Typically Business Process Management (BPM) Systems automate process management to allow companies and organisations to become truly process-driven. The benefits to such organisations/companies, that adopt a process-driven operational methodology, are mainly felt through substantially improved organisational agility and efficiency. This results in liberating business processes from IT applications.

In simple English, BPM systems alleviate organisation pressure by allowing processes to be defined, deployed, managed and measured by the people who actually use them.

At Quest we have combined these lessons with our team's technical ability and design skills to allow us to create extremely advanced and efficient solutions for our clients.
Many of today's software solutions are configured on the basis of embedded process models directing the order in which tasks should be executed.

Adapting these process models tends to be cumbersome and resource intensive.

Often external software developers try to implement these systems, which results in discrepancies between their perceived processes models and the actual process models.

Web Based Business Process Automation Suite (QBIS)

QBIS stands for "Quest Business Information System" and is a multi-dimensional Business Process Management engine. It enables an organisation to build focused, powerful, fully secured task and project management processes to control and manage the entire business function, across a single or multiple enterprises.

Some of the main features of QBIS include:

  • Task Management
  • Sales Forcasting
  • Contact Relationship Management
  • Resource Booking
  • Document Management

Being web browser based, QBIS can be deployed world-wide, across an organisation’s entire workforce – or all stakeholders, including customers and the supplier base, enabling complete “joined-up” working for the life of a project, across all stakeholders of the project.

With QBIS you can accomplish so much, within the one application.  All linked to the one set of data, and fully “joined-up”.  You can even use the inbuilt VOIP telephony system QBIS Com to make calls!

 

Transaction Processing/Order Handling

Transaction processing and order handling draw from components of several modules. This set of features is really designed for customers that do not necessarily want a full fledged Front Office System.

This simple to use web-based set of components combine features from Sales Force Automation, Customer Relationship Management, Stock Control/Asset Management and the Ledger System.

Were a customer to require a system using these main components then the additional Transaction Processing/Order Handling would include:

  • For credit card processing we use a web-based payment facility. We use our technology to provide the interface and data input. This is then attached to a third party Payment Service Provider (PSP). We usually recommend using Secure Trading Ltd ( www.securetrading.net ). The PSP processes the card transaction. The customer's payment is then transferred directly to the Merchant's account.
  • For other payment processing (e.g. cheque/cash) a simple to use user interface is provided to process the transaction. This integrates back into the Ledger System.
  • The Order Handling Features provide basic order fulfilment functionality.

 

Stock Control/Asset Management

Some of the main features of this module include:

  • "STOCK IN" offers supplier delivery scheduling to ensure timely check-in of ordered stock; put away functionality for fast assignment of stock to stock warehouse locations; reports on supplier performance
  • "STOCK OUT" additionally offers cycle counting and perpetual inventory functionality; optimal control of warehouse stock
  • "STOCK AUDITING" enables barcodes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or keyboard entry to issue fast look-ups of stock locations and details
  • "DEMAND FORECASTING" allows improvements in business relationships with suppliers, cuts inventory and increases efficiency of the supply chain
  • "YIELD MANAGEMENT" controls and manages inventory; supports stocking requirement; tracks sales progress; increases efficiency/profitability

Additional reporting allows opportunities such as monitoring of stock movement, stock variance, stock evaluation, FIFO and LIFO.

 

Ledger Systems

Some of the main features of this module include:

  • "ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE/PAYABLE" allows real-time access to all outstanding monies owed and owing; invoices and reminders automatically generated; allows cash flow management; supports financial forecasting
  • "INVENTORY MANAGEMENT" supports reduction of inventory costs; allows control of stock levels; supports individual pricing rules for individual customers; supports exceptional pricing rules determined by stock levels or item variation
  • "PURCHASE/REQUISITION ORDERS" streamlines requisition process; improves supply chain and customer relationships; auto-generates purchase/requisition orders on management/client approval
  • "BILLING" improves cash retrieval through tracking and processing job and client related expenses
  • "FINANCIAL REPORTING" allows tighter managerial control over the organisation/company; supports strategic decision making; increases accountability

 

HR Management

Some of the main features of this module include:

  • "PAYROLL" manages entire payroll system; delivers and monitors incentive payments; delivers and monitors employee benefits (e.g. car allowance); delivers and monitors expenses
  • "RECRUITMENT" manages recruitment campaigns; allows applicant tracking
  • "PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT" supports adoption of incentive schemes; tracks performance; personnel reporting; supports position control (pay-grade and pay-step administration)
  • "WELFARE MANAGEMENT" manages holiday allocation; monitors, delivers and tracks additional benefits (e.g. health benefits); supports employee feedback; supports exceptional scheduling (e.g. to cover sick staff, to cover maternity leave); supports health and safety adoption
  • "DISCIPLINARY MANAGEMENT" supports disciplinary procedures; tracks interventions; documents interventions;
  • "TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT" supports course delivery; allows examination where appropriate; tracks progress; personalised account management

 

Project Management

Some of the main features of this module include:

  • "PROJECT PLANNING" gant-charting facilities; supports cost/time estimation; multiple account facilities to reflect authorisation/commitment level; provides pre-project risk assessment framework
  • "PROJECT MANAGING" online updating/delivery provides on-demand progress reports; dynamic gant-charts allow managers to identify bottlenecks + conduct ongoing risk analysis; communications platform supports resource allocation and project team dialogue/collaboration; file-sharing framework to allow for differing levels of authorisation; fully featured scheduling system with event and task management
  • "PROGRESS TRACKING" supports internal tracking of progress against intended outcomes; web-based interface allows customers to track progress through status reports, exception reports, gant-charts etc.; monitors progress against key performance indicators
  • "CUSTOMER INVOLVEMENT" client portal supports active ongoing customer involvement in project; communication platform allows vital feedback; supports customer sign-off for milestone payments
  • "PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT" intra-project progress tracking compiles all project information into one macro-report; post-project analysis assesses against criteria such as project profitability, speed of delivery, customer satisfaction etc.; provides feedback for future project planning

 

Customer Relationship Management

Some of the main features of this module include:

  • "CONTACT MANAGEMENT" central data repository shares contact details, customer interaction logs and other related information across the organisation to all authorised staff members;
  • "SUPPORT MANAGEMENT" offers comprehensive case management to aid future enquiries and ensures thorough completion of customer requests; tightly integrates with sales database to provide a fully customer-centric knowledge base; communication platform allows initial in-depth customer questioning (e.g. online case forms)
  • "ORDER MANAGEMENT" supports simple conversion of sales quotes into orders; supports all order processing; integrates with relevant Back Office Systems (e.g. Stock Management or the Ledger System).
  • "CUSTOMER SELF SERVICE" supports cost-effective customer resolution of particular generic problems/issues; allows direct company contact in case of non-resolution
  • "CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT" supports offline marketing activities; manages partner programs (e.g. allows partners to access selective sales/customer data); allows analysis of success or otherwise of particular marketing/sales efforts; supports all online marketing activity (e.g. email marketing, banner campaigns etc.)
  • "CUSTOMER ANALYSIS" provides a platform for customer feedback (e.g. online case questionnaires); advanced reporting allows managerial analysis of all areas relating to customer interaction with the company/organisation (e.g. customer retention rates, customer satisfaction, complaint management etc.)

 

Sales Force Automation

Some of the main features of this module include:

  • "LEAD MANAGEMENT" streamlines flow of lead information across sales, marketing and all other client facing departments; tracking ensures no leads go cold without being investigated; tracking facility of prospecting activity; specific routing of qualified leads to relevant/suitable sales person
  • "OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT" standardised processes ensure consistency of customer handling; single data repository used to store all deal information and potential customer interactions with sales people; opportunity information provided to all authorised staff across the organisation across geographic areas
  • "TERRITORY MANAGEMENT" allows management insight into sales performance by geographic location; supports appropriate lead assignment to relevant sales people; enables matching of sales territories to location of sales people
  • "ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT" supports comprehensive management of client accounts; allows multiple account/contact management organised by hierarchy or assigned to individual teams/sales people; single data repository made available to all authorised staff across the organisation
  • "ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT" supports comprehensive co-ordination of all customer-facing activity; allows close management of deal-related events (e.g. tender process); facilitates quick closure of deals; increases speed of customer acquisition and overall satisfaction
  • "SALES ANALYTICS" allows managerial evaluation of overall sales performance and micro/individual sales performance; custom-definable reports and charts support win-loss analysis, pipeline analysis, failure ratios and all other possible requirements