Process Meaning: Quick Guide to Business Processes

From budding tech start-ups to small businesses, almost every enterprise comes across the term ‘business process.’ However, not everyone knows what it means.

Having the phrases ‘process’ and ‘business process management‘ thrown around has made it difficult for people to grasp the meaning of the concept fully. Understanding what qualifies as a process should help you make the most of it. 

A company cannot function optimally without well-defined processes and so, the need to grasp process meaning and other basics.

Process meaning and Definition of a Process?

Process meaning is a collection of steps or actions that are necessary to accomplish a specific goal. Clearly defined inputs and outputs are other elements that contribute to a business process.

An example: How a support team handles a customer complaint? The process might begin with a customer emailing to report an issue. After the customer service receives it, a ticket is opened and an automated response is sent back to the customer. The support team assesses the complaint then replies to the customer with the best solution. If the complainant is satisfied, the ticket is closed.

Note that a process meaning is different from a procedure. The two have different depths in that a process covers a broad spectrum, while a procedure is only a part of it. Think of a procedure as a specific approach to complete a process. The complexity of a process depends on the steps involved to achieve the intended outcomes.

Why Processes are Vital for an Organisation

Some company owners and top executives believe that processes are too complicated and consume too many resources to implement. However, if you can comprehend process meaning and the value that processes add to an enterprise, then you can invest as required.

Business process development lets you allocate responsibilities to the most qualified workers. It means that employees generate maximum value because they handle duties where they can operate at their full potential. For this reason, workers enjoy improved satisfaction rates.

You get to identify the activities that are fundamental in the operation of a company. This knowledge tells you where to focus resources to attain business goals.

Since each member of a team understands their responsibilities, it is easy to hold employees accountable. Workers concentrate on increasing value and being as productive as possible.

Business processes boost efficiency because companies find the best ways to generate value. A process maps out the steps that employees have to follow, which saves time and effort.

You get to decrease the time it takes for employees to complete particular duties. With a well-executed process, every worker knows their roles. It reduces times wastage because team members do not have to run around trying to find what to do.

Attributes of a Business Process

The success of a business process relies on how well it is developed and executed. Processes are not created the same, but they have several components that define them.

Finite – for a process to be efficient and effective, it needs a start and endpoint. The same applies to individual tasks.

Flexible – a process needs to be able to adapt to situations as they shift. Stakeholders should be able to improve processes when necessary without the changes affecting the bottom line.

Measurable – if you are to tell how well a business process is working out, it should be measurable. You can analyse the entire process or only specific steps.

Repeatable – a well-designed process should be able to deliver consistent results when run several times. Documentation makes it easy to follow repeatable processes. Even newcomers will know how to approach certain tasks.

Learning business process meaning and process control is crucial when running an enterprise. However, it takes more to leverage business processes for the benefit of a company. Know how to structure processes that align with your organisational goals.

Creating a Business Process Checklist

Purpose of Process and the Goals

What will the process be used for? Why is it being created? What will indicate success?

Plan and Design your Process

Map the process and work out the route it needs to take. What strategies will be needed to achieve the process goal?

Identify Actions, People and Equipment

What tasks need to be done by whom and using what equipment in order to complete the process. Is additional training needed, who is the best team member to perform each part of the process?

Test the Process

Watch how it performs on a small scale. Does the process need changing or adding a step?

Implementation of the Process

Make sure everyone is trained in how the process will run. The equipment is available.

Analyse Results

Continuous reviews on how the process is performing. Analysis data available and speak to the people using the process daily to get their feedback on potential improvements.

Has the process achieved the goals set out and the purpose it was created for?

Why Create Processes?

Business processes give teams a clear path to success. Everyone knows what they are doing and their responsibilities within the process.

Use everyone’s feedback and knowledge to create the best way to complete a task. 

Great experience for customers as they will receive consistent service.

Business Process Automation Software

Business process automation software helps document business processes as a checklist to follow as a step by step guide. Enabling teams to accomplish the task quicker and will reduce chances for errors or missing out a step.

It is extremely helpful to guarantee the task is completed in the best possible way every time in both simple and more complex business processes.

Business process automation software benefits to business:

• Improved efficiency
• Increased Productivity
• Increases Collaboration
• Reduce the potential for human error, minimise mistakes and duplication of tasks.
• Offering Accountability
• Consistency with every process
• Analytics  – Identify bottlenecks and fail points

Checkify offers you the ability to create a process and track the process in operation.

Other Business Process Terms

What are some terms related to business processes?

• Business Process Automation
• Business Process Management
• BPM: Abbreviation of Business process management
• Business process modeling:
• Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN):
• Business process improvement:
• Business process optimisation:
• Business process reengineering:
• Business process mapping:
• Business process analysis
• Business process integration
• Business process simulation
• Business process transformation
• Business process flow
• Business process monitoring
• BPMS: Business Process Management System, Business Process Management Suite, or Business Process Management software.