Business Process Automation (BPA) is defined by Gartner as “the automation of complex business processes and functions beyond conventional data manipulation and record-keeping activities, usually through the use of advanced technologies.”
This means that Business Process Automation can be applied to manual, repeatable tasks throughout an organization to improve efficiency, while at the same time connecting applications and streamlining processes throughout departments, from employee onboarding in Human Resources to procurement in Finance.
This is a very good question, and there is much debate around whether the two terms differ. But the two terms can be, and are, used interchangeably.
The term Digital Process Automation (DPA) was first used by Forrester in 2017. Bizagi was named a leader in the Forrester Wave for Digital Process Automation for Deep Deployments in 2019.
DPA uses software to help orchestrate the people applications, devices and information across an organization, which is also an accurate description of BPA.
Business Process Management (BPM) is a related practice to BPA. BPM is more focused on the process models themselves, and how to model, analyze, measure improve and optimize business processes, according to Gartner’s definition.
Business Process Automation in the other hand applies to a broader set of activities: automating those processes and then applying them throughout the business to improve efficiency, promote collaboration, and enable connectivity.
It should be noted though, that BPA evolved from BPM. The method builds on traditional BPM to help businesses further optimize end-to-end processes and deliver enterprise-wide digital transformation.
Improve efficiency – quickly completes tasks, without any manual interference, saving time and money
Enhance the customer experience – makes data available that allows the customer journey to be put into context and helps organizations to create more personalized experiences.
Enable connectivity – integrates systems and eliminates silos to provide a single view of business data to enable better informed and more efficient decision making
Promote collaboration– Business and IT teams can collaborate more effectively through a single platform
Business orchestration – supports the coordination of people, systems, and information across the organization to support business strategy
Universal Group used business process automation to define and deliver tasks within their claims process as part of their car insurance offering. As a result, they doubled the number of claims processed, but only had to hire one additional employee. Automation has helped deliver repaired vehicles back to customers quickly and more efficiently, delighting customers, and contributing to a 45% increase in revenue for the insurer.
Kyocera, a multinational printer manufacturer, used business process automation to optimize their pricing approval process. The process time has been reduced by 85% to accelerate turnaround time to win Kyocera new business. Previously, the process was conducted via email and Excel spreadsheets, but now integrates directly with SAP to activate the opportunity to purchase.
Having a digital platform to enable BPA is a great way to establish end-to-end automation of processes across your organization. It unites the business and IT departments in the business for better collaboration. The platform also acts as an orchestrator that brings together siloed data to give a better view of all customer information.
Find out more about how you can use Bizagi to orchestrate the people, applications, devices and information across your organization.
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