emails, gathering documents, and scheduling orientation sessions are triggered automatically. This reduces administrative workload and ensures that all onboarding steps are completed consistently and on time.

3. Integration with other systems and applications

Effective BPA software is designed to integrate seamlessly with other systems and applications used within an organization. This integration capability is crucial for creating a unified ecosystem where data can flow freely between different platforms, such as CRM systems, ERP software, and project management tools. This helps businesses make better-informed decisions based on comprehensive data insights.

Example: A retail company uses BPA software that integrates with its CRM and ERP systems. When a customer places an order through the online store, the data flows seamlessly from the CRM into the ERP for inventory management and order processing. This integration ensures that all departments have access to real-time data, reducing errors and improving customer satisfaction.

Trends in Development and the Future of BPA

There are lots of emerging technologies and new opportunities in BPA software. We’ve listed the major ones below:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning;
Robotic Process Automation (RPA);
Low-Code and No-Code Platforms;
Integration with Cloud Solutions;
Enhanced User Experience.

Conclusion

The BPA software market is expected to continue its robust growth. According to recent projections, the global BPA market is anticipated to reach significant figures in the coming years, driven by the urgent need for digital transformation across industries. Businesses can expect an increased focus on ROI as automation tools demonstrate their value through cost savings and operational efficiencies.