Choosing the Right BPM Software Vendor

Technologies once considered staples in Business Process Management (BPM) software are no longer sufficient enough in the age of process management due to new emerging technologies, customer demands, and trends. As a result, solution providers have had to shift their focus and develop tools that meet the needs of organizations dealing with increasingly large data and process volumes.

The process of searching, evaluating, purchasing, implementing, and deploying a BPM solution is not as simple as it once was. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to business process management software. Solutions today come in a variety of different capabilities ranging from low-code, workflow management, and now, all the way to Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Each features a particular set of capabilities, strengths, and drawbacks. Choosing the right vendor and solution is a complicated process—one that requires in-depth research and often comes down to more than just the solution and its technical capabilities.

Simplifying the selection process

Here at Solutions Review, it’s our job to help simplify that process. To that end, we’ve created a variety of buyer resources and articles to speed the evaluation of enterprise technology solutions. In our Business Process Management Buyer’s Guide, we offer readers a full BPM market overview. This includes company and product profiles and best use cases for the top-24 providers, ten questions for prospective BPM buyers, and our bottom line analysis.

Furthermore, the BPM Vendor Map offers a guide for companies large and small to navigate the developing challenge of managing business processes and workflows. It also includes profiles of the top-20 BPM vendors, covering the best providers of workflow management, artificial intelligence, and low-code development platforms. This new research report is a perfect companion to a Gartner Magic Quadrant or our own Solutions Review BPM Buyer’s Guide.

Pair these great resources with Solutions Review online directory of BPM vendors, platforms and software solutions. It includes an abbreviated overview, contact information and links to each company’s social media handles for the top-24 BPM providers. If you would like a printed version of this page including complete solutions profiles and a list of the top questions to ask in an RFP, click here for a free PDF.

4 elements to help in choosing the right software provider

1. Customer Reviews / References: Customer reviews can go a long way, so don’t be afraid to ask for customer references to get their opinions, first hand, whether or not the BPM tool you are looking at fits the description. But make sure these customers actually purchased the vendor’s software. Were they happy with the software and services? Why or why not?
2. Support: Test the vendor’s support systems. A good solution provider should go out of their way to make sure you are completely satisfied with the software. Do they respond quickly? How will these support services scale when you onboard your firm?
3. Technical Resources: Take a look at provided learning materials such as knowledge bases, documentation, or wikis. What does the vendor provide for customers to educate themselves?
4. Advisory Capability: Look for a provider that understands your business situation or industry, and whose people seek to be more of a long-term partner rather than just make the sale. If they can provide guidance rather than simply product specs, you will have a better chance at working through whatever challenges lie ahead.

For more information on how to smooth the selection process, read our 5 Best Practices for Selecting BPM Software.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook for all the latest in Work Tech!