With our X4 BPMS, we present X4 BPM Rules. This product component, which supports the new DMN standard, enables business analysts, process owners, consultants, and business department staff to control business processes through business rules and automated decisions—without programming—and no longer leave them to chance. All of this works via a graphical interface using predefined process building blocks.
The core element of X4 BPM Rules is decision tables, which process owners can define and edit directly—without the support of a technician or software developer. Within these tables, rules and decision logic can be defined, automatically validated, and the results returned to the business process for further processing. The X4 BPM Rules component can be used for individual and general business workflows such as order processes or approval workflows, for example a digital leave approval. The basis for decisions consists of the freely selectable attributes and business data entered into the table; for example, in electronic invoice verification, the invoice amount or currency. Based on the rules defined in the condition editor, decisions are made automatically on how the invoice is processed within the business workflow.
Define decision rules with the Business Rules Engine—even without technical expertise
The fully functional decision components can be dragged and dropped from a palette of drawing elements onto the graphical interface and integrated into the business process at the desired location. These components are flexible, and annotations such as additional descriptions or term explanations can be added at any time. The usability of X4 BPM Rules is further enhanced by the so-called Simple Friendly Enough Expression Language (S-FEEL). This expression language allows decision logic to be described in natural, business-friendly language. In addition, X4 BPM Rules complies with the official notation standard “Decision Model and Notation” (DMN), defined by the Object Management Group (OMG), for decision rules in business process management. This standard defines how organizations should describe recurring decisions and provides a simple way to model them efficiently.
Example: Automating approval processes—without programming
The benefits of X4 BPM Rules become clear using the example of an approval process within electronic invoice verification. A useful decision rule is to automatically approve invoices based on the invoice amount. With X4 BPM Rules, it can easily be defined that invoices below €100 are automatically approved, while invoices between €100 and €5,000 are forwarded to a clerk. If the invoice amount exceeds €5,000, the invoice is forwarded to a department manager, who is responsible for approval in this case. Another example is the automated assignment to the department responsible for approval depending on the supplier.
The integrated monitoring tool allows the business status to be checked in real time—the process owner can track at any time which step of the process the invoice is in, who processed it, rejected it, or forwarded it. The entire history is transparently documented and stored in a traceable manner.
Companies are not tied to a specific infrastructure, and running applications in parallel across different platforms is also possible.
