What is BPM?

BPM technology comprises five forms:

Business Process Modeling Software
This technology lets you design, model and often simulate a process. These tools are effective at documenting a process, but they won't manage and track a process. Companies that produce this type of software include iGrafx, MEGA International and Microsoft with Visio.

Application-embedded Workflow
This technology provides you with the ability to design, track and manage processes within an enterprise application (CRM, ERP, ECM, etc.). These tools bring a process management capability, but they only incorporate people who have a seat license to the triggering application into a process and won't interoperate with third party systems. Companies that produce this type of software include SAP, Microsoft (with Dynamic CRM) and Satuit.

Integration-centric BPM Software
This technology provides you with an application-independent process management capability that specializes in "lights out" or automated, high-volume data transactions between disparate systems. (The category used to be called enterprise application integration or EAI.) These applications struggle when there are often exceptions or people that have to participate in your process. Companies that produce this type of software include BEA, Microsoft with BizTalk and Vitria.

Document-centric BPM Software
This technology provides you with an application-independent process management capability that specializes in the routing of, collaboration with and approval of documents. These applications are effective at standardizing document management procedures but struggle when there are steps in a process that don't involve a document or that require large amounts of automation. Companies that produce this type of software include FileNet, Adobe and Global 360.

People-centric BPM Software
This technology provides you with an application-independent process management capability that specializes in optimizing work done by people (work that for the most part can't be automated). These applications can handle some automation, but realy specialize in optimizing human worker interaction. Companies that produce this type of software include Bluespring Software (the company hosting this BPM University), Lombardi Software and Appian.

It's important that you understand that while the term "BPM" is thrown around by vendors in all of these categories, their technologies aren't interchangeable. They're different technologies that address different needs. In many cases, they're complementary to each other.