Case Study – Process-Driven Software Development
Case Study
Process-Driven Software Development for Automated Workflows
From Process Descriptions to Tailored Automation: A Forward-Looking Example We've Already Successfully Implemented for a Client.
Initial Situation
A major automotive manufacturer needed a process-driven account assignment for purchase orders to reduce errors and manual effort. Previously, orders were manually assigned to various accounting codes—leading to frequent booking errors due to lack of detailed assignment knowledge.
Requirement
The solution had to run within an on-premise S/4 system and as a Side-by-Side Extension on SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform), while adhering to the “keep the core clean” principle. A technology-agnostic BPMN modeling approach was required as the foundation.
Solution
The concept is straightforward yet innovative: instead of accounting staff, requesters use a simple questionnaire (1–n questions) to autonomously assign their orders to the correct account. This automated, secure process hands agency over to requesters—but remains governed by business rules.
At the same time, the finance department can independently adapt the questionnaire by modifying the BPMN models—no source-code changes required. The workflow is executed via SAP CAP, the UI is built with SAP UI5, and Camunda SaaS handles BPMN and DMN model execution. Master and transactional data are managed via OData services on the S/4 side.
Today, 1,000–1,500 orders are processed daily, achieving approximately 85 % successful automated account assignment—amounting to around 20,000 purchase order items per month being correctly accounted for.
Benefits for the Company
- Efficient: The automated process significantly lightens the accounting workload. The remaining 15 % of assignments that require manual review are now handled with pinpoint accuracy.
- Secure: Requesters assign their own orders, ensuring that all necessary information for accurate account assignment is provided.
- User-Friendly: The simple questionnaire format is easy for requesters to understand, leading to high internal adoption.
- Domain-Empowered: Subject-matter experts in finance can adjust the process autonomously through BPMN model changes—no code changes needed.
We listen, we understand, and we execute
Let’s discuss your requirements – together, we’ll find the best solution for your business. Looking forward to our conversation. Estelle Hounsa, Sales Managerin js-soft
