SAP SIGNAVIO & SAP CLOUD ALM: POWERFUL PROCESS MONITORING, ALERTING AND ANALYSIS

Hello and welcome to our next instalment as we continue to explore the world of digital transformation. Capabilities, integrations and trends in SAP transformation tooling are moving at such great pace that it can sometimes be difficult to keep up and clearly decipher which tools should be used for what purpose, particularly where technologies, by description at least, appear to do the same things. In this feature, we aim to clarify and distinguish the purpose of SAP Cloud ALM Business Process Monitoring (BPMon) and SAP Signavio Process Insights (PINS), both of which work with SAP best practice KPIs. At first glance they may appear to have similar and overlapping characteristics, but actually serve different use cases, as we will explain.

In a previous blog we provided some recommendations on how best to manage the transition from SAP Solution Manager (Solman) to SAP Cloud ALM (CALM) and where the key differences lie. From a process monitoring perspective, the content from Solman to CALM is relatively seamless and complete. The process analysis content however, has not been retained within CALM, but logically moved to SAP Signavio in the guise of SAP Process Insights as it fits in seamlessly with its other process related components. But this transition has been more of an evolution or even, if I dare to say, a reinvention, rather than a straightforward 'lift and shift'.

SAP Signavio Process Insights (PINS) and SAP Cloud ALM BPMon (Business Process Monitoring) are distinct tools within the SAP ecosystem, designed to enhance and optimise business processes. Although there is some native cross over, they serve different purposes and offer unique functionalities.

Fix now, Improve Continuously

Before we go into more detail, it's worth quickly exploring the typical use case and target teams for each of the solutions. PINS is very much aimed at the business user and/or process minded individuals that may act as intermediaries between the business and IT. BPMon on the other hand is more IT team oriented, perhaps also worthy of attention of the same process intermediaries. IT teams are more likely to take note when something in the process or transaction is failing and is systematically raising red flags, issues which are hindering operations and causing disruption. The business, however, is more likely to be concerned about how process inefficiencies or non-conformance impacts business performance, productivity or customer satisfaction and it's ability to meet its objectives and KPI targets. Used together, these two tools can be an incredible force for operational continuity and business process efficiency, an invaluable asset for both IT and business communities alike.

Same best practice KPIs, different use cases

Let's now briefly summarise what they have in common, and where they differ:

Singing from the same hymn sheet:

• Standardised KPIs and Metrics: Both tools leverage the same SAP best practice KPIs to measure and evaluate process performance. These KPIs are derived from industry standards and SAP’s extensive experience working with customers in diverse industries and processes.
• Alignment with Best Practices: By using these best practice KPIs, both tools ensure that the processes are evaluated and optimised according to industry standards, providing a consistent benchmark for performance.

Different strokes for different folks:

• Unique Objectives: The primary objective of SAP Signavio Process Insights is process analysis and optimisation, understanding where recurring inefficiencies exist, where processes are not adhered to, or are not compliant, whereas SAP Cloud ALM BPMon focuses more on real-time monitoring, alerting and issue resolution.
• Target Audience: Signavio Process Insights targets process improvement teams, analysts, and business users, while Cloud ALM BPMon is more tailored for IT and operations teams. 
• Core Functionality: Signavio offers deep dive analysis and actionable insights for process improvements, while Cloud ALM BPMon provides real-time monitoring and alerting functionalities to maintain operational continuity.
  
  

Purpose and Functionality:

1. Monitoring and Alerting: SAP Cloud ALM BPMon is focused on monitoring the performance of business processes in real-time. It provides alerts and notifications for any issues that occur during process execution.
2. Operational Focus: The primary goal is to ensure the smooth operation of business processes, quickly identifying and resolving any operational issues.
3. Continuous Monitoring: It continuously monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to ensure processes are running as expected and free from errors and bottlenecks.
4. IT Team-Oriented: The tool is designed for IT and operations teams responsible for maintaining the health and performance of business processes and of the systems and applications they run on.

Key Features:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Continuous real-time monitoring of business process performance.
• Alerts and Notifications: Immediate alerts and notifications for any issues or deviations from expected performance.
• Detailed Metrics: Monitoring of detailed KPIs and metrics to track process health.
• Issue Resolution: Tools and functionalities to quickly identify and resolve process-related issues.

SAP Cloud ALM BPMon: Open & Overdue Purchase Requisitions KPI

SAP Signavio Process Insights

Purpose and Functionality:

1. Process Improvement: SAP Signavio Process Insights is primarily focused on analysing and improving business processes. It provides deep insights into how processes are currently executed and identifies areas for optimisation.
2. Actionable Insights: The tool offers actionable insights and recommendations for process improvements, helping organisations streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
3. Business User-Oriented: It is designed for process owners, analysts, and process improvement teams who have a vested interest in optimising processes.

Key Features:

• Visualisation of Process Flows: Detailed visual representations of process flows, with trend analysis and flexible filtering.
• Root Cause Analysis: Identification of root causes for process bottlenecks and recurring issues.
• Internal & Industry Benchmarking: Comparison of current process performance against industry standards and best practices.
• Correction & Innovation Recommendations: Clear guided instructions and transactions in the managed system to resolve issues and recommendations for process optimisation based on identified gaps and inefficiencies.

SAP Signavio Process Insights: Open & Overdue Purchase Requisitions KPI

In summary, while both SAP Signavio Process Insights and SAP Cloud ALM BPMon use the same SAP best practice KPIs to ensure alignment with industry standards, they differ significantly in their purpose, target users, and functionalities. This differentiation allows organisations to leverage the appropriate tool based on their specific use cases, but used together they offer the best of both worlds. Powerful monitoring, alerting and analysis capabilities that both IT and Business Teams can benefit from, not only operationally today, but in preparation for a transition to S/4HANA tomorrow.

Here's our handy quick reference comparison guide of the two tools:

If you would like to know more about how SAP Signavio and SAP Cloud ALM can help streamline your operations and kick-start your business transformation journey, get in touch with us today.