2021-06-30T08:43:00Z

Which tool do you recommend for business process modeling only?

Hi,

I have been tasked to reengineer all business processes. I need to know which tool will be the best fit for me to use with these criteria:

  • 3 to 5 Process designers
  • Common workspace
  • Affordable 

I need the tool to model processes first (1 year), then I will upgrade to business interactions, RPA, and cost efficiency calculations at the later stage. 

I appreciate your inputs.

CS
Business Improvement at South African Mint
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12
PeerSpot user
12 Answers
MB
Principal Consultant at Lexington Consulting
Consultant
Top 5
2021-07-02T05:48:19Z
Jul 2, 2021

There are many BPM applications available.  


Camunda and Pega BPM are two good choices, but I don't know how you define "affordable."  If you want a very simple graphic application that is easy to learn and use, then Visio is useable, but not dynamic in any sense.  


Take a look at Camunda and Pega BPM (also called Pega Systems) and see if they will work for you. You should be able to get a trial for either of them.  Good luck!

Search for a product comparison in Business Process Design
HP
Kravanalytiker och verksamhetsarkitekt at Combitech Sverige
User
2021-07-09T08:42:12Z
Jul 9, 2021

Hi


Based on the conditions you specify, I conclude that it is an extensive process modeling that you will do. One year and 3 to 5 designers.
I suggest Sparx Enterpise Architect for process modeling and RPA and another tool for cost efficiency calculations.


Sparx Enterprise architect is available both as a viewer and modeling tool. Which can be an advantage if non-designers will also be able to see the models. Good luck

SB
The Process Expert at Airbus Group
Real User
2021-07-04T09:10:10Z
Jul 4, 2021

When I hear people all about BPMN modelling, I immediately wonder what they are going to use for organizational/role modelling, information modeling, location modelling and event modelling. Then there's application and technology modelling. 


If you are embarking on a small, very process oriented project, then there are plenty of free BPMN platforms, including community brains of Bonita Studio and Process Maker.


If however you are in any way dreaming with organisational issues, application architecture or information modeling, you really need an enterprise modelling tool to give you the context for your process improvement effort. 


I would like to suggest BOC's tool, Adonis Community as a great way to model your enterprise. They provide it for free; you just need to login once a month to keep the account going. I have used it in my consulting work for two different councils here in Victoria, Australia in the past two years, and found it very effective. You can generate an interactive HTML website from it that can distributed so people can navigate it; and there is now an Android (unsure of other platforms) app for users to navigate models.


As for Business Process Management Systems (BPMS), I've been involved with then since 2005, and have used several. Here's a brief article I wrote: https://theprocess.expert/2020....



GH
Sales Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Reseller
2021-07-02T03:17:27Z
Jul 2, 2021

Blueworks Live by IBM is an exceptional tool for process modeling and discovery. 


Unlike many other modeling tools, Blueworks generates BPMN 2.0 behind the scenes so that, once you are ready to move forward with automation, you will be well-positioned.

SB
The Process Expert at Airbus Group
Real User
2022-08-17T11:56:03Z
Aug 17, 2022

Have a look at Enterprise Architect https://sparxsystems.com/produ...

SC
President at Farstar SAC Consulting Inc
Real User
2022-08-17T01:25:58Z
Aug 17, 2022

I have been using LUCID CHART for process modeling using both traditional flowchart symbology and BPMN2.0. This is ideal for a small team (we have 5 licensed users on 2 continents) costing about USD $95/mo with automatic weekly back-ups built-in the product using GoogleDrive.


It is more robust than VISIO where we have the source. VSD files on OneDrive - we have lots of trouble saving files reliably resulting in lost work. We use VISIO only when mandated by a customer.


LUCID has some great features like unlimited collaborators, who can view and comment, plus online interactivity. Multiple people can access the same document in real-time and manipulate objects. This is better than simple screen sharing and trying to tell someone how to modify, or where to move, an object.


LUCID has import capability from a number of standard packages as well as multiple export options.

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IanRamsay - PeerSpot reviewer
Director Business Consulting at Cognizant
Real User
2022-08-16T10:22:54Z
Aug 16, 2022

For now, and for almost free I would suggest Cawemo by Camunda.  It’s collaborative, with a shared workspace and enables a bit of data definition.  


If your good work is going to end up being used to configure automation tools then I would encourage you to invest some up-front time with the business to construct a Business Information Model.  A simple ERD of how the business sees their information, that is unambiguous, has no duplicates and uses their language.  This will expedite modelling no end.


Later, when the automation starts to appear, the technical team can easily translate the logical business information entities into their physical data stores, and everything will makes sense to everybody.

EC
Principal Systems Engineer, Chief Technology Officer at Aksum Consulting, Inc.
User
2022-08-15T22:37:58Z
Aug 15, 2022

Hi Chuene,


Since you're interested in business process modeling only, I recommend Bizagi Modeler: https://portal.bizagi.com/biza...


Bonita's process modeler is also amazing if you're looking for top-shelf BPMN 2.0 -compliant modelers. You can download Bonita Studio here: 


https://www.bonitasoft.com/dow...


Cheers!


Eric

IanRamsay - PeerSpot reviewer
Director Business Consulting at Cognizant
Real User
2022-04-20T15:10:17Z
Apr 20, 2022

BPMN.IO would be a good start for a small team … 😎

VK
Owner at BPAS
Real User
Top 5
2021-10-19T01:54:57Z
Oct 19, 2021

IBM BlueworksLive will be an ideal solution. Since you are envisaging only 3 to 5 process designers, IBM BlueworksLive will be the perfect fit. 


Moreover, with any standards, IBM BlueworksLive is cost-effective and affordable.  

LN
Supervisor Business Analysis-Process Management at a government with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
2021-08-30T10:46:18Z
Aug 30, 2021

Bizagi process modeler


https://help.bizagi.com/proces...

KO
President at CloseReach Ltd.
Integrator
Top 5
2021-06-30T12:19:08Z
Jun 30, 2021

I would suggest QualiWare. You can get the easy to use cost-effective web-based QualiWare Plus and Collaboration licenses (details below). Put this in a SaaS cloud for a year (we offer that in North America - see  SaaS Pricing Billed Annually - CloseReach Ltd.) while you improve internal process management capabilities and grow from there. You get all the benefits of a full EA tool with integrated repository while eliminating the file sharing and spreadsheets you would still need with just a diagramming tool like Visio.


QualiWare Collaboration PLUS Web license that includes all Collaboration license functionality plus permits web users to interact with QualiWare repository content from web-forms or via web-services (create, read, update, delete) allowing domain experts to effortlessly contribute their specialized knowledge to EA content creation, editing and governance. Also includes Web-based modeling for building process and workflow diagrams, (BusinessProcessDiagram, BusinessProcessNetwork, WorkFlowDiagram, BusinessProcessNetwork:Archimate). Each Collaboration PLUS license requires an underlying Collaboration license.


QualiWare Collaboration Web license for dynamic web portal access involving the ability to access OOTB or customized diagrams, templates and objects. Enables web registration (create) of Change Requests, Problems, Comments, Ideas, Ratings, Subscriptions, Acknowledgements and execution of all Governance Workflow Actions. Captures web statistics on the organization's performance and use of web content published by QEP, and presents the information in web charts/dashboards designed for decision makers.

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AL
Managing Director at Optus
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@Zooo Sasasa ​ Signavio, ARIS, and GBTEC have ArchiMate modules for modeling Enterprise Architecture (EA) and are great potential candidates.
IanRamsay - PeerSpot reviewer
Director Business Consulting at Cognizant
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I think you may need to be a bit more explicit as too “what” is the “top layer” and “how” do you wish to “connect” and “why”. Anything is possible from a modelling point of view, less so if you plan to generate the processes from the architecture.  Just about every relationship between architectural components is a “many-to-many” relationship, so things can get quite complex quite quickly.
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