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Sometimes it is easy to forget that when it comes to major market sectors few are larger than governments. It also can get lost that despite the generic name business process automation (BPA) for making the management of workflows and processes faster, more reliable and cost effective, BPA solutions are for any organization.  In fact, the applicability of BPA for governments and educational institutions is illustrated by the recent announcement of Boca Raton, FL-based Advanced Processing & Imaging, Inc. (API), a developer of BPA and document management (DM) software, of its API mPower solution—a web-based BPA/DM platform for City/County Government, K-12 School Districts and Small/Medium Businesses (SMB).

Automating almost any business process

API is touting mPower, which is based on industry standard BPMN2.0 (business process model & notation), as being able to “automate and accelerate virtually any business process.”  It cites as examples such things as: Sales cycle management; Professional services proposals; Public records requests; Online utility/tax billing and payment; Accounts payable/receivable; Employee onboarding; Expense reporting; Time-off/vacation requests; Contracts and benefits renewal; and, Mobile work orders and student records management.

Using HTML5, Java Script, and Bootstrap, API mPower supports mobile users on a wide range of platforms, is integrated with major ERP, CRM and SIS systems as well as with API's OptiView™ document management system.

Key mPower features highlighted in the solution introduction by API  include:

• Cloud/SaaS (News - Alert) solution eliminates the need to install, support or maintain the system hardware and software. Offers economical subscription-based pricing and security via API's cloud platform.
• Process Designer provides easy to use web-based graphical drag-and-drop interface that speeds and eases the design of workflow processes. No programming expertise is required.
• Business Process Rules offers a library of predefined tasks; sub-processes; built-in templates; conditional transitions; and, serial and parallel routing. Helps streamline business processes and automate efficiency.
• Form Modeler lets you automatically create mobile-enabled, HTML/Java based web forms as part of any process, with the push of a button. Gives users a common experience for data entry to help speed user adoption and gain faster ROI. All forms are automatically mobile-ready, and can be accessed easily by field workers or travelers on mobile phones or tablets, enabling true distributed process automation.
• Automatic Process Launching via database triggers or other remote activities eliminates the need for user intervention to start workflows. Increased flexibility to drive further automation and efficiency.
• To Do List enables quick and easy task, approval and priority assignments to individuals or group queues. Employees focus on task completion to speed processes.
• User Roles & Permissions are easily assigned to provide authorized access to processes and data. Integration with network directory services (including LDAP) makes user management and authentication quick and easy.
• Escalation Rules provide automated email notification using time-based triggers with automatic re-assignment of tasks. Gain optimal process consistency and output by enforcing policies.
• ERP/SIS Integration enables the sharing of data among business applications, as well as applications and workflow processes, while automating and enforcing an organization's business logic. Helps eliminate redundant data entry to increase productivity.
• mPower Dashboard provides comprehensive web-based centralized reporting, tracking and auditing on workflow tasks and business processes. Helps enhance regulatory compliance and offers effective business operations monitoring and optimization.
• Auditing helps ensure compliance by transparently capturing a real-time continuous log of all active and completed transactions.

"API mPower is offered as a Cloud/SaaS solution to make process automation accessible to all organizations. Our mPower offering reduces operational costs, increases staff productivity and provides transparency," says Juan Rodriguez, CEO, Advanced Processing & Imaging. "Besides high financial ROI, organizations gain from a higher level of security, data protection, compliancy, system monitoring and availability."

As noted at the top, the business of government and educational institutions when it comes to process automation is essentially the same as that of any organization, and these institutions are prime candidates for BPA solutions.  Not only are they prime candidates, but many are looking to the cloud as the preferred means for getting the operational excellence they desire for a host of reasons relating to cost, functionality and even security.  And as the API announcement of mPower highlights, integration with all of an organization’s other back office and public-facing systems is critical.