Business process modeling is a method of illustrating a business's processes so that they can be easily understood and improved upon.Process modeling is a key part of business process management and often uses a specific type of organization that resembles a flow chart.Business managers often use process modeling to make improvements to a business process, starting with an "as-is" model which shows the current process and moving towards a more efficient version of the original process.Building out your own business process model is simple if you follow the right steps.
Step 1: Define the process that you are modeling.
A clear starting point and output is what you want your business operation to have.The process can be simple like redirecting a customer complaint, or more complex like the entire order and shipping process for an online product.The process can involve more than one level.Whatever process you are measuring, make sure that it can be easily split into clear parts with easy to identify relationships between them.One process that can be modeled relatively easy is the receipt of an online order and checking whether or not the customer has the money to pay for it and if the item is in stock.The order is sent to the shipping department when it is in stock and able to be paid for.
Step 2: Determine the starting point of the process.
Any process requires a first step.The beginning of a business process is what raises the process to action.It is the input that the business wants to convert into an output.External events are one of the categories that start points fall into.A transaction or alert from another business system are included.An external event is a problem in an automated system.Content is arriving.A new document or other form of content might be the starting point for a content management system.There is human intervention.Customer complaints and other human intervention outside of the business are included.The first point is the receipt of a customer order.
Step 3: The process has different steps.
You will need to identify each step in your process in order to connect it to the other steps.There are events that do not require action by the business, activities that are performed in response to input, and decision gateways where the path of the process is decided by someone.There are either dashed or solid arrows between these objects.The steps are represented by different shapes depending on their function.The events are circles, the activities are rectangles and the decision gateways are diamonds.For the previous example, we used steps such as "customer order" and "process order."A decision gateway that leads to one of two other actions, depending on a "yes" or "no" determination.
Step 4: Who does each step?
Determine which part of the business completes each step in order to make your process clear.The accounting department, customer service, or order fulfillment may complete different parts of the process.These steps can be completed by specific individuals.The associated person or department for each activity is either a designator next to the step or a pool in the flow chart that shows which part of the business performs each step.The company or person within the pool may be divided into "lanes."If this is the case, we might just write outside of the step "check credit" that this action is performed by the business's online retail platform.
Step 5: Decide which type of modeling to use.
There are many forms of BPMN, from sequential modeling to causation model.It can be done with anything from specialized software to post-it notes.It's up to your business to decide which method works best for you.It is important to keep in mind that these models work best with group input, so you may be better off using the type of modeling that can be worked on most easily by the group.
Step 6: You need to make sure you can rearrange parts.
Make sure you can move around in your model.Some parts of the model can be rearranged to make the system flow more effectively.Make sure that the labels are easy to move with the step.
Step 7: Follow the sequence after the beginning of the process.
The starting point of the process should be at the top left of whatever platform you are using to demonstrate it.Place the steps in order from the first one, including decisions between them.As you add it, make sure you don't add any steps between the previous one and the next one.Continue until you reach the output of the business process.For the previous example, your steps might be as follows: Customer order to process order, an activity, to check creditA decision gateway.You would label the arrow between the steps with a "no" if the customer's credit doesn't check out.You would cancel the order.If the customer's credit checks out, you would connect the steps with an arrow labeled "yes" and check stock.The stock would be checked in the decision gateway.If the item is in stock, label the arrow "yes" as before and send the order to shipping.If the item is out of stock, you would contact the customer and cancel the order.
Step 8: Look at your model.
Look over your model with a group.If there are any potential holes or missed steps, look at it.Follow the actual business process and compare it to your model.You can run the model in a focus group to see if steps don't flow or are left out.
Step 9: There are inefficiencies or problems.
Once you've run through your model to make sure that it works, you should look over it again to find areas where resources aren't being used efficiently or where steps that need to happen are not completed.It adds to your ability to find these issues if you have a coworker or group of coworkers with you.The process fails to let customers know that the item is back in stock.This cancels the order that could be fulfilled in a few days.
Step 10: The as-is model has been improved by a brainstorm.
Potential fixes to the problems can be identified using your list of issues.Issues can be fixed by focusing on three areas: automation, geographical coordination, and removing middleman.It is possible to reduce resources or time required for a step with the help of automation.outsourcing steps can be used for reduced cost or efficiency.Reducing the number of participants in a process is one way to cut out middleman.Informational is measuring more data regarding the process to find issues.Referring to rearranging steps.Tracking helps you keep an eye on the progress of the process.Decision-making at decision gateways is improved by analytical.If you want to alert the customer to an estimated delivery time, you could use a system for checking when out of stock items are back in stock.
Step 11: Determine how improvements will benefit the business or the customer.
Before implementing a new system, make sure that the improvements help both the customer and the business.It is possible to make a change just because it will result in more costs or mistakes.
Step 12: The to-be model needs to be built.
Put your suggestions in your previous model and convert them into steps.An activity step might be created to check if the item will be in stock soon after the decision stock.The "no" arrow.This would be placed before the "contact customer" activity and would change the output of that activity from letting the customer know that the item will not be shipped and that it will be later than expected.
Step 13: The new model should be implemented.
If you want to implement the model in your business, test it using the previous method.It's important to test it regularly and reexamine it for inefficiencies and issues.