Business process management and case management are both two ways to build seamless processes. Both have very similar infrastructure and overall architecture. However, the many other similarities can create confusion on which solution to use in streamlining and automating business processes.
For enterprises, adopting both BPM and case management is necessary to achieve organizational efficiency and adaptability. Instead of choosing one over the other, CIOs should prioritize a combined approach as part of their digital transformation strategy to manage varying complex business processes and unstructured cases effectively.
Business process management (BPM) refers to how organizations define and implement structured business processes. It is a long-term strategy of automating repeatable processes to improve work efficiency. It involves actions and decisions that a business makes on a regular basis.
Some processes that can be streamlined through BPM are employee onboarding, procurement, budget approval, documentation, loan approval, and customer tracking.
BPM software is often used to automate systems for consistency and easy retrieval of data. It digitizes manual processes to eliminate the use of flowcharts, forms, and emails.
Case management is the handling of cases through a variety of processes until a specific objective is achieved. It has a defined goal and requires human judgment to decide each course of action. It involves the gathering of data from several sources and coordinating the resolution of a case.
Case management software can be utilized in different industries such as healthcare, legal firms, financial institutions, and medical centers. It’s most useful in crisis intervention, service plan implementation, service coordination, and case conferencing.
A case management solution may comprise several BPM processes. It’s a highly adaptive and dynamic framework that provides solutions to problems or issues that require profound and complex thought processes.
In a nutshell, BPM provides a well-defined end-to-end process while case management provides solutions based on loosely-linked processes.
While both BPM and case management offers solutions for dealing with business processes, BPM vs case management differs in three main areas: complexity, approach, and management.
Case management is definitely more complex than business process management.
BPM places emphasis on single workflow processes and their efficiency. Case management, on the other hand, deals with a complex set of processes in handling cases. It involves hordes of data and intervention by multiple people or departments.
Business process management uses a process-centred approach, while case management has a data-centric task-oriented approach.
In BPM, tasks are bound to processes. There is a pre-defined process flow that determines the sequence of events. All events are linked to one another with a task directly affecting the one right after it.
In case management, events or actions determine the process. The next event in the process is determined by the input of data from various sources. These can be refined at any time during the resolution of the case.
In handling data, business process management follows a structured workflow, while case management workflow follows a highly adaptive one.
There is a structured sequence of processes in BPM. The process flow is formulated in advance and usually entails just a single flow model. Activities are logical, and repeatable sequences can be automated.
On the contrary, there is an unstructured progression of a case from initiation to resolution in case management. The process flow is highly dynamic and allows for ad hoc decision-making. Knowledge workers primarily determine the course of action based on their judgment on the information or circumstances presented.
If you’re still uncertain whether you need case management or business process management, consider the pros and cons of each business solution.
BPM in manufacturing: BPM can be leveraged in a manufacturing company to optimize the overall production process. A streamlined workflow can be created, establishing steps from raw material procurement to shipment of final products. Automation can be used for inventory management and quality control. With continuous monitoring, BPM can also identify bottlenecks, save costs, and streamline operations across the organization.
Case management for customer service: Customer service representatives in large e-commerce use case management platforms to provide more personalized support and tailored solutions to end customers by accessing past interactions, customer history, and specific customer preferences.
As you can see, BPM and case management both have their advantages and disadvantages. This just goes to show that there isn’t any one perfect solution for streamlining business processes.
Instead of choosing one over the other, you can utilize both systems. When used together, they can significantly improve efficiency through a mix of structured and dynamic processes.
Kissflow is a low-code tool that allows you to streamline both business process management and case management through a centralized platform. With its visual drag-and-drop form builder, you can design and automate workflows in just a few clicks.
With, Kissflow you can build and manage strategic business applications that can optimize your processes and drive business growth.