* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Automation and management](/en/topics/automation "Automation and management") * What is business process management? What is business process management? ==================================== Published June 17, 2022•*2*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- OverviewBPM methodologyBPM and automationWhy Red Hat? Overview -------- Business process management (BPM) is the practice of modeling, analyzing, and optimizing end-to-end business processes to help meet your strategic business goals, such as the improvement of your [customer experience framework](/en/solutions/customer-experience). BPM methodology can be applied to tasks and processes that are often repeated, ongoing, or predictable. A business process is a set of activities that help a business reach a specific goal. Using BPM, you can evaluate your existing processes to find ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs and errors, and support digital transformation efforts. BPM is a continuous process that can lead to improved business outcomes over time. With BPM, you can eliminate ad hoc workflow management practices and optimize business operations in order to deliver better products and services to your customers. BPM methodology --------------- 1. **Analyze:** As a first step of process optimization, you’ll need to analyze the process as it currently exists. Consider what works or where a problem, inefficiency, or bottleneck exists, as well as how it relates to other tasks or processes. 2. **Model:** Look for ways to improve the process and design its ideal implementation. Use this process model to explore how your new approach would work with a variety of potential scenarios and variables. 3. **Execute:**Once the process has been modeled, you can implement changes. Be sure to document what has changed and why. 4. **Monitor:**After your new process has been implemented, you’ll need to monitor it to see if there is an improvement. Gather data to measure progress against business strategy. Do you see an increase in efficiency? Have costs gone down? Are products being delivered faster? 5. **Optimize and automate:**Once you have applied BPM methodology to a process, you’ll need to continually monitor and optimize it. Improving processes can take time and the metrics for success can change, so BPM should be ongoing. Regularly look for new ways to improve. If the new process is working well, consider if any tasks can be automated. Recommended for you Masterclass Redefining Mid-Management: Connecting AI to Business Goals ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [Watch the webinar](https://www.redhat.com/en/events/webinar/masterclass-redefining-mid-management-connecting-ai-business-goals-2025?percmp=RHCTG0250000455235) BPM and automation ------------------ BPM is not a technology—it is a practice performed by people. However, BPM software and automation technology—similar to [enterprise resource planning (ERP)](/en/topics/linux/what-is-erp) and [data management](/en/topics/data-services/what-is-data-management) tools—can be used to help implement identified process improvements. BPM is the first step into widespread [business process automation.](/en/topics/automation/what-is-business-process-automation) [Automation](/en/topics/automation) helps make your business more efficient by using software to perform tasks in order to reduce cost, complexity, and errors. While BPM is the methodology that allows you to better understand your end-to-end business processes, business process automation can be used to continually check and evolve your process efficiencies against those initiatives. [Start automating for free](https://www.ansible.com/products/tower/trial) Why automate your business with Red Hat --------------------------------------- The focus of IT has shifted from serving internal needs, like efficiency and cost control, to engaging with external customers and creating new business opportunities. That’s why Red Hat believes the traditional business automation model needs to evolve. Instead of focusing solely on streamlining processes, businesses need to develop new strategies to automate the business itself. Red Hat works with the greater open source community on automation technologies. Our engineers help improve features, reliability, and security to make sure your business performs, with IT that remains stable and secure. Our solutions, services, and training give you the control you need to automate your business and free up the resources you need to build an innovative future. Hub The official Red Hat blog ------------------------- Get the latest information about our ecosystem of customers, partners, and communities. [Keep reading](/en/blog "The official Red Hat blog") All Red Hat product trials -------------------------- Our no-cost product trials help you gain hands-on experience, prepare for a certification, or assess if a product is right for your organization. [Keep reading](/en/products/trials "All Red Hat product trials") Keep reading ------------ ### What is IT service management (ITSM)? IT service management (ITSM) refers to the activities IT teams perform to ensure that IT services meet customer needs and contribute to business goals. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm "article | what is IT service management (ITSM)?") ### What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)? Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the managing and provisioning of infrastructure through code instead of through manual processes. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac "article | What is Infrastructure as Code?") ### What is a configuration management database (CMDB)? A configuration management database (CMDB) is used to manage information about IT components, including their attributes and relationships between them. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb "article | what is a configuration management database (CMDB)?") 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