SAP Process Integration

Role of Process Integration in Creating the Connected Enterprise

As organizations grow, so does the complexity of business processes that help organizations function efficiently. Organizations today want to embrace agility and resiliency to mitigate business uncertainties. To achieve these goals, they need to build end-to-end visibility and flows. Integration of siloed business processes is critical for building end-to-end views with the enterprise. This is where process integration comes into play. Process integration capabilities allow organizations to weave multiple processes into one flow, often tracking how information flows within enterprise systems. This integration, hence, provides a cohesive, end-to-end view of the business.

Role of Process Integration in Creating the Connected Enterprise

What Is Process Integration?

Point systems and applications within organizations have grown exponentially in the last few years. This has built fragmented business process data across multiple systems within organizations. Business process integration (BPI) enables organizations to weave their people, data, and applications in one cohesive view. Not all integrations are that comprehensive. Process integration can be simple as well, known as native integration, where the integration focuses on data flow, or it can be comprehensive like third-party integrations. SAPinsider Process Automation SOM research report covers this aspect in detail.

Key Considerations for SAPinsiders

Map and understand process interdependencies. While the focus is on integrating processes and increasing end-to-end efficiency, it is critical to understand process interdependencies. Comprehensive business process mapping on key processes needs to occur simultaneously to understand interdependencies. Build swim-lane-style process maps that clearly illustrate how each process interacts with the other. Leverage best-in-class process mapping and design methodologies like SIPOC diagrams.

Use process integration to facilitate process automation. It is important to understand what the drivers are for inefficiencies and errors in a process. Methodologies like Lean Six Sigma and Six Sigma can be useful to perform the analysis. Some of the most widely used and effective root cause analysis methods are Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Scatter Plot diagram, Fishbone diagrams, and Pareto charts. These need to be developed in conjunction with process maps.

Formulate a process visibility strategy. Process visibility remains a key aspect of any process transformation. However, it is important to realistically pre-define what is the desired level of process visibility and evaluate the feasibility of attaining that level of visibility.

Embrace intelligent automation. Technology today allows us to take process automation beyond merely automating manual, non-value-adding tasks. Process automation enabled by artificial intelligence and machine learning allows you to further stretch the boundaries of process enhancement and move towards building a truly intelligent enterprise of the future.

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