Please read this before starting the online demo

Purchase Requisition Workflow

The purchase requisition process we use for this demonstration was defined using Kaisha-Tec's companion product:  ActiveModeler Professional.

Let's have a look at the screenshot below and discuss the process flow.

Fill in the request form

As you can see, the first activity in this process flow is the "Request" activity. It is placed in a department called "Any". The "Any" department is not a real department but a generic term used by ActiveModeler and ActiveFlow. When an activity is placed in a department called "Any" in a process map, it means anybody in the company can start that activity. Follow the link here to see the DemoCompany structure itself.
In our demo case, anyone in this company can fill in and submit a "Purchase Requisition" form. For example, somebody in the IT department can request the purchase of a new software license, or somebody in the Marketing department can request to  to purchase a new photocopier, and so on ...

Bubble-up to departmental manager

There is another useful feature of ActiveFlow defined for the "Any" Department; this is the so called "bubble-up routing". This routing mode can be  applied to any departmental zone in the process map; this time it is applied to the zone containing the first activity. The bubble-up routing mode is based on the hierarchical relationship defined in the company structure. It usually means that the form loops in the "bubble up" zone until one condition is met. In our process, the form will be raised up to the department manager level in the maker department. In case of approval by this department manager in the maker department, the form breaks out of the first activity and is sent to the Accounting department or to the CEO.

Route splitting based on a value in the form

In case the purchase value is greater than a threshold specified by the company rules (250.000 Japanese yen in this case) , the form has to be approved also by the CEO. Otherwise, after the form is approved by the department manager, the form passes to a clerk in the Accounting department. The clerk will prepare and send a purchase order to the supplier of the requested goods - the "Finalize" activity itself. We would hope this activity is also automated with ActiveFlow. With the correct security in place, forms can be send inside and outside the company!