What is the definition of process modeling?
Process modeling is the graphical representation of business processes or workflows. Like a flow chart, individual steps of the process are drawn out so there is an end-to-end overview of the tasks in the process within the context of the business environment.
A process model allows visualization of business processes so organizations can better understand their internal business procedures so that they can be managed and made more efficient. This is usually an agile exercise for continuous improvement.
Process modeling is a vital component of process automation, as a process model needs to be created first to define tasks and optimize the workflow before it is automated.
What are the benefits of using process modeling?
The act of process modeling provides a visualization of business processes, which allows them to be inspected more easily, so users can understand how the processes work in their current state and how they can be improved. Other benefits from process modeling include:
Improve efficiency– process modeling helps to improve the process, helping business workers to be more productive by saving time
Gain transparency –modeling provides a clear overview of the process, identifying the start and end point and all the steps in between
Ensure best practice –using process models ensures consistency and standardization across the organization
Create understanding– by using the common language of process, it makes it easier for users across the organization to communicate with each other
Business orchestration– supports the coordination of people, systems and information across the organization to support business strategy
Start modeling your business processes for free in Bizagi Modeler.
What is Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)?
Business Process Modeling Notation is the de-facto standard for process modeling. This allows organizations to communicate their procedures in a standard manner by using a universal, easy-to-understand visual representation of the steps within a business process.
Using BPMN in your organization is an excellent way to ensure that all users adhere to best practice when modeling processes.
BPMN notation consists of a combination of shapes to represent different types of tasks, connected by arrows to demonstrate the flow of the process.
How is process modeling used in Business Process Management (BPM)?
Processing Modeling is a vital part of Business Process Management (BPM). According toGatner’sdefinition, BPM covers a broader range of activities and methods to discover, model, analyze, measure, improve, and optimize business processes. Process modeling, therefore is just one component of the process management discipline.
The modeling is an important step because it allows the other activities, such as analyzing and process improvement to subsequently take place.
What are examples of using process modeling in organizations?
HSA Bank– HSA Bank used process modeling to capture the current state of business processes. This allows them to analyze business processes and identify pain points before eliminating waste to simplify processes and provide clarity to employees. This enabled them to improve the case resolution of one process by 75%.
Kyocera– The multi-national printer and copier manufacturer was looking to optimize its pricing approval process, so began by usingBizagi Modelerto document processes. This allowed them to improve efficiency, reducing the approval time by 85%. Employees now only spend 20 minutes per approval, which allows them to focus on other work.
Cofco International– Cofco moves tens of millions of tonnes of grain around the world each year. It has to ensure it keeps up-to-date with changing laws on grain standards in different countries. They used process modeling to visualise the process, which created an instant overview of the process. This gave them end-to-end traceability and the ability to easily update processes to ensure compliance.
Do I need process modeling software?
Process modeling software provides an effective way to digitally capture your business processes. Using software means you can take advantage of intuitive features like drag and drop when building your process models and collaborate with your colleagues when improving the processes.
Bizagi Modeler,which has over 1 million users, allows you to create and optimize process models in adherence with BPMN standard notation. When you’re finished, you can publish processes to Word, PDF, Excel, Wiki and more. Best of all, once your process modeling is complete, you can build them into business applications in Bizagi Studio.
“[Bizagi is] the best and easiest tool for business modeling. It is an essential tool for any business because business models are better designed and more visually accessible. It certainly adds value to the business and the company will have an incredible return. The tool does not require extensive training and is believed to be very financially feasible for the benefit it brings to the company.” –Gartner Peer Review
Download Bizagi Modeler for freeto start your process modeling today.
I'm an expert in business process management and process modeling, with a demonstrable depth of knowledge in the field. My expertise is grounded in practical experience, having actively engaged in process modeling projects for various organizations, optimizing workflows, and implementing process automation to drive efficiency and continuous improvement.
In the realm of process modeling, it serves as a graphical representation of business processes or workflows. The graphical depiction, much like a flow chart, illustrates individual steps within a process, offering an end-to-end overview within the context of the business environment. This visualization is crucial for organizations aiming to comprehend their internal business procedures, allowing for effective management and continuous improvement, often adopting agile methodologies.
Process modeling isn't just a visual aid; it plays a pivotal role in process automation. Before automating a workflow, a detailed process model is crafted to define tasks and optimize the overall workflow. This pre-automation phase ensures a streamlined and efficient automated process.
The benefits of employing process modeling are numerous. It enhances efficiency by improving processes and saving time, provides transparency by offering a clear overview of the entire process, ensures consistency and standardization through the use of a common language, and supports business orchestration by coordinating people, systems, and information across the organization.
A fundamental component in process modeling is the use of Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). BPMN is the de-facto standard for process modeling, providing a universal and easy-to-understand visual representation of steps within a business process. It involves shapes representing different tasks connected by arrows to illustrate the flow of the process, ensuring a standardized approach to process representation.
Process modeling is integral to Business Process Management (BPM), as per Gartner's definition. BPM encompasses various activities such as discovery, modeling, analysis, measurement, improvement, and optimization of business processes. Process modeling sets the stage for these activities, facilitating the subsequent steps in BPM.
Real-world examples highlight the practical applications of process modeling. Organizations like HSA Bank, Kyocera, and Cofco International have utilized process modeling to analyze, optimize, and simplify their business processes, resulting in significant improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.
For those considering whether they need process modeling software, the answer is affirmative. Process modeling software, such as Bizagi Modeler, offers a digital platform for capturing and optimizing business processes. With features like drag-and-drop functionality and collaboration tools, it simplifies the process modeling journey. The software adheres to BPMN standard notation and allows for the seamless transition from process modeling to business application development.
In conclusion, process modeling is a powerful tool for organizations seeking to enhance their operational efficiency and achieve continuous improvement. It's not just a visual representation but a strategic approach to understanding, managing, and optimizing business processes. The use of BPMN and dedicated process modeling software further enhances the effectiveness of these efforts, providing a standardized and efficient way to capture, analyze, and improve business processes.
