Business Process Management with linqi: How to turn unclear workflows into clear processes

In a nutshell: Business Process Management

Business process management helps companies make their workflows visible, understandable and manageable. linqi puts this approach directly into practice: processes are not only documented, but made available to the whole team as interactive, digital workflows. SMEs in particular benefit when established processes are no longer confined to individual minds, emails or Excel spreadsheets. linqi provides control, clarity and a shared process foundation, turning process management into a team effort.

Definition: What is business process management?

Business process management describes the systematic design, documentation, control and optimisation of business processes. It involves structuring recurring workflows within a company in such a way that they function clearly, efficiently and transparently.

A simple definition of business process management is: business process management is the approach by which companies record, analyse, document, improve and, where necessary, digitise their processes.

However, in practice, this definition alone is not sufficient. Whilst many companies recognise that their processes need to be made clearer, the real challenge lies in making these processes visible and, above all, usable.

This is exactly where linqi helps. With linqi, business process management ceases to be a theoretical exercise and becomes an interactive system for day-to-day work. Processes can be presented in a clear and understandable way, responsibilities can be clearly assigned, and complex workflows can be mapped across departments.

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Why do SMEs need a clear solution for their process management?

In many small and medium-sized enterprises, recurring processes have evolved over the years. Initially, much of the work was managed through short lines of communication, face-to-face discussions and a wealth of experience. However, as the number of staff, customers, projects or locations increases, things quickly become confusing and inefficient.

Typical problems include unclear responsibilities, duplicated tasks, missing information, frequent queries and differing working practices within the team. Often, it is not even clearly defined which process is currently in use or where relevant documents can be found.

No wonder that managing directors and process owners want greater transparency and a clearer overview – but, of course, without burdening the team with additional bureaucracy. Employees, for their part, need clear guidance so that they can carry out their tasks confidently, consistently and efficiently.

linqi brings both together: greater structure for management and greater clarity for the team. Processes are mapped centrally, documented in a traceable manner and presented in such a way that they are genuinely helpful in practice.

How does linqi turn business process management into a collaborative endeavour?

Business process management only works if it isn’t left solely in the hands of individual managers. After all, processes need to reach the very places where the work is carried out on a daily basis. That is precisely why linqi makes process management a team effort.

With linqi, employees can see which steps make up a workflow, who is involved, what information is required and how a process progresses. Furthermore, they can model and customise processes in linqi themselves – even without any programming knowledge – and turn them into usable digital workflows. As a result, process knowledge within a company is no longer simply passed on verbally or filed away in a folder. It becomes accessible to everyone – today and in five years’ time.

This is particularly valuable when processes have previously been heavily dependent on specific individuals. If only a few employees know how a process works, this poses many risks – for example, in the event of illness, holidays, staff turnover or growth. linqi safeguards this wealth of knowledge and makes it accessible as a clear process structure.

Only in this way is process management seen not as an additional task, but as a means of supporting better collaboration.

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Which business process management tasks does linqi support?

The most important business process management tasks include capturing, visualising, documenting, analysing and optimising processes. linqi supports organisations in all these phases.

First, existing processes are made visible:

• What are the steps involved?
• Who is involved?
• Where do hand-overs take place?
• What information is required?

This initial step alone often creates greater clarity, as established workflows become fully tangible for the first time.

Once these questions have been answered, the processes can be documented in linqi in a clear and future-proof manner. This creates a centralised process repository instead of scattered files.

In the next step, linqi helps to identify weak points:

• Where do delays occur?
• Where are there media breaks?
• Which decisions are not clearly defined?
• Which steps are unnecessarily complicated?

On this basis, the processes can then be improved and transformed into digital workflows. In this way, what was once merely process documentation becomes an active tool for improving workflows.

What are the three types of processes in process management?

In process management, a distinction is often made between three types of process: core processes, support processes and management processes. With linqi, all three types of processes can be mapped in a structured way.

What are core processes?

Core processes are the workflows that contribute directly to a company’s value creation. They have a direct impact on customers, services and results. These include, for example, quotation preparation, order processing, production, project management, customer service and delivery.

With linqi, core processes are presented in such a way that all those involved understand the workflow. This creates significantly greater transparency, particularly in the case of complex customer projects or cross-departmental processes.

What are support processes?

Support processes ensure that the core processes run smoothly. These include, for example, accounting, procurement, human resources, IT, document management and internal approvals.

In many SMEs, support processes in particular are prone to media breaks. Invoices are awaiting approval, data is stored in different systems, and responsibilities are unclear when minor discrepancies arise. With linqi, such workflows can be clearly structured and managed in a traceable manner.

What are management processes?

Management processes serve to steer and develop the company. They therefore relate to strategy, planning, controlling and quality management, as well as target setting and risk management.

linqi helps to make these processes transparent too. This enables senior management and those responsible for processes to keep a closer eye on how decisions are prepared, targets are tracked and measures are implemented.

In addition to the various types of processes, there are two further terms that recur frequently in business process management: BPM and BPMN.

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What is the difference between BPM and BPMN?

BPM and BPMN are often mentioned together, but they do not mean the same thing.

BPM stands for Business Process Management. BPM describes the overall approach companies use to plan, document, control and improve their processes.

BPMN stands for Business Process Model and Notation. BPMN is therefore a method for representing processes graphically. It uses symbols, activities, events, decisions and connections to model workflows in a standardised way.

The difference is simple: BPM is the management approach. BPMN is a method for representing processes.

For SMEs, one thing is particularly important: processes do not have to be complicated to be represented professionally. The key is that they are understood and utilised. And that is exactly what linqi enables. Processes can not only be automated, but also visualised as flowcharts or tabular process descriptions. This results in a process representation that is technically sound and, at the same time, works effectively within the team.

Why is linqi suitable for business process management in SMEs?

linqi is more than just business process management software. As a no-code solution, linqi does more than simply store processes. It’s about reducing complexity, making responsibilities transparent and ensuring that staff can work with the processes: regardless of sector, across departments and flexibly.

This makes linqi particularly suitable for SMEs that wish to professionalise their workflows without creating new complexity. After all, it is often not the process itself that is the biggest problem, but its lack of visibility. linqi creates transparency here. Scattered information is transformed into an interactive management system that provides clarity and facilitates collaboration within the organisation.

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How does linqi work as a process management tool in practice?

Many processes in small and medium-sized enterprises are more complex than they appear at first glance. A quotation may involve sales, costing, management and project management. An invoice may involve procurement, approval, accounts and tax consultancy. An onboarding process can link HR, IT, senior management and specialist departments.

linqi is a process management tool that digitally maps such interdependencies. Instead of viewing individual tasks in isolation, entire workflows are modelled. This makes it clear which steps depend on one another, where decisions are made and how information flows through the organisation.

Conclusion: linqi makes business process management practical

Reliable business process management is a key lever for companies to make processes more transparent, efficient and reliable. However, success depends on whether processes are truly understood and utilised in day-to-day work.

linqi brings precisely this connection together: process visualisation, process documentation and digital workflows in a single interactive management system. Companies can visualise complex workflows as flowcharts or tabular process descriptions, clarify responsibilities and thus make process management a team effort in the truest sense of the word.

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