HighOrbit

Workflow Automation: One size doesn’t fit all

The value in workflow management software we design lies within the simplicity of the functionality. When a client comes to us with a workflow problem, we create a cost-efficient solution that is specially tailored to fulfill their unique needs. You might be wondering: “As technology evolves, how do you keep up with the different workflow issues that arise?”

At HighOrbit, our system and processes are continually evolving in an effort to maintain our mission of providing fast, simplistic and affordable workflow solutions. Recently, we took to the world of Twitter to see what people were saying about BPM standards and the latest trends within the process improvement and workflow management industry.

Is the BPM Acronym Dying?

About 10 years ago I joined HighOrbit and heard the Business Process Management acronym BPM for the first time.  Though I had years of workflow or business process automation experience, I had never heard the term and had no idea I was essentially a BPM professional.  I remember how impressed I was with the BPM System (BPMS) Kevin LaFata at HighOrbit had developed.  I also recall how difficult it was to take an emerging software technology to market.  Very few businesses even knew what BPM and a BPMS were.  Sales are complicated when the first step is to educate a prospect on not only what a BPMS is, but also that they need it.

Oracle vs Google - Was Java Code Stolen ?

So this is not strictly a workflow automation article, but this case really concerns me as a software developer, software company founder, Java developer, and Android developer.  For those not familiar with the background, all Android phones run a custom version of Java. Google claims they developed their own "clean room" version of Java without copying Oracle's version of Java.  Oracle's lawsuit claims that Google actually did copy the code from them, and therefore owes them a ton of money.

As part of the court proceedings, Oracle showed the judge and jury a portion of code they claim was copied verbatim. The example was taken from a low-level, deep down function that performs a low level check. The "range check" function will see if what is being passed in to it looks like a valid number, and alert the next level up if it is not.

BPM Standards Update – The Cost of Compliance

Prohibiting Competition and Restricting Industry Growth

The value of a BPM system lies in the added productivity and decrease in errors it brings to an organization. While that seems like the logical, most functional criteria for selecting a BPM system, many vendors are beginning to add another layer to the conversation – BPM standards (BPEL, BPMN, XPDL). They applaud the standards for how they reduce cost, simplify integration and support of a BPM system. To outsiders of the industry, that sounds just right. But BPM standards are anything but what they appear to be.