5 Reasons Why Business Process Mapping and Optimization is Crucial

Business process mapping and optimization is a set of activities that looks into essential aspects of a business, including objectives and the people and steps required to achieve them. One defining characteristic of this strategy is its reliance on visual representations. As human beings are 60% dependent on visual stimulus, BPMO is deemed crucial to the effective management of large companies through the following:

1. Identification of Problem Areas

Large businesses are made up of many different departments, which perform both independent and interdependent functions. Hence, it may be expected that each of these departments give rise to varying problem areas that may be difficult to identify without the use of effective tools. With flow charts, graphs and other visual depictions that are part of business process mapping and optimization, these areas can be easily spotted and understood.

2. Timely Risk and Damage Control

Apart from identifying problems within a company, sound business strategy mapping also enables decision-makers to affect appropriate remedies through business process reengineering so as to control risks and damages to the concerned departments or to the business as a whole. In simple terms, this means problems are resolved more quickly, and the company is able to restore normal functions and continue to maintain company standards in half the time.

3. Strengthening of Existing Best Practices

Business process optimization can also be used to pinpoint areas where the company has been exhibiting good performance so they can be further improved or enhanced. This means, not only does the strategy help managers correct problem areas, but it also lets them detect existing best practices. As a result, the company’s strengths can be magnified, customer satisfaction can be maintained, and performance can only get better and better in the long term.

4. Training of Human Resources

Business process optimization can also be used to make employees more effective in what they do. This benefit of BPMO is especially useful during the process of training newly hired personnel who have a lot to learn about their new job or the company itself. Instead of relying on thick handbooks or lengthy training guides or manuals, a company can make use of visual depictions to make employees learn faster and more effectively.

5. Increase Predictability

The inability to accurately predict results of actions within a company can give rise to unmet objectives and ultimately, the downfall of the organization. With business process mapping and optimization, predictability is increased as managers clearly see what is happening within the business, detect patterns and, thus, gain full control in allowing or not allowing certain patterns to be repeated, depending on what is deemed good for the company.

Briefly, business process optimization allows a company to take a snapshot of its current performance to see how it can be improved and what lies ahead when certain actions are taken or not taken. Because the strategy mainly makes use of graphical representations, the entire process becomes easier, tasks are completed faster and productivity is increased significantly.