Top BPM trends: How companies can benefit from AI, sustainability and more

Hyperautomation, generative AI, green BPM and more: these are the current trends in process management:

Artificial intelligence and hyperautomation

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business processes has revolutionized BPM. However, hyperautomation goes one step further and combines AI, machine learning and robotic process automation (RPA) to automate complex business processes beyond individual tasks. This development enables fast and precise process optimization and ensures long-term efficiency gains.

Advantages:

• Reduction of human error
• Increase in processing speed
• Improving data analysis and decision-making

Challenges:

• High initial investment
• Need for specialized expertise

Examples: By 2027, 64% of experts expect AI technologies to be used for process optimization. Companies such as Siemens and IBM are already implementing hyperautomation solutions to increase their efficiency.

Generative AI in process design

Generative AI is increasingly being used for creative idea generation and problem solving in process design and management. This technology expands the possibilities in BPM beyond traditional tools and offers new ways to design innovative processes.

Advantages:

• Promoting creativity and innovation
• Improving problem-solving skills

Challenges:

• Still in the early stages, therefore limited application possibilities
• Requires a deep understanding of the underlying AI models

Examples: Companies such as Google and Adobe use generative AI to develop new process models that enable innovative business solutions.

Automated Business Process Discovery (ABPD)

ABPD represents a new approach in the field of process mining. By analyzing event logs, ABPD enables faster and data-driven process modeling. This improves transparency and provides detailed insights into the functioning of business processes.

Advantages:

• Accelerated and precise process modeling
• Increased transparency and traceability

Challenges:

• Data quality and availability
• Complexity of data analysis

Examples: Software providers such as Celonis integrate ABPD into their solutions to enable detailed process analysis and uncover optimization potential.

Green BPM

Sustainability is not only a social goal, but is also becoming increasingly important in BPM. Green BPM aims to make business processes more environmentally friendly and reduce the ecological footprint of companies.

Advantages:

• Reduction of environmental pollution
• Improvement of the corporate image

Challenges:

• Increased costs for sustainable alternatives
• Need for far-reaching process redesign

Examples: Companies such as Patagonia and Unilever rely on Green BPM to minimize their ecological footprint and optimize their processes at the same time.

Integration in transformation projects

The introduction of BPM is increasingly being integrated into larger digital transformation projects. This strategy promotes a process-oriented way of working and supports cultural change in companies.

Advantages:

• Holistic process improvement
• Supporting the digital transformation

Challenges:

• Complexity of the implementation
• Need for change management

Examples: Digital transformation projects at companies such as SAP and Microsoft show how BPM can be successfully integrated to promote innovation and achieve efficiency gains.

No-code/low-code development

No-code/low-code platforms enable the fast and flexible development of process solutions without in-depth IT knowledge. This promotes the independence of specialist departments and accelerates process optimization.

Advantages:

• Faster implementation
• Reduced IT dependency

Challenges:

• Limited customization options
• Danger of shadow IT

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

The integration of BPM and GRC is becoming increasingly important to meet complex regulatory requirements and ensure operational resilience.

Advantages:

• Compliance with legal requirements
• Increasing resilience

Challenges:

• Complexity of integration
• Need for continuous monitoring

Examples: Companies such as Deloitte and PwC offer comprehensive GRC solutions to ensure that business processes are compliant and resilient.

Seamless IT integration

The seamless integration of different IT systems using REST APIs is becoming increasingly important in order to enable the smooth integration of BPM tools into the existing IT landscape.

Advantages:

• Increasing system compatibility
• Improving data consistency

Challenges:

• Complexity of interface development
• Security concerns

Examples: Companies such as Salesforce and ServiceNow use REST APIs to efficiently integrate BPM tools into their IT infrastructure.

Conclusion

And that brings us to the end. These trends offer companies - and especially those with young, ambitious process managers - numerous opportunities to revolutionize their work and prepare for the future. By integrating AI and innovative technologies, processes can not only be made more efficient, but also more sustainable and adaptable. Companies that are rigorously seeking to optimize their processes should actively pursue these trends and put them into practice in order to succeed in the ever-changing business environment.