Empowering Citizen Developers: Evaluating the Usability of Low-Code BPM Tools in Process Design (Published)
Low-code Business Process Management (BPM) tools have emerged as key enablers in the democratization of software development by empowering “citizen developers” non-IT professionals who build and modify business processes. This article evaluates the usability of leading low code BPM platforms in enabling non-technical users to design and implement workflows. Through a mixed-method approach involving usability testing, surveys, and expert interviews, the evaluation investigates tool learnability, user satisfaction, error rates, and cognitive load across multiple platforms including Microsoft Power Automate, Appian, OutSystems, Mendix, and Pega. Results indicate that while most platforms effectively support basic process creation, significant challenges persist in areas of model complexity, exception handling, and process monitoring features. The article findings reveal a fundamental tension between simplicity for novice users and power for complex business requirements, suggesting that progressive disclosure mechanisms offer the most promising approach to balancing these competing needs. The article concludes with practical guidelines for improving usability and adoption of low code BPM tools among citizen developers.
Keywords: Business Process Management, Digital Transformation, citizen development, low-code platforms, user experience
The Transformative Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business Process Management (Published)
AI is fundamentally transforming Business Process Management. Processes are now moving away from rigid systems and heading toward smarter, more flexible ones capable of learning and growing on their own. Companies are now looking to redefine their way of handling processes. There are some tools like Process Intelligence, Predictive Analytics, Cognitive Automation, and Hyperautomation that are transforming businesses remarkably. These are bringing about a significant impact in areas like finance, manufacturing, logistics, and customer service. Companies using AI in BPM see better adaptability, efficiency, compliance, and customer satisfaction than those sticking to older methods. The AI process improvement cycle changes every step, like discovery, design, and monitoring, making everything more data-driven and less reliant on human input. But adopting AI in BPM isn’t without its challenges. Businesses can run into problems like tech issues, bad data, and trouble adapting to changes, along with some ethical and governance worries. Being aware of these challenges and coming up with strong plans is important for companies to make the most of AI in business process management and stay ahead in a changing market.
Keywords: : hyperautomation, Artificial Intelligence, Business Process Management, Digital Transformation, process automation