In the dynamic world of business tech, BPM and low-code platforms are hot topics. As a CIO or BTP, discerning the difference is crucial. It's not so much about technical differences but more about conceptual ones. BPM is a methodology for enhancing task efficiency, while low-code platforms are tools that facilitate this improvement more efficiently. Understanding these differences can guide you in choosing the right tool for your organization.
But what’s the actual difference between low-code platforms and BPM suites? Does it boil down to technological differences, or is it a conceptual thing, or is it all just one more big marketing ploy?
A low-code business process management (BPM) platform is a type of software that allows users to create and manage processes, workflows, and applications without having to write code. The platform provides a visual interface and drag-and-drop tools to create workflows, forms, and other elements, making it easier for non-technical users to get involved in the process.
In theory, BPM systems were the answer to problems that plagued so many businesses. Each organization was presumed to be made up of discrete, interrelated processes. BPM software suites were designed to systematically improve each business process and subsequently improve the efficiency of the organization itself.
These software suites made it easy to automate, model, monitor, and streamline everyday business processes. C-level executives around the world were understandably impressed, as you can imagine–terms like increased management oversight, risk mitigation, and better compliance were all music to their ears.
With business processes being enforced as if companies had each hired an ex-military manager, processes would get streamlined, driving profits higher and higher.
With a formal BPMS in place, repetitive mundane tasks went through the path set for them, with rules defining what had to be done at each stage. This would minimize oversight and eliminate bottlenecks.
Any changes to the way a certain process was to be executed can be done without any ‘procedure change’ meetings. You’d simply set the new parameters, and employees would complete processes according to these.
Pretty good on paper, right? But, as with most things that are great on paper, BPM’s projected successes simply failed to take the world by storm. Specifically, the thunder of all the ‘revolutionary’ hype wasn’t followed by the lightning of enterprise success.
Soon enough, BPM suddenly started losing its ‘golden goose’ status, becoming more of an ugly duckling who grew up to become an equally ugly duck. Articles like this one started proclaiming the death of BPMS as it was then known.
As it turns out, it was more of a re-birth than a dead-and-extinct situation—in other words, low-code technology forever changed BPM.
BPM was, at least in the 90s, every C-level employee’s ideal solution, given that it took care of the big four: efficiency optimization, governance, risk mitigation, and compliance. However, to the employees taking care of the actual gritty work, it seemed like one more thing to do and an unnecessary one at that.
Low-code development platforms aren’t a replacement for BPMs. They are a technological approach that changes the way BPM services are deployed. Instead of bloated and complicated software suites, platforms like Kissflow offer configurable tools, resources, and components that you can use to whip up your own BPM solutions in a relatively short period, with very little coding knowledge.
According to Gartner, Inc.’s latest report, the global market for low-code development technologies is expected to be $26.9 billion in 2023 (an increase of 19.6 percent from 2022).
Instead of depending on costly and time-consuming manual coding, you can create your own industry- and organization-specific applications with minimal effort. Another great thing is that they have API integration abilities with 3rd party SaaS solutions.
Forrester’s Clay Richardson, one of the world’s experts on low-code platforms, spoke on the benefits of low-code:
"The difference between BPM and low-code is more conceptual than anything. BPM was a way of getting things done, while low-code can well be described as a way to get BPM done!"
Meet Ajith Singh, Head of Product Management at CaratLane, India's largest online jewelry retailer. Faced with the challenges of rapid growth and expanding operations nationwide, Singh needed a solution that could streamline operations without relying heavily on a stretched IT team.
The Challenges:
CaratLane was grappling with several issues:
The Solution:
Understanding the urgency of the situation, Singh decided to take matters into his own hands. He knew that waiting for an in-house IT solution could take months – time they didn't have. A packaged solution, on the other hand, wouldn't offer the unique features and customizations CaratLane needed.
This led him to Kissflow, a workflow automation and business process management platform. With its no-code/low-code development capabilities, Kissflow allowed Singh to become a 'citizen developer' - a business user who can create applications without coding knowledge or experience.
"I designed, tested, and had it ready in a week. The platform is simple and highly intuitive, so anyone can use it," Singh said.
Using Kissflow, Singh created all the applications for warehousing, quality checks, accounting, and customer service. This speedy implementation would have taken months with traditional coding and IT involvement.
The Results:
Kissflow empowered CaratLane to:
Since 2017, CaratLane has been leveraging Kissflow to reach its goals, proving the transformative power of low-code platforms in today's fast-paced digital landscape.
Kissflow is a unified low-code, no-code platform that bridges the gap between business users and IT to simplify process management and dramatically accelerate digital transformation. Business users can take control of their digital needs while IT leaders can continue providing a secure and scalable platform for digital growth.