Metastorm claim the innovative new version of their world leading BPM Suite contains features designed to "put BPM into the hands of business users and managers"
New features include:
Easier access to external services
Easier access to external services for process design allows users to identify web service components that are of value to a process and tie those services into new and existing processes. This will enable business users to take advantage of existing provided services more easily, Metastorm claim. Sharing of services via external repositories and business catalogues in Metastorm BPM 7.5 will allow users to access available web services from any repository or web service catalogue and incorporate them into Metastorm BPM processes during both design and run-time. In addition, Metastorm enables the ability to expose Metastorm-built process components as web services and publish and share them within any external repository or business catalogue.
Introduced support for complex types in web services will also make greater integration possible.
New wizard-like user interface for Metastorm Insight
Metastorm's process intelligence module, Insight, allows users of all levels to access process information and business data. Metastorm has released a new wizard-like user interface for Metastorm Insight that is designed to enable business users and managers to configure custom reports to analyse historical, point in time, or time-phased process data.
Metastorm BPM Microsoft Office 2007 Client
The Metastorm BPM for the 2007 Microsoft Office system client interface allows business users of all levels to participate in automated business processes without ever leaving their Office applications. This puts business process management capabilities into the hands of even the highest-level executives, increases the productivity of all users by allowing them to participate in processes without learning a new interface. This capability adds to Metastorm's existing Microsoft Office Outlook client, which has been updated to the 2007 version.
Support for Windows Workflow Foundation and Vista
Support for Windows Workflow Foundation and the Vista platform allows broader deployment of Metastorm BPM, especially for users using Windows Vista desktop gadgets. The ability to use Windows Workflow Foundation workflows as an integral component of Metastorm BPM applications, and the embedded Windows Workflow Foundation designer, can increase IT productivity when deploying and maintaining processes.
Enhanced support for SharePoint and JSR-168 Portals
Enhanced support for Metastorm BPM within Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and JSR-168 compliant portals will allow organisations to deploy Metastorm BPM within an enterprise portal environment. In addition to the library of web parts that Metastorm provides for SharePoint, users can now model processes using the Windows Workflow Foundation Process Designer and take advantage of SharePoint Content Services. Metastorm BPM can also now be deployed within any JSR-168 portal application, including SAP Portal and Vignette.
"By putting business process management into the hands of the business users through an interface they know and use everyday via the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and opening up new avenues for collaboration and sharing via web services catalogs and portals, Metastorm BPM Version 7.5 empowers business users to be more productive and to generate innovative ideas for business transformation and strategic advantage."
Greg Carter, CTO and vice president of development for Metastorm.