What is our primary use case?
ARIS Architect is like a nuclear product in the suite. Users have the Designer and the administration module as well. But in the future, maybe in two years, we are going to have everything on the web. ARIS Architect and Designer are Java clients, but Software AG is moving everything to the web. Many administrative tasks are already on the web with ARIS Connect.
We can customize the method, meaning we can choose which models to use, with which objects, with which hotspots, and what connections between objects.
So, they are moving to the web, but are they doing exactly the same things that we can currently do in ARIS Architect.
We can customize and create new objects, models, connections, and hyperlinks. Or we can design from the standard ones and create a specific version of this method according to your needs. This allows us to scale up. Normally, I recommend to customers to start small, customizing as they see fit, and then gradually expand. This is because even people on the customer side sometimes don't have time to assess everything at once. I prefer to start small and move forward according to the possibilities.
How has it helped my organization?
It is suitable for banks, insurance companies, public administration, and some industries. The method is very adaptable and can be applied independently of the business.
I have implemented projects in various sectors, including banks, insurance companies, telecoms, public administration, and even factories. This is a good thing because the method is truly viable regardless of the business.
- Tips for process optimization:
Unfortunately, customers usually just capture the as-is processes and stop there. They do not evaluate and improve the processes. The same can be true for risks. We need to first identify but then evaluate and improve. We have a business process, so we capture the current situation, but then it's time to analyze and find potential improvements. We could use a business case to say, "Okay, to implement these improvements, what is the cost, and what is the benefit?" If the ratio is positive, then we implement it. And in the end, we authorize it.
Imagine I analyze a process and find an activity that takes a lot of time and money, and the quality isn't so good because people do things manually and make mistakes. It is normal. You can then ask, "How much do I need to invest to automate this activity? And what costs will I reduce with this automation?" Based on this, I can easily calculate the return on investment. This is, for me, the main objective of process management. Without this, it's just models and more models. In the end, when the customer's management asks, "What have you done with this process improvement project?"
When customers ask, "What are the benefits of this?" you have no answer if you are just capturing the as-is situation. It doesn't make sense.
Unfortunately, many customers stop at this stage. I guess this is because they are not able to do it themselves, or sometimes they are not willing to pay. There are so many reasons. I have experienced this many times. I show them how to do it, and they say it's good, but they can't do it themselves or they have no budget.
What is most valuable?
The collaboration functionalities in ARIS are really good. Customers are not using it enough. \We normally encourage them to use it because it's so easy. It works like a social network. You have a model of a process or application, and you ask the users to collaborate. They can comment on the specific things they want to be implemented or suggest improvements. They are not changing anything; they just create comments and receive answers from the model owners.
From my opinion, it's a good thing because they can collaborate, but they cannot go inside of the model and change the content. Because there are specific people responsible to do that, not just any user.
Opinion on AI:
I did some tests but haven't implemented anything in a customer project yet. I can capture information through recordings or other means, and based on key aspects, the system can automatically generate processes. I'm not sure if it will work perfectly, as we are just starting with artificial intelligence in ARIS. I know that many projects are failing, but this is normal because we are just beginning. I guess in the future, in a couple of years, we will be doing much better.
ARIS on maintaining compliance and governance within our customer's projects:
We have a specific model for governance called APG (ARIS Process Governance). It's a process of processes. We have a standard, and in the standard, there are some workflows. Imagine I'm a designer who has finished a model or process and wants to submit it to a quality controller to check the quality, set the properties, and so on.
- If it's okay, it can then be submitted to the model owner for final approval.
- If anyone in this process rejects the submission, the system sends it back to the designer with feedback.
We can use these standards in ARIS Architect without the customer paying anything extra. However, if they want to customize it—for example, create more steps in the workflow or include more people—they need to buy a license for that.
What needs improvement?
At this moment, we are moving all of these features to the web, which makes it easier to use in a browser. It can be improved because Architect and Designer are the core models of the suite, where you design your processes, your data, your applications, and so on.
From this base, you have other features to implement improvements. For instance, to improve a process, we have a specific model, the simulation module, where we can create different scenarios and show the customer the benefits of each. But Architect and Designer are just tools to capture and administer the method, the filters, the templates, and so on. This is important, but for me, it's not enough to bring value to the customer. We need to identify improvements, implement them, and demonstrate the benefits. We need to control the benefits.
Thus, the main area for improvement means bridging the gap between creating process models and actually realizing tangible benefits from process optimization.
In future releases, I would like to see more features around AI.
For how long have I used the solution?
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it a nine out of ten because it's the most mature tool. The other models, like Risk Management, are more recent. These core modules are very stable.
Benefits of ARIS method:
Users have the methodology; it is called ARIS Method. Sometimes, it's not easy to convince customers to use this methodology because it's a bit rigid, but in a good sense. When people design processes or other artifacts using tools like VISIO, they tend to do things quickly and prefer free design approach. This is good for them in the short term, but in the long term, they might create a confusing mess. That's why it's important to have a method from the beginning, and everyone should follow it. But convincing customers to use a method is not easy.
Real-world examples:
Normally, when designing a process, we use three or four levels of detail, starting with value-added chains and going deeper until the operational business level. Sometimes, we even go into greater detail, like when users interact with systems. This is called a "work instruction" or "procedure." It's important to know what we're designing at the top level and what we'll design at other levels because each level has its own concepts. Sometimes, it's not easy to convince customers to use this because it requires training and practice. Many people think they can just start doing things without any methodology or organization, but that's not good.
For example, I started a project almost three years ago, and it was really difficult to convince the customer to use the methodology. They wanted to start without any methods and free design, but a few months later, they realized it was a nightmare. Nobody understood each other. I tried to convince them to use the methodology because it benefits everyone.
