BPM Tool Selection: Lessons from a 2015 Study – What Still Holds True?

In the second episode of the BPM Chronicles, Prakhar Kapoor, Jochen, and Russell take a step back in time to revisit a 2015 BPM tool study and reflect on how much has changed—and how much remains the same. The discussion was sparked by a blog post that triggered an unexpectedly fierce debate back in the day, highlighting the passionate opinions that BPM tool selections can generate.

🚀 Key Takeaways from the Episode

The Eternal Dilemma: Choosing the Right BPM Tool

A major theme of the discussion was how organizations often jump to tool selection before defining their needs. The key takeaway? Focus on your goals and use cases first, then select a tool—not the other way around.

Gartner Quadrants & The Reality of BPM Tools

The team reflected on a former Gartner analyst’s advice: “Stop blindly following analyst reports—read them in full!”Too often, companies look at a Magic Quadrant chart without considering whether the listed tools truly fit their unique business needs.

Revisiting the 2015 Tool Landscape

Looking back at the 2015 BPM tool assessment, some notable observations emerged:

  • Still Going Strong: ARIS, Signavio (now part of SAP), Symbio (acquired by Celonis) remain key players in the BPM space.

  • Shifting Trends: Tools like Visio with SharePoint-based BPM repositories were once popular but have now faded into niche use cases.

  • Market Evolution: Governance, risk, and compliance-focused tools like Aeneis have found their specialized space, while Adonis has maintained a strong presence as a versatile, cost-effective solution.

BPM Tool Selection is Still Not an Exact Science

Even with detailed assessment matrices and in-depth evaluations, tool selection is subjective. Each tool excels in specific scenarios—there’s no universal best BPM tool, only the best fit for your use case.

AI, Compliance, and Future Trends in BPM

The conversation also touched upon how BPM tools continue to evolve, with AI-powered process insights, regulatory compliance challenges, and shifting ERP landscapes shaping the next wave of BPM innovation.

🎬 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube

This was just a glimpse into our deep dive into BPM tool selection, past and present. If you’re involved in BPM, ERP integration, or process automation, you won’t want to miss this episode!

📺 Watch it here: 
📢 Join the conversation: What’s your experience with BPM tools? Do you agree with our take on how the market has evolved? Let us know in the comments!