Enterprise Software Certification Report - AuraPortal€¦ · Enterprise Software Certification Report Business Process Management AuraPortal BPMS Version 4.3 Jorge García, TEC Research

Enterprise Software Certification ReportBusiness Process Management

AuraPortal BPMS Version 4.3 Jorge García, TEC Research Analyst

June 2013

Table of Contents

TEC Product Certification Report 3

Background and Analyst View 5

Product Highlights 7

Product Analysis 9

Analyst Summary 20

© Technology Evaluation Centers 2

TEC Product Certification ReportAuraPortal BPMS Version 4.3 certified by

Jorge García, Research Analyst, Technology Evaluation Centers

Demonstration conducted by Cristina Siscar, Senior Consultant, AuraPortalOana Coros, Senior Consultant, AuraPortal

Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) is pleased to announce that AuraPortal BPMS Version 4.3 is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of business process management (BPM) solutions in TEC’s Business Intelligence and Data Management Evaluation Center. The Business Intelligence and Data Management Evaluation Center enables you to compare and evaluate functionality based on TEC’s comprehensive model of business process management software. Data used in the Evaluation Center are obtained from the vendor’s responses to TEC’s research questionnaire. Certification ensures that AuraPortal has demonstrated AuraPortal BPMS' support for specific real-world business processes chosen by TEC analysts; and that TEC analysts have analytically and comparatively reviewed research questionnaire data about AuraPortal BPMS against known benchmarks.


Benefits of Evaluating a TEC Certified Product There are many benefits to evaluating a TEC Certified product. To potential clients of a software vendor, TEC certification provides the following:

Reassurance: You can be assured that the data TEC provides about its certified products conform to a well-defined standard of accuracy. When a vendor’s product is TEC Certified, it means that a trusted, independent third party has seen the product up close.

Better communication with vendors: TEC certification helps ensure that vendors understand and respond accurately to their clients’ RFIs. Certification with TEC analysts provides the opportunity to clarify any issues with the RFI criteria. This ensures that the vendor is speaking the same language as its potential clients—and gives the clients an unam-biguous specification of product functionality to inform their selections.

The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations that rely on the integrity of TEC’s research services for assistance with their software selection projects. Organizations looking for a solution can be confident that they’re comparing the product on an “apples to apples” basis with other, similar products.


Background and Analyst View

When Juan José Trilles, PhD, founded AuraPortal in 2001, he had already made a prestigious name for himself as an entrepreneur and innovator in the software industry. This expert in enterprise management software had previously founded a company called Dimoni, a successful provider of business software, which was later acquired by Exact Software. After a period of development and testing, in 2004 AuraPortal BPMS was released to the market as a business process management suite (BPMS), offering a combination of innovative technical and business capabilities for enabling users to create, edit, and manage their business processes.

With a native approach and method for the modeling and execution of business processes, and compliance with standards such as the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) from the Object Management Group (OMG), AuraPortal has developed a modern BPM suite with strong collateral capabilities such as robust document and content management and rule management functionality, thereby providing users with a complete suite for process management—all in a single and complete Web-based application.

As a result of the rapid success of its BPMS flagship product, AuraPortal has been able to expand internationally, with offices and representation in 50 countries around the world. AuraPortal's customer base can be identified across a wide number of industries such as public organizations: EU, Gobierno de Chile; energy and utilities: Britanite, Pemex; and manufacturing: GM, Toyota. It is worth noting that AuraPortal also provides services and specific functionality and support for organizations in the following industries:

– Governmental– Finance– Insurance– Health care– Manufacturing– Commerce– Services

AuraPortal BPMS

AuraPortal BPM Suite comprises core business process management capabilities, along with a number of capabilities aimed at fulfilling all the process management needs of an organization. The following are the basic components of AuraPortal BPMS:

– Business process management– Intranet service– Content management – Online commerce module– Business rules engine

All components are well integrated under a single interface, enabling users to gain management and control of each module, but still allowing them to decide whether to incorporate a specific functionality module within the centralized system, i.e., BPM Suite.


Figure 1. AuraPortal BPMS Dashboard Execution Control Screencap

Thanks to its business user orientation, users can model, edit, and execute even complex processes, as well as configure advanced forms and trigger events on the fly—all without any programming (see figure 1).

With the incorporation of an Intranet platform, users can collaborate and play an active role in the execution of all business processes, thereby maintaining close communication and interactions with other users and process stakeholders.

AuraPortal includes a Corporate Intranet with a structure that links business elements such as Employees, Accounts (Customers, Suppliers, etc.), Items (Products, Services, Stocks, Assets, etc.), Projects, and Areas (Cost Centers, Departments, etc.). AuraPortal gathers them in groups called 'Families,' which is an interesting feature that enables managing all business definitions and elements in a nice and structured way.

Figure 2. AuraPortal BPMS Process Collaboration Capabilities


Product Highlights

Based on three main principles, here are the product highlights for AuraPortal BPMS:

Ease of Use• Layout: Via an Intranet framework, AuraPortal presents a complete Web-based interface with native collaboration

features. The interface is uncluttered and most of its components are self-explanatory, with a small learning curve needed to start using the basic/intermediate components of the AuraPortal system, which is optimal for nontechnical or business users with a small time window for learning all the technicalities of a new enterprise application.

• Task performance: All the contextual and general menus are clear and easy to understand and the instructions for doing various tasks are easy to follow. An outstanding feature from AuraPortal is that it enables users to perform nearly all tasks and advanced configurations without any programming. The workflow designer deserves special mention, guiding users via specific and customized routes through the modeling process while complying with BPMN standards, thereby enabling organizations to maintain coherent standards across the board.

• Integration capabilities: It is interesting that AuraPortal puts special emphasis on being able to coexist with current platforms and infrastructures and on integrating nicely with third-party systems. AuraPortal is compliant with service-oriented architecture (SOA) standards, which makes the application easier to integrate with existing infrastructures. Another interesting feature is AuraPortal's native integration with other functionality surrounding the BPM practice, and features such as case management and strong content management capabilities enable coverage of extensive areas of the business using a single software platform (AuraPortal).

• Information retrieval: AuraPortal makes it easy for nontechnical users to work around the application with ease—this includes the ability to readily locate information and content via a centralized search mechanism. Thus, with the use of a centralized search mechanism, the AuraPortal system makes it easy for users to retrieve information from any part of or stage related to a process or collateral content attached to it (see figure 3).

Figure 3. AuraPortal BPMS Workflow Capabilities

Ease of Implementation• Server platforms: As it has been developed on Microsoft .NET, AuraPortal has the flexibility to be licensed on premise

or via software as a service (SaaS), and it works on Windows server platforms.• DBMS platforms: AuraPortal supports the creation of repositories over the majority of common relational database

platforms such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle MySQL, and PostgreSQL, among others.• Role management and Users. AurPortal's flexible user management features enable organizations to manage internal

users (employees) as well as external and guest users—thereby providing flexible mechanisms for enabling access to different layers of services, as well as enabling the setting of privileges according to differents needs within an


organization. • Flexibility: AuraPortal's flexible architecture makes the system compatible with nearly all existing Web browsers in

both Windows (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome) and Mac OSX (Firefox, Safari, and Chrome). It also enables AuraPortal to provide extensive support for Web services and Internet connection.

AuraPortal is one of the strongest BPM applications evaluated for TEC certification to date, with a wide range of coverage in all BPM areas within the TEC BPM software model.


Product AnalysisThe following high-level graphs identify this product’s functional focus and competitive strengths. All data may be reviewed in depth, using the TEC Advisor decision support system in TEC’s public Evaluation Centers.

The TEC Focus IndicatorTM

This TEC Focus Indicator shows you which types of functionality are most likely to differentiate AuraPortal BPMS from other products in the BPM software space. It includes three zones indicating the product’s functional focus: the Dominant Zone, Competitive Zone, and Minimal Support Zone. TEC’s model of BPM systems is designed with a comprehensive breadth; generally vendors will deliver a common base of functionality. While it’s necessary to know whether a product supports a base of common functionality, it’s very helpful to understand how a product really differs from the crowd.

The rankings in this Focus Indicator represent neither the quality of the product nor an absolute quantity of supported functionality. Rather, the rankings show support relative to the quantity of functionality supported, on average, by software products in this market space. The functional focus axes indicate the modules of a typical BPM product. Red dots that are near the center of the functional focus axes reveal where AuraPortal BPMS is more likely to differentiate itself through breadth of functionality. If your needs tend toward the type of functionality for which the red dots are located closer to the center of the Focus Indicator, this product will be a strong competitor for what you need.

TEC Focus Indicator for AuraPortal BPMS


Dominant Zone

AuraPortal BPMS has all 6 modules located in the Dominant Zone. With a dominant placement in nearly all areas of the BPM module, AuraPortal BPMS is well positioned as one of the leaders within the BPM space according to all standards provided by TEC. During the demo session, AuraPortal successfully demonstrated the versatility and power of its BPM system, showing some of the features that make it a product to contend with in the BPM space.


Understanding the TEC Focus Indicator Zones

TEC defines an average solution using data about real software products available on the market. We assess the capabilities of the software and assign numeric ratings representing various levels of support in our models of enterprise software. Depending on the model, we use anywhere from a thousand to several thousand criteria to determine average scores. These models and product scores may be accessed through our publicly available Evaluation Centers.

We calculate what an average solution would look like based on the features and functions about which software vendors have provided us with recent information. We then normalize the scores of this solution as the circle labeled “Industry Average” bisecting the TEC Focus Indicator graph. We also define boundaries on the high and low ends of the average, which are the demarcation points for passing into Dominant or Minimal Support zones. Next, we determine the quantity of functionality supported by the product for each module in our model. We assume that all criteria are equally important. In a real-world situation, of course, you would give a greater priority to criteria that are more important for your needs. However, for the sake of the TEC Focus Indicator analysis, we want to draw conclusions about the product’s focus independently of any priorities.

The Industry Average forms the benchmark from which we calculate the difference in functionality offered by the product. The difference between the product score and the Industry Average is plotted as a positive or negative distance from the Industry Average line. For example, if the product offers a greater quantity of support than average for a particular module, the red dot will be located toward the inner focus of the graph. Note that a product is not “good” or “bad” just because it has more or less functionality than other products. To understand whether it will do what you need it to do, at a price within your budget, you must evaluate the product in depth.

The Zones

The area of functional focus within the green Dominant Zone indicates where a product has a much greater level of support for functionality than the average solution in this market space. Dominant modules are likely to be competitive differentiators.

The area of functional focus falling within the pale Competitive Zone indicates where the product has a level of support for functionality that is generally on par with what you can find from other solutions on the market. The functionality provided by the vendor likely remains a core part of the product’s focus. In some cases such a module may be considered a commodity within the market: many vendors offer the majority of the functionality, which makes it difficult to differentiate a product based on breadth of that functionality alone.

In other cases, a vendor may intend its product to compete on a level that satisfies most customers’ requirements, with a market focus requiring that it differentiate itself through other modules or through the qualitative manner in which it provides its functionality.

The Competitive Zone is bisected by the Industry Average circle, which shows the quantity of functionality supported, on average, by software products in this market space.

The red Minimal Support Zone indicates where the product supports fewer features and functions than the average solution in the market. Modules listed in this zone are unlikely to be as important to the vendor’s target clientele as the other modules. If a product has rankings in this zone, it generally offers the bare essentials and isn’t focused on competing for clients that highly prioritize this functionality.

Even if a product has modules in the Minimal Support zone, it may still be entirely capable of satisfying your requirements, particularly if the average solution on the market offers more functionality than you require.

In all cases, it’s likely that you will need to review the product in more depth to determine whether the functionality it provides in any zone is applicable or sufficient for your requirements.


Functionality Benchmarks

The following functionality benchmark graphs represent the quantity of support by AuraPortal BPMS for the functionality within each module identified in the TEC Focus Indicator, on a scale of 100 points. The closer the plotted value is to 100 (toward the outside in spider graphs; toward the top in bar charts), the more functionality AuraPortal supports. For the sake of comparison, you can see an average of what competitor solutions offer by referring to the dashed orange line (in spider charts) and orange bar (in bar charts).

Process Modeling

The Process Modeling module covers the graphical representation of the workflow, which can be either a process, a path, or anactual document from the business process, as well as all the functional features to create, represent, and maintain the businessprocess.

Process modeling is the core asset of Auraportal BPMS. The modeler has a powerful and complete set of resources for nicely performing all the neccesary process modeling tasks, the basis of many of Auraportal's outstanding features, allowing for easy modeling and editing. The modeler has been organized in a manner that permits nontechnical users to easily perform a large number of configurations and modifications.


Criteria Legend No. of Criteria

1 Graphical Designer 72 Workflow 923 Events 294 Task Allocation 65 Business Rules 66 Business Controls 57 Data Modeling 108 Process Variable

Binding6

9 Manual or User-initiated Tasks

11

10 Due Dates 711 Process Linkage 3

Security ManagementThe Security Management module covers all functional features related to ensuring information is secure, based on the controlof access to the content through authentication, role and directory management, control settings, and passwords.

The AuraPortal security management system enables the configuration of access and security at different levels. The possibility of setting up security based on roles and users and of pushing this configuration further to more granular levels is an outstanding feature of the system, and makes AuraPortal a well suited application for the most rigorous of enterprise configurations.



1 Roles and Users 52 Role Management 83 User Profiles 54 User Assignment

Algorithms7

5 Timers 3

Process CollaborationProcess Collaboration is the set of functional features that allows users to plan, organize, and adjust common efforts betweenuser teams and groups. Ideas sharing, goals and metrics communication, and document version control are part of the functional features covered by this module.

From annotations to a full version control for documents, AuraPortal is well equiped with many tools for enabling internal and internal-to-external communication. With solid document management capabilities and abilities to communicate and make annotations at every step of a process, AuraPortal not only provides full coverage of all aspects of process development and execution, but also reinforces clear task ownership and execution.



1 Check-in/Check-out 72 Versioning 173 Simulation/Validation 54 Export Format 35 Import Format 3

Form ManagementForm Management is a set of features that enables users to create and modify the forms required as part of any business process. A BPM system should be able to manage all forms used, including their formatting, validation, and layout.

AuraPortal has a comprehensive set of features for form creation and design, with outstanding abilities for designing multiple forms and for programming and configuring new forms. Each form element, such as a text button and box, can be easily configured, and multipage forms can be generated with just a few clicks—enabling the creation of complex required forms by completing a few short steps.

AuraPortal offers an interesting set of form elements and data validation features. This is combined with a simple and uncluttered form editor, as well as a rich number of elements for designing and deploying forms.



1 Form Types 32 Formatting 43 Form Elements 94 Data Validation 55 Dynamic Forms 66 Data Bindings 67 Form Creation 7

Workflow PortalThe Workflow Portal module covers features and functions that enable a BPM application to manage business processworkflows through a Web portal. The module describes how an application provides a Web-based portal onto several parts of the workflow within the business process.

Worth noting in this module is AuraPortal’s feature for having a centralized search interface that enables users to comprehensively drill through all components of the application for reporting and monitoring user activity; gathering information about process progression, task information, and more; and for obtaining specific information for analysis.



1 To-do List 52 Watch List 53 Reports 64 Search and Query 105 Task Information 46 Collaboration 27 User Time Zones 38 User Account

Management3

Monitoring and ManagementThe Monitoring and Management module considers the functions and features to keep track of and manage all aspects of abusiness process: statistics, audit logs, process monitoring, etc. The functionality shows how the process is being monitored anduses different methods to register existing events.

What makes monitoring and management one of the many strong assets of AuraPortal is that it affords users the ability to conjure a complete set of features for process management and monitoring within a single platform. It enables users to manage all modules and nicely set up and configure workflows as part of the platform, but provides them with enough flexibility to be able to enable or disable each feature as needed. The system has an interesting analytics feature that can greatly increase control and visualization over all processes, and its centralized security handling process is key for maintaining reliable security over the entire application.



1 Instance Management 52 Workflow Initiation 63 Workflow Monitoring 64 Workflow Statistics 75 Audit Trails 66 Resource Organization 3

Process AnalyticsProcess Analytics refers to functional features that enable analysis of business processes to measure process results and helpimprove process performance.

AuraPortal BPMS also provides a wide set of capabilities for reporting and performing process analysis, with a complete set of analytics and performance analysis tools. With functionality for optimization, AuraPortal BPMS enables its users to measure performance and the basic requirements and metrics for trend analysis. It also provides direct access to statistics and graphical reports for measuring performance, as well as the ability to prepare basic scorecards with the necessary metrics.



1 Performance Data 22 Trend Analysis 53 Optimization 5

Product Technology

This group of criteria defines the technical architecture of the product as well as the technological environment in which the product can run successfully. Criteria include product and application architecture, software usability and administration, platform and database support, application standards support, communications and protocol support, and integration capabilities. Relative to the other evaluation criteria, best practice selections place a lower relative importance on the product technology criterion. This apparently lower importance is deceptive because the product technology usually houses the majority of the selecting organization's mandatory criteria, which generally include server, client, protocol, and database support, application scalability, and other architectural capabilities. The definition of mandatory criteria within this set often allows the client to quickly narrow the long list of potential vendors to a shortlist of applicable solutions that pass muster relative to the most basic mandatory selection criteria.

With regard to product technology, it is interesting to see AuraPortal provide support for the different popular sets of databases on the market as well as strong features for training and support. Having a Web-based system enables process designers to work on different operating systems in a transparent manner, and allows for processess to be stored in the engine and comply with BPMN protocols, thereby enabling easy export and import of processess between AuraPortal and third-party systems using a common protocol.

AuraPortal's complete Web service enables the aggregation of data from multiple Web services, and permits rendering Web services into standard HTML, PDF, or XML without any major issues.

In terms of licensing, AuraPortal does not have support for server or central processing unit (CPU)-based licensing, basing its licensing solely on the number of users. Although this licensing scheme may be seen as a limitation by some organizations, it does afford the flexibility of obtaining only those the licenses that are needed based on an organization's resources. In addition, the system can be configured by external users, enabling communication with AuraPortal customers, suppliers, and partners, and making workflow an open collaboration tool throughout the organization.



1 Platforms 652 Product Licensing 83 Installation 284 Support 50

Analyst Summary During AuraPortal BPMS' certification demo session, we bore witness to some of the outstanding capabilities that the AuraPortal BPM system offers. AuraPortal was able to demonstrate BPM Suite's strong core features such as a flexible and versatile process modeler, and core features valuable to BPM, such as workflow features and task monitoring tools, with nice features and functions that enable users to create, execute, and maintain business processes in a timely manner.

Worth mentioning is the inclusion of a neat Analytics section, which provides some interesting features for reporting and metrics design and creation, and a set of reports and applications for performing process analysis, which is extremely useful and has been designed to enable agile process creation with a simple and uncluttered interface.

The seamless incoporation of a native business rules engine is also an attractive feature for all the AuraPortal set of solutions.

Finally, it seems that AuraPortal has incorporated the necessary technology and business expertise to become a serious competitor in the BPM space. AutaPortal BPMS is a solution that should be given due consideration by organizations looking for a full-fledged BPM solution.

Compare Business Process Management Solutions Now!

Use TEC Advisor to compare AuraPortal BPMS with other business process management solutions, according to your organization’s needs and characteristics. It’s free, fast, online, and easy—and you’ll see the results immediately.


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Documents

Enterprise Software Certification Report - AuraPortal€¦ · Enterprise Software Certification Report Business Process Management AuraPortal BPMS Version 4.3 Jorge García, TEC Research