The more configurable business processes are, the more agile the organization. A new approach to Business Process Management (BPM) is the use of BPM and SOA together in a layering strategy. This unique approach is based on context and content and offers organizations improved agility, increased productivity and time-to-market. This white paper explores the BPM layered concept and offers a case study of how ABN AMRO, one of the world's largest financial institutions, has benefited from its deployment.
A CNET WHITE PAPER
2-Layer BPM
Oracle's Unique Strategy Towards Exceptional
Agility and Business Process Efficiencies
S. E. Slack 3/31/2008
A CNET white paper exploring the unique concept of 2-layer Business Process Management (BPM) supported by Oracle's Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) offering and its successful implementation at ABN AMRO, a global financial services company. Executive Summary
Business process management (BPM) has long been touted as the best way to efficiently align organizational products and services. When those business processes are properly aligned, services and products can be provided in a timely manner to best meet customers' needs and desires.
Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a method for linking business and IT resources on demand so that desired services can be provided for customers. When SOA is properly implemented, businesses can respond relatively quickly and cost-effectively to changing market conditions.
To keep customers purchasing services and products, continuous improvement of processes must
be an ever-evolving strategy for most organizations. The more configurable business processes are, the more agile an organization can be in responding to market demands and customer needs. Fifteen years ago, BPM focused on the simple identification and grouping of processes. Useful information, certainly, but not necessarily a method that supported easily configurable processes able to change on customer demand. Today, a new approach to BPM - the use of BPM and SOA together in a layering strategy - offers built-in smartness and high configurability. This dynamic approach to business process management is based on context and content. It offers agility throughout an organization, and it can dramatically increase productivity and time-to-market. ABN AMRO, a European holding company with subsidiaries in commercial and investment banking as well as other financial activities, was keen to find a method for providing personalized banking services to millions of clients. High flexibility and superior customer service were key goals for the company; it wanted to add new services and communication channels on demand, as well as be able to respond instantly to customer needs.
Working with Oracle, ABN AMRO developed and cu rrently rolling out a 2-layer BPM process that allows the company to achieve the highest levels of agility, productivity, and customer service. The solution leverages the Oracle Fusion Middleware using a combination of Oracle Business Process WAhnaalty sAisr (eBP OA)r Saucitlee a nRde Oaral cle SOA Suite. The la yer ingA apppproliaccha tinitoengr aCtelsu bsutseinress?s- process Reagcatridvlietisess o inf bau msiannensse rm tohdaet ld, oeeves rtyh e following: organization has challenges when it comes to offering multiple products and services through multiple channels to a large customer base. More an d mImoprreo ovregsa cnoizllaatbioonras taioren tbuertnwinege nto b nueswin easpsp arnoda cIhTe fso rin o bputisminuemss bpursoicneessss mreasnualtgse ment to solve these ch allLeinngkes se. n terprise strategy to business resources for greater agility Increases responsiveness through the use of insight-driven processes
If your organization needs the ability to quickly start something new, wants to deploy activities in multiple locations, and expects to achieve business goals rapidly, a BPM + SOA layered BPM approach could well be the option you've been seeking. This paper explores the concept of 2 combining BPM layers and SOA to contribute to a boost in business agility.
This paper is for information purposes only, CNET MAKES NO WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published March 2008. stChallenges in the 21 Century Rare is the organization that sells just one product these days. Instead, businesses tend to diversify and expand product lines as needed to meet customer demands. And, particularly because of the swiftness of the Internet, customers expect more - and they expect it now.
Offering multiple products and services is the only way to satisfy ever-changing consumer demands. As a result, multiple-channel business models are the norm rather than the exception. Direct sales, e-commerce, face-to-face sales, collection of fees for various... [download for more]
