How to Realize the Unrealized Green Benefits of Process Automation

Case study: Tetra goes green

Tetra, a global manufacturer of aquarium products, implemented a Business Process Management (BPM) solution to move its Engineering Change Request (ECR) process online for product development. Initially, Tetra used a complicated procedure that involved up to six departments and 40 staff members—a process that significantly delayed their time to market. Using a BPM solution eliminated the delays and errors, and refocused the design and manufacturing units on product development.

The time and cost savings Tetra experienced thereafter paid back immensely in driving the efficiency and success of their organization. But perhaps just as important, it allowed engineers, scientists and other knowledge workers in a variety of geographical locations to collaborate on the product changes online. Multiple, often geographically dispersed users could simultaneously review the product folders and subfolders on the system. The end result was reduced travel across the organization, less paper consumption, and the realization of significant environmental benefits for the company and its workers.

Tetra has publicly stated in past interviews that software solutions typically used by manufacturers did not have the change-management flexibility they required in this process. They needed to incorporate multiple users, data sources and applications into the process. BPM turned out to be a perfect technology fit for the company, as it enables all of these capabilities. The collaboration features, coupled with the inherent change management aspects of BPM, allows Tetra engineers to work remotely and with less paper, while at the same time, reaping the bottom line benefit of increased efficiency.