Example Process with Manual and Automatic Activities

The following process shows which activities in the example Customer Order Processing model (see Identifying Business Needs) could be automatic and which could be manual:

1. Order entry

• EDI orders enter system through the EDI VAN or communications adapter (Automatic).

2. Order processing

• Orders are translated into a format the order processing system uses (Automatic).
• Order documents are sent to the order processing application (Automatic).
• Picktickets are produced and sent to warehouse (Automatic).

3. Order fulfillment

• Orders are picked according to pickticket print-outs (Manual).
• Workers scan each item picked into a hand-held scanner, routing data to inventory control and order system for updates (Manual and Automatic).
• Shipping records and pickticket information sent to data processing (Automatic).
• Exceptions process started if needed (for example, item not on shelf, backordered, etc.) (Automatic).

4. Data processing

• Order data is updated (Manual).
• Invoice data is generated (Automatic).
• Data sent to Accounts Receivable application (Automatic).
• Data sent to Inventory Control application (Automatic).

5. Inventory control

• Inventory control system records updated (Automatic).
• Process for for augmenting inventory may be initiated (Automatic).

6. Accounts receivable

• Accounts Receivable system generates invoice statements (Automatic).
• Invoices translated to EDI (Automatic).
• Invoices sent to customers through communications adapters (Automatic).

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When you have noted the automatic and manual activities within your process, proceed to Identifying Integration Points in Your Process.