business plan flow process

Business Plan Flowchart Complete Guide

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Do you want an organized route for your business workflow? Keeping track of your business progress can become difficult if you cannot enlist your goals. Plus, you need something that reminds you about the resources and guides you to their usage. A business plan flow chart is the solution for you. It is a graphical representation of the workflow of a business process. This simple chart shows how each step in the process gets to the finish line and how it relates to others.

1. What Is A Business Plan

A business plan is a formal statement of business goals and objectives. It's a written document that describes the company's mission, strategies, and financial information. Moreover, It is also a road map for the future.

Furthermore, this comprehensive document that outlines the business's goals, objectives, and strategies is a passage for your future success as an entrepreneur. Business plan flow charts are essential for any business owner who wants to take their business to the next level.

Elements Of A Business Plan:

The business plan is not just the name of a hard piece of paper. On the contrary, it is a mixture of diverse statistical and theoretical elements, some of which are as follows:

The first element of a business plan is its purpose. When starting a new business, you'll want to define your goals and how you intend to achieve them.

The second element is the product or service that your business provides. You'll want to describe what it is you're offering, and why it's better than those alternatives. Furthermore, it is better to target customers and answer what problems or issues it solves for them.

• Financial Statistics:

The third element of the business plan flow chart is how much capital (money) you need to get started. You'll need enough funds to cover initial expenses, such as advertising costs and lease payments on office space or equipment.

• Task Timeline:

The fourth element is a timeline for when accomplishments must meet the end. Plus, it includes milestones that indicate finished objectives and money spent on them.

• Financial Analysis:

The fifth element is a financial analysis. It breaks down the costs of running the business by category. As a result, it helps you to determine whether or not there's enough money available for everything involved in running it at once.

2. 4 Different Business Plan Types

A business plan flow chart helps you understand what your company will look like and how much money it will need to get off the ground. However, not all of them are created equal. It may vary based on the company framework, data provided, and business objectives. In this article, you'll get a comprehensive overview of 4 different business plan flow chart templates that can help you understand the overall notion of a business plan.

2.1 Business Plan Process

The business plan process flow chart type is a simple diagram. However, it is an essential one indeed. The visualization includes a top-down process enlisting for business growth. It all starts from the goal, which maps the further procedures accordingly. The end focus product is the budget. The business plan flow chart highlights specific strategic and tactical objectives throughout the journey. Each is essential for business performance and judgment for better decision-making. The overall physical presentation may not be luxurious. However, it serves a much bigger purpose, making it far more critical. Considering all the above facts, we can say that this type is a comprehensive process guide for employees and investors to look into.

2.2 Market Analysis Business Plan

The Market Analysis Business Plan is a business plan that focuses on the industrial analysis of your company. It's essential to include information about the following:

• The market, including its size and growth rate
• Your competition (including their strengths and weaknesses)
• Your target audience (what do they want?)

Unlike the above example, this business plan flow chart type gives a much more detailed overview to the business owner and investor. It focuses on the target market, and the share business has in it. This type is essentially beneficial for most companies. Whether you have a small or huge business, it will analyze your market exposure accordingly.

2.3 Business Plan Timeline

The business plan timeline visually represents the order in which tasks should be completed. It helps you visualize your progress and decide what's most important for your project. It can be of yearly timeline progress or future task procedural approach. In general, every business plan flow chart based on a timeline has four different quadrants.

The first quadrant defines what the business is all about. As a result, it sets the stage for everything else in the plan. All the goals and subjects come under this category. The second quadrant helps you assess what your company wants to accomplish, focusing specifically on customer needs or wants at a specific time. Unlike the above example, this business plan flow chart type gives a much more detailed overview to the business owner and investor. It focuses on the target market, and the share business has in it. This type is essentially beneficial for most companies. Whether you have a small or huge business, it will analyze your market exposure accordingly.

2.4 Business Strategy Diagram

A business strategy diagram is a step-by-step flowchart. This business plan flow chart helps you simultaneously visualize the process of developing and implementing your company's overall mission, vision, and goals. Moreover, it can help you evaluate potential new growth strategies and improve current ones. A business strategy diagram includes a whole architecture that summarizes your organization's overall goal.

Simply put, it is a step-by-step roadmap targeting economic departments, strategies to work, and actions performed in a business. Furthermore, it classifies how grouped, and individual actions impact business growth. All in all, this type is an in-depth value analysis chart for every small and big firm that wants ideal business automation.

3. Tips To Create A Business Plan That Stands Out

The Business Plan Flow chart is a visual way of showing the procedural roadmap of a business. It helps your team see the big picture and visualize the order in which tasks need completion. It can help them understand how to sequence their work, so they don't miss anything.

An exemplary flowchart also helps you create a business plan that stands out from competitors. It is possible by providing more information than other companies do about their company goals, services offered, and market presence. To create an ideal business plan that has the potential to visualize a complex production framework, you must follow the given tips.

• The business plan flow chart should be simple, clear, and concise so readers can easily understand it.
• The business plan should include at least one example of how each element has been completed successfully or unsuccessfully in the past. It is necessary because it shows how other people have accomplished similar tasks previously and helps increase confidence that you can do it too!
• Be honest, and do not overestimate your capabilities. Be realistic about the time it takes to accomplish your goal and what resources you need.
• It s better if the business plan flow chart references previous projects as testimonials for future projects. It shows that you have experience with similar tasks, improving customer and investor confidence.
• Make sure that you clearly understand your target audience's demographics and how they will react to your product or service.

4. Conclusion

A business plan flow chart effectively organizes your business and keeps track of the tasks due for completion. It is also a great tool for communicating with investors, bankers, or partners. The above examples show how a simple flowchart can help you communicate ideally while maintaining order in your company's growth process. With EdrawMax , creating, designing, and sharing happens all in one place. You do not have to worry about losing your files, as all the exported files from EdrawMax are highly encrypted. All in all, EdrawMax is a solid tool -- you just sit with your design ideas and explore the tons of features that this business plan maker has to offer.

Flowchart Complete Guide

Check this complete guide to know everything about flowchart, like flowchart types, flowchart symbols, and how to make a flowchart.

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How to make a business plan

Table of Contents

How to make a good business plan: step-by-step guide.

A business plan is a strategic roadmap used to navigate the challenging journey of entrepreneurship. It's the foundation upon which you build a successful business.

A well-crafted business plan can help you define your vision, clarify your goals, and identify potential problems before they arise.

But where do you start? How do you create a business plan that sets you up for success?

This article will explore the step-by-step process of creating a comprehensive business plan.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is a formal document that outlines a business's objectives, strategies, and operational procedures. It typically includes the following information about a company:

Products or services

Target market

Competitors

Marketing and sales strategies

Financial plan

Management team

A business plan serves as a roadmap for a company's success and provides a blueprint for its growth and development. It helps entrepreneurs and business owners organize their ideas, evaluate the feasibility, and identify potential challenges and opportunities.

As well as serving as a guide for business owners, a business plan can attract investors and secure funding. It demonstrates the company's understanding of the market, its ability to generate revenue and profits, and its strategy for managing risks and achieving success.

Business plan vs. business model canvas

A business plan may seem similar to a business model canvas, but each document serves a different purpose.

A business model canvas is a high-level overview that helps entrepreneurs and business owners quickly test and iterate their ideas. It is often a one-page document that briefly outlines the following:

Key partnerships

Key activities

Key propositions

Customer relationships

Customer segments

Key resources

Cost structure

Revenue streams

On the other hand, a Business Plan Template provides a more in-depth analysis of a company's strategy and operations. It is typically a lengthy document and requires significant time and effort to develop.

A business model shouldn’t replace a business plan, and vice versa. Business owners should lay the foundations and visually capture the most important information with a Business Model Canvas Template . Because this is a fast and efficient way to communicate a business idea, a business model canvas is a good starting point before developing a more comprehensive business plan.

A business plan can aim to secure funding from investors or lenders, while a business model canvas communicates a business idea to potential customers or partners.

Why is a business plan important?

A business plan is crucial for any entrepreneur or business owner wanting to increase their chances of success.

Here are some of the many benefits of having a thorough business plan.

Helps to define the business goals and objectives

A business plan encourages you to think critically about your goals and objectives. Doing so lets you clearly understand what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.

A well-defined set of goals, objectives, and key results also provides a sense of direction and purpose, which helps keep business owners focused and motivated.

Guides decision-making

A business plan requires you to consider different scenarios and potential problems that may arise in your business. This awareness allows you to devise strategies to deal with these issues and avoid pitfalls.

With a clear plan, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions aligning with their overall business goals and objectives. This helps reduce the risk of making costly mistakes and ensures they make decisions with long-term success in mind.

Attracts investors and secures funding

Investors and lenders often require a business plan before considering investing in your business. A document that outlines the company's goals, objectives, and financial forecasts can help instill confidence in potential investors and lenders.

A well-written business plan demonstrates that you have thoroughly thought through your business idea and have a solid plan for success.

Identifies potential challenges and risks

A business plan requires entrepreneurs to consider potential challenges and risks that could impact their business. For example:

Is there enough demand for my product or service?

Will I have enough capital to start my business?

Is the market oversaturated with too many competitors?

What will happen if my marketing strategy is ineffective?

By identifying these potential challenges, entrepreneurs can develop strategies to mitigate risks and overcome challenges. This can reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes and ensure the business is well-positioned to take on any challenges.

Provides a basis for measuring success

A business plan serves as a framework for measuring success by providing clear goals and financial projections . Entrepreneurs can regularly refer to the original business plan as a benchmark to measure progress. By comparing the current business position to initial forecasts, business owners can answer questions such as:

Are we where we want to be at this point?

Did we achieve our goals?

If not, why not, and what do we need to do?

After assessing whether the business is meeting its objectives or falling short, business owners can adjust their strategies as needed.

How to make a business plan step by step

The steps below will guide you through the process of creating a business plan and what key components you need to include.

1. Create an executive summary

Start with a brief overview of your entire plan. The executive summary should cover your business plan's main points and key takeaways.

Keep your executive summary concise and clear with the Executive Summary Template . The simple design helps readers understand the crux of your business plan without reading the entire document.

2. Write your company description

Provide a detailed explanation of your company. Include information on what your company does, the mission statement, and your vision for the future.

Provide additional background information on the history of your company, the founders, and any notable achievements or milestones.

3. Conduct a market analysis

Conduct an in-depth analysis of your industry, competitors, and target market. This is best done with a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Next, identify your target market's needs, demographics, and behaviors.

Use the Competitive Analysis Template to brainstorm answers to simple questions like:

What does the current market look like?

Who are your competitors?

What are they offering?

What will give you a competitive advantage?

Who is your target market?

What are they looking for and why?

How will your product or service satisfy a need?

These questions should give you valuable insights into the current market and where your business stands.

4. Describe your products and services

Provide detailed information about your products and services. This includes pricing information, product features, and any unique selling points.

Use the Product/Market Fit Template to explain how your products meet the needs of your target market. Describe what sets them apart from the competition.

5. Design a marketing and sales strategy

Outline how you plan to promote and sell your products. Your marketing strategy and sales strategy should include information about your:

Pricing strategy

Advertising and promotional tactics

Sales channels

The Go to Market Strategy Template is a great way to visually map how you plan to launch your product or service in a new or existing market.

6. Determine budget and financial projections

Document detailed information on your business’ finances. Describe the current financial position of the company and how you expect the finances to play out.

Some details to include in this section are:

Startup costs

Revenue projections

Profit and loss statement

Funding you have received or plan to receive

Strategy for raising funds

7. Set the organization and management structure

Define how your company is structured and who will be responsible for each aspect of the business. Use the Business Organizational Chart Template to visually map the company’s teams, roles, and hierarchy.

As well as the organization and management structure, discuss the legal structure of your business. Clarify whether your business is a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or LLC.

8. Make an action plan

At this point in your business plan, you’ve described what you’re aiming for. But how are you going to get there? The Action Plan Template describes the following steps to move your business plan forward. Outline the next steps you plan to take to bring your business plan to fruition.

Types of business plans

Several types of business plans cater to different purposes and stages of a company's lifecycle. Here are some of the most common types of business plans.

Startup business plan

A startup business plan is typically an entrepreneur's first business plan. This document helps entrepreneurs articulate their business idea when starting a new business.

Not sure how to make a business plan for a startup? It’s pretty similar to a regular business plan, except the primary purpose of a startup business plan is to convince investors to provide funding for the business. A startup business plan also outlines the potential target market, product/service offering, marketing plan, and financial projections.

Strategic business plan

A strategic business plan is a long-term plan that outlines a company's overall strategy, objectives, and tactics. This type of strategic plan focuses on the big picture and helps business owners set goals and priorities and measure progress.

The primary purpose of a strategic business plan is to provide direction and guidance to the company's management team and stakeholders. The plan typically covers a period of three to five years.

Operational business plan

An operational business plan is a detailed document that outlines the day-to-day operations of a business. It focuses on the specific activities and processes required to run the business, such as:

Organizational structure

Staffing plan

Production plan

Quality control

Inventory management

Supply chain

The primary purpose of an operational business plan is to ensure that the business runs efficiently and effectively. It helps business owners manage their resources, track their performance, and identify areas for improvement.

Growth-business plan

A growth-business plan is a strategic plan that outlines how a company plans to expand its business. It helps business owners identify new market opportunities and increase revenue and profitability. The primary purpose of a growth-business plan is to provide a roadmap for the company's expansion and growth.

The 3 Horizons of Growth Template is a great tool to identify new areas of growth. This framework categorizes growth opportunities into three categories: Horizon 1 (core business), Horizon 2 (emerging business), and Horizon 3 (potential business).

One-page business plan

A one-page business plan is a condensed version of a full business plan that focuses on the most critical aspects of a business. It’s a great tool for entrepreneurs who want to quickly communicate their business idea to potential investors, partners, or employees.

A one-page business plan typically includes sections such as business concept, value proposition, revenue streams, and cost structure.

Best practices for how to make a good business plan

Here are some additional tips for creating a business plan:

Use a template

A template can help you organize your thoughts and effectively communicate your business ideas and strategies. Starting with a template can also save you time and effort when formatting your plan.

Miro’s extensive library of customizable templates includes all the necessary sections for a comprehensive business plan. With our templates, you can confidently present your business plans to stakeholders and investors.

Be practical

Avoid overestimating revenue projections or underestimating expenses. Your business plan should be grounded in practical realities like your budget, resources, and capabilities.

Be specific

Provide as much detail as possible in your business plan. A specific plan is easier to execute because it provides clear guidance on what needs to be done and how. Without specific details, your plan may be too broad or vague, making it difficult to know where to start or how to measure success.

Be thorough with your research

Conduct thorough research to fully understand the market, your competitors, and your target audience . By conducting thorough research, you can identify potential risks and challenges your business may face and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Get input from others

It can be easy to become overly focused on your vision and ideas, leading to tunnel vision and a lack of objectivity. By seeking input from others, you can identify potential opportunities you may have overlooked.

Review and revise regularly

A business plan is a living document. You should update it regularly to reflect market, industry, and business changes. Set aside time for regular reviews and revisions to ensure your plan remains relevant and effective.

Create a winning business plan to chart your path to success

Starting or growing a business can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, a well-written business plan can make or break your business’ success.

The purpose of a business plan is more than just to secure funding and attract investors. It also serves as a roadmap for achieving your business goals and realizing your vision. With the right mindset, tools, and strategies, you can develop a visually appealing, persuasive business plan.

Ready to make an effective business plan that works for you? Check out our library of ready-made strategy and planning templates and chart your path to success.

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Essential Guide to Business Process Mapping

By Kate Eby | February 24, 2017 (updated August 4, 2023)

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With the range of disparate personalities and ways of thinking on your team, how do you get everyone to see something the same way? Moreover, how do you get your whole team to actually perform a task or a process in the same way, every time? Business process maps are a framework intended to do just that: layout a process graphically so that everyone has the same vision of it and can perform it the same way.

In this guide, we tackle newbie and advanced topics around business process mapping including its scope and purpose, its history, the types of maps, and the benefits. We’ll look at the principles and framework to map out processes, and the current state of process mapping. Then we will review the symbols often found in process mapping and modeling, and explain how to go about actually creating a map. Finally, we’ll cover where business process mapping fits in with process documentation and business process management life cycles, and share expert tips from around the web and around the world. Happy mapping!

What Is Business Process Mapping?

Business process mapping is a visual representation of work processes. Process maps show the relationship among the steps required to complete a product or service, and can be expressed as flowcharts or as Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) symbols.

A part of business process management (BPM) , business process maps are concerned with business activities, purpose, standards for success, roles and responsibilities, and when and where different steps will occur. Business process mapping promotes transparency, not only for those within the company, but also for all stakeholders, especially those involved in compliance.

Business process mapping is often mistaken for business process modeling. When professionals perform business process modeling, they are more interested in how the processes are performed, and who (or what department) is performing them. In this way, they focus on analyzing and optimizing the business process architecture through reviewing the processes and considering the company’s goals and requirements. A business’s process architecture details the entire enterprise’s set of processes. Often termed a “blueprint,” the architecture is typically used to align the company’s processes with their objectives. Modeling is more about how processes flow, while mapping is about what is in existence. For more information on business process modeling, see the Beginners Guide to Business Process Modeling .

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The Scope and Purpose of Business Process Modeling

Business process modeling is part of project planning for a wide range of project types. Businesses may choose to map their processes because they are conducting strategic planning, developing new metrics for reporting, or improving on their existing processes.

Process maps inspire professionals to consider how to make their organization more effective by thinking through their workflows. When you map a process, you must diagram it out in a way that achieves a shared understanding. The scope of business process mapping will show end-to-end activities, inputs such as materials or labor, and the linkages. A process map can cut across different departments and teams, and could even include external partners. It all depends on the process.

Organizations use business process modeling for different reasons, but primarily it’s a formal approach to quality management. Overall, businesses want to become more effective, so when all of the company objectives are measured and compared, it becomes possible to align them with your company’s values and capabilities. With aligned objectives, your organization can behave as a single entity with interconnecting parts, which significantly increases the value of your end-product or service. Other purposes of building business process maps include:

• Process standardization
• Employee onboarding and training
• Process improvement
• Communication
• Compliance with regulating agencies (e.g. International Organization for Standardization, 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
• Internal auditing

The History of Business Process Mapping

Business process mapping began with The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in 1921. From there, engineers and manufacturing plants adopted business process maps and evolved them into the software solutions we have today.

In 1921, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth introduced the flow process chart in a presentation that they gave called “Process Charts, First Steps in Finding the One Best Way to Do Work.” (Purdue University has an archive of these materials , if you want to learn more.) The tools that the Gilbreth’s presented quickly became engineering standards and continued to be shown through the 1940s, having been sanctioned by the ASME. In 1947, the ASME adopted a symbol system for consistency in this type of chart.

The manufacturing industry also adopted process maps to identify value-add activities and inefficiencies. These maps often took days to create and were static. More recently, business process mapping has evolved with software development. Businesses can use software tools to create their maps quickly, evolve them over time, and make them accessible to all team members, facilitating a culture of improvement. Most business process mapping software integrates with business process management software systems, so that you can draw the maps and have them come to life within your business.

Types of Business Process Maps

You can create business process maps for project plans, details, documents, products, roles, locations, strategies, or interactions, at varying levels of detail. We’ve outlined the most common types of business process maps in the list below.

The Reasons Why We Map Processes

There are many reasons that companies choose to map their business processes, including increased visibility, decreased errors in processes, and the ability to identify risk. The list below outlines some reasons your organization may decide to map its processes:

The Principles of Business Process Mapping

To properly transform your organization into a sustainable one, you must understand how we begin to map business processes. These following principles should be present in every mapping project:

• Define the scope of the project itself, with the boundaries, start, and end points.
• Look at the big picture - the intent of the process.
• Define each step clearly.
• Get feedback from everyone in your organization who is involved in the process.
• Strive to be complete in your accuracy, especially with the map of the “as-is” process.
• Strive to keep the sub-processes simple.
• Test the process with accepted metrics. Metrics should measure the time, volume, rates/costs, equipment, and any added value.
• Work from output to input, backward.
• Create ownership with single points of contact where feasible.
• Redesign processes to be customer-centric.
• Use technology to enable your processes.
• Decrease inefficiencies in the hand-offs.

The Framework of Business Process Mapping

To map your business process, first identify your business’s ideal processes. Then, define the purpose of the map. Analyze the process, optimize it, and then document the process while identifying problem areas. We’ve expanded on these steps below:

1. Identify your organization’s best practices: As in the principles of good business process mapping, your organization should agree on what is mapped and the scope of each. The process should be easily understood as mapped by someone who is not close to it. Each process should also have a series of questions posed to it that answer why it is being done and what goes into each detail of it. Finally, apply metrics as a basis for measuring the success of each process.

2. As-is in process design: Specifically define the purpose of mapping the process. Ask where the process initiates and ends, and determine what the opportunity of fixing it could become. After selecting a process, determine all the steps in it, as well as inputs and outputs. Establish the systems, roles, and time involved. Select a mapping technique. Interview the contributors for the roles they play in the process, looking at every duty and decision point.

The following are the specific criteria that you are looking for in every process:

• Responsibilities
• Risks and controls
• Key performance indicators

3. Analyze and evaluate: Review your process map. You are looking for processes that are redundant, delays and unnecessary steps, vagueness, bottlenecks, points of rework, and flows that continually pass back and forth between certain people. Determine a measure for each segment, and where exactly to implement it. Identify the appropriate people to review the map. Select a process improvement plan. Process innovation analyses should consider Steven Shapiro’s 7 R’s of process innovation:

• Reconfigure

4. To-be in process design: Document the process, emphasizing any problem areas. Using the best practices developed in Step 1, document the differences in the existing and new processes. Use a root cause analysis to ferret out potential problems.

The Current State of Business Process Mapping

Businesses today are more focused than ever on sustainable improvement. Using software to map business processes allows companies to review and develop process maps more easily, so they can sustainably improve them.

Even with measurable operational improvements, it may be difficult to sustain the enhancements you make. Many businesses still have inefficient processes, and view technology as a magic bullet that can solve their woes in one shot. Experts say that while technology can certainly help, you need to use it judiciously in order for it to make lasting positive change. 

Furthermore, the organization must make cultural improvements, since the development of technology for developing process maps has far surpassed most organizations’ ability to implement them. Without cultural shifts, the people who are involved in the process can easily sink the improvements before they even take hold.

The Symbology of Business Process Mapping

The standard notation for business process maps is known as Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) , but many businesses use a simpler form of notation. Many common software solutions support both BPMN symbols and their simpler counterparts.

We’ve summarized the BPMN symbols in the charts below:

Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) is a different matter, however. BPMN is a much more formalized approach to mapping and modeling. Special software is required, and there is a learning curve in the use of BPMN. It is an extremely regulated language of notation, with specified symbols for almost any scenario. Mainly professionals who produce a lot of process models use BPMN. Across industries, countries, and languages, BPMN acts as a consistent way to identify the steps in processes. A more in-depth exploration of BPMN may be found in Beginners Guide to Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) . Some basic symbols of BPMN are inlcuded in the chart below.

Steps in Business Process Mapping

To map your business process, start by identifying the process to map. Gather information about the current process, and analyze it to determine where improvements can be made. Continue to monitor the process for improvement.

Performing the Business Process Mapping

In business process mapping, the processes you choose to map will determine how advantageous your maps are. Ensure that your business process maps are as impactful as possible by considering how they affect your customers and your overall business strategy.

We’ve outlined three methods for determining the most effective processes to map below:

• Group your processes based on their effect on your customer: These processes are core, enabling, and guiding processes. Core processes reflect the reason that the business exists, and have a direct effect on your clients. Enabling processes are those used in the management of the business. Guiding processes are those used in the planning and governance of the business. It is recommended in a process improvement project to start with either an enabling or guiding process so as you fine-tune your improvement method and do not impact your customers.
• Link your overarching strategy with your process and tasks: This starts with identifying your organization’s strategic goals. Once complete, you can form a process architecture based on it for your current processes. In this, you are determining what processes are most relevant to achieving your company’s strategy, and in what order to improve them to most keep in line with it and create a future agenda of improvement.
• Forced improvement: Less about a planned approach, this is more about reacting by necessity. For example, a failed audit or a management mandate can force a process improvement initiative. In this case, the required processes are targeted and mapped.

What Is Process Documentation and How Does Business Process Mapping Fit In?

Process documentation includes any documents that support or delineate a process. Business process maps are an element of process documentation that creates a visualization of how you perform your processes.

You can use process documentation as a roadmap for your organization to capture not only the end-products of your process improvement projects, but also how you got there. Decide how often you will update your process maps, and who will initiate new improvement projects. Another big component of process documentation is software documentation. Encourage users of all levels to use the software for the intended processes.

Business Process Management Life Cycle

The full BPM lifecycle is made up of unique business process improvement projects, and generally includes five phases: design, modeling, execution, monitoring, and optimization. 

Business process management aims to systematically improve business processes. It is a cohesive agenda for the advancement of people and information with many components, including software. To learn more, see our guide to business process management .

Tips for Business Process Mapping

Business process mapping can be intimidating for first time users. We’ve collected expert tips, from recognizing your assumptions to using subject matter experts, in the list below: 

• Apply business process mapping to the right types of processes. Processes that reflect how decisions are made may not be the best processes to map because they are limited in steps, and may not offer the most impact for your time.
• Be clear about the focus of your process mapping. Sometimes the inefficiencies in your processes are outside of the process itself. It then becomes critical that you review any intersecting (secondary) processes as well.
• Aim for good. There is no perfect. Enough said.
• Use care in cross-party responsibility process maps. These types of process maps are not the ideal, as the leading party is difficult to show graphically. Take care in the analysis to differentiate the leader when the process crosses boundaries.
• Get someone skilled to map your processes. Consider outside help if you do not have someone currently trained in mapping.
• Validate your maps. Right after you draw them, review them with the process participants so that you ensure they are correct.
• Be constantly aware of your assumptions. Your assumptions and those of your staff can get you into trouble. Keep asking the questions that reveal your biases. 
• Don’t fix your processes until they are fully mapped. Define your ‘as-is’ state completely, ensuring that you see the whole picture and changes are then better informed.
• Remember that there are always exceptions and errors. Capture these, but remember that they may not be the norm and may not reflect the real as-is situation.
• The people who use the processes are the experts. It is critical that you have an appropriate overview because some people may be too close to change the processes, but they will be able to tell you whether the postulated changes have a chance of working.
• Collect all the documents from your improvement process. Improvement projects are not just about the map. Sure, it is important, but you may have to create it again.

According to Sean Martin, Marketing Manager:

“We are actually in the process of BP Mapping for our sales and marketing teams right now. It's important that we tie these different reports into a singular goal: Growth. To do that, we've employed some strict metrics in what we call a 5x3 Growth Plan. But the most important piece of advice I have for companies looking to invest in BPM is to RECORD AND MAP ALL OF YOUR PROCESSES BEFORE YOU START CHANGING THEM. Today's marketing world is in a flux of constant innovation and optimization. Because of this, we marketers are often hustling to implement, report, and optimize our tests all at one time. This simply doesn't work. I advise agencies employing business process modeling to slow down and make sure you get a complete and accurate picture of your business process before you start making changes. Crawl before you walk - and walk before you crawl - otherwise you'll end up tripping over your own optimization goals.”

According to Ray McKenzie, Founder and Principal of  Red Beach Advisors :

“Companies that decide to map their processes should evaluate the top three to five processes to map first.  Every company has several processes and they all need to be addressed. However, every process cannot be a top priority. It is best for companies to evaluate the top company-impacting pain points, evaluate which points need process definition, and structure a process to solve that pain point. If there is a process that is revenue generating or negative impacting, those should rise to the top of the priority list. As a company is able to develop more and more process, the company injects more stability and growth potential. 

“The first process selected to be mapped should be the largest pain point in the business which restricts revenue generation. Every business is going to have obstacles and pain points to have growth. An efficiently run business is a successful business and successful businesses have significant revenue. Revenue generation keeps the business moving forward so a company should want to remove all obstacles slowing the acquisition of revenue.”

According to Robby Slaughter, Principal at  AccelaWork :

“The technical capacity of BPM has dramatically outpaced the level of adoption or even awareness of the field. Most companies have never done any process mapping -- not even informally -- and they suffer from poorly-defined procedures, minimal staff engagement, and significant rework and duplication.

“Your time is the most important investment, and purchasing software or hiring consultants won’t help if your team isn’t truly committed to process mapping. Learn one or two of the UML forms. I suggest using case diagrams and activity diagrams. Practice these extensively with fun, non-work processes like planning a party or scoring a frame of bowling. Once you learn the technology of process mapping, you’ve got a fighting chance of implementing it in your organization.

“We’ve done process mapping for all kinds of organizations, from marketing firms to factories to logistics companies. In most cases, the experience requires sitting down with staff directly and watching them work to learn about the procedures. This is the only accurate method to document the as-is state of the organization. Training materials, manuals, and even what management says is usually outdated or flat wrong.

“It’s good to select a low-impact, high-visibility process to highlight the capacity and utility of mapping. From there, the next step is to develop a lexicon for the organization. This is the terminology that people use to describe activities and work product. Then, we’re most interested in processes that cross teams or departments. That’s usually the area where there is the biggest disconnect and the most challenges.”

According to Mike Hammontree, CEO of  WundrMedia :

“Business process mapping is a very important part of setting up a new business or just a new part of a business. You have to know who is going to do what and at what level of efficiency and quality because if they aren't meeting those needs your business could fail right out of the gate.   “My best advice is make sure you have every little thing mapped out, even to who will be getting the coffee for the office, you want your office to be moving as smoothly as possible to make sure there are no kinks. Especially when starting something new, it has to move quickly and effectively to be successful.

“We just recently finished recruiting our teams for our new magazine, Wundr Magazine, which is an entity of Wundr Media. When doing so we had to map out every single thing from editors to journalists and content creators along with managing trips and photoshoots to make sure everyone is doing their job to the highest level possible. The way I chose to map my processes was to decide on which is the most important and what would fail if we didn't get it exactly right from the start. For us it was marketing, of course. If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? Or if a magazine launches and no one knows about it, does it even exist?”

According to Jitesh Keswani, CEO at  e-Intelligence :

“Business process mapping has been high on most lists of important business sustainable growth plans throughout the last year. It is a logical continuation of deliberate investment into the improvement of business processes. The demand for business process mapping is slowly and steadily picking up. The business owners and leaders have understood the value of optimized business processes as an essential part of their overall success. According to a recent study by AIIM, most businesses see business process mapping as a systematic approach to improving their processes. However, less than half of the business owners really know all they need to about business process mapping. While they show a positive attitude toward adopting business process mapping for their businesses, most of them cite stuck-in-process as the biggest reason for failing to implement business process mapping. Increasing awareness about business automation however increases the scope of adoption of business process mapping among the business and technology leaders."

In the field of marketing, business process maps are called journey maps. These journey maps are based on the customer’s perspective and transform complex data into a one-page visual diagram. 

According to Kevin Sides, Chief Marketing Officer at  ShipMonk , who uses journey maps as business process maps, “Journey maps are our key to business. My specialty is mapping out the standard growth or marketing funnel. It looks like this:

• Acquisition - How do we get customers to our site?
• Activation - How do we get them to sign up?
• Retention - How do we get them to stay?
• Revenue - How do we make money?
• Referral - How do we use those customers to get more customers?

“Starting with the gap from customers visiting our site and signup up for our service, we utilize a few different tools to enter them into a journey. Our live chat and eBook are at the forefront of the mix. We use these to get more information on who they are and what pain points they are having. Once we get their contact information, we enter them into a journey decided upon by the sales person or the lead form they filled out. For example, if they are fulfilling orders in-house, we'll send them information on how to transition to outsourcing and the benefits associated, free consultations, signs to outsource, etc. If they are using another fulfillment center, we'll sell them on what ShipMonk specifically does better. If they are just getting started we'll give them information on how to get started themselves and when to consider outsourcing. 

“Once we get customers to sign up, our focus is solely on retaining them. It costs five to seven times more to gain a new customer than to retain a current customer so this is very important. We send milestone emails and rewards each time a customer reaches a certain number of packages shipped and we check it every few months to make sure everything is going as they've hoped. We proactively try to stay ahead of issues before they boil out of control. This is all done through marketing automation and timed in a behavioral journey.

“Revenue - We have partners who have services that benefit our customers and if we see an opportunity that would benefit our customers first, we'll enter them into another journey to promote a partner service. If they aren't interested, we remove them from the journey immediately and move on. Our goal is to help our customers sell and ship more packages. If they sell more we ship more. 

“Referral - It’s pretty simple, if you have a good product or service people will be willing to let others know and write a review. The problem is most people are extremely busy and don't think to write a review unless they are unhappy. We use journeys to remind customers of the review and what it would mean to our business.”

According to Ted Hessing, Owner at  Charlotte Web Development  and  SixSigmaStudyGuide.com :

“Business process modeling and mapping can seem daunting at first. Which process should you start with? The answer is: Which process needs the most attention? Company or initiative strategies comes into play, but that may only tell you the general direction to go. In that case, or in the case of initiatives containing multiple processes, it's a good idea to refine your search. There are tools that I like to achieve focus: the SIPOC and the Process Performance & Process Capability calculations. A SIPOC can give you a high-level end-to-end view of your process. Often by examining the interactions on the ends, the suppliers and consumers, it's obvious which process to begin to model. Process Capability and Process Performance calculations give us common language to measure processes against each other - even if they are wildly different. Once we have a way to quantitatively measure processes, we can then choose to model the worst-performing process in order to begin to see how we might improve it, which would then improve the whole.”

According to Kimberly Watson-Hemphill, Founder and CEO of  Firefly Consulting , and Co-Author of Innovating Lean Six Sigma:

“Business Process Mapping is an excellent way to get started on a journey of continuous improvement. How can we improve if we don’t know our starting point? We can’t! So, the first step is understanding our current level of performance. To this end, we need to know what our current processes are and how to measure their performance.

“Each company has core processes that are essential for achieving the company’s strategy. For example, in an insurance company, the claims process is absolutely critical, and could be a good starting point for process mapping. In a manufacturing company, planning and scheduling is essential, and could be an excellent starting point. Pick something that is important, so that the time spent on documenting and evaluating the process is viewed as beneficial.

“To map the process, work with a team of individuals who do the work on a daily basis. They’re the ones who know how the process is really working, and what are the potential issues. Some key questions to ask include:

• What are the process steps from beginning to end?
• What function is responsible for each step in the process?
• How do we measure the performance of each process?

“No investment is needed to get started. The team can begin with just a stack of sticky notes on a white board, and once the process is determined, document it for future reference in a software program that the company is already using. Through the exercise of working with the team on business process mapping, many process improvement ideas will surface. You’ll be amazed at all of the good ideas that team members have on how things could be done better. Now is the perfect time to get started!”

Business Process Mapping: Tools and Software

Depending on the long-term needs of your business, you may consider purchasing business process mapping software and tools. It is important to determine what features are available and find a solution that fits the needs of your team. 

We’ve made a list of popular features for your consideration below: 

• Drag-and-drop interface
• Formatting capabilities
• Integrated BPM tool
• Publishing and sharing capabilities
• Venn diagram maker
• Mind mapping software
• Data flow diagram software
• Intuitive design
• Automated updates
• Integration with MS Office products
• Graham process maps
• Linking between charts and other documents
• Reporting capabilities
• Review scheduling capacity
• Unified platforms
• Collaboration
• Business rules management
• Process analysis
• Process simulation

How Smartsheet Can Help Improve Business Processes

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

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Blog Business Ultimate Guide to Business Process Mapping [+Templates]

Ultimate Guide to Business Process Mapping [+Templates]

Written by: Letícia Fonseca Jun 28, 2022

Looking to improve your company’s workflows? Business process mapping should be step one.

When I started mapping business processes, everything changed. Okay, maybe not everything. But I was able to clearly outline tasks, identify areas of improvement and streamline our processes from start to finish. 

In other words, business process management got a whole lot easier. 

So if you’re struggling with managing processes within your organization, a business process map may be just what you need. Read on to see how  making this type of chart  can help you — and your team members — work more efficiently. 

Click to jump ahead:

What is business process mapping, business process mapping examples, 5 benefits of mapping business processes, types of business process mapping, how to create your own business process map, 5 business process mapping templates from venngage, faqs about business process mapping.

Just what it says on the box! Business process mapping refers to documenting the steps of a specific workflow, including different branches depending on inputs. Generally, this involves creating a visual flowchart or diagram that outlines each step of a process — from start to finish. 

A process map like the one above can be as simple or complex as you need it to be. It’s like a game of choose your own adventure. But in most cases, it’s helpful to start with a high-level overview of a process before drilling down into more detail. 

You can use process maps for all sorts of purposes, including:

• Identifying and documenting tasks within a business
• Improving workflows and making your business more efficient
• Finding and fixing bottlenecks in a process
• Helping new employees learn the ropes
• Ensuring compliance with regulations

Broadly speaking, mapping your business processes can help you improve communication and collaboration within your company, as well as identify areas for improvement. By documenting your company’s various workflows, you can make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what their role is in the process (#businessprocessgoals).

What’s the difference between business process mapping and business process modeling?

The answer here is nuanced.  Business process mapping and modeling  are closely related in the sense that they’re both ways to visualize and analyze processes. But there is a difference… 

Business process mapping involves creating a map from qualitative data (i.e. speaking to other team members or drawing on your own experience). On the other hand, business process modeling involves gathering quantitative data to create a process model (i.e. how users navigate a system based on IT logs).

In other words, process mapping relies on experiences, while process modeling draws on data-mining. 

Still with me? Great, let’s dig into some examples… 

Return to Table of Contents

At this point, I hope the definition of business process mapping is clear. But you may be wondering, “Which processes should I be mapping, anyway?” These examples should give you some ideas: 

Mapping a sales process

A sales process is a great example of a map-worthy process. By  creating a flowchart  of the steps involved in a sale or a certain aspect of a sale, you can make sure your sales reps and account execs are all aligned — no one is stepping on each other’s toes, everyone knows what needs to happen and when.

This can be especially helpful if you’re onboarding a new employee. They can use the flowchart to get a visual overview of the process (and get up to speed quickly!). 

Mapping a manufacturing or service process

Manufacturing processes can be complex, to say the least. Plus, the different steps involved can be difficult to visualize. Enter flowcharts. A flowchart can help illustrate the steps involved in these processes, logically and sequentially. 

By mapping a manufacturing or service process, you can identify and fix bottlenecks and make your operations more efficient. Win, win, win. 

Mapping a customer service process

Your customer service processes deserve a flowchart, too. Not only are these visuals helpful for training new employees, they can shed light on where there may be a gap in service or where common issues crop up.

For example, mapping an escalation process (whether it’s for collection, customer complaints or employee performance) is a good way to make sure your team knows how to navigate trickier situations.

No matter what kind of map you make, there are some common benefits of visualizing your business processes. Here are the top five: 

• Improve communication and collaboration

By documenting your company’s workflows, you can make sure everyone is on the same page. Individuals know which tasks they own. Departments know which areas they’re responsible for. 

Not only can this streamline communication and collaboration, it also prevents overlap. For example, sales and customer success reaching out to the same client about upgrading their account. Or worse, underlap… that is, gray areas that no one takes responsibility for. 

• Increase efficiency 

Efficiency is everything, right? And process maps can help you identify where you’re wasting time or resources. By fixing these bottlenecks, you can increase the efficiency of your business — one process at a time. For more insights on how to use business process maps to increase efficiency, check out these  flowchart templates and design tips . 

• Provide clarity on business operations

Have you ever worked at a company where you weren’t sure whether you were making an impact? If the answer is yes, I’m guessing you didn’t stay there very long! 

Understanding how a role contributes to a company’s overall success is key for employee satisfaction and retention. And process mapping can help foster an environment where everyone knows how their role fits into the bigger picture and, most importantly, why it matters. 

• Support training and onboarding 

Starting a new job is always a bit overwhelming. But quality onboarding can greatly reduce that stress. Being able to refer to a process map for everything from how to set up accounts to how to request time off, makes it much easier for new employees to get up to speed. Or, teach existing employees a new process.

• Help with problem-solving 

Sometimes, things go wrong. It’s a natural part of business (and life for that matter!). With a business process map, you can prepare team members for this eventuality.

Additionally, integrating problem-solving flowcharts can further assist in breaking down and addressing these challenges

Not to mention, guide them in the problem-solving process.

Of course, there are many ways to map a business process. You can use a flowchart, diagram or table to document the steps. You can also use  icons and symbols  to represent different tasks or actions.

Here’s an overview of some common business process maps:

A flowchart is a type of diagram that shows the steps in a process. It’s usually drawn from left to right, with each step represented by a different symbol. 

Flowcharts are often used to map simple processes, like customer support guidelines. They can also be used to map more complex processes, like steps for qualifying leads. 

Top-down process flowchart 

A top-down process flowchart starts with the high-level steps of a process and drills down into more detail. This type of diagram is helpful for visualizing the precise flow of a process. 

Deployment flowchart

A deployment flowchart shows how a process is implemented in different parts of your company. This type of diagram can be helpful for understanding what various departments need to do (at the same time!) to accomplish a task or goal. 

Detailed flowchart 

A detailed flowchart is just what it sounds like… compared to a top-down flowchart, this type of chart is simply more detailed. That means it’s ideal for outlining complicated processes with different branches, depending on an action or event. 

Data flow diagram

A data flow diagram (DFD) visualizes the movement of data through a process. It’s usually drawn from left to right, with each step represented by a different symbol. With this type of diagram, there are no decisions and branches — it simply represents how information flows. 

SIPOC diagram

SIPOC stands for “Suppliers, Inputs, Processes, Outputs, and Customers. As you may have guessed, a SIPOC diagram shows how all these elements work together. Again, this type of diagram can help make responsibilities clear and ensure everyone is accountable for their respective areas.

Now that you know the different types of process maps, it’s time to create your own! How? Here are the different “processes” you could choose from (see what I did there?): 

Draw up your business process map by hand

A common way to create a business process map is, quite simply, to draw it up by hand. This method works just fine for simple processes or to get your ideas down on paper, but it can quickly get out of hand (sorry, last pun I promise). You’ll also need to recreate your drawing digitally. At least, if you’re planning on sharing it with your team. 

Create a flowchart with Microsoft PowerPoint

You can create a business process map in Microsoft PowerPoint. This is a decent option for processes with a little more detail. You can also add shapes and symbols to represent different steps in the process.

But there’s a catch: using a program like PowerPoint for visual design is time-consuming, and frankly, frustrating. The end result won’t be super shareable either. You’ll want to get a professional to redesign it before sharing with your team or resign yourself to a less polished process map. 

Use an online flowchart maker like Venngage

If you want to create a process map quickly and easily, you can use an online  flowchart maker  like ours. If you’re tired of trying to bend PowerPoint to your will, but you’re not a designer adept at Adobe, this is your best option. 

With Venngage, not only can you start with a professionally-designed template (more on this in literally a sec), there are also endless ways to customize your design. You can easily edit and style text, add images and icons, and pull in your brand colors and logo to your design. Plus, you can share your diagram with a live link or export it as a high-resolution PNG or PDF.

As promised, let’s talk templates. With Venngage’s wide selection of business process mapping templates, creating your own has never been easier. Here are my five favorite business process mapping templates to get you started:

• Health and Safety Process Flowchart Template

This detailed map is a good template to use if your process involves decision-making. Modify this template by adding your own icons, swapping out the colors and fonts and more. (Pro-tip: with Venngage, customers on a Business plan get access to  My Brand Kit , which makes it easy to brand your documents in a single click.

• Lean Six Sigma DMAIC Process Flowchart

If you just need a simple process map, this is the template for you. You can edit the icons and text and use your preferred font styles to customize this template to suit your needs. Simple as that. 

• Teal Escalation Flowchart Template

A job aid like ensures your team gets the job done! And does so in a company-approved manner. You can easily customize the text to fit your company’s needs and modify the colors to emphasize key parts of the process. 

• Proposal Process Flowchart 

Make them a proposal they can’t refuse. That’s the quote, right? Jokes aside, this simple proposal flowchart is great for outlining different actions based on inputs. Again, you can customize the colors, text and visuals in a few quick clicks. 

• Employee Termination Process Flowchart 

Not the happiest process but one well-worth documenting. This flowchart shows the simple steps a department should take when terminating an employee. That said, it could easily be customized to work for a different process. Not one with decision-making though!

What is the best tool for process mapping?

There’s no such thing as the “best” tool for process mapping. It really does depend on your needs and preferences. 

That said, if you want to create a professional-looking process map quickly and easily, an online  flowchart maker  like Venngage is a great choice. With a  wide range of templates  to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect starting point to create your process map. 

What is the sequence for business process mapping?

When creating a business process map, it’s important to start with the end goal in mind and work your way backward. This will ensure you capture all of the steps in the process, in a logical order. In addition, it’s helpful to map out how data flows from one step to the next and who’s involved in each step to create a comprehensive map. 

How do you model business processes?

Although there’s no one way to do it, there are a few factors to keep in mind when modeling business processes. First off, your process should be easy to understand and easy to update. Second, it’s helpful to use icons, symbols and diagrams to better illustrate different steps in the process. 

Finally, be sure to test your process map before implementing it. Ask your team members to follow the process map and give you feedback. That way, you can ensure it’s accurate, efficient and comprehensive. 

What is the purpose of using business process mapping?

Where to begin! Business process mapping has many purposes. One of the primary purposes is to aid with learning and development. In the same vein, these maps can improve communication and collaboration between teams. And of course, process mapping can highlight inefficiencies and help identify solutions.

Get efficient and accomplish more with business process mapping 

The more efficient your processes, the greater your chances of success. I’m sure that’s on a poster somewhere!

So if you’re looking for a way to increase efficiency, business process mapping is a great place to start. And aren’t we all? Looking to be more efficient, that is.

With a process mapping tool like Venngage, you can create a professional, visually appealing business process map in a matter of minutes. Take your pick from Venngage’s  wide variety of templates , add your own text, images, icons and colors, and share or download your process map as a PNG or PDF. 

Get started by signing up for a free  Venngage account  and start reaping the benefits of business process mapping for yourself! Note, some Venngage templates are free to use, while others require a small monthly fee.

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The 7 Steps of the Business Planning Process: A Complete Guide

In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive guide to the seven steps of the business planning process, and discuss the role of Strikingly website builder in creating a professional business plan.

Step 1: Conducting a SWOT Analysis

The first step in the business planning process is to conduct a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This analysis will help you understand your business's internal and external environment, and it can help you identify areas of improvement and growth.

Strengths and weaknesses refer to internal factors such as the company's resources, capabilities, and culture. Opportunities and threats are external factors such as market trends, competition, and regulations.

You can conduct a SWOT analysis by gathering information from various sources such as market research, financial statements, and feedback from customers and employees. You can also use tools such as a SWOT matrix to visualize your analysis.

What is a SWOT Analysis?

A SWOT analysis is a framework for analyzing a business's internal and external environment. The acronym SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Strengths and weaknesses include internal factors such as the company's resources, capabilities, and culture. Opportunities and threats are external factors such as market trends, competition, and regulations.

A SWOT analysis can help businesses identify areas of improvement and growth, assess their competitive position, and make informed decisions. It can be used for various purposes, such as business planning, product development, marketing strategy, and risk management.

Importance of Conducting a SWOT Analysis

Conducting a SWOT analysis is crucial for businesses to develop a clear understanding of their internal and external environment. It can help businesses identify their strengths and weaknesses and uncover new opportunities and potential threats. By doing so, businesses can make informed decisions about their strategies, resource allocation, and risk management.

A SWOT analysis can also help businesses identify their competitive position in the market and compare themselves to their competitors. This can help businesses differentiate themselves from their competitors and develop a unique value proposition.

Example of a SWOT Analysis

Here is an example of a SWOT analysis for a fictional business that sells handmade jewelry:

• Unique and high-quality products
• Skilled and experienced craftsmen
• Strong brand reputation and customer loyalty
• Strategic partnerships with local boutiques
• Limited production capacity
• High production costs
• Limited online presence
• Limited product variety

Opportunities

• Growing demand for handmade products
• Growing interest in sustainable and eco-friendly products
• Opportunities to expand online presence and reach new customers
• Opportunities to expand product lines
• Increasing competition from online and brick-and-mortar retailers
• Fluctuating consumer trends and preferences
• Economic downturns and uncertainty
• Increased regulations and compliance requirements

This SWOT analysis can help the business identify areas for improvement and growth. For example, the business can invest in expanding its online presence, improving its production efficiency, and diversifying its product lines. The business can also leverage its strengths, such as its skilled craftsmen and strategic partnerships, to differentiate itself from its competitors and attract more customers.

Step 2: Defining Your Business Objectives

Once you have conducted a SWOT analysis, the next step is to define your business objectives. Business objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that align with your business's mission and vision.

Your business objectives can vary depending on your industry, target audience, and resources. Examples of business objectives include increasing sales revenue, expanding into new markets, improving customer satisfaction, and reducing costs.

You can use tools such as a goal-setting worksheet or a strategic planning framework to define your business objectives. You can also seek input from your employees and stakeholders to ensure your objectives are realistic and achievable.

What is Market Research?

Market research is an integral part of the business planning process. It gathers information about a target market or industry to make informed decisions. It involves collecting and analyzing data on consumer behavior, preferences, and buying habits, as well as competitors, industry trends, and market conditions.

Market research can help businesses identify potential customers, understand their needs and preferences, and develop effective marketing strategies. It can also help businesses identify market opportunities, assess their competitive position, and make informed product development, pricing, and distribution decisions.

Importance of Market Research in Business Planning

Market research is a crucial component of the business planning process. It can help businesses identify market trends and opportunities, assess their competitive position, and make informed decisions about their marketing strategies, product development, and business operations.

By conducting market research, businesses can gain insights into their target audience's behavior and preferences, such as their purchasing habits, brand loyalty, and decision-making process. This can help businesses develop targeted marketing campaigns and create products that meet their customers' needs.

Market research can also help businesses assess their competitive position and identify gaps in the market. Businesses can differentiate themselves by analyzing their competitors' strengths and weaknesses and developing a unique value proposition.

Different Types of Market Research Methods

Businesses can use various types of market research methods, depending on their research objectives, budget, and time frame. Here are some of the most common market research methods:

Surveys are a common market research method that involves asking questions to a sample of people about their preferences, opinions, and behaviors. Surveys can be conducted through various channels like online, phone, or in-person surveys.

• Focus Groups

Focus groups are a qualitative market research method involving a small group to discuss a specific topic or product. Focus groups can provide in-depth insights into customers' attitudes and perceptions and can help businesses understand the reasoning behind their preferences and behaviors.

Interviews are a qualitative market research method that involves one-on-one conversations between a researcher and a participant. Interviews can be conducted in person, over the phone, or through video conferencing and can provide detailed insights into a participant's experiences, perceptions, and preferences.

• Observation

Observation is a market research method that involves observing customers' behavior and interactions in a natural setting such as a store or a website. Observation can provide insights into customers' decision-making processes and behavior that may not be captured through surveys or interviews.

• Secondary Research

Secondary research involves collecting data from existing sources, like industry reports, government publications, or academic journals. Secondary research can provide a broad overview of the market and industry trends and help businesses identify potential opportunities and threats.

By combining these market research methods, businesses can comprehensively understand their target market and industry and make informed decisions about their business strategy.

Step 3: Conducting Market Research

Market research should always be a part of your strategic business planning. This step gathers information about your target audience, competitors, and industry trends. This information can help you make informed decisions about your product or service offerings, pricing strategy, and marketing campaigns.

There are various market research methods, such as surveys, focus groups, and online analytics. You can also use tools like Google Trends and social media analytics to gather data about your audience's behavior and preferences.

Market research can be time-consuming and costly, but it's crucial for making informed decisions that can impact your business's success. Strikingly website builder offers built-in analytics and SEO optimization features that can help you track your website traffic and audience engagement.

Step 4: Identifying Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience is essential in the business planning process. Your target audience is the group of people who are most likely to buy your product or service. Understanding their needs, preferences, and behaviors can help you create effective marketing campaigns and improve customer satisfaction.

You can identify your target audience by analyzing demographic, psychographic, and behavioral data. Demographic data include age, gender, income, and education level. Psychographic data includes personality traits, values, and lifestyle. Behavioral data includes buying patterns, brand loyalty, and online engagement.

Once you have identified your target audience, you can use tools such as buyer personas and customer journey maps to create a personalized and engaging customer experience. Strikingly website builder offers customizable templates and designs to help you create a visually appealing and user-friendly website for your target audience.

What is a Target Audience?

A target audience is a group most likely to be interested in and purchase a company's products or services. A target audience can be defined based on various factors such as age, gender, location, income, education, interests, and behavior.

Identifying and understanding your target audience is crucial for developing effective marketing strategies and improving customer engagement and satisfaction. By understanding your target audience's needs, preferences, and behavior, you can create products and services that meet their needs and develop targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with them.

Importance of Identifying Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience is essential for the success of your business. By understanding your target audience's needs and preferences, you can create products and services that meet their needs and develop targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with them.

Here are reasons why identifying your target audience is important:

• Improve customer engagement. When you understand your target audience's behavior and preferences, you can create a more personalized and engaging customer experience to improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.
• Develop effective marketing strategies. Targeting your marketing efforts to your target audience creates more effective and efficient marketing campaigns that can increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales.
• Improve product development. By understanding your target audience's needs and preferences, you can develop products and services that meet their specific needs and preferences, improving customer satisfaction and retention.
• Identify market opportunities. If you identify gaps in the market or untapped market segments, you can develop products and services to meet unmet needs and gain a competitive advantage.

Examples of Target Audience Segmentation

Here are some examples of target audience segmentation based on different demographic, geographic, and psychographic factors:

• Demographic segmentation. Age, gender, income, education, occupation, and marital status.
• Geographic segmentation. Location, region, climate, and population density.
• Psychographic segmentation. Personality traits, values, interests, and lifestyle.

Step 5: Developing a Marketing Plan

A marketing plan is a strategic roadmap that outlines your marketing objectives, strategies, tactics, and budget. Your marketing plan should align with your business objectives and target audience and include a mix of online and offline marketing channels.

Marketing strategies include content marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and paid advertising. Your marketing tactics can include creating blog posts, sharing social media posts, sending newsletters, optimizing your website for search engines, and running Google Ads or Facebook Ads.

To create an effective marketing plan , research your competitors, understand your target audience's behavior, and set clear objectives and metrics. You can also seek customer and employee feedback to refine your marketing strategy.

Strikingly website builder offers a variety of marketing features such as email marketing, social media integration, and SEO optimization tools. You can also use the built-in analytics dashboard to track your website's performance and monitor your marketing campaign's effectiveness.

What is a Marketing Plan?

A marketing plan is a comprehensive document that outlines a company's marketing strategy and tactics. It typically includes an analysis of the target market, a description of the product or service, an assessment of the competition, and a detailed plan for achieving marketing objectives.

A marketing plan can help businesses identify and prioritize marketing opportunities, allocate resources effectively, and measure the success of their marketing efforts. It can also provide the marketing team with a roadmap and ensure everyone is aligned with the company's marketing goals and objectives.

Importance of a Marketing Plan in Business Planning

A marketing plan is critical to business planning. It can help businesses identify their target audience, assess their competitive position, and develop effective marketing strategies and tactics.

Here are a few reasons why a marketing plan is important in business planning:

• Provides a clear direction. A marketing plan can provide a clear direction for the marketing team and ensure everyone is aligned with the company's marketing goals and objectives.
• Helps prioritize marketing opportunities. By analyzing the target market and competition, a marketing plan can help businesses identify and prioritize marketing opportunities with the highest potential for success.
• Ensures effective resource allocation. A marketing plan can help businesses allocate resources effectively and ensure that marketing efforts are focused on the most critical and impactful activities.
• Measures success. A marketing plan can provide a framework for measuring the success of marketing efforts and making adjustments as needed.

Examples of Marketing Strategies and Tactics

Here are some examples of marketing strategies and tactics that businesses can use to achieve their marketing objectives:

• Content marketing. Creating and sharing valuable and relevant content that educates and informs the target audience about the company's products or services.
• Social media marketing. Leveraging social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to engage with the target audience, build brand awareness, and drive website traffic.
• Search engine optimization (SEO). Optimizing the company's website and online content to rank higher in search engine results and drive organic traffic.
• Email marketing. Sending personalized and targeted emails to the company's email list to nurture leads, promote products or services, and drive sales.
• Influencer marketing. Partnering with influencers or industry experts to promote the company's products or services and reach a wider audience.

By using a combination of these marketing strategies and tactics, businesses can develop a comprehensive and effective marketing plan that aligns with their marketing goals and objectives.

Step 6: Creating a Financial Plan

A financial plan is a detailed document that outlines your business's financial projections, budget, and cash flow. Your financial plan should include a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, and it should be based on realistic assumptions and market trends.

To create a financial plan, you should consider your revenue streams, expenses, assets, and liabilities. You should also analyze your industry's financial benchmarks and projections and seek input from financial experts or advisors.

.jpg)Image taken from Strikingly Templates

Strikingly website builder offers a variety of payment and e-commerce features, such as online payment integration and secure checkout. You can also use the built-in analytics dashboard to monitor your revenue and expenses and track your financial performance over time.

What is a Financial Plan?

A financial plan is a comprehensive document that outlines a company's financial goals and objectives and the strategies and tactics for achieving them. It typically includes a description of the company's financial situation, an analysis of revenue and expenses, and a projection of future financial performance.

A financial plan can help businesses identify potential risks and opportunities, allocate resources effectively, and measure the success of their financial efforts. It can also provide a roadmap for the finance team and ensure everyone is aligned with the company's financial goals and objectives.

Importance of Creating a Financial Plan in Business Planning

Creating a financial plan is a critical component of the business planning process. It can help businesses identify potential financial risks and opportunities, allocate resources effectively, and measure the success of their financial efforts.

Here are some reasons why creating a financial plan is important in business planning:

• Provides a clear financial direction. A financial plan can provide a clear direction for the finance team and ensure everyone is in sync with the company's financial goals and objectives.
• Helps prioritize financial opportunities. By analyzing revenue and expenses, a financial plan can help businesses identify and prioritize financial opportunities with the highest potential for success.
• Ensures effective resource allocation. A financial plan can help businesses allocate resources effectively and ensure that financial efforts are focused on the most critical and impactful activities.
• Measures success. A financial plan can provide a framework for measuring the success of financial efforts and making adjustments as needed.

Examples of Financial Statements and Projections

Here are some examples of financial statements and projections that businesses can use in their financial plan:

• Income statement. A financial statement that shows the company's revenue and expenses over a period of time, typically monthly or annually.
• Balance sheet. A financial statement shows the company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific time, typically at the end of a fiscal year.
• Cash flow statement. A financial statement that shows the company's cash inflows and outflows over a period of time, typically monthly or annually.
• Financial projections. Forecasts of the company's future financial performance based on assumptions and market trends. This can include revenue, expenses, profits, and cash flow projections.

Step 7: Writing Your Business Plan

The final step in the business planning process is to write your business plan. A business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines your business's mission, vision, objectives, strategies, and financial projections.

A business plan can help you clarify your business idea, assess the feasibility of your business, and secure funding from investors or lenders. It can also provide a roadmap for your business and ensure that you stay focused on your goals and objectives.

Importance of Writing a Business Plan

Writing a business plan is an essential component of the business planning process. It can help you clarify your business idea , assess the feasibility of your business, and secure funding from investors or lenders.

Here are some reasons why writing a business plan is important:

• Clarifies your business idea. Writing a business plan can help you clarify your business idea and understand your business's goals, objectives, and strategies.
• Assesses the feasibility of your business. A business plan can help you assess the feasibility of your business and identify potential risks and opportunities.
• Secures funding. A well-written business plan can help you secure funding from investors or lenders by demonstrating the potential of your business and outlining a clear path to success.
• Provides a roadmap for your business. A business plan can provide a roadmap and ensure that you stay focused on your goals and objectives.

Tips on How to Write a Successful Business Plan

Here are some tips on how to write a business plan successfully:

• Start with an executive summary. The executive summary is a brief business plan overview and should include your business idea, target market, competitive analysis, and financial projections.
• Describe your business and industry. Provide a detailed description of your business and industry, including your products or services, target market, and competitive landscape.
• Develop a marketing strategy. Outline your marketing strategy and tactics, including your target audience, pricing strategy, promotional activities, and distribution channels.
• Provide financial projections. Provide detailed financial projections, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, as well as assumptions and risks.
• Keep it concise and clear. Keep your business plan concise and clear, and avoid using jargon or technical terms that may confuse or intimidate readers.

Role of Strikingly Website Builder in Creating a Professional Business Plan

Strikingly website builder can play a significant role in creating a professional business plan. Strikingly provides an intuitive and user-friendly platform that allows you to create a professional-looking website and online store without coding or design skills.

Using Strikingly, you can create a visually appealing business plan and present it on your website with images, graphics, and videos to enhance the reader's experience. You can also use Strikingly's built-in templates and a drag-and-drop editor to create a customized and professional-looking business plan that reflects your brand and style.

Strikingly also provides various features and tools that can help you showcase your products or services, promote your business, and engage with your target audience. These features include e-commerce functionality, social media integration, and email marketing tools.

Let’s Sum Up!

In conclusion, the 7 steps of the business planning process are essential for starting and growing a successful business. By conducting a SWOT analysis, defining your business objectives, conducting market research, identifying your target audience, developing a marketing plan, creating a financial plan, and writing your business plan, you can set a solid foundation for your business's success.

Strikingly website builder can help you throughout the business planning process by offering a variety of features such as analytics, marketing, e-commerce , and business plan templates. With Strikingly, you can create a professional and engaging website and business plan that aligns with your business objectives and target audience.

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All About Business Process Mapping, Flow Charts and Diagrams

What are your requirements regarding bpmn diagrams, i want to create a bpmn in lucidchart., i want to create a bpmn diagram based on a lucidchart template..

Learn all about business process mapping and discover how you can effectively use it within your organization.

9 minute read

Would you like to create a BPMN diagram? Test Lucidchart - fast, easy, free.

What is business process mapping?

Business Process Mapping details the steps that a business takes to complete a process, such as hiring an employee or ordering and shipping a product. They show the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where” and “how” for these steps, and help to analyze the “why.” These maps are also called Business Process Diagrams and Business Flow Charts. Like other types of diagrams, these maps use defined symbols such as circles, rectangles, diamonds and arrows to depict the business activities.

Business Process Mapping can be used to document a current process and to model a new one. Its purpose is to gain a detailed understanding of the process, people, inputs, controls and outputs, and then potentially to simplify it all, make it more efficient and/or improve the process results. It requires time and discipline to conduct this mapping, but the payoff can be significant over time. Mapping has become common in the business world to standardize procedures, become more efficient, meet audit requirements and gain competitive advantage.

Business Process Mapping has its roots in the 1920s and ‘30s. In 1921, industrial engineer and efficiency expert Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr. introduced the “flow process chart” to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).  In the early 1930s, industrial engineer Allan H. Morgensen used Gilbreth’s tools to teach business people at his work simplification conferences how to make their work more efficient.  In the 1940s, two Morgensen students, Art Spinanger and Ben S. Graham, spread the methods more widely. Spinanger introduced the work simplification methods to Procter and Gamble. Graham, a director at Standard Register Industrial, adapted flow process charts to information processing. In 1947, ASME adopted a symbol system for flow process charts, derived from Gilbreth’s original work.

Current-day purpose and benefits

Business Process Mapping can be used to prepare for business audits or a sale, to reduce expenses, to plan for automation, to understand impacts of pending changes, to realign related processes, and to measure and realign the efforts of people involved in the processes. Often, a business may think it understands its processes, but then discovers twists and turns during a mapping initiative. When modeling a new business process, the mapping is sometimes called Business Process Modeling, or BPM. (That same acronym means Business Process Management, a related area.) For a more detailed look at Business Process Modeling, see this article.

Here are more specific examples of the uses of Business Process Mapping:

Compliance with International Organization for Standardization, called ISO 9001.

Internal audits., compliance with the 2002 sarbanes-oxley act, or sox., standardizing a process., training employees., improving a process., communication., business process mapping symbols.

Here’s one more important entrant in the acronym arena: BPMN. That’s Business Process Modeling Notation, the set of symbols and notations in common use today for modeling. It was developed by the Business Process Management Initiative. It depicts these main components of Business Process Diagrams:

Task or Activity:

Participant:.

Another important mapping concept is called swimlanes , which show who is responsible for specific work. Just like swimlanes in a pool, tasks are shown for a particular participant in a lane, or row, on the map.

Need more detail? See this article on BPMN .

How to do business process mapping

This requires a commitment of time and energy, but the payoff in understanding and analysis can be large. There are four major steps to a mapping initiative:

Identify the process.

Gather information., interview participants and stakeholders., draw the maps and analyze..

To conduct a significant mapping project, you will need to have a support structure in place first. As with any project, you would follow these steps:

Create a project charter or purpose statement

Have an executive sponsor, select the team, plan and conduct the mapping,.

In Business Process Management, the idea is to create a life cycle of continuous improvement. The steps are model, implement, execute, monitor and optimize.

Business Process Mapping is better for some types of processes than others. For example, it usually doesn’t lend itself to diagramming decision-making processes. High level, open-ended decision making often has too many intangibles and wild cards to effectively map. Business Process Mapping is better for the other two types of processes: transformational and transactional, both of which have more clearly defined activities. Transformational refers to processes such as manufacturing or systems development, which take inputs and change their forms, either physical or virtual. Transactional refers to an exchange such as a sales process or any other transaction.

As with any type of diagram, there are situations when another diagram method might be more fitting. For example, a Data Flow Diagram (DFD ), popularized by computing pioneers Ed Yourdon and Larry Constantine in the 1970s, is best at illustrating how information flows through a system or process. Value Stream Mapping (VMS) details the steps required to deliver a product or service. Items are mapped as adding value or not adding value from the customer’s standpoint, with the purpose of rooting out items that don’t add value. And Unified Modeling Language (UML) is used in software engineering to visualize the design of a system.

Key tips for business process mapping

• A skilled practitioner, such as someone trained in Six Sigma, can make a mapping project go much, much smoother. If you don’t have one in house, consider a consultant to work with your internal team.
• Identify metrics of importance. This will enable your mapping to speak effectively with data.
• Interview one or two people at time. If you interview in groups, some people might not speak up or might not want to contradict another person.
• As you interview, keep asking how, where and why. Such as: How do you spend most of your time, and why? Where in the process do you repeat work, and why? Do you ever skip steps? Why? Where are your pain points, and why?
• Be on the lookout for assumptions that may not be true. Keep asking questions until you reach the definitive answer.
• Validate your maps after you initially draw them by reviewing them with participants and your other data sources.

Drawing your map

For a simple process, you might start with Post-It Notes, a white board or a hand-drawn map. However, you might find yourself limited rather quickly as the complexity increases. With chart software, you can draw professional-looking maps that allow for more detail. You also will be able to do subsequent breakdowns with multi-level Business Process Maps, typically ranging from Level 0 (overall view) to Levels 1 through 4 for breakout detail of subprocesses, tasks and flows. Sometimes, a sequence table can be the best way to supplement a map by showing a series of steps. Map software will provide you with the shapes you’ll need to map out the process.

How to do mapping with Lucidchart

Helpful resources.

• Visio BPMN Stencil and Templates
• BPMN Event Types
• BPMN Diagram Symbols & Notation
• BPMN Activity Types
• BPMN Gateway Types
• BPMN & BPMN 2.0 Tutorial
• What is Business Process Modeling Notation

Lucidchart makes it quick and easy to build business process maps that can help improve efficiency within your organization. 

• Concise, focused guide that cuts through the clutter
• Step-by-step instructions for creating a project plan in under a day
• Master essential skills like work breakdowns and task sequencing
• Real-world troubleshooting for 20 common scheduling challenges
• Rapidly get up to speed if you're new to Microsoft Project
• Includes glossary, support resources, and sample plans
• Start planning like a pro
• Get your copy today!

10 Flow Chart examples - FREE downloads [in visio & PDF]

Flow charts are a diagrammatic representation of the inputs, outputs and steps that make up a business process. stakeholdermap.com

• The Top 10 Flow Chart symbols you need to know
• Example flow charts to download

Why you need Lucidchart for Flowcharts!

[Business Process] Maps and flowcharts help make work visible. Increased visibility improves communication and understanding, and provides a common frame of reference for those involved with the work process. Damelio, R. 1996, pg. 1

Flow Chart examples from real world projects

Patient check in flow chart.

Raise Purchase Order Process

Distribution Process Flow Chart

Match Invoice Process

Get References for a New Hire Flow Chart

Project Start-up Flow Chart

Risk Management Process Flow Chart

Service Request - Call Flow Chart

Scrutiny Process

Scrutiny Process second example

Business Readiness Flow Chart

An example Data Flow diagram

Taking the Cat to the Vet - Flow Chart

• Easy to use with a simple drag and drop GUI
• Great pricing! Unlimited digrams for as low as $7.95 / month
• 100s of templates for Flowcharts, UI design, Projects, and Reports
• FREE online training videos, webinars and case studies
• Multiple people can work on a diagram at once
• Share with your team with a click of a button

Example Flow Charts - references and further reading

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Business process flow diagram: How to make one in 6 simple steps

The business process flow diagram is one of the traditional graphical tools used by BPM professionals.

And the reason is very simple: when developed with due care, it is intuitive in interpretation and practical when prepared and submitted to various levels of the organization.

Not that it is a simple and trivial task. On the contrary, the development of an appropriate business process flow diagram and one that is useful for understanding, mapping , and subsequent process improvement , demand a lot of attention and expertise.

In fact, the business process flow diagram is an artifact generated during the scanning process. And this is a point that causes much confusion among some professionals: there is a difference between a business process flow diagram (flow of processes) and the process model.

To help you understand this difference better, we present the definitions of these important concepts of BPM and will then show our step by step guide to building a process flow diagram.

Definition of a business process flow diagram

A business process flow diagram is the simplest and most primary representation of processes. It serves to initiate a further and more complex understanding of the process. It usually doesn’t show exceptions or ‘problems’ that may occur during the process flow.

Process Model Definition

A much more comprehensive and complete definition, the representation must have all of the information necessary for the process to occur, such as process start and termination conditions, the activities and data, rules, documents, process participants, customers and other important factors.

Note that the business process flow diagram is a previous step to the process model, used to assist in its definition during the review process. An intermediate stage between the business process flow diagram and the model is called a process map .

See more: CASE: process mapping example of a company

The 6 steps to making a business process flow diagram

1. determine the main components of the process..

This step is necessary to clarify what the process inputs and their outputs are, as well as their activities.

Check out: Mapping activities and streamlining process techniques

Entries are also called inputs and can be resources, information and other elements that ‘feed’ the process.

Likewise, outputs are the products from the process which can be information, decisions, permits, inputs for other processes, product parts, components, services, end products, etc.

2. Order the activities

The business process flow diagram is (as per its name) flow, so you need to order these activities. Make a list in chronological order.

3. Choose the correct symbols for each activity

There are various notations used to draw process flow diagrams. Thus, correctly indicating each type of activity, using the right symbols, will make it much easier for anyone familiar with the symbols to understand the flow quickly.

Difficulties range from the simplest to the most complex, like the BPMN 2.0 notation . If you are a beginner, choose simple notations, but if you want to delve into the subject and do a more thorough job, use the BPMN 2.0.

Check out: 23 meanings of process flowchart symbols

4. Make the connection between the activities

For this, connectors are used. Usually, arrows and lines, dotted or not. Their meanings are described in the post above. Check it out!

Want to know more about the BPMN 2.0 notation? Check out: http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/2.0/

5. Indicate the beginning and end of the process

It may seem trivial, but showing when the process begins and when it ends is sometimes forgotten by many people. And this is crucial information, used to set limits for the owners of the process, managers, and supervisors.

6. Review your business process diagram

Finished drawing your business process flow diagram? Now it will be easier to understand if it is how it is! Revise, re-study and make sure that your graphical representation of the process is even appropriate.

Wasn’t that step by step simple?

So, watch the video below. It’s one of the lessons of the HEFLO BPMN training and it explains how to create your first BPMN diagram step by step.

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• Business Management
• Process Automation
• Process Documentation
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• Process Mapping
• Process Modeling
• Process Optimization

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A Complete Guide to Business Development Process Flow

Despite your best efforts, you need more leads to hit your revenue goals. Your bottom line takes a hit and so does the growth rate. What's slowing the needle for your business? The lack of a well-structured business development (BD) strategy and team.

A dedicated BD team generates high-value leads that support your business growth over the long term. 

With a well-thought-out business development process flow, you can reach more prospects, qualify leads at scale, create compelling offers and maintain long-term relationships.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the process of business development and give you a step-by-step guide to creating a well-rounded business development strategy. Let’s get to it!

What is business development?

Business development creates growth and expansion opportunities for a business by developing strategic partnerships. Think of it as the spark plug that ignites the combustion engine running your company. 

A business development function designs and implements revenue-generating strategies in collaboration with the sales and marketing teams to boost a company’s bottom line.

Put simply, business development primarily involves:

• Finding opportunities in a specific market.
• Creating long-term value for the business.
• Maintaining lucrative stakeholder relationships.

That said, it's important to note that the role of business development looks different in every organization. It can easily merge with the sales and marketing functions within a company. So, let's look at how business development stack up against sales and marketing.  

Business development vs. sales 

The business development process flow includes lead nurturing , but it doesn't involve closing deals—a sales team function. A BD representative prospects and qualifies a lead, whereas a sales executive converts the lead. BDRs also take care of the post-sale experience, building long-term customer relationships.

Business development vs. marketing

While business development involves transactional activities, marketing focuses on nudging the target buyers down the sales funnel. A marketing team warms prospective buyers to create a need for your product or service. Business development consultants convert this need into deals, bringing new sales through the right channels. 

A look into the ideal business development process flow

The business development process flow is a strategic step-by-step process starting from market research and prospecting to closing the deal and finalizing the paperwork. Let's break down each of these steps. 

Step 1: Prospecting to find new leads 

In simple terms, prospecting refers to finding new business opportunities. But at a granular level, it includes:

• Knowing the product/service.
• Conducting market research.
• Identifying your competitive advantage.
• Conducting a cost analysis from the buyers’ perspective.
• Analyzing the target market size and its potential.

This step also includes a collaborative effort between the business development and marketing teams to expand your brand’s visibility. 

Once the marketing team has set the ground, business development ideas—like networking, sales demos and market segment analysis—come into practice.

Step 2: Qualifying leads to identify the ideal prospects

Prospecting will help you get leads in huge numbers. But there’s no way of knowing if these leads will convert. 

Lead qualification is when reps decide whether a prospective lead meets the characteristics of your ideal customer profile—in terms of pain points, budgets, time and other factors. 

To qualify these leads for the next steps of the buying process, you should:

• Study their profile.
• Discuss their decision-making process.
• Compare your offering versus your competitors.
• Assess their needs against the solutions you’re offering.

Qualifying leads minimizes the time BD reps might waste on chasing prospects that don’t have the financial authority or functional needs for your product/service. It’s simply about separating the wheat from the chaff. 

Step 3: Create an offer

The essence of a strong business development strategy lies in creating a high-converting offer your leads can’t refuse. This is where you need to highlight the main value propositions every lead can resonate with.

Here are a few tried-and-true tips for creating an irresistible offer:

• Carefully analyze all the information you’ve collected about a prospect.
• Fully understand their needs and pain points that you can solve.
• Create a solid proposal with the right words. 

Remember not to oversell your product/service in this offer. Be completely transparent to start a potential relationship on the right note. 

Step 4: Lead nurturing

All of your leads might not convert right after seeing an offer. About 96 percent of your website visitors may not be ready to make a purchase yet. 

Enter—lead nurturing.

It’s the process of nudging leads to the next step in the buying process by building healthy relationships before the deal goes through. Nurturing leads is about winning their trust without hard selling. Here’s how:

• Provide free advice and consultations.
• Align your sales and marketing functions.
• Automate business processes to identify, categorize and target buyers.

You'd be surprised it takes around eight touches on average to convert a lead. So, include multiple approaches and touch points in your business development process flow to convert leads consistently. 

Step 5: Paperwork 

Once you close the deal, the final step is finishing the paperwork. Create a comprehensive sales close plan entailing all the clauses (and more) to ensure you and your clients are on the same page. It can include:

• Cover page.
• Contact details.
• Package inclusions.
• Payment terms.

Training BDRs for your business development process

Training and documentation is the most critical link in the chain if you're building a dream team for the BD function within your company. You need end-to-end process documentation to help BDRs and team leads create repeatable success. 

This is where Scribe can do the heavy lifting on your behalf. 

The documentation tool is designed for busy BD teams looking to create SOPs , stepwise guides and other resources quickly and conveniently. It's the perfect tool to keep all crucial information in one place—for example, this guide on using LinkedIn Sales Navigator . 

How to create your business development strategy: a 6-step guide

Without a detailed business development process, your reps will be left to take their own route with every lead. 

Create a full-fledged business development strategy to set your BD team up for long-term success and align their efforts with the sales and marketing teams. Here's a 6-step guide to follow:

1. Be crystal clear about your audience

Start with defining your target audience. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? But there’s a lot more to it. Narrow down and create a framework that includes the types of buyers, age, gender, income and preferences, among other factors. 

Be as specific as possible because clearly defining your target audience will give you a better understanding of how you can reach them.

2. Understand the market & competition

Once you’re clear about your target audience, conducting a deep market analysis is the next step. Evaluate the market to determine where you stand. How, you may wonder?

Try to learn about your target customers’ needs and how you can fulfill them better than your competitors. 

Here’s how Google did it. In 2002, when AOL (America Online) was almost synonymous with the internet, Google closed the deal and won the competitive gain. How did they do it?

The tech giant built a relationship with AOL and beat its biggest competitor – Overture. This gave Google a competitive advantage for years to come.

3. Set goals & metrics to guide the team

Set clear, specific goals to ensure your team is always on the right track. Make these results measurable, time-bound and attainable so you can continuously monitor your team's progress. Goals are the key to unlocking business process optimization that reduces errors and enhances efficiency.

4. Create a realistic budget for the strategy

No matter how strong your strategy is, it can fall flat without a budget. Create a realistic budget to get all the resources required to hit all targets. That said, don’t keep yourself from pushing the budget a little. If your plan works out, you’ll be able to recover all of it.

5. Build systematic workflows for efficiency 

The business development process is a rather complicated one—a BDR would know that best. With so many moving parts in the process, it’s best to create a systematic workflow to implement your business development strategy. 

This workflow will also let your BD, sales and marketing teams function collaboratively throughout the implementation process.

Here are a few handy tools to build an airtight business development process:

• Kissflow Process : It’s a no-code tool that helps organizations automate repetitive business processes and create workflows in tandem with stakeholders.
• Zoho Creator : A non-technical person’s playhouse , Zoho Creator is a low-code app development platform for designing, developing and running business software.
• Scribe : Every BDR’s haven, Scribe is a process documentation tool that lets you record a process and convert it into a step-by-step guide in a few seconds. ‍

6. Document your strategy & processes 

Creating an action plan is just the first step. You also need to document the entire plan to monitor the progress of your business development strategy and keep a close track of your team’s performance.

While documentation might seem like an unnecessary extra step to some, a documentation tool like Scribe can make it look effortless . It’s 15x faster than manual documentation , super convenient to use and easily accessible across devices—it can’t get any better than this!

Boost your bottom line with a strong business development program

The role of business development starts with identifying and reaching out to potential leads and ( never ) ends with building a lasting relationship with customers. 

A strong business development program is a non-negotiable aspect of running a business successfully. Use this start-to-finish to create a solid BD strategy and train your team to boost revenue while nurturing strong relationships with your prospects.

While at it, remember to optimize the business development process flow using tools like Scribe to ensure you achieve your goals as efficiently as possible!

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• Business process analysis (BPA) explain ...

Business process analysis (BPA) explained

A business process analysis is a method to review the processes that govern your business operations. This process includes five steps: reviewing processes, collecting data, analyzing processes, identifying opportunities for improvement, and making changes. Learn more about BPAs and how to use them, below.

But they’re not a set it and forget it tool. Over time, processes can break down or become outdated. You need to routinely review and analyze them to determine if they’re still effective. If they’re not, you’ll want to look for opportunities to improve them. These reviews, or business process analyses, are highly beneficial for your company. Successful business process analyses can generate more revenue, spur growth, and streamline business operations. 

What is business process analysis (BPA)?

Business process analysis, or BPA, is a method designed to help you review your processes. Processes are repeatable groups of tasks or steps in a workflow that produce a certain result. For example, you might have an onboarding process for new hires or a process for reviewing quarterly goals. There are also broader business processes, such as the decision making processes used in planning sessions. 

BPAs fall under the business process management (BPM) umbrella, which encompasses the analysis of your business processes, their maintenance, and improvement. In business process analysis, a business analyst reviews your existing processes and determines if they are still effective, or if it might be time for an update.

Business process analysis vs. business analysis

The key differentiator between a BPA and business analysis is that BPA’s are focused solely on the processes, whereas a full business analysis looks at your business as a whole. 

For example, if you want to update the process for tracking finances, you would need a BPA. Your business analyst would review the steps and actions your team takes to track budgets, purchasing, and revenue. If, however, you’re more interested in determining business profitability, you’d use a full business analysis to review your finances.

Why should you conduct a business process analysis?

Business process analyses can have a huge impact on your business. Robust analyses go beyond inputs and outputs to determine the core values of your processes and show you where there are opportunities for improvement. 

Among the many benefits, business process analyses can help you:

Identify gaps: BPAs show you missing links in your most important operations. Often, these directly affect your bottom line, especially when you’re looking at processes for hiring, invoicing, or closing deals.

Outline all available resources: If you’re unsure when to say no to a new project, a BPA can help. It outlines all available resources for each process you’d need, similar to capacity planning . This way, you know your capacity and availability for the additional work.

Create new processes that align with current culture and climate: Sometimes, cultural or environmental changes significantly impact your business processes. Take the COVID-19 pandemic. First, teams had to determine how to manage a remote team and then how to safely return to office, with many back and forths in between. BPAs help you to create an entirely new process when the current climate demands.

Reduce redundancies, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks: According to our research , the average knowledge worker spent 129 hours on duplicated work in 2021. Talk about a waste! BPAs help you improve your process to reduce or eliminate duplicate work. By showing you opportunities to add in reusable templates or rely on automation, you can reduce work about work .

Improve employee adoption: The better your processes are, the more people will use them. By routinely analyzing your processes, you’re doing two things: showing your employees that you care about how they work and making workflows more efficient.

Create a better process flow : Ultimately, your process should keep changing with your work. BPAs create a better process model for your processes—which is a complicated way of saying, they make it easier to create routine changes and updates in real-time.

The 5 steps of business process analysis

Implementing a business process analysis cycle on your team will take some adjusting. Remember, most BPA’s won’t be managed by you directly—unless you’re a business analyst. This is something you’ll likely want to hire out for or, depending on your needs, create a dedicated in-house role to oversee. Regardless of how you launch BPA’s in your company, by following these five steps, you can build a solid foundation for them to take hold and grow.

1. Review how your processes fit into the bigger picture

Your processes should all lead back to larger initiatives and business goals . Processes are the “how” of your business—this is how we achieve our goals. But they should connect to your “why.” For example, if your company’s vision statement is to give everyone in the world easier access to healthcare, every process you create should support this. 

The first step in your BPA will be to review existing processes and see how they fit into workflows, departments, and ultimately, those long-term goals that support your company mission .

2. Collect information on what’s happening now

This is the data gathering stage. Before you can analyze your processes, you need to know exactly how they work. The best way to do this is by speaking with the people who use them the most. Interview key stakeholders , create surveys, and review associated KPIs and metrics. This step will take a bit more time than other steps, but it’s worth it to get a full understanding of the process before making any changes. 

For example, if you’re analyzing how your product team assesses and triages their product backlogs , you’d want to interview the developers responsible for them. You’d also want to look at the key performance indicators of current processes, such as how many items remain in the backlog after an Agile sprint is complete. 

3. Analyze and map your data

Now it’s time for the analysis. Here, you’ll want to compile all your data, including:

All process steps

Relevant process diagrams

Associated team members

Current success metrics and KPIs

You can use business process mapping to create a visual layout of your processes and workflows so it’s easier to review them. Process mapping helps you create a flowchart or other visual map of the current sequences and steps so you can better visualize processes. In this layout, it’s easier to identify patterns and gaps in your process flow. 

4. Identify opportunities for improvement

During the analysis step, you’ll identify redundancies and gaps. These are prime areas for improvement. For example, let's say your analysis shows developers are spending 3 days planning a sprint backlog. Based on interviews with stakeholders and analysis of meeting schedules, you realize different time zones are causing the delay. In this case, new technology options that foster asynchronous communication would make it easier for the team to communicate and reduce the amount of time they spend communicating.  

5. Make changes

Business process improvement (BPI) is where you take action on everything you’ve learned. After your BPA, you’ll use BPIs to adapt and make changes to your processes with a focus on increasing profitability. A BPA is your discovery guide, showing you the in’s and out’s of your business processes. The last and final step is to use all of this information to implement changes that improve these processes or help you create new ones.  

How do you perform a business process analysis?

The business analyst you hire for your BPAs will likely have their own methods and preferred business process analysis tools, but here are some common ones:

Root cause analysis : Use this analysis to identify the foundation of your processes and ensure it connects back to your company’s larger goals.

SWOT analysis : SWOT is an acronym that stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This can be a helpful analysis because it gives you insight into how your processes are succeeding and where they can improve.

Gap analysis : Gap analyses show you what’s missing in your processes when compared to your larger company goals.

What tools should you use for a business process analysis?

To conduct a BPA, you need an effective business process analysis tool that can keep all of your data in one central source of truth. It works best in a project management tool , where you can automate tasks, generate reports, and send status updates instantly. This ensures that all stakeholders can see the BPA happening in real-time, and that it functions in line with all your business process automations . 

When should you use business process analysis?

Most business processes benefit from continuous improvement , but there are situations where a BPA is more helpful than others. 

Business process analysis is best:

For older, potentially outdated processes.

When you notice a fall in productivity or high turnover in certain areas.

When launching a new product or team structure to determine if it’s viable long-term.

The unsung hero of your business operations

Business process analyses peek behind the scenes of your business operations. They show you how you, your team, and your business works. This information is a goldmine of possibilities—use the results of your BPA to boost productivity and improve workflows . Or who knows, your next great growth strategy might just lie within your existing processes.

Automating your processes allows you to do more, with less. Create templates in Asana for recurring processes and easily update them with every business process analysis.

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What is management by objectives (MBO)?

Business Flow Chart

Ai generator.

Charts, as we know, are often used in representing information in a visual sense. Because charts use images or symbols in presenting information, and can be easily devised, people rely on them in the delivery of information.

As we’ve seen them a lot since school days, we’re familiar of the different types of charts, such as pie chart, bar chart, line chart, etc. A flowchart examples, is another type of chart typically used to represent order of things, or step-by-step processes.

Business Plan Flow Chart

Size: 75 KB

Flow Chart for Startup Business

Size: 43 KB

Business Process Flow Chart

Size: 84 KB

Business Development Flow Chart

Size: 24 KB

What Is a Business Flowchart?

As the name implies, a business flowchart is a flowchart intended for business processes. Just like any other flowcharts, business flowcharts contain a series of steps, or processes, which in this case are created for a business or an organization. Business flowcharts vary in appearance and content, depending on the people who devised them.

Example of business flowcharts samples are business development flowchart which indicates the flow of processes or items to be considered in building development.

 Advantages of a Business Flowchart

A business flowchart have countless advantages to a business and its employees. I believe it is necessary for one to recognize those advantages in order to realize the benefits of using business flowcharts. Here are some of those advantages:

• Business flowcharts promote proper communication.
• Business flowcharts provide information in an appealing way.
• Business flowcharts promote better understanding and comprehension.
• Business flowcharts efficiently map different processes and workflow inside a company or business.
• Business flowcharts provide an effective training guide to new employees.
• Business flowcharts provide a better way of memorizing the processes listed.

Small Business Flow Chart

Size: 233 KB

Business Continuity Flow Chart

Size: 280 KB

Flow Chart for Business Communication

Size: 418 KB

How to Create a Business Flowchart

Creating a business flowchart can be fun in so many ways. However, you might find this a burden especially when you have a lot already in your hands. So to make the process easier and more fun, here are some tips you need to consider in creating a business flowchart.

• Determine what kind of flowchart you’re creating, and why you’re creating it. Treat this as your end goal. Trust me, this will motivate you better.
• Know what points to include in your flowchart. The information and steps will vary depending on what kind of flowchart you want to create. You can do proper research, and determine the proper contents to include.
• Write the content simply and clearly. If you’re writing about processes, you need to write the instructions clearly so they’re easier to follow. This is to, of course, avoid confusion on your readers’ part.
• Make it brief. Keeping your flowchart concise will cut the reading time of your readers, and will give them more time in understanding and following the processes.
• Insert a hint of creativity. In other words, not too much. You may add a few shapes and colors to make your flowchart appealing, but try to minimize them, and keep them consistent.
• Polish your work. Best way to do this is to get rid of any error spelling and grammatical errors. Ask someone to check you business flowchart example for possible errors and areas for improvement.

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What is a Business Roadmap: Definition and Examples

What is a Business Roadmap?

A business roadmap visually outlines major objectives and strategies for a company, making it clear how different roles, tasks, and responsibilities come together to achieve specific goals. Essentially, it provides a high-level overview of the path your organization intends to follow, breaking down complex plans into manageable phases that everyone can understand.

Business roadmaps serve a critical role in aligning diverse departments and stakeholders towards common goals, ensuring everyone is on the same page. They include specific tasks, responsibilities, and timelines to help guide the execution phase of your strategic plan. Through a well-structured business roadmap, your company can easily visualize what needs to be done and when, making it simpler to track progress and adapt as situations evolve.

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Purpose of a Business Roadmap

The primary purpose of a business roadmap is to visualize actions and timelines in transforming a company’s vision into reality. This aids in strategic goal achievement and provides a clear plan of action for different departments and teams.

Who Uses a Business Roadmap

A business roadmap is a strategic planning tool that is used by various stakeholders within an organization to align on business objectives and to visualize the timeline and progress of projects. It is primarily utilized by senior executives and managers to plan and communicate the direction of the business.

Additionally, product managers, marketing teams, and sales departments use roadmaps to synchronize their strategies and initiatives with the overall business goals. Even external stakeholders, such as investors and clients, may refer to the business roadmap to understand the company’s vision, priorities, and growth trajectory. Essentially, anyone involved in the strategic planning and execution of a company’s objectives can benefit from a well-structured business roadmap.

Benefits of a Business Roadmap

A business roadmap is more than just a strategic guide; it is a powerful tool that delivers numerous benefits to an organization. Here are some key advantages:

Facilitates Clear Communication: A business roadmap provides a visual summary of strategic goals, ensuring that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the direction the company is heading. This clarity helps in aligning efforts across departments.

Visual Summary of Key Initiatives: By laying out major initiatives and their timelines, a business roadmap helps in tracking progress and ensuring that critical milestones are met. It serves as a reference point for all team members, highlighting what needs to be achieved and by when.

Enhances Alignment Across Departments: One of the biggest advantages of a business roadmap is its ability to break down silos within an organization. By making objectives, tasks, and responsibilities visible, it promotes collaboration and ensures that every department is working towards the same overarching goals.

Allows for Real-Time Updates: In a dynamic business environment, strategies and priorities can change rapidly. A business roadmap offers the flexibility to make real-time updates, ensuring that the plan remains aligned with evolving goals and market conditions.

The importance of a business roadmap cannot be overstated. It not only facilitates effective communication and alignment but also allows for adaptive and timely decision-making. By providing a comprehensive visual mapping of strategies and initiatives, it keeps leadership and teams in sync, paving the way for successful execution of strategic goals.

Differences Between a Business Plan and a Business Roadmap

Understanding the difference between a business plan and a business roadmap is crucial for effective strategic planning and execution. While both are essential tools for business growth, they serve distinct purposes.

A business plan is a comprehensive, text-heavy document that outlines the company’s vision, market analysis, financials, and overall strategy. It serves as a foundational document primarily used for securing funding and providing a detailed snapshot of the business’s goals and how it plans to achieve them. Business plans typically include an executive summary, product and service descriptions, market overview, marketing strategies, and financial projections.

In contrast, a business roadmap is a visual tool that highlights specific tasks, responsibilities, and timelines needed to achieve the business plan’s objectives. Unlike the static nature of a business plan, roadmaps are dynamic and focus on the execution phase. They offer a clear, real-time visual representation of ongoing and upcoming initiatives, making them essential for maintaining alignment across different departments and teams.

By understanding these key differences, businesses can better utilize both tools to ensure comprehensive planning and effective execution. For those looking to create detailed and visually engaging roadmaps, leveraging tools like Creately can simplify the process and enhance collaboration.

Components of a Business Roadmap

A comprehensive business roadmap serves as a visual strategy tool that assists in aligning various departments and stakeholders towards common business goals. To create an effective business roadmap, it’s crucial to include certain key elements that guide the organization towards achieving its strategic objectives:

The guiding star of your roadmap, the vision serves as a powerful aspirational statement. It outlines the future state of your organization, encapsulating your long-term goals and ambitions. A clear vision statement serves as a source of inspiration and motivation, uniting your team towards a shared purpose.

Strategic Goals and Initiatives

Translating your vision into actionable terms, goals represent the measurable objectives you strive to achieve. Effective goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Clearly defined goals set the stage for strategic planning and focused execution. The goal setting process includes broad strategies and specific initiatives that drive towards these goals.

Milestones serve as checkpoints along the roadmap, signifying significant accomplishments towards your goals. These markers provide a sense of progress and achievement, keeping your team motivated and on track.

The roadmap should articulate the “how” behind achieving your goals. This section outlines the strategic initiatives you’ll undertake, considering factors like market analysis and the competitive landscape. A well-defined strategy translates ambition into actionable steps.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPIs are the metrics you’ll use to gauge progress towards your goals. By tracking relevant KPIs, you can assess the effectiveness of your strategies and identify areas for improvement. Effective KPIs should be quantifiable and aligned with your overall goals.

A successful roadmap considers the resources required to achieve your goals. This includes human resources, financial resources, technological resources, and any other assets necessary to execute your plan. A realistic assessment of resources ensures your roadmap remains grounded in feasibility.

Risk Management Plan

The road to success is rarely without obstacles. A proactive risk management plan anticipates potential challenges and outlines strategies to mitigate them. By addressing risks upfront, you can safeguard your roadmap from unforeseen roadblocks.

Stakeholder Engagement Plan

Successful roadmap execution hinges on effective stakeholder engagement . This plan outlines how you’ll communicate the roadmap to key stakeholders, address their concerns, and secure their buy-in. Regular communication fosters transparency and ensures everyone is aligned with the overall strategy.

A defined timeline sets the timeframe for achieving milestones and goals. Timelines should be realistic and achievable, considering resource constraints and dependencies. A clear timeline keeps everyone accountable and promotes a sense of urgency. Read more about creating timelines .

Task Assignments and Responsibilities

Clearly defined tasks, roles and responsibilities help in the distribution of workload and establish accountability among team members. Additionally, utilizing effective task management practices helps identifying priorities and ensures that work is completed timely.

Dependencies

Highlighting dependencies between tasks indicates how different pieces of the puzzle come together. This helps in understanding the sequence and interrelation of activities.

Review and Update Mechanisms

The business landscape is dynamic, and so should your roadmap. Regular reviews allow you to assess progress, identify adjustments, and ensure the roadmap remains relevant in the face of changing circumstances. Establishing a mechanism for review and updates guarantees your roadmap stays current and continues to guide your organization towards success.

Examples of Different Business Roadmaps

A business roadmap is an essential tool for any organization, adaptable to various strategic needs. Here, we’ll explore several types of business roadmaps with examples to illustrate how they align unique business objectives.

Strategic Roadmap

A strategic roadmap aligns long-term goals with overarching business objectives. It typically includes milestones like fundraising rounds or multi-year revenue targets. This roadmap helps ensure that every department’s initiatives support the company’s big-picture vision.

Startup Roadmap

A startup roadmap is crucial for new businesses. It prioritizes initial activities necessary for establishing a market presence and scaling operations. Given the chaotic environment of startups, this roadmap remains flexible, adapting swiftly to changes while keeping the ultimate vision in focus.

Business Development Roadmap

The business development roadmap focuses on market expansion and revenue growth. It includes plans for entering new markets, enhancing customer engagement, and boosting sales volumes. This type often spans a one-year period, detailing specific tasks for rapid growth.

Data Strategy Roadmap

A data strategy roadmap centers on improving data management and analytics. It lays out initiatives for data collection, storage, and analysis, ensuring that data insights directly inform business decisions. This roadmap helps businesses leverage data for improved efficiency and effectiveness.

Creately features business roadmap templates that can streamline your strategic planning process, saving you valuable time and effort.

How to Create a Business Roadmap

Creating an effective business roadmap entails a thoughtful process that ensures alignment across different departments and teams. Here’s how you can create a comprehensive and adaptive business roadmap:

Set Clear Goals

Start by defining your business’s strategic goals. These should be high-level objectives that you aim to achieve in the long term. For instance, increasing market share or improving customer satisfaction.

Gather Relevant Information from All Departments

Compile data and insights from various departments. This includes market analysis, customer feedback, financial data, and technology assessments. Using tools like Creately’s business roadmap templates can streamline this phase.

Organize Tasks and Objectives into Themes

Group related tasks and objectives into themes to provide better clarity and context. This thematic organization helps in understanding the broader picture and facilitates more targeted planning.

Prioritize Initiatives Based on Importance and Impact

Determine which initiatives have the highest impact on your strategic goals and prioritize them accordingly. This ensures that your efforts are focused on the most critical aspects of your strategy.

Add Specific Time Frames for Each Task

Assign realistic time frames to each task and initiative. This helps in monitoring progress and maintaining momentum toward achieving your goals.

Regularly Review and Revise the Roadmap

A business roadmap should be a living document. Regularly review and update it to reflect any changes in goals, market conditions, or internal priorities. This ensures that your roadmap remains relevant and effective.

Tips to Create Effective Business Roadmaps

Creating a business roadmap isn’t just about plotting out timelines and tasks. It involves strategic foresight and meticulous planning. Here are some best practices to ensure your roadmap is effective:

Ensure Clear and Measurable Outcomes: Every initiative on your roadmap should have a clear and measurable outcome. This helps in tracking progress and demonstrating the roadmap’s value.

Use Themes to Group Related Tasks: Grouping related tasks under common themes solidifies context, making it easier to communicate and understand the roadmap’s overall structure.

Regularly Update and Communicate Changes: Regular updates are crucial to maintain alignment with evolving goals and strategies. Make sure to communicate these changes to all stakeholders to keep everyone on the same page.

Utilize Visual Tools and Templates: Tools like Creately provide powerful visual aids and templates that enhance engagement and ensure clarity in your business roadmap.

Adopting these practices will transform your business roadmap into a dynamic strategic tool that drives better alignment and execution across your organization. Moreover, leveraging platforms like Creately can streamline the entire process, offering visual strategy mapping and real-time data integration to make adaptive and timely decisions.

Case Studies and Examples

Understanding how different companies successfully implement business roadmaps can provide valuable insights and inspiration. Let’s explore a few practical examples:

Startups Focusing on Initial Market Entry: For startups, business roadmaps often emphasize high-level planning and agility. A startup roadmap might include milestones for product development, initial market deployment, customer acquisition strategies, and funding rounds. This approach helps startups remain flexible and adapt to the fast-paced changes typical in the early stages of a business. Creately can assist by providing visual strategy mapping that allows startups to easily adapt and communicate their plans.

Established Businesses Targeting New Market Expansions: As businesses grow, their roadmaps evolve to focus on market expansion and scaling. For instance, a company might outline steps for launching in new regions, forming strategic partnerships, or diversifying product offerings.

Data-Driven Roadmaps for Improving Business Intelligence and Analytics: Companies aiming to enhance their business intelligence (BI) capabilities can benefit from a dedicated BI roadmap. This type of roadmap might highlight initiatives such as implementing new data analytics tools, improving data quality, and optimizing reporting processes.

Showcasing Successful Implementations and Outcomes: Examining case studies of companies that have successfully used business roadmaps to achieve their goals can be particularly enlightening. For example, a global retailer might have used a comprehensive eCommerce roadmap to coordinate product launches, marketing campaigns, and technology updates around key retail dates.

Understanding the application of a business roadmap is critical for any organization that aims to streamlined execution of business operations and alignment with strategic goals. The advantages of having a well-defined business roadmap are manifold, including enhanced communication, clear visualization of key initiatives, and improved real-time updates and adjustments. These benefits ensure that different departments and stakeholders are on the same page, working cohesively towards shared objectives.

Using a tool like Creately can significantly simplify the process of creating and maintaining effective business roadmaps. With Creately’s features dedicated to visual strategy mapping, real-time data integration, and collaboration, it provides a comprehensive platform for better strategic planning and decision-making.

Business roadmaps are not just about plotting out tasks but also about painting a holistic picture of the company’s future. From startups aiming to hit their initial growth milestones to established enterprises looking to expand their market presence, every business can benefit from a meticulously crafted roadmap. By combining long-term vision with actionable steps, business roadmaps transform strategic goals into tangible results.

Finally, it is essential to realize that creating a business roadmap is not a one-time task. Regularly updating and communicating the roadmap ensures it remains relevant and effective, reflecting any changes in the business environment or strategic goals. With the right tools and practices, businesses can harness the full potential of roadmaps to achieve their desired outcomes.

Join over thousands of organizations that use Creately to brainstorm, plan, analyze, and execute their projects successfully.

FAQs About Business Roadmaps

In simpler terms, the strategy is the “what” and the “why,” while the roadmap is the “how” and “when.”

A business roadmap is essentially a visual plan that outlines how a business will achieve its strategic goals. It’s a more tactical document, focusing on specific actions, timelines, and dependencies. Essentially, it’s the “how” to execute the business strategy.

A business strategy is a broader, high-level plan that defines a company’s overall direction. It outlines the company’s vision, mission, and how it plans to compete in the market. A business strategy is often broken down into three key components:

Foundation: The core of the business, including its vision, mission, and business model.

Market: Understanding the target customers and competitive landscape.

Imperatives: The specific actions or initiatives required to achieve the overall strategy.

While the roadmap is a detailed implementation plan, the strategy is the overarching blueprint that guides the roadmap’s creation.

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Hansani has a background in journalism and marketing communications. She loves reading and writing about tech innovations. She enjoys writing poetry, travelling and photography.

S&OP and its impact on logistics processes

Coordinating and communicating across a company’s various departments to shape its operational plan — i.e., S&OP — is a best practice that fosters more resilient supply chains. But what exactly is S&OP?

What is sales and operations planning?

S&OP  is an integrated business management process that aligns demand, supply, and finances. It plays a crucial role in a company’s overall strategic planning. Designed to support decision-making , it serves as an operational road map to balance supply with demand.

S&OP near-term planning typically takes place monthly . It encompasses all operational areas — sales, marketing, manufacturing, product development, and accounting — to ensure cooperation in fulfilling the company’s financial and organizational objectives. S&OP offers a comprehensive view by sharing the organization’s goals with all departments so they can contribute their perspective. Long-term planning typically extends to between 18 and 36 months.

Optimizing resources and maximizing profits leads to more efficient and resilient supply chains. S&OP uses overall aggregate demand as a baseline and compares the expected demand with the available supply of resources, equipment, labor, and capacity. This enables the business to reach a consensus decision on what steps it should take.

What’s the purpose of S&OP?

Taking time to develop S&OP helps answer questions such as what resources you’ll need to meet your targets, how the expected demand compares with the projected supply, and what actions are required. S&OP objectives can be divided into two major groups:

Strategic objectives

Improve inventory management. A warehouse management system (WMS) is a valuable tool for this goal.

Establish synergies between different departments.

Anticipate possible complications to solve them more proactively.

Build customer loyalty through excellent service.

Increase company competitiveness.

Operational objectives

Plan product launches, end-of-life cycles, and the introduction of new items or business lines.

Standardize operations, promotions, and events in the coming months (in the short, medium, or long term).

Reduce inventory when necessary and avoid shrinkage.

Eliminate stockouts to improve service.

Obtain more accurate forecasts through information sharing.

What are the benefits of S&OP?

According to Micheal Youssef , a senior director analyst with Gartner , “S&OP is the single most important and critical cross-functional process. If S&OP is done properly, it leads to significant returns, including increased revenue and profitability.”

Moreover, this practice enhances the planning structure of businesses. Maintaining good communication throughout your organization so that teams focus on achieving a common goal can be challenging. But S&OP integrates all needs into a single road map that also incorporates company strategies. Here are some advantages of implementing this model:

Greater profitability. Having a cohesive plan translates into first-rate customer service with shorter delivery times. It reduces inventory, waste, and shipping and maintenance costs. At the same time, it results in lower costs per item sold and drives sales growth.

Shorter planning cycles. By accelerating decision-making, the time to market for new products speeds up, increasing competitive advantage and revenue growth.

Better interdepartmental communication. S&OP fosters consensus and keeps the various company areas focused on achieving the same goal.

What are the key elements of S&OP?

S&OP can be developed in very different ways depending on the nature of each organization. However, they all tend to follow certain steps outlined by Thomas Wallace and Robert Stahl in Sales and operations planning: The how-to handbook .

• Data gathering. This consists of collecting information on sales and trends. It also involves incorporating new items, discontinuing others, and applying the Pareto law for forecasting.
• Demand planning. In this phase, it’s necessary to validate forecasts and consider promotions, special events, and product launches.
• Supply planning. Evaluate available capacity, inventory, and required operations.
• Pre-S&OP meeting. Once supply and demand plans are created, they must be reviewed by decision-makers from each functional area to adapt and improve them. The goal is to agree on necessary changes to achieve financial targets and objectives.
• Executive S&OP meeting. Once completed, this plan integrates all planning activities with a focus on consensus and collaboration among teams.

Tips for a successful S&OP

Well-executed S&OP is highly beneficial for supply chain managers . US consulting firm Gartner proposes five recommendations to make the process as effective as possible. S&OP must:

• Be decision-oriented. These meetings focus on deciding and managing exceptions, not on reviewing what happened during the previous week. Analyses and data sheets should be reviewed beforehand. To make decision-making the core element, ensure that at least 80% of the topics to be discussed include some form of resolution.
• Focus on delivering company objectives. All meetings must align with executive priorities and add value to the organization.
• Be a medium-term process. Although the process can extend over longer time frames, at the latest, S&OP should focus on what will occur within 18 to 24 months. This will make it possible to plan operations in good time and at a reasonable cost.
• Be scenario-based. Business leaders anticipate potential events before they occur to respond to them quickly.
• Always evolve. Although some improvements may be gradual, changes can also occur more rapidly if the situation calls for it.

Plan your warehouse with Interlake Mecalux

Nowadays, businesses no longer have to wait weeks to execute their next S&OP cycle. Digital tools provide them with up-to-date information in real time. WMS software, for example, continuously collects data on stock, including its origin, location, and destination.

Are you thinking about digitalizing or automating your warehouse? At Interlake Mecalux , we can help you. Contact us , and we’ll analyze your logistics needs to offer you the solution that best meets them.

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Ready to Start the Business Valuation Process? Here’s What to Expect

• Contributor
• Jeremy C. Jennings

Aug 16, 2024

So, you know you need a business valuation , but you’re not sure what the valuation process entails. Business owners who experience a valuation for the first time are often surprised by the robust process that valuation professionals use to determine the value of a business. Here’s an overview of what you can expect in each step.

Step 1: Finding the Right Fit

While there are many qualified business valuation professionals, it’s important to find one with the professional training and experience that matches your specific needs, based on factors such as the purpose of the valuation, the size of your business, your industry niche, and more. Additional considerations that can help you find the right provider include:

• A valuator who specializes in assessing small and midsized, closely held businesses will bring added perspective about the factors that drive value for your unique business.
• A valuation provider who is part of a team with broad business advisory experience brings perspective to the role; focusing exclusively on valuations can lead to limitations based on a narrow focus.
• A team that works with buyers as well as sellers will understand what purchasers are thinking about when they explore a potential deal, so they can view your business through the lens of a prospective buyer.
• Similarly, being regularly cross-examined helps professionals who provide valuation services in divorce and litigation proceedings become adept at seeing the business from different angles.

The initial call is a chance for you to ask questions to help you learn about the provider’s process as well as their experience, availability, and fees. You’ll want to make sure they’re available when you need services. (Timing of a valuation can be especially important in estate planning .)

They’ll ask about your reasons for seeking a valuation, your industry, and basic information about your business. Your answers will help them understand what type of valuation you need — a calculation report or a valuation report — or if you need a formal valuation at all. They’ll let you know whether they can help you, and if so, they’ll give you options based on the purpose of the valuation and the type of valuation that’s most appropriate for your situation.

Step 2: Information Gathering

Once you’ve retained a valuation professional, you’ll need to provide a wide variety of details to help them understand your business. Gathering the required data and documentation may take just a few days for a small business, or as long as several months for larger or more complex organizations. This phase materially impacts the length of your valuation engagement. Once the valuation professional receives the requested information, expect them to return their results roughly 60 to 90 days later, in most cases.

A typical request list might include:

• Tax returns and financial statements dating back five years or more
• Ownership schedules and shareholder agreements
• Details of all transactions involving ownership stakes in the company
• Key performance indicators for five years or more — relevant metrics that aren’t reported on financial statements, e.g., gallons produced, products sold, number of new customers, customer retention rate, and cost of customer acquisition
• Fixed assets, capital expenditures, and depreciation schedules
• Leases and other legal contracts
• Marketing materials
• Trade association benchmarks, if applicable

Step 3: Financial and Nonfinancial Analysis

Your valuation professional will use the information you provided to analyze the company’s normalized cash flow and estimate a future cash flow stream. They’ll also assess the risk associated with achieving that cash flow stream and expected growth.

Step 4: Site Visits and Management Interview

Your valuation team will want to see the business in action so they can assess the company’s facilities and operations. They’ll ask a management team leader to show them around the site and answer questions about business processes and workflow.

Then, they’ll sit down with the leader to ask more detailed questions to gain a deeper understanding of things like:

• Factors that drive cash flow
• Products and services you offer
• Management and ownership structures and relationships
• Your customer base, market area, and competitors
• Supply chain and vendor arrangements

Management’s expectations for cash flow and growth

Step 5: valuation analysis.

Armed with information from multiple sources, the valuation professional must determine the optimal valuation method before they can crunch the numbers. They’ll consider each primary valuation approach — including the income approach , the asset approach , and the market approach — weighing each one’s relative strengths and weaknesses in the context of your specific business situation. Then they’ll draw upon their training and experience to synthesize everything they’ve learned about the company to arrive at an estimated value.

Step 6: Communicating the Valuation Report

The valuation team will communicate the results of their assessment to you in writing. They’ll typically provide a first draft of the report in PDF form for you to review. As you review, make sure all the facts that they’re basing their valuation on are correct — misheard or misreported information can make the valuation less accurate. You and your valuation analyst can discuss any potential factual issues via email or phone before the valuation report is finalized.

When the report is complete, you’ll have a formal conclusion of value or calculation of value, depending on the type of valuation you opted to pursue.

Leveraging Insights from the Valuation Process

Besides the current value of the company, a report prepared by a professional who is accredited in business valuation may offer insights about opportunities to improve the value of the business. 

Those opportunities will likely be presented in very general terms within the valuation report, since this kind of forward-looking consulting is not usually included within the scope of a valuation. However, an additional consulting engagement with the valuation team can be a worthwhile investment that can help you identify and prioritize ways to build the value of your business.

Finding Actionable Answers

Your business is worth the world to you. Your years of hard work are what got it here — but they also make objectivity impossible. Whether you’re seeking new investment or looking to exit the company, only a qualified valuation specialist can give you the unbiased insights you need to satisfy potential lenders, buyers, and other third parties. Reach out to the experienced business valuation professionals at CRI for answers you can count on, so you can make your next move with confidence.

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Overview of the plan to produce business process flow and its relationship to other processes

• 2 contributors

Applies to: Dynamics 365 Finance, Dynamics 365 Guides, Dynamics 365 Human Resources, Dynamics 365 Project Operations, Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Power Apps, Power BI, Power Automate

This article describes the plan to produce end-to-end business process flow and its relationship to other business processes that can be used within Dynamics 365.

Plan to produce process relationship

The following diagram shows the relationship of other processes and products/features for the plan to produce process. Each solid gray rectangle on the diagram represents an end-to-end business process. The solid blue rectangle represents the business process area. The diagram shows the subprocesses for the business process area. The arrows on the diagram show the flow of the business process in an organization. If a subprocess can lead to more than one other subprocess, the parallel subprocesses are shown as branches.

The upstream processes for the plan to produce process include the following list:

• Acquire to dispose

One of the types of assets that are managed in the acquire to dispose process is production equipment, which is then used as part of the plan to produce process.

Design to retire

The design to retire process is used to define what the organization produces, and how it produces those products.

• Forecast to plan

In certain operational strategies, such as make-to-stock, you create the forecast to then create the production plan. Organizations also use the planning process to create the initial production schedule.

Hire to retire

The hire to retire process includes labor planning, which defines the capacity for production operations, and the hiring process is run in order to staff human resources for production.

Inventory to deliver

The inventory to deliver business process manages movement of materials before production, including the movement of materials to the production input location.

• Order to cash

In make-to-order and similar operational strategies, sales orders are the trigger to begin planning for production.

• Source to pay

Organizations need to procure materials for use in production before the production process beginning.

• Project to profit

For job shop manufacturing or engineer-to-order operational strategies, projects define the scope and activities that drive the production process.

Prospect to quote

Engineering-to-order scenarios define the parameters and design for products through the quotation process that is then followed by the plan to produce process.

Record to report

Organizations must set up the chart of accounts, costing sheet, and overhead policies along with other financial configurations before they can start tracking estimated and actual costs in production.

The second column in the diagram displays the business process areas, which are:

Define production strategies

Plan production operations

Run production operations

Outsource production orders

Control production quality

Track production costs

For more information on the business process areas, see Plan to produce business process areas .

The third column in the diagram displays the downstream business process including the following list:

Production equipment is tracked and maintained as part of the acquire to dispose business process.

• Case to resolution

The case to resolution process can include reporting issues and investigating production process, as well as identifying and implementing continuous improvements.

Based on real-time production feedback, organizations update and rearrange their plans.

Based on production needs, organizations update labor schedules in the hire to retire process, and sometimes executing payroll based on piece work or hours.

Once the production process is completed, the inventory to deliver process is used to manage the movement of finished goods.

In make-to-stock operational strategies, orders are placed for finished goods after production is completed and the inventory is on-hand.

Organizations can subcontract work during or after the production process. They can also procure materials that the production process depleted.

Products are often updated based on engineering changes or operator feedback from the production cycle. Initial production cycles in particular can be used to complete research and development activities for products.

In projects-based manufacturing modes, organizations update the project status based on production activities.

When production is completed, organizations record production costs and analyze behaviors.

• Service to cash

Often, organizations perform aftermarket repairs on produced items.

Featured capabilities

There are product-specific capabilities that interact with the plan to produce to process including, but not limited to, the following list:

Shop floor execution

The touch-screen optimized production floor execution interface in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management helps organizations can track the progress of shop floor activities, request maintenance on production equipment, and track operator time registrations.

Visual scheduling

The Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management production module includes Gantt chart and lean visual scheduling capabilities . With these capabilities, organizations can graphically view the production schedule, including operation sequences, material availability, resource capacity, and delivery date warnings.

Mixed mode manufacturing

Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management supports four different modes of manufacturing:

• Projects-based

Companies can mix and match these different manufacturing modes as needed based on their business requirements.

Engineering change management

For manufacturing companies or organizations that need tighter control of the onboarding and management of product information, the engineering change management module helps model the workflow and data validation of setting up and maintaining products, BOMs, Formulas, and Routes, and other engineering information.

Internet of Things (IoT) device connectivity

With Dynamics 365 Sensor Data Intelligence, manufacturers can use IoT devices to provide real-time signals to production managers about shop floor performance, machine breakdowns, and product quality.

Warehouse mobile device

Organizations can use the warehouse management mobile application in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management to pick raw materials and put away finished goods. The advanced warehousing functionality also supports intelligent replenishment within the warehouse and full batch and serial tracking in inventory movement.

Maintenance management

The Asset management module in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management can be used to run preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance on production equipment and other assets. It includes a mobile app where users can request maintenance and review and update work orders on the fly.

Mixed reality

Dynamics 365 Guides supports mixed reality instructions to be included in production shop floor operations, which can help train users on how to make products or repair machines.

Quality management

Use the quality management functionality in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management to define the quality tests to perform, validate results, perform corrective action and nonconformance reporting. It also supports the inventory management aspects of quality control such as quarantining materials, recognizing destructive quality tests, and selecting sample quantities from various transactions.

• Subcontracting

With Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, businesses can easily track and automate subcontracting activities such as purchase order generation, transfers of work in progress materials to vendors, and receipt of goods.

Lot and serial number control

Raw materials, work in progress items, and finished goods can all be lot (batch) and/or serial tracked in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, providing your organization full traceability into your production process and beyond. It also supports tracking the shelf life of dates of batches and ensuring a first-expired, first-out inventory policy.

Plan to produce business process flow

The following diagram shows the high-level flow of the plan to produce business process. Each solid rectangle on the diagram represents an end-to-end business process area. The diagram shows the subprocesses for the end-to-end business process in this article. The arrows on the diagram show the flow of the business process in a typical organization. If a subprocess can lead to more than one other subprocess, the parallel subprocesses are shown as branches.

The following steps are illustrated in the order to cash end-to-end business process flow diagram.

Plan to produce end-to-end process

Parallel branches from this subprocess are acquire to dispose and Source to pay .

Parallel branches from this subprocess are e. Control production quality, forecast to plan , inventory to deliver , and project to profit . Inventory to deliver has a downstream process to order to cash that connects to service to cash .

Not shown on the diagram: Outsource production orders can connect to Source to pay .

Parallel branch from this subprocess is case to resolution .

Parallel branches from Start include the following list:

Design to retire connects to a. Define production strategies

Prospect to quote connect to parallel branches of 5. Design to retire , a. Define production strategies , and 7. Project to Profit

Project to profit connects to b. Plan production operations

Hire to retire connects to b. Plan production operations and c. Run production operations

Inventory to deliver connects to c. Run production operations

Source to pay connects to c. Run production operations and d. Outsource production orders

Forecast to plan connects to 10. Source to pay and c. Run production operations

Order to cash connects to 11. Forecast to plan and b. Plan production operations

Acquire to dispose connects to c. Run production operations

Record to report connects to f. Track production costs

The following end-to-end downstream processes have connections to End:

If you want to implement Dynamics 365 solutions to help with your  track production costs business processes, use the following resources and steps to learn more.

Define product costing overview (the article that you're currently reading)

Run production operations overview

Outsource production operations

Return to the overview of business process areas at  Plan to produce business process areas .

If you want to implement Dynamics 365 solutions to assist with your  plan to produce business processes, use the following resources and steps to learn more.

Define the goals and objectives of implementing a plan to produce technology solution. Learn more at  Implementation strategy .

Define the business process scope of your project. Learn more at  Process-focused solution .

Request a demo or get a free trial of Dynamics 365 solutions for the plan to produce process. Learn more at  Request a demo .

Learn more about the Power Platform products at Business Application Platform

Get an overview of the plan to produce process. Learn more at  Plan to produce overview .

Related information

Use the following resources to learn more about the plan to produce process in Dynamics 365.

TechTalk series on the plan to produce process: Production control in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

TechTalk on Manufacturing Accounting: Part 4: Manufacturing Accounting in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

TechTalk on Production Variance Analysis: Part 7: Production Variance Analysis in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

Product documentation: Production process overview - Supply Chain Management

Product training: Get started with production control in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

Related product certification: Exam MB-335: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert (beta)

Dynamics 365 Community Forum: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Forum - Production Control

Find definitions of terminology used in content for plan to produce in the Glossary of terms in Dynamics 365 business processes article, including the following terms:

• Finished good
• Modes of manufacturing
• Production schedule
• Production strategies
• Raw material
• Subassembly

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