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Pegasystems SmartBPM Suite 5.1 business process management application provides a strong tool set for companies that want to efficiently codify custom business processes. SmartBPM Suite 5.1 wont allow companies to get by without developers, but it does such a good job of simplifying process building that well-trained business analysts should be able to use it to move an application along before developers need to finish the job.
Click here to read the full review of SmartBPM Suite 5.1.
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Pegasystems SmartBPM Suite 5.1 business process management application provides a strong tool set for companies that want to efficiently codify custom business processes. SmartBPM Suite 5.1 wont allow companies to get by without developers, but it does such a good job of simplifying process building that well-trained business analysts should be able to use it to move an application along before developers need to finish the job.
Available since June, SmartBPM Suite 5.1 performed well in eWEEK Labs tests, providing a well-designed tool set for building, using and maintaining process-based applications. Implementations of SmartBPM Suite 5.1 are priced starting in the $125,000 to $150,000 range. SmartBPM Suite 5.1 can be licensed on a per-user basis or by number of transactions.
Per-user pricing covers users who perform heavy transaction volumes, such as claims processing agents. SmartBPM Suite 5.1 also can be licensed on a transaction volume basis, where the PegaRules engine is deployed as part of an application that uses SOA (service-oriented architecture) to process transactions without user intervention.
Also available separately are Pegasystems Solutions Frameworks—modules built on SmartBPM Suite 5.1 for specific industries, such as insurance, health care and financial services.
Visio Vision
SmartBPM Suite is different from most BPM products in that it doesnt include its own process-mapping application. Instead, it relies on Microsofts Visio. Otherwise, SmartBPM Suite 5.1 offers a fully Web-based suite of tools for building and deploying process-based applications. (The suite does require the use of Microsofts Internet Explorer.)
Like most of its rivals, SmartBPM Suite 5.1 includes a rules engine and Web-based development environment. Pegasystems development environment, called PegaRules Process Commander, is used for creating decision and declarative rules; building user interfaces, including forms; and documenting applications.
We used Process Commander to build and manage applications as part of our testing. We liked that a single tool allowed us to do just about everything necessary to build an application—from defining fields and forms to managing business rules.
In fact, we didnt even need to leave Process Commander when working on process flows in Visio because Visio runs embedded in the browser window. We could drag and drop objects to add elements and create or redefine connections between objects. But we did notice some minor hiccups—for example, double clicking on an object sometimes caused a scripting error that prevented object assignment properties from displaying in the left-hand column.
Using Visio as opposed to the tools built into competing BPM systems has no distinct advantage unless a companys business analysts and developers are already familiar with the Microsoft tool. In that case, companies can import process maps already created in Visio to speed application development.
Pegasystems uses a BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation)-compliant tool set within Visio, but most competing Web-based or proprietary process mapping tools use BPMN-compliant notations as well. Also, like Visio, these other tools will save process maps in a BPEL (Business Process Execution Language)-compatible format.
Process maps created in Visio are saved in an XML data format. When a new set of rules is deployed, the PegaRules engine converts this XML data to Java code for execution on the server.
Relying on Visio does have a downside: Companies that arent already using the tool will have to buy, install and manage it on the desktop.
Master and Commander
From an application design standpoint, Process Commander organizes object properties in a tree view in the left-hand pane and provides an action and design work space in the center view. The tree view is organized across tabs that display application elements, classes and rules.
Next Page: Simple shortcuts and design elements.
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A menu bar across the top of the central work space provides access to basic functions, and Process Commanders context-sensitive tool bar offers navigation aids and quick access to underlying object properties, such as a processs rules in XML.
Process Commander has a number of simple shortcuts and design elements—for example, the ability to drag and drop objects, such as form elements—that greatly speed design. In addition, companies can expand an applications capabilities using HTML or Java to build custom elements. SmartBPM connects to other applications through a series of standard protocols, such as SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and SQL, rather than application-specific connectors.
Process Commander also has very good versioning support, so companies can design, prototype, deploy and revert with relative ease. We also liked Process Commanders documentation and logging tools, which will help users document and identify the reasons for process changes, as well as when the changes rolled out in production.
As is the case with every BPM product eWEEK Labs has ever evaluated, learning the ins and outs of SmartBPM Suite 5.1s tools is a considerable challenge, and companies should be sure to budget adequate time and money for training.
In addition, if companies plan to purchase consulting services to get up and running with SmartBPM Suite 5.1, they should rely on the consultants only for help in defining the initial processes and to be a training resource to business analysts and developers. We say this because actually working with the tools is the only way to retain the knowledge needed to be proficient with them.
From the user side, Pegasystems organizes the SmartBPM Suite 5.1 interface according to a users role in the organization.
For those tasked only with executing work, the interface can be fairly simple but does include elements for organizing prioritized tasks and checking spelling in a form. Applications can make use of AJAX (Asynchronous Java-Script and XML) widgets to pull underlying work order information to the forefront using hover elements.
Managers or those tasked with approval and workflow reporting can have access to a more complex set of tools and interface elements. The manager view is organized by expanding elements in a left-hand pane and the usual action center view.
As managers, we had an initial performance dashboard view, a work order view and a monitor activities view that allowed us to define our own reports. Pegasystems has done a good job of abstracting report writing through a fairly simple wizard.
In addition, SmartBPM Suite 5.1 has broad platform support: The server is Java-based and runs a broad range of operating systems, from HP-UX to Windows, and Java application servers. Database support includes Oracles Oracle, Microsofts SQL Server and IBMs DB2.
Next page: Evaluation Shortlist: Related Products.
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Evaluation Shortlist
Bluespring Softwares BPM Suite 4.2
Has a unified process-design tool and augments Microsoft-focused connectors with support for Java (www.bluespringsoftware.com)
Fujitsu Softwares Interstage Business Process Manager 7
Focuses on providing Web services integration with a Web-based design tool (interstage.fujitsu.com)
Metastorms Roundtrip BPM Suite
Provides features similar to those of Ultimus BPM Suite, including an editor for connecting processes to users and roles (www.metastorm.com)
Ultimus BPM Suite 7.0
Provides a good set of tools for automating manual tasks at the desktop (www.ultimus.com)
Technical Analyst Michael Caton can be reached at [email protected].
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