Why Workflow?

Workflow Management Systems automate business processes. They make sure that business tasks are executed by the right resource at the right time. Business process automation is common in many industries. For example a car assembly line must make sure that wheels are added after axles are installed; life insurance claim systems ensure that the benefits are paid only after the insured's death certificate has been received, etc. In these examples computer programmers are often called upon to write additional (usually complex) code to handle these specific situations. If the situation changes, e.g. an automotive assembly line switches to tricycle production, all or part of the software must be scrapped and re-written.

WfMS systems deal with the processes generically. A WfMS considers each car off the assembly line or each life claim as a generic case to be processed. Operations on the assembly line or claim requirements (like a death certificate) are generic tasks. The WfMS does not perform any task independently. It merely receives notification about the completed tasks and, in turn, notifies the appropriate resource about the tasks to be completed next. WfMS systems are not meant to be used alone, but in conjunction with other applications. WfMS systems provide the following significant benefits:

• Making process changes easier
• Making processes more flexible
• Providing a generic way of viewing and analyzing processes, thus facilitating business process reengineering
• Providing an auditable trail of the individual who performed each task en route to case completion
• Significantly speeding up software development

WfMS technology is poised to transform process management and design in much the same way that RDBMS (Relational Database Management Systems) technology transformed data management in the 1980s. As the RDBMS brought the rigor of a well-defined conceptual model to data management, the WfMS ensures that processes are well defined and behave as designed. Process-heavy applications not only work better with this technology, but can be developed up to 40 percent more quickly than processes that are controlled with custom code.

Applications developed around a WfMS work particularly well for business processes requiring multiple resources (assembly line points, claim adjustors/managers, etc.) performing discrete, interconnected tasks. If you are writing or upgrading an application which fits this description, a workflow engine is a must.

See why Lynx Workflow may be a better fit than the other offerings on the market by choosing the professional perspective relating to you:

• Business Managers
• Software Architects
• IT Managers