Contentum BPM

Contentum BPM is Business Process Management Suite. System operation is based on the simple idea: at a stage of system implementation business process modeling of the organization using evident charts is performed. Further these charts are loaded into a computer system and become "live", i.e. the program allows to trace and check accomplishment of business processes in real practice of work of the enterprise. Such approach allows to bring closer as much as possible real accomplishment of business processes in the organization to their ideal model which was created in the beginning.

The Contentum BPM system implements the concept of BPM that gives the chance to build the flexible adaptive information systems capable quickly to change together with change of business processes of the company. Contentum BPM allows to put business processes of the organization in order, to make their accomplishment accurate and formal.

For creation of a graphic business process model of Contentum uses the international standard BPMN 2.0. A system has a large number of opportunities, at the same time all functions of a system can be easily separated into four groups according to lifecycle stages (Deming cycle) of process of PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act).

Modeling

Work with business processes in Contentum BPM begins with their modeling. Business process modeling is performed in Contentum Designer which is included in the Contentum system package. It has the simple graphical interface.

Important point is that the business analyst without participation of the programmer can project business processes. The Contentum system describes process in the language of charts (bpm) usual for the analyst and clear to the top management of the organization.

On the chart of business process participants of process, a set of their actions and their sequence are defined. The chart (graphic model) of business process is under construction by pulling of the necessary blocks of operations on a palette, further transactions connect transitions.

At the heart of functioning of the Contentum BPM system the commonly accepted notation of the description of business processes of BPMN is used. The latest version of a notation of BPMN has number 2.0.

After the graphic business process model is constructed, data with which work within business process is carried out are defined, and setup of its transactions is carried out. For example, in a task of the user is defined with what data the contractor which this he should provide for accomplishment of a task and what operations should perform works.

Modeling of business process in the designer of Contentum comes to an end with its publication then it is compiled and becomes available to start in the web system interface of Contentum BPM.

Accomplishment

After the complete business process model is loaded on the Contentum server, it becomes available to accomplishment. In a system some copies of the same business process can be at the same time started — all of them will be independently executed, using the same model in the basis.

Accomplishment of business process is performed according to its graphic model — since a starting event, following on a chain of transitions, to a final event. At the same time a system will automatically create task lists which users should execute. To users of a task are appointed only while the course of accomplishment of business process reached to the corresponding step.

Tasks which are received by users within accomplishment of business processes are issued in the web system interface of Contentum BPM in the form of separate pages (a task card) on which all information necessary for the contractor for decision-making and accomplishment of the received task is provided.

From the contractor input of some data can be necessary — in this case the card of a task will contain the corresponding fields which filling can be if necessary obligatory. I.e. the user always performs all work in one place — on a task card; exactly here he receives also all resources necessary for this purpose.

Also after accomplishment of the task the user should not think of the one who and what operations within this business process should perform — all these questions the Contentum BPM system undertakes.

All tasks which do not need actions of real staff of the organization are executed by the Contentum BPM system automatically and almost instantly: determination of the course of accomplishment of business process (including on possible conditions), mailing of messages, accomplishment of scenarios, etc.

Monitoring

For each copy of the process loaded on accomplishment the process copy card is created. It contains the comprehensive information on it: the current parameter values, comments and questions of users, the current tasks on accomplishment, contractors and the statuses, etc.

From a process card the user who has the appropriate rights can direct the accomplishment course. For example, to correct parameters of accomplishment of business process or to absolutely stop it.

The Contentum BPM system provides tools for monitoring of the course of accomplishment of processes and control of accomplishment of tasks within these business processes. Several means are at the disposal of users of a system:

• The My Processes page contains the list of all copies of processes which concern the active user of a system: business processes in which the user is the initiator responsible or the contractor. For search of the necessary copy it is possible to use the filter of the My Processes page. Having found the necessary copy of process in the list, it is possible to pass to its card.
• The Monitor of Processes page serves for job analysis of processes: in this section it is possible to browse types of processes in which the user is an initiator, the curator or the observer. The user can also not be the direct participant of the processes provided on the page, but he can browse information concerning their accomplishment. From the Monitor of Processes page it is possible to pass to a card of any of the displayed processes to obtain detailed information on process.
• One more control facility of accomplishment of processes is viewing its card. The card of process in the web system interface of Contentum BPM looks the same as graphic model of this process in the designer of Contentum. But as on it already started process is displayed, the card contains additional marks. So, already executed transactions are led round by a blue frame, the executed transitions — greasy lines, and the current executed transaction — a greasy green frame. Thus, it is possible to define easily not only the list of tasks which are carried out on process at present, but also the previous step on which it was executed. Browse the card of process perhaps at any time from a process copy card.

The head does not need to watch everything constantly. So, in case of violation of terms of accomplishment of tasks by the employee, the direct head will receive proper informing which will urge to interfere with the process accomplishment course. Besides, heads will be able to monitor tasks of processes of the subordinates standard monitors.

Optimization

During operation with business process at the staff of the organization a large number of rational offers and the ideas concerning business process improvement, especially right after its implementation can collect. These offers can be really useful and, at proper completion, are capable to increase efficiency of the organization.

Tasks which are received by users within accomplishment of business processes are issued in the web system interface of Contentum BPM in the form of separate pages (a task card) on which all information necessary for the contractor for decision-making and accomplishment of an assigned task is provided.

For example, the head decided that it is better for commercial director to execute the transaction "Drawing Up Estimate", but not to the sales manager (it can be connected with features of work of the organization). The Contentum BPM system permits to change process in the working system (neither the programmer, nor a system stop is for this purpose necessary) and to apply changes immediately. After process is executed taking into account the made changes, it is possible to carry out efficiency evaluation of the introduced amendments at once.

Integration opportunities

In Contentum BPM there is an opportunity to load ready business process models from the systems of modeling.

• Integration with Business Studio and other systems of modeling
  • In Contentum integration with Business Studio and other popular systems of modeling is created. Import of processes is performed through the XPDL format. Thus, the process model from any system which has export to the XPDL format can be imported to Contentum.

• Mail, SMS, Website, Web services
  • Contentum is easily integrated into typical IT infrastructure of the company. Each process in Contentum can be published in the form of web service and the link for start. Therefore start of business processes can be tied to events which take place in other IT systems easily. For example, it is possible to start business process while the letter comes to an electronic mailbox. This letter can be sorted within business process. Existence of ready libraries for SMS providers does to lungs sending of the SMS at achievement of a certain step within business process.

• Integration with ERP systems
  • Integration opportunities of Contentum are not limited only to integration with the systems of 1C Company. Using standard methods of integration Contentum it can be integrated with the systems of Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics AX (Axapta). For interaction of the Contentum and "1C: Enterprise" systems separately licensed Integration with 1C add-on module is used.

• Data buses
  • Contentum supports work with data buses: Microsoft MQ; with buses which have support of JMS; Oracle WebLogic; IBM WebSphere. In a system there is also an opportunity to provide and a "abnormal" system behavior — i.e. to define what to do if throughout the selected time the necessary message did not come to Contentum.