Orchestration of business processes

In today's business world, companies are increasingly confronted with growing complexity in their IT structures and business requirements. To meet this challenge, it is essential to automate and sustainably optimize business processes. But that is not enough: efficient coordination and orchestration of processes is crucial for long-term success.

But what exactly is meant by "orchestration of business processes"? What are the benefits of orchestration? And what does successful orchestration look like? In this blog post, you will find answers to these and other questions relating to the orchestration of business processes. To put the topic in the right context, however, we will start one step further ahead – with process automation. Because without process automation, there is no orchestration.

Orchestration of business processes: FAQs

1 What is process automation?

Process automation refers to the use of technologies and software solutions to automate repetitive tasks, processes, and decisions in a company. This is intended to reduce or eliminate manual and time-consuming activities. The aim is to increase efficiency, reduce costs, minimize errors, and improve the quality of work. Depending on the specific requirements and procedures of a company, the automation of processes can take various forms. These include:

• Automation of data entry: Data from various sources is collected. Entry into systems or databases takes place automatically. This minimizes manual input errors and improves the accuracy of the data.
• Automation of workflows: Based on predefined rules and conditions, tasks and responsibilities are automatically forwarded to employees or departments for processing.
• Automation of decision-making processes: Algorithms and rules are used to analyze data, identify patterns and make recommendations. This automates decision-making processes.

Process automation is implemented using various technologies, including workflow management systems, robotic process automation (RPA), business process management (BPM) platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). By integrating these technologies, companies can optimize their processes, increase their productivity and better control their workflows and resources.

2 What is meant by process orchestration in companies?

The orchestration of business processes refers to the intelligent and coordinated control of people, systems, and technologies in order to make company processes more efficient and effective. It is based on business process automation. Process orchestration makes it possible to manage complex automated workflows that are often distributed across different departments and systems. By centrally controlling and optimizing these processes, companies can increase their efficiency, reduce costs, and improve their overall performance.

3 How does process orchestration differ from automation?

Conventional automation often focuses on using technology or systems to perform repetitive tasks or processes without human intervention. The primary goal is to reduce manual activities, minimize errors, and speed up processes. Automation can range from simple, repetitive tasks to complex processes.

Process orchestration goes one step further. Through the intelligent coordination and integration of automated tasks or processes, it creates a holistic optimization of workflows in companies. It involves the management and synchronization of workflows across departments and systems. The focus here is on a company-wide view of processes in their entirety with the aim of better controlling and monitoring them and aligning them with business objectives.

4 What are the advantages of process orchestration?

Orchestrating processes increases the benefits of automation and takes its advantages to a new level:

• Increased efficiency and cost reduction: Orchestration optimizes workflows, minimizes delays, and enables tasks to be executed more quickly. Time, resources, and costs can also be saved.
• Accuracy and consistency: Centralized control of processes reduces human error and ensures consistent execution of tasks. This leads to higher data quality and accuracy in business processes.
• Data quality: By intelligently combining and analyzing data from different sources, orchestration provides comprehensive data knowledge and in-depth insights. This facilitates well-founded decisions based on up-to-date information and thus increases business agility.
• Flexibility and adaptability: Orchestration enables companies to adapt their processes flexibly and react quickly to changes in the business environment or market. New requirements can be efficiently integrated into the orchestrated workflows.
• Overview and transparency: Centralized control of all processes provides a comprehensive overview of all company processes. This increases transparency, enables better monitoring and supports management in making well-founded decisions.
• Better collaboration: By seamlessly integrating processes, orchestration improves communication and collaboration within teams and between different departments across system and country boundaries.
• Meeting compliance requirements: Process orchestration facilitates the adherence to legal regulations and industry-specific standards by ensuring that processes are executed in accordance with the defined compliance requirements, even beyond system boundaries.

5 Which industries and company sizes benefit from orchestration?

The orchestration of processes can be implemented across all sectors and offers significant advantages to companies in all industries. In terms of company size, orchestration is not limited to large companies. Both small and medium-sized companies as well as large organizations can benefit from it. Especially if they have complex business processes that require coordinated automation. Tailoring process orchestration to the specific requirements and size of an organization is crucial to achieve maximum benefit.

6 How does orchestration affect employees?

Process automation already has a positive impact on employees by automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks and directing their focus to creative and strategic activities. Orchestration further enhances these effects: the seamless integration of technologies, processes, and users creates a networked and efficient working environment throughout the company. This enables closer communication and collaboration across the boundaries of individual teams and departments. Employees can access relevant information more easily, processes become more transparent and day-to-day work becomes more effective overall.

This has a positive impact on the corporate culture: the agile, cooperative and goal-oriented way of working helps to make the best possible use of the potential of the workforce, increases employee satisfaction, and strengthens loyalty.

Conclusion: Get the most out of it!

By orchestrating business processes, companies get the most out of process automation. The intelligent coordination of people, systems, and technologies not only enables an increase in efficiency, but also creates space for creativity, strategic innovation, and more flexible adaptation to the constantly changing business world. It is the key to shaping a successful organization - and therefore to the future of the company and its employees.