At the last month in Orlando, we heard a lot about the “process-centric mindset” as a way to discover new solutions to old problems and provide clarity amid complexity. The mix of business and technology and of thought leaders and practitioners delivered a cocktail of ideas, insights, questions, and prognostications that reminded attendees of the value of an in-person event.

The moments of insight seem painfully simple and obvious in retrospect. But simple is not the same as easy, and so here are top takeaways from the forum.

Time to Value: 14 Minutes

51·çÁ÷Signavio Co-General Managers Gero Decker and Rouven Morato have strong feelings about process transformation. Speed, value, and experience are the pillars of process transformation success, so they decided to show just how quickly customers can achieve value. In less than 14 minutes — the average time to value for — the demo team was able to connect and analyze a live customer database, generate a model, and propose steps for improvement.

Simply mapping a process for the first time allows everyone to see the flows and interconnectivities of how work gets done. It also highlights how optimization in one area impacts other systems and can diminish the experience for other teams downstream in the process. Add in the ability to identify bottlenecks and redundancies — and, more importantly, tailored suggestions for highest impact changes — and people start to get excited.

Process Software Is Not Process Knowledge

51·çÁ÷Signavio executive Colleen Speer hosted a lively discussion with thought leaders and . Part of that conversation included a reminder that business process knowledge is not the same as deploying business process management software.

Functional leaders — CFOs, CHROs, CPOs — understand how work should get done and own their processes. As the discipline of process transformation evolves, more and more companies are looking to process management software to help them standardize, harmonize, and optimize processes across their organizations.

Both speakers warned against the misperception that process knowledge is less important in automated systems, arguing that automation fragments process knowledge, effectively outsourcing it. Successful organizations are setting themselves apart by encouraging their leaders to keep actual process knowledge alive, because the organization’s ability to evolve depends on it. It is not an either-or-decision; true success needs both.

Change Is a Lifestyle

There is no doubt that we are living in a time of increased volatility, and that success depends on a company’s ability to adjust behaviors quickly and without friction when confronted with changing markets. Change is not just about having a flexible technology infrastructure. Businesses are made up of people and no change will happen if they aren’t ready and willing.

Under the right circumstances, people can be quite good at change; after all, our species is the most adaptable on the planet. Articulating clear goals, , and can help create the necessary climate of adaptability.

Processes Generate Data

Over the past decades, data has rightly become a highly prized asset. Companies that effectively harness data often outcompete others in their industry. C-suites everywhere run on data-driven dashboards that track key performance indicators (KPIs), turning an alarming red or a soothing green depending on circumstance. That data comes from processes generated by the day-to-day activities of getting work done. If a KPI improves and you want to replicate that improvement, look for changes in the processes that generated the data.

In It Together

A process mindset makes it clear that everything an organization does is interconnected — the ripples of any change travel far. The inherent challenge then is to create positive waves of change that not only improve the bottom line, but also increase customer and employee satisfaction.

Based on the engagement in Orlando, many in the process-driven community are passionately dedicated to elevating the discipline from the ranks of mere regulatory compliance. With a process mindset, organizations can develop agility and resilience, give business leaders a pathway for connecting strategy to execution, and provide clarity amid complexity.

Expertise is always engaging and curious minds are a delight, but it’s not every day that you get to witness a collective shift in mindset.

To dive deeper into what process transformation can do, watch replays from the or register for the 51·çÁ÷Signavio Business Process Transformation Forum in .

At the 51·çÁ÷Signavio Business Process Transformation Forum, , we’re gathering to explore these issues and to demonstrate how a strategic approach to is the foundation for true business agility. Notable thought leaders, executives, technology experts, and business leaders will be on site, sparking questions, creating insights, and driving conversations designed to help us all more prepared for what’s next.

This year’s event offers some great opportunities for anyone attending, including:

Hearing from Thought Leaders

We’ve gathered some of the industry’s great minds to share their perspectives on the value and potential of process management. 51·çÁ÷Signavio Co-General Managers Gero Decker and Rouven Morato will kick things off, sharing their latest thinking on process transformation as a strategic differentiator in a changeable world. Forrester analyst Bobby Cameron, whose specialty is on transformative uses of technology to drive business success, will help make the link between technology infrastructure, customer experience, and business outcomes. 51·çÁ÷Signavio Chief Product Officer Ron Agam will make the connection between technology and sustainability, as organizations across the world work to transform business practices to meet new goals. And in a can’t-miss the discussion, Darwin Deano of McKinsey and Dr. Mathias Kirchmer from BPM-D will talk about how establishing process management as a strategic discipline helps companies achieve their business goals, with process standardization and harmonization as the critical basis for agility.

Getting up Close with 51·çÁ÷Signavio Solutions

Our best subject matter experts will be on site to walk through our capabilities and offerings. They are ready to show and discuss everything from business process transformation, how to approach process automation, and driving innovation. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take a look at our latest 51·çÁ÷Signavio Community site, where customers can ask questions and exchange information.

Learning from Peers

There’s nothing better than hearing from companies and people who are facing the same issues and opportunities that you are seeing. A wonderful roster of customers are on tap to share their experience and advice, including Avaya, General Motors, NTT, Driscoll’s, Honeywell, Jabil, Qorvo, Molex, and Aristocrat. Be ready with your questions and thoughts to make these sessions as interactive and informative as possible.

Having Some Fun

Science tells us that we learn more easily when we are having fun, so get the most out of your trip by getting engaged with your fellow attendees. Plenty of networking opportunities will be provided throughout the event. In addition, golfing legend Gary Player will provide inspiration as he shares what he has learned about success during his long career and life.

The 51·çÁ÷Signavio Business Process Transformation Forum, being held at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, September 20–22, 2022. .