In the quest of achieving business process automation (BPA), enterprises are emphasizing seamless integration of outcome-specific applications. However, they are often plagued by disparate architecture, legacy systems, and data fragmentation. It is for this reason that enterprises must proactively focus on developing robust integration strategies that optimize nimble technologies and shape the path for successful, enterprise-wide BPA. And this is where maturity models have a significant role to play.
The influence of maturity models in developing integration strategies
Maturity models are the best way to assess challenges for business operations and chart the path to the future to unlock opportunities anew. In the existing paradigm, maturity models often help evaluate the scopes and performances of processes around quote-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and cash applications. But the same philosophy can be put to practice for existing and target integrations of domain-specific applications spread across business operations.
The integration maturity model can offer vital insights into the maturity of business operations apps by classifying them across different stages to help organizations identify areas of improvement and implement changes. An ideal integration maturity model should be aided by a process-first integration-led automation (ILA) framework and must help develop a comprehensive integration strategy for fast and seamless BPA.
Operational transformation in stages
Regular business operations rely heavily on apps for various ERP, CRM, and back-office functionalities. It is therefore essential that these apps are integrated and unified to optimize the data and expedite BPA. This is where the three-level maturity model plays a critical role. Here’s a look at the three levels:
Level 0: The Ad Hoc stage is the initial level where enterprises use tools such as MS Excel to sync data between the various systems. Every system has a unique field name and label, and syncing the data manually is error-prone and often leads to loss of data integrity. It is also time consuming, tedious, and cost-intensive.
Level 1: At the automated stage, various apps used in business operations are integrated, monitored, and orchestrated by leveraging the ILA framework and a single platform as a service. A major benefit of using a robust, scalable, and secure integration platform is that all further integration requirements can be met with ease for existing and new apps. App connectors provided by the platform as a service can be leveraged by enterprises to achieve greater flexibility and agility while unlocking cost and time advantages.
Level 2: The empowered stage equates to the desired level of operational transformation where users can self-serve and troubleshoot independently. Users can configure easy-to-use connectors, monitor the apps by using a single interface, and verify the results to increase efficiency. Automation of mundane, repetitive tasks help diversify the roles of human resources and improve their efficiencies and experiences.
The HCLTech approach: Building BPA blocks with an effective, forward-looking maturity model
In today’s digital era, process automation is a business necessity. With BPA, enterprises can reduce resolution time and costs while improving availability and productivity. In that quest, HCLTech has developed a future-ready ILA framework that offer an effective maturity model for enterprises pursuing BPA. HCLTech’s integration maturity model help organizations understand the current level of integrated automation, the challenges, and the opportunities. This maturity model answers important questions around the desired level of maturity, the fastest and most efficient way of reaching it, the best approach to applying the changes, and adaptability to new market dynamics. This can help enterprises achieve their BPA objectives faster and stay ahead of the curve.
