Business process optimization software focuses on improving a business’s efficiency by optimizing its core processes in a targeted and rigorous manner. It can be applied to singular processes or an entire organization. It can improve customer service, decrease the time it takes for work to be completed, help reduce errors, enhance workforce productivity and increase visibility for both internal and external stakeholders.

While the benefits of business process optimization are clear, implementing an effective strategy for achieving these goals can be difficult. It is crucial to take the time to identify problems, set realistic goals and continuously evaluate the new process performance to ensure it is delivering more value than the original version.

Step 1. Find a Problem

When it comes to improving business processes, the first thing you need is a problem that needs fixing. This could be as simple as reducing an average turnaround time for an in-house support team or increasing the speed of data input into a system. For example, a fashion resale company used business process optimization to implement automation solutions into its workflows that reduce turnaround times for client orders. This allows employees to focus more on other tasks, like answering calls and emails.

Once you’ve identified the problem, choose a project that will deliver measurable and immediate ROI. Choosing a small optimization project can help you gain buy-in from stakeholders and demonstrate that the changes you make will have a positive impact on overall business operations. In addition, using a software solution for process mapping and automation makes it easy to test out updates in small batches before deploying them.