Appian puts polish into BPM

Wizard helpers simplify node configuration, speeding up tasks such as mapping form data or building e-mail alerts. The Smart Nodes -- extensible through your own custom Java development -- do a great job at jumpstarting development, with widgets for identity management, working with documents, and spawning ad hoc forums, to name a few.

Free IT resource Open Source Business Conference (OSBC) May 22-23, 2007 Sponsored by OSBC Free IT resource Virtualization Insights from Top Experts - Learn how virtualization gets real! Sponsored by Dell Appian Enterprise 5.1 Appian, appian.com Very Good  8.6 criteria score weight Features 9 30% Administration 8 15% Ease-of-use 9 15% Integration 8 15% Performance 8 15% Value 9 10% Cost: CPU pricing starts at $125,000 for a production server. User-based pricing starts at $550 per user (less than $50 per user for large numbers of users). One year maintenance agreement required (20%). Platforms: Application Server: JBoss, Tomcat, WebLogic, Oracle. Web Server: Apache, Sun, IIS. Database: Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server; Web browser: Internet Explorer 6 (required for modeler), Firefox 1.5. Bottom Line: Appian provides a comprehensive solution for managing human-centric processes. Development and process modeling tools are top notch, and built-in collaboration and knowledge worker features integrate seamlessly into workflow. Analytics, monitoring, and the Web services API for integration are key strengths. About our Reviews and Scoring Methodology

Compartmentalizing my designs into concise sub-processes streamlined editing and reuse across models. The new lane definitions, which clearly delineate process paths and nodes, made it easy to visualize process ownership across business units.

Other additions to the modeling tool, such as design annotations and labels, further benefit usability and ongoing model management, and extras such as version control and the capability of monitoring live processes directly from within the modeler (with decent visual cues on health and status) put Appian’s process modeler on the express line.

Although manual exception handling is good and custom exceptions can be created to recover wayward or failed transactions, full-fledged transaction compensation would be a welcome enhancement to more comprehensively address exceptions.

I would also like to see an offline development option, as well as enhancements to the simulation and round-tripping capabilities. Forecasting workloads and backtesting alternative process scenarios using historical data are key to tweaking bottlenecks and enhancing performance. Appian has work to do on these fronts.

That said, Appian did allow me to use process nodes to view real-time analytics and feed data back into my process flows, providing a degree of runtime analysis to detect bottlenecks, trigger alerts, or automate anomaly resolution.

In addition to an onboard rules engine, Appian offers adapters to third-party engines, and it can be extended through custom Java classes. A newly added rules repository goes the extra step in making it easier to manage and update rulesets. The rules expression editor proved a powerful way to access and manipulate event messages, process data, objects, and system variables, providing a simple interface and offering good testing and validation.

The Developer Edition offers a couple of added plug-ins, namely for Smart Node development within the Eclipse IDE, and enterprise integration with MDY FileSurf records management software. I would highly recommend the Eclipse plug-in if your processes require anything beyond the basic Smart Nodes. Objects and variable tracking in the straight Enterprise version will become convoluted quickly.

Bells and whistles
Security is good. Administrators get separate lockdown mechanisms for system access and processes, although they also must manage them separately. A unified interface to centrally manage all together would make life easier. Still, Appian provides options for delegation and it supports SSO (single sign-on). SSO is based on HTTP header, though, and so does not extend to the Outlook client.

The XML-structured definitions of the ASI (Appian Standards for Interfaces) provide extensive customization capabilities, covering the appearance of the entire system. Forms, wizards, and tutorial-like prompts within the user interface can be tailored to ease newbies into BPM workflow without a hitch in the learning curve. With a little effort, you can even create a low-bandwidth interface that allows your road warriors to stay in step with their cubically confined cohorts.

Appian is nicely extensible, as well. Its solid Web services API -- any process can be fired by an external trigger -- and support for SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI provide the means to make BPM an organic extension of your existing ecosystem.

With Version 5.1, Appian Enterprise has truly hit full stride on the fast track of human-centric process management. It’s well-equipped to help businesses find light at the end of the process tunnel by improving visibility into business activity and streamlining collaborative workflow. And, costing significantly less than leading competitors, you may pull into the next fiscal depot with some spending money left in your pocket.