Metastorm BPM Version 9 Preview

Designer

It looks as though the plans to combine Metastorm ProVision and Metastorm BPM to use a common repository have at least been partially successful. The inclusion of swim lanes will definitely be welcome in a great many quarters, being a traditional way to display Roles. We find it can disrupt the 'look an feel' of a well-designed Process unless used with care, however. It remains to be seen how the old school with take the transition:



Web Client

It seems as though the Web Client has had a bit of a makeover too. What we note is that the form tabs are a little neater (that 'folded over' look was not attractive) and the buttons look like buttons once again, which should make it easier to explain to new users (having form tabs and buttons looking exactly the same was a trail in training). Unfortunately the form seen here is not a generic one that shows the Folder's tracking, but a specific one. For a truly generic one, our Process View library still holds the crown (see here...).

What we notice most of all is the inclusion of the 'Help' tab to the top right. This is very welcome. We can't help but feel the idea has been pinched from our own use editable Help system for Metastorm BPM (see here...), but then plagiarism is the most sincere form of flattery after all! We wait to see if it is a s good (user editable, and with HTML editing).



Reporting

Probably the most exciting addition is the inclusion of a rich reporting environment. This is very welcome. We do hope this is available and easily configurable in the Web Client. It certainly looks pretty sexy, anyway! (And I never, ever thought I would refer to this product in any incarnation as 'sexy'...)



Sharepoint

As far as we can see the Sharepoint web parts have survived intact. This is probably because they have undergone the most enhancements during version 7. We do hope they are easier to configure, though!



Office Client

As far as we can see the Office Client is unchanged too.



Conclusion

It looks good to us. The neater Web Client and sexy reports are probably the biggest crowd-pullers, but the Designer will appeal to many too. The common repository, if it works, will make many ProVision customers very happy and potential customers to sell Metastorm BPM to. It will be way ahead of the current 'so-called' integration that we have seen to date, anyway.