# Best Business Process Management Software - Page 12 *By [Bijou Barry](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/bijou-barry)* Business process management (BPM) software defines, automates, and reports on processes that optimize businesses and deliver on company goals. These tools aid in improving workflows and enhancing overall efficacy in day-to-day functions. BPM systems define processes spanning an entire company’s operations and subsequently monitor those processes. These tools can also be used to automate processes. The strength of BPM systems lies in their ability to provide an overview of the entire company, rendering them suitable for use by any department. However, they are commonly favored by operations teams. BPM systems can incorporate case management features, leading to common integrations with [CRM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/crm). While BPM software shares features and functionalities with other solutions, it is crucial to understand the differences between various offerings. Although both BPM systems and [workflow management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/workflow-management) facilitate the definition and management of sequences of business activities and tasks, the former is distinguished since it provides users the ability to get a broader picture of all the processes in an organization. While workflow management is a component of BPM, it is more about task management and how repeatable, less complex individual processes get accomplished. Businesses looking to create internal applications to streamline processes and automate tasks can utilize [rapid application development (RAD) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/rapid-application-development-rad) like low-code and no-code development platforms. These platforms sometimes have tools that assist in building process automation into applications. Solutions specifically tailored for building applications for a process automation use case are called [digital process automation (DPA)](https://www.g2.com/categories/digital-process-automation-dpa) software. Finally, businesses simply looking to map and mine their processes through diagramming, process discovery, and more can take advantage of [process mining software](https://www.g2.com/categories/process-mining). To qualify for inclusion in the Business Process Management (BPM) category, a product must: - Capture business processes, both software and human, outside of the context of automation - Use business process model and notation (BPMN) - Allow the creation of business rule logic - Provide tools for mapping and monitoring execution performance - Give users the ability to automate business processes - Have the ability to create forms and other basic interfaces in a digital format or allow for integrations with other tools for the data ## Top Business Process Management Software at a Glance | # | Product | Rating | Best For | What Users Say | |---|---------|--------|----------|----------------| | 1 | [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) | 4.4/5.0 (1,042 reviews) | Microsoft 365 process automation | "[Easy Drag-and-Drop Workflow Automation That Fits Perfectly in the Microsoft Stack](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/microsoft-power-automate-review-12836935)" | | 2 | [Zapier](https://www.g2.com/products/zapier/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (2,056 reviews) | — | "[Zapier has changed a lot recently!](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/zapier-review-12997643)" | | 3 | [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (1,206 reviews) | Document-driven workflow automation | "[Robust and Reliable](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/laserfiche-review-10968098)" | | 4 | [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (548 reviews) | Form-led approvals and task routing | "[Intuitive Tool for Faster Candidate Email Updates](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/jotform-workflows-review-12956925)" | | 5 | [Bizagi](https://www.g2.com/products/bizagi/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (301 reviews) | Visual process modeling and workflow improvement | "[Bizagi Suite: Accelerating Process Automation with Low-Code Development](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/bizagi-review-13050818)" | | 6 | [AuraQuantic](https://www.g2.com/products/auraquantic/reviews) | 4.9/5.0 (63 reviews) | No-code process automation and visibility | "[AuraQuantic Brings Peace of Mind with Real-Time Process Visibility](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/auraquantic-review-12320779)" | | 7 | [Appian](https://www.g2.com/products/appian/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (428 reviews) | Enterprise low-code process automation | "[Implementation and Costs: Major Challenges for Appian](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/appian-review-12935187)" | | 8 | [Quixy](https://www.g2.com/products/quixy/reviews) | 5.0/5.0 (129 reviews) | No-code workflow and app building | "[Quixy - The only destination for automating workflows](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/quixy-review-10408888)" | | 9 | [Camunda](https://www.g2.com/products/camunda/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (317 reviews) | Developer-led process orchestration | "[Camunda: Scalable Flexibility with Some Adoption Challenges](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/camunda-review-12624528)" | | 10 | [Nintex](https://www.g2.com/products/nintex-nintex/reviews) | 4.3/5.0 (1,272 reviews) | Low-code workflow and document automation | "[Nintex - Best in Industry that provides Seamless SharePoint Integration That Speeds Up Workflow](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/nintex-review-12729348)" | --- ## What Are the Most Common Questions About Business Process Management Software? *AI-generated · Last updated: May 26, 2026* ### What's the leading BPM software for medium-sized companies? Based on G2 reviews, [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) stands out most often for medium-sized teams that want to automate approvals, notifications, reporting, and data movement without deep coding. According to verified users, it is especially valued for its low-code builder, templates, and strong integrations with Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel, and other Microsoft tools already used in day-to-day operations. G2 reviewers mention that it helps reduce repetitive work, improve consistency, and give business users more control over process changes. They also note tradeoffs: advanced workflows can become harder to troubleshoot, premium connectors can add complexity, and some teams report occasional delays or debugging challenges as automations scale. ### Best-rated BPM apps for improving workflow? Based on G2 reviews, buyers looking to improve workflow commonly highlight products that reduce manual handoffs, standardize approvals, and make process steps easier to track. According to verified users, Microsoft Power Automate is frequently used for repetitive task automation inside Microsoft environments, while Laserfiche is often praised for forms, records management, and structured workflows. G2 reviewers also describe Bizagi as helpful for visualizing and standardizing workflows so teams can better understand ownership and bottlenecks. Across reviews, the main value comes from replacing email-driven or paper-based processes with clearer routing, better visibility, and more consistent execution. Common cautions include learning curves, debugging effort, and slower performance when workflows become larger or more complex. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) – frequently used to automate approvals, notifications, file handling, and data updates across Microsoft tools - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) – often used for forms, document workflows, records management, and reducing paper-based processes - [Bizagi](https://www.g2.com/products/bizagi/reviews) – commonly used to model workflows visually, standardize approvals, and improve process visibility across teams ### Best BPM system for integrating with existing business apps? Based on G2 reviews, buyers evaluating integration capabilities often focus on how well a BPM platform connects existing systems without forcing major process redesign. According to verified users, Microsoft Power Automate is frequently praised for connecting Microsoft 365 apps, email, SharePoint, Power Apps, APIs, and many external services, which helps automate data movement and notifications across tools. G2 reviewers also mention Bizagi for API and external system connections, especially when teams need structured workflow orchestration, and Laserfiche for linking document processes and databases. Reviewers consistently say the strongest integration value comes from reducing manual re-entry and keeping information synchronized, though setup effort, premium connectors, and more advanced configurations can introduce complexity. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) – often used to connect Microsoft 365, email, SharePoint, APIs, and third-party services for automated data flow - [Bizagi](https://www.g2.com/products/bizagi/reviews) – used for workflow automation with API integrations and external system orchestration across departments - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) – supports document workflows, database connectivity, and process integration for records-heavy environments ### Top business process tools for efficient office work? Based on G2 reviews, efficient office work usually means reducing repetitive admin, speeding approvals, and keeping documents and tasks from getting lost across inboxes and shared folders. According to verified users, Microsoft Power Automate is often used for approvals, notifications, file routing, and recurring reporting, especially in Microsoft-centered workplaces. G2 reviewers mention Laserfiche for replacing paper processes with forms, records management, and structured routing, while Jotform Workflows is often described as an easy option for form-based approvals and request tracking. Across these products, reviewers consistently point to better visibility, faster handoffs, and fewer manual follow-ups as the main benefits. They also note that more complex logic or workflow customization can require extra setup effort. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) – helps automate approvals, recurring emails, file updates, and routine office tasks inside Microsoft 365 - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) – supports office teams with digital forms, records management, and paperless process routing - [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) – commonly used for form-driven approvals, request tracking, and reducing email-based coordination ### Premium business process management software with free trial? Based on G2 reviews, users in this category frequently describe premium BPM products in terms of breadth, flexibility, and support rather than trial availability. According to verified users, products such as Appian, Camunda, SAP Signavio, and Nintex are often associated with enterprise-grade workflow automation, orchestration, or process visibility. G2 reviewers mention strengths like low-code development, business process modeling, approvals, integrations, and cross-team standardization. They also describe common tradeoffs, including steeper learning curves, more involved setup, and higher perceived cost for some environments. Because the recent G2 review data provided here does not consistently verify free-trial availability, buyers should treat trial status as needing direct confirmation from the vendor rather than as a review-grounded category conclusion. ### Best business management tool for large enterprises? Based on G2 reviews, large enterprises tend to value platforms that support complex workflows, cross-department coordination, governance, and integration at scale. According to verified users, Microsoft Power Automate is widely used to automate approvals, notifications, and data movement across enterprise Microsoft environments, while SAP Signavio is often highlighted for process mapping, process mining, and identifying inefficiencies across large organizations. G2 reviewers also describe Bizagi as useful for standardized workflow modeling and enterprise collaboration. The common theme is visibility: teams want clearer ownership, fewer manual handoffs, and a more structured way to improve operations. Reviewers also note that complexity grows with scale, so onboarding, reporting setup, and advanced customization often require dedicated effort. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) – well suited for large Microsoft-centric organizations automating approvals, reporting, and system-to-system tasks - [SAP Signavio](https://www.g2.com/products/sap-signavio/reviews) – often used by enterprises for process mapping, mining, and standardizing operations across teams - [Bizagi](https://www.g2.com/products/bizagi/reviews) – supports enterprise workflow standardization, process visibility, and structured collaboration between business and IT ### Most recommended business process management service for a tech firm? Based on G2 reviews, tech-focused teams often favor BPM platforms that support APIs, automation logic, integrations, and visibility into multi-step processes. According to verified users, Bizagi is frequently described as useful for connecting workflows with APIs, external systems, and data-driven processes while keeping business and technical teams aligned through visual modeling. G2 reviewers also mention Microsoft Power Automate for connecting apps, APIs, and Microsoft services, and Camunda for process orchestration and developer-oriented workflow automation. Across the reviews, the strongest signals are around reducing manual handoffs, improving accountability, and making complex processes easier to monitor. Reviewers also caution that technical onboarding, documentation depth, and debugging can become bigger factors in advanced implementations. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [Bizagi](https://www.g2.com/products/bizagi/reviews) – often used by technical teams for API-connected workflows, BPMN modeling, and cross-team process clarity - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) – helps tech teams automate integrations, API-driven tasks, and data movement across apps - [Camunda](https://www.g2.com/products/camunda/reviews) – commonly used for orchestration, BPMN-based automation, and managing complex workflows across systems ### Best business process management software for a small startup? Based on G2 reviews, small startups usually benefit most from BPM software that is easy to learn, quick to set up, and able to remove manual work without requiring a large technical team. According to verified users, Microsoft Power Automate is often praised for templates, drag-and-drop flow building, and automating routine tasks like emails, approvals, and file updates. G2 reviewers also describe Jotform Workflows as approachable for form-based approvals and request routing, and Laserfiche users highlight no-code forms and workflow structure for organizations digitizing paper-heavy processes. Across reviews, buyers should weigh usability and setup speed against the extra complexity that can appear once workflows become more advanced or highly customized. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) – helps smaller teams automate recurring tasks, approvals, and updates without heavy coding - [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) – useful for startups that need simple form routing, approvals, and centralized request handling - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) – supports startups digitizing forms and document-driven processes with strong workflow structure ### Which BPM software is best for reducing operational costs? Based on G2 reviews, [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) is the most evident choice for reducing operational costs because reviewers repeatedly describe it replacing repetitive manual tasks, reducing data entry, minimizing errors, and freeing staff for higher-value work. According to verified users, it is used for approvals, automated emails, reporting, file handling, registration workflows, and syncing information across systems, which cuts down on routine administrative effort. G2 reviewers mention that its templates, low-code interface, and Microsoft integrations make it practical for many common business processes. They also note that costs can become less predictable when advanced workflows rely on premium connectors or more complex automation scenarios. ### Top-rated BPM solutions for automating tasks? Based on G2 reviews, task automation buyers usually prioritize tools that can remove repetitive work, standardize approvals, and keep process status visible without constant follow-up. According to verified users, Microsoft Power Automate is widely used for automating emails, notifications, file updates, approvals, and data synchronization. G2 reviewers also highlight Bizagi for structured workflow automation and clear process visibility, while Jotform Workflows is often mentioned for automating form-based tasks, approvals, and routing. Across the category, reviewers consistently value easier handoffs, less manual coordination, and faster completion of recurring tasks. At the same time, they note that more advanced automation often brings tradeoffs like steeper learning curves, integration setup effort, or troubleshooting complexity. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) – automates recurring business tasks such as approvals, file handling, notifications, and data syncing - [Bizagi](https://www.g2.com/products/bizagi/reviews) – supports workflow automation with visual process design, task tracking, and approval routing - [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) – helps automate submissions, approvals, and task routing for teams managing form-driven processes ## How Many Business Process Management Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 190 ### Category Stats (Jul 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.54/5 (↑0.01 vs Jun 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product**: Engage Process (+9.1%) - Among all products in this category, Engage Process recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: July 03, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Business Process Management Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 13,600+ Authentic Reviews - 190+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Which Business Process Management Software Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Leader:** [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [Quixy](https://www.g2.com/products/quixy/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [Emakin](https://www.g2.com/products/emakin/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [Zapier](https://www.g2.com/products/zapier/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Zapier](https://www.g2.com/products/zapier/reviews) --- **Sponsored** ### Bizagi Bizagi is an enterprise platform for business orchestration and AI automation, enabling organizations to design, automate, and run complex end-to-end processes that bring together people, AI agents, systems, and data. Unlike point AI tools, Bizagi is the operational layer where AI, processes, and enterprise systems work together: governed, auditable, and production-ready. Built on more than two decades of enterprise process expertise, Bizagi brings the depth of operational knowledge that newer AI platforms simply have not had time to develop. That foundation is what makes Bizagi's AI story credible where others are still experimental. Bizagi's native AI capabilities are built directly into the platform. AI Agents are reusable, GenAI-powered assistants configured in the AI Hub, capable of content generation, document analysis, classification, summarization, and more. They can be invoked from processes, interfaces, or other agents, and integrate via connectors and Model Context Protocol to reach internal and external systems. AI Workers automate repetitive tasks inside forms and workflows by analyzing rules, field history, and process context, operating in supervised or more autonomous modes and improving through reinforcement learning. Ask Ada, Bizagi's conversational analytics assistant, lets users query business data in natural language and receive answers, charts, and insights, all within Bizagi's role and permission model and grounded in both process data and enterprise documents through a built-in RAG knowledge layer. Governance is central, not optional. Bizagi runs on Microsoft Azure with Private OpenAI integration, keeping sensitive data within a secure perimeter. AI features require deliberate configuration and deployment. Generative AI capabilities are intentionally built into workflows rather than casually enabled, and Data Domains, Personas, and Bizagi's role model control precisely what any AI capability can access and how results can be used. Customers see results fast. Stone Coast Fund Services reduced processing time by 80% across more than 25,000 annual service requests, going live in six weeks. Bizagi's AI Ignite packages take organizations from zero to live AI Agents or AI Assistants in approximately seven weeks, combining software and professional services to de-risk early projects. With over 1,000 enterprise implementations across financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and government, Bizagi is named in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies (BOAT), Microsoft Certified for AI in Financial Services and Manufacturing, and a G2 leader across Agentic AI, AI Agents for Business Operations, BPM, and Digital Process Automation. Customers include DHL, Unilever, Caterpillar, and Old Mutual. For more information, visit bizagi.com. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=163&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-04T08%3A29%3A10Z&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=1614&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=neighbor_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=1614&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=20785&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=163&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fbusiness-process-management&secure%5Btoken%5D=db24680cc77791d2d0aa6339a802fe4349e164a186997594b8d8fe24ae24f245&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizagi.com%2Fen%2Fprocess-orchestration-with-bizagi%3Futm_source%3DG2%26utm_medium%3Dthird_party%26utm_campaign%3DTech-GL-2026_05-Content-G2_Clicks_Orchestration&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## Business Process Management Software Features & Capabilities ### What are the Best Business Process Management Software with No-Code App Development? Provides drag and drop tools usable by admins with little to no coding experience in order to build applications which automate workflows and business processes. **Top-rated Business Process Management Software for No-Code App Development:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) - [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) [Explore Business Process Management Software with No-Code App Development](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/no-code-app-development) ### What are the Best Business Process Management Software with Low-Code App Development? Provides development environments to allow users to develop applications which automate workflows and business processes with minimal coding. **Top-rated Business Process Management Software for Low-Code App Development:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) - [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) [Explore Business Process Management Software with Low-Code App Development](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/low-code-app-development) ### What are the Best Business Process Management Software with Process Analysis? Delivers data points such as time and cost of a process on a dashboard to evaluate process efficacy. **Top-rated Business Process Management Software for Process Analysis:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) - [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) [Explore Business Process Management Software with Process Analysis](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/process-analysis) ### What are the Best Business Process Management Software with Document Generation? Enables users to create documents for business processes and provides a wide array of templates which are customizable. **Top-rated Business Process Management Software for Document Generation:** - [Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-power-automate/reviews) - [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) - [Jotform Workflows](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-workflows/reviews) [Explore Business Process Management Software with Document Generation](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/document-generation) ## What Is Business Process Management Software? [Process Automation Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/process-automation) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Business Process Management Software? - [No-Code Development Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/no-code-development-platforms) - [Digital Process Automation (DPA) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/digital-process-automation-dpa) - [Workflow Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/workflow-management) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Business Process Management Software? ### What You Should Know About Business Process Management Software ### What is Business Process Management (BPM) Software? Business process management (BPM) is the practice of streamlining and improving business activities to more efficiently perform specific business actions. Often these business actions require cross-team collaboration and consist of many moving parts, whether they are software systems or human intervention. There are many BPM software products that can help companies achieve the ultimate goal of seamless workflow automation. BPM tools often provide process modeling, execution, and analysis functionality to help business managers ensure that the processes they need done are working efficiently and effectively. The possibilities are vast and varied: this software can be used for a host of different use cases, such as invoicing, marketing, and accounting. With business process automation solutions, businesses are able to improve and increase collaboration and be on the road toward automation. Through detailed mappings of processes and tools for managing workflows, professionals can get a birds-eye view of their business operations and thereby have a clear understanding of how they can optimize them.  #### What Types of Business Process Management (BPM) Software Exist? There are a few different types and use cases of BPM software, but each helps an organization streamline workflows. Although all of these tools capture business processes and give users the ability to automate them, they differ in terms of their ability for users to create standalone applications on top of these processes. **Standard BPM software** With standard BPM software, users get full control over their business processes, providing them with tools for monitoring execution performance and analyzing their current goals, workflows, and more. It should be noted that BPM solutions do not exist in isolation from a company’s broader software stack. On the contrary, it is key for them to integrate into various other tools, such as [CRM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/crm) and [ERP software](https://www.g2.com/categories/erp). With proper integration, users are able to better understand the company’s manifold processes in order to optimize or automate them.  **Digital process automation (DPA)** DPA is a subset of BPM and refers to those products which include all of the core functionality of BPM software, but also allow users to create standalone applications on top of business processes. For example, a retail company can use [digital process automation](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/digital-process-automation) to analyze how sales representatives are selling their products across various regions, such as how they input pipeline data into spreadsheets, send emails to prospects, and more. Then, an administrator can create an application which the salespeople can use to streamline and automate this process, helping them become more efficient. ### What are the Common Features of Business Process Management (BPM) Software? The following are some core features within BPM software that can help companies in defining, automating, and reporting on processes that are intended to help optimize businesses to deliver on company goals. **Real-time process monitoring:** Keeping track of the manifold processes a business has can be difficult, especially when doing so in real time across various systems. With properly deployed BPM software in place, users can monitor these processes in real time. This provides the benefit of being able to rigorously test variations and changes to these processes. For example, a business can test the effect of routing all of their support cases to a particular individual or system. If it is found that this is not working well, they can iterate and test different options, all while keeping a close eye on their BPM monitoring feature for insight. **Document automation:** Forms and documents are ubiquitous across businesses, such as onboarding documents for new employees, contracts for customers or vendors, and surveys. Manually inputting and analyzing data from these sources can be time consuming and tedious. BPM software can assist in automating this process, whether that be in part or in total. For example, one can use BPM to automate inputting data from new employees’ personal documents onto the company’s [core HR software](https://www.g2.com/categories/core-hr).  BPM tools will differ in regards to how much intelligence, or natural language understanding, they have built in. Thus, although most solutions will have optical character recognition (OCR) built-in, some will also provide the ability to understand documents. This would allow it to “read” documents and, for example, summarize the text therein or recognize key terms in order to input them into other documents or systems. **Process automation:** Automating processes and workflows does not happen overnight. BPM software provides features for facilitating this automation through process design and execution. In other words, users can use this software to not just document processes, but to also create them ex nihilo and to automate them, often via a drag-and-drop interface. In regards to how this is facilitated, many BPM products have a library in which to keep previously used or designed workflows for future use. In addition, some tools provide templates for common use cases, such as accounts payable, employee onboarding, and procurement. Users can adopt and adapt these templates for their particular needs and use case. Other Features of Business Process Management Software: [Document generation](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/document-generation), [Finance](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/finance), [Low-code app development](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/low-code-app-development), [No-code app development](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/no-code-app-development), [Process analysis](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/process-analysis) Specific Subject Matters: [Human resources](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/human-resources) ### What are the Benefits of Business Process Management (BPM) Software? Companies purchase BPM software because they need to solve some type of operational objective in a streamlined and efficient way. BPM software allows users to easily build unique workflows, assess the necessary steps required to carry out the objective, and integrate all the different solutions involved in the process. The actions that need to be carried out are usually time consuming and complex, so finding a way to automate these business processes can be very beneficial to any company. Additionally, BPM solutions can provide insights into the efficiency of processes. BPM tools can help identify bottlenecks and unnecessary process steps, and they even help hold employees accountable for their actions. **Increased efficiency:** Using BPM solutions ensures that tasks are carried out in the most efficient manner possible. The processes are set up in an optimal way so that businesses are not wasting resources and employees are not wasting time, steps are not being skipped, and all actions are being performed as they should be; therefore, all tasks are being performed to their fullest. **Enhanced productivity:** If companies are properly taking advantage of BPM tools, that means that they are saving their employees’ time through automation. By streamlining and automating the tedious tasks, workers have more time to focus on business-critical tasks instead of working on the time-consuming ones. **Improved collaboration:** Businesses can easily get siloed, with business units working on their own, focused on their own goals and metrics. Although they all strive to improve the broader business, collaboration between departments can be difficult. A key benefit for BPM software is providing a bird’s eye view of all of a company’s processes, across its departments. With one source of truth in place, interdepartmental conversations become easier and more fruitful. ### Who Uses Business Process Management (BPM) Software? Traditionally, BPM tools are used by mid-market and enterprise-sized companies. Larger companies tend to have more siloed departments, and when business actions need to become integrated to be efficient, BPM software is an easy solution. It is much rarer for small businesses to need a dedicated tool for workflow management. Within companies, BPM tools are frequently leveraged by operations and [IT administrators](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/it) but can expand to really any department that needs to automate business processes. Some companies may have dedicated business analysts or process directors who ensure that internal processes are as streamlined as possible. Here are some department-specific examples: **Sales:** BPM software can help automate actions performed by a [sales team](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/sales), specifically when it comes to contract creation and approval. Many BPM tools offer document management features specifically built for contract creation. Once a sales representative convinces a prospect to buy, the next step in the workflow is to send a contract. Based on the particular specifications of the deal, a contract can be created using BPM tools. **Supply chain:** Once a deal is finalized, the next step in a workflow may be to ship the goods purchased. If a document is signed, BPM software can help place the exact order bought by the customer. This is where the tool goes from working with a business’ CRM to working with their [supply chain software](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-process-management/f/supply-chain). The order is automatically entered into a company’s ERP system and the goods are manufactured and shipped. **Accounting:** Now that the goods are shipped and received, the accounting department needs to note the exact exchange of goods (i.e., how much was shipped, how much did they pay for it, etc.). This information can be inputted into an [accounting system](https://www.g2.com/categories/accounting) using BPM software. ### What are the Alternatives to Business Process Management (BPM) Software? Alternatives to BPM software can replace this type of software, either partially or completely: [Workflow management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/workflow-management) **:** Businesses should have a clear idea regarding what they are trying to achieve to determine the type of software they are looking for. Thus, if a business is looking for a more lightweight solution for facilitating workflow, workflow management software might be the best fit. This software helps to define and manage sequences of business activities and tasks and is more beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses with a low to medium complexity level of their operations. [Robotic process automation (RPA) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/robotic-process-automation-rpa) **:** If a business is looking to automate routine tasks, RPA might be a good option. RPA provides robots that mimic clicks and other activity on the computer screen and facilitates the automation of a host of tasks, such as invoicing and employee onboarding. These virtual agents perform actions following these workflows both with and without human supervision or intervention. [Rapid application development (RAD) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/rapid-application-development-rad) **:** Businesses should understand that they can pursue different avenues to achieve automation. Instead of BPM or in addition to it, users should investigate RAD software, such as the form of [low-code](https://www.g2.com/categories/low-code-development-platforms)and [no-code](https://www.g2.com/categories/no-code-development-platforms) development platforms. With this software, businesses are able to develop software quickly with minimal coding, reducing the need for extensive coding experience. Some of these tools are purpose-built for process automation.  #### Software Related to Business Process Management (BPM) Software The following solutions can be used in conjunction with BPM tools to create end-to-end business process automation and further advance digital transformation: [Robotic process automation (RPA) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/robotic-process-automation-rpa) **:** RPA software is somewhat of an automation advancement born from BPM. RPA software allows businesses to build and train bots to carry out tedious tasks. By providing both supervised and unsupervised automation, RPA software helps to take BPM one step further, in terms of seamless workflow automation and process execution. RPA tools may be used side by side or in lieu of BPM solutions. [Process mining software](https://www.g2.com/categories/process-mining) **:** While BPM tools help to set up workflows and automation, process mining software helps to monitor the automation and ensure the processes are being carried out correctly. Process mining software helps find where processes are falling short, which steps are being skipped, and how effective the processes are to the overall business objective. These tools can monitor event logs to make sure that employees are following all of the necessary steps or if they are skipping certain tasks. With the help of machine learning, process mining software can often inform business analysts of unnecessary steps that can streamline business processes. ### Challenges with Business Process Management (BPM) Software Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges. Especially when it comes to BPM solutions, which integrates and connects to systems across the organization, it is important to pay attention to the following core issues: **Return on investment (ROI):** The biggest issue with BPM software is understanding the ROI. It is hard to measure the exact level of productivity and efficiency gained from BPM tools, which can make gaining traction and internal adoption a struggle. **Integration:** Integration is another concern, especially with the rapid frequency that companies add new software solutions. However, with SaaS products becoming the norm, the ease of integrating disparate software products across departments is becoming easier. If a business is using legacy, on-premises solutions, it can be challenging and expensive to make the theoretical processes work seamlessly in practice. ### Which Companies Should Buy Business Process Management (BPM) Software? The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) can have a positive impact on businesses across a host of different industries. Here are some examples: **Financial services:** Within financial institutions, such as banks, brokerage firms, and credit unions, it is common for a host of different systems to be used. They can benefit from a BPM tool that can help them get a better understanding of their business processes and the use of these various systems across the business. As an industry that is heavily regulated, BPM can be particularly beneficial, since it can assist in auditing company processes. **Healthcare:** For many healthcare-related organizations, software can help with processes such as inputting data related to new patients and processing insurance claims. This assists in analyzing the efficiency of current processes and improving them. Through the automation and streamlining of processes, healthcare companies can lower risk and costs, and make their billing and collections smarter. **Government:** It is commonly said that governmental organizations are inefficient. This stereotype is attributed to the fact that these organizations might be using legacy technology, as well as disparate tools across departments. The effects of this inefficiency are not trivial. With BPM software, governmental organizations can streamline and automate their workflows. ### How to Buy Business Process Management (BPM) Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Business Process Management (BPM) Software When looking to deploy a BPM solution, it is important to start from the beginning. In other words, a business should begin by conducting an overview of business processes. If a company is just starting out and looking to purchase their first BPM software, or wherever a business is in its buying process, g2.com can help select the best option. Taking a holistic overview of the business systems and processes will help businesses to identify pain points. This will help them to figure out which software to buy (e.g., if it can effectively handle the business’ processes) and to develop buying criteria. A carefully created checklist can help in determining the necessary and nice-to-have features, such as features, budget, integrations, number of users, security requirements, cloud or on-premises solutions, and more. A request for information (RFI) can be useful, especially if the deployment is large in scale and scope. By producing this, a business can be well placed to gather information from sellers. Depending on the scope of the deployment, it might be helpful to produce an RFI, a one-page list with a few bullet points describing what is needed from a BPM software. #### Compare Business Process Management (BPM) Software Products **Create a long list** Evaluating vendors should start with a long list, which will help to determine whether or not a given solution is a good fit. Buyers should create a broad list of tools that align with their business goals. So that there is a level playing field, it is important to ask the same set of questions to each seller. **Create a short list** Next, a whittling down should take place. Through pointed questions, demos, and trials, one can go from a long list to a short one. Although this will differ for each business and use case, three to five products are typically a good number. With this list in hand, businesses can produce a matrix to compare the features and pricing of the various solutions. **Conduct demos** To ensure the comparison is thoroughgoing, the user should demo each solution on the short list with the same use case and datasets. This will allow the business to evaluate like for like and see how each vendor stacks up against the competition. #### Selection of Business Process Management (BPM) Software **Choose a selection team** Before getting started, it's crucial to create a winning team that will work together throughout the entire process, from identifying pain points to implementation. The software selection team should consist of members of the organization who have the right interest, skills, and time to participate in this process. A good starting point is to aim for three to five people who fill roles such as the main decision maker, project manager, process owner, system owner, or staffing subject matter expert, as well as a technical lead, IT administrator, or security administrator. In smaller companies, the vendor selection team may be smaller, with fewer participants multitasking and taking on more responsibilities. **Negotiation** Just because something is written on a company’s pricing page, does not mean it is fixed (although some companies will not budge). It is imperative to open up a conversation regarding pricing and licensing. For example, the vendor may be willing to give a discount for multi-year contracts or for recommending the product to others. **Final decision** After this stage, and before going all in, it is recommended to roll out a test run or pilot program to test adoption with a small sample size of users. If the tool is well used and well received, the buyer can be confident that the selection was correct. If not, it might be time to go back to the drawing board. ### Business Process Management (BPM) Software Trends Digital transformation is working its way into every type of software, and BPM is no exception. AI and predictive analytics are two of the more powerful trends in the BPM space today. **Machine learning** By implementing machine learning functionality into BPM tools, these solutions can become more adaptive and predictive. If a BPM solution can learn what is working and what is not, and make changes autonomously that benefit the business, then it saves the company time, effort, and money. However, while truly intelligent BPM products are still years away, the logic is there and could impact the industry in massive ways. **Analytics** Analytics is a much more immediate trend for BPM tools. Being able to monitor and view the data that goes into each process is critical for businesses. It gives business users an understanding of exactly how effective and efficient each business process is and allows teams to adjust accordingly.