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Open Source Architecture for Building BPM Solution - Part 1

[This article talks about how a custom BPM solution can be build using available open source BPM tools like Activiti or jBPM] Business Case: A MFI is looking to automate its processes. It has basic functions called loan origination and loan servicing Loan origination includes following steps a) Borrower risk analysis b) Borrower on-boarding where as loan servicing includes a) Disbursements b) Collection c) Closer d) Loan extension etc. Other than these two functions MFI also have operations team which takes care ground level activities like physical transportation of cash and documents, deployment of agents, identification of loan potential areas. So how can we build solution which is scalable and minimal cost for this MFI? Below is one of many solutions Step 1: High Level Architecture Design Step 2: Process Discovery and Implementing the Executable processes Lets restrict ourselves to only loan servicing – disbursements of funds. And see how we can fit that in ...

Process Reengineering and Optimization Tools – Part 1

Processes are ever evolving. They keep changing to suit business and their goals. As an analyst weneed to keep finding ways to improve it, make it more relevant and optimal. Business process management only talks about lifecycle of a process, it doesn’t gives us tools to optimize. There are very few tools that help an analyst to think in a structural fashion. One such tool is “Lean”. Lean essentially talks about reducing waste and in turn make a process more efficient and optimal. Lean is specifically very relevant for process optimization as it talks about flow of process. Although it was first applied in manufacturing, but we as an analyst can take a lot of clues from it, to optimize process in any sector. Toyota, which was pioneer in Lean manufacturing, talks about three kinds of wastes. Muri – Related to design of process, it talks about what we can proactively avoid while designing the process. Mura – Related to implementation of process and elimination of fluctuatio...

How Kirana stores can handle Organize Retail in India

Organize retail formats include departmental stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets and specialty stores. Any store having more than 500 sq. feet is counted in organized retail. There are more than 14 million retail shops in India, organized retail accounts for only 4-5% [i] , but it is growing at 40% per annum. Organized retail in India will grow faster as regulations loosen up. Government will sooner or later give in to demand of better FDI regulations, in favor of big corporate houses. Time is not far away when Kirana stores will walk the path of obsolescence. So how can these small stores save themselves? SWOT Analysis Kirana Stores Organized Retail Stores Strength Well connected to community, Customized service, Near to customer Bargaining Power, Allows customer to choose, Volume Sales, Financial strength, Bigger display area, Trendy Weakness Outdated, relatively costlier, Less display area, Higher cost per SKU ...