Workflow Sample: Collect Payment

Showing posts with label Collect Payment. Show all posts

In the previous article, "Episode 595: Alternate Method of Setting Expiration on Questionnaire", I have introduced "A method of setting a timer with Data setting formula".

In the article, I described a measure to enhance the visibility of the Workflow diagram by reducing the number of Steps, such as;

...In addition, "Service Task (Data assignment)" is capable of assigning a value to multiple Data Items at single Step. In case if multiple "Service Task (Data assignment)" are arranged consecutively, please consider consolidating them into one...

In the article, I described a measure to enhance the visibility of the Workflow diagram by reducing the number of Steps, such as;

...In addition, "Service Task (Data assignment)" is capable of assigning a value to multiple Data Items at single Step. In case if multiple "Service Task (Data assignment)" are arranged consecutively, please consider consolidating them into one...

As I might be asked by someone saying "So, how can I concretely do?", so let's try to rewrite the Workflow diagram of the past together actually.

[Billing-Payment Confirmation flow 1]

[Billing-Payment Confirmation flow 1 (Integrated Steps)]

Operation: A Large Amount of the End of the Month Billing

The monthly billing business at the end of the month has become to be conducted without missing!

With regard to "charged amount" to each customer, it became possible to catch in real time that who has input or who approved and when. Moreover, thanks to the "Automatic Step" which accesses the credit company API (Stripe API), charging to credit cards are directly performed from the Workflow system. In other words, it eliminates "dual entry" into the accounting system.

Challenge: Reduce Dependence on Human

However, this Business Process is still depending on "data input by human". That is, a human (sales representative) is in charge of input of "billing amount" that is crucial.

Certainly, "customer information" is set automatically, and "card billing code" (Stripe CustomerID) is also preset. Furthermore, "list of billing work" also appears on the list of Offered without missing, so it is easy to do the billing work by multiple people cooperating. So, I think that "labor saving of inputting" has been realized at a fairly high level, but...

However, the information on "charge amount" (billing amount) is in the "Sales management system" which is an "external system" from the viewpoint of the Workflow system. I wonder if there is a measure to automatically acquire sales summary somehow? (Today, "API economy" is urged out, and I think that where Business Process Improvement is heading to is "unmanned"...)

[Credit Card Charging - Recursive call-Full automation]

Operation: Monthly Credit Card Charging

Great labor-saving has done on the billing operation at the end of the month!

In the new Workflow application, "credit card charging" is automatically carried out as the department manager approves "Billing amount of this month" registered by the sales representative. There is no necessary for the Accounting side to do work such as "printing / signing / mailing of invoices". Of course, you don't need the work of "bank payment confirmation", either. Stripe, bravo! API economy, bravo! Questetra, bravo!

Incidentally, it gains favorable reputation also among customers.

They say it is good with that the expense details can be confirmed in "notification email", not to mention that the actual work such as "approval on invoice" and "procedure of bank transfer" has gone away. (Paperless)

(I wish "bank APIs" to be opened soon, as well...)

Challenge: Who is not charged?

However, it is hard to confirm "if I charged all the customers or not" at present condition.

Certainly, it is simply to Start (reuse start) the Workflow manually from "1r". However, relying on "manual" for its start, it would be hard to realize, for example, "to charge all the customers who billed in the previous month without oversight".

When the number of billing increases, "billing mistake" may incur, one day...

[Credit Card Charging - Recursive call]

Operation: Charging to Registered Card

I did create a mechanism of "Credit card registration"! (See previous post)

The mechanism is, credit card information such as "card number" and "CVC" is committed to Stripe (Payment Service Provider), and only "Stripe Token" (tok_ {24 characters}) as "deposit number", flows to Workflow. That means, it complies with what Japanese government is advocating that "Achievement of non-possession of credit card info by March 2018". (Non-possessing = The primal measure for protecting credit card information)

This will bring down "the risk of credit card info breaching from in-house system" to zero! Customers can make web registration without worry!!

* Stripe Token is a specification that can only be used for one processing (single-use token). In this example automatic conversion from "Stripe Token" to "Stripe CustomerID" (cus_ {14 characters}) is also done simultaneously. (Auto-step "Token to Cus_ID")

Challenge: Eliminate Manual-work in Charging Operation

But wait and look. What I did is just realized only "protection of credit card info".

Mistakes in "Total amount", for example, or in "Charge"... Risks of occurring such error in "charging operations" is not yet zero. Suppose if you had sent a charging statement to "email address of Mr. Brown" with "addressee name of Mr. White"...doesn't it make you shill?

Customer's name
Customer's email address
Token or Customer ID

Data like as above should be automatically entered beforehand. By making so, error rate will be close to zero. The burden on "unreliable boss" who is in charge of checking at the downstream Step will be alleviated a little.

[Credit Card Charging]

Operation: Acceptance of credit card registration

Want to promote credit card charging...

If I could charge to "credit cards" according to the service usage record automatically, very smooth settlement would be possible. If I could digitize "bill issuance", I would drastically reduce cost on payment collection.

I would like to prepare a "card payment system" like an electric company, gas company, or mobile phone company.

Challenge: Risk of credit card information data breach

However, as security requirements become more stringent, "holding a credit card number" seems to be a big risk.

Our company is not a power company nor, a big company such as Google or Facebook. In other words, it seems that we unlikely could comply the requirement that "PCI DSS" says. "What important is," the credit companies (Acquirer) say, "not to possess cardholder's info".

Alright, I'm going to leave cardholder's info such as PAN, PIN, CVC, to "Payment agencies", as it is advocated in a document by the Japanese government that "we aim for non-retention by March 2018". (But how?)

PAN：Primary Account Number (card number)
PIN：Personal Identification Number
CVC: Card Verification Code/Value (3 digit number. Formally CVC2, aka CID)

* Reference: PCI DSS (PAYMENT CARD INDUSTRY
DATA SECURITY STANDARD) Ver.3.2 2016-04
* Reference: Payment services (PSD 2) - Directive (EU) 2015/2366

[Credit Card Info Reception]

Productivity Improvement by Automation of Steps

In the last article and one before the last, I introduced you a mechanism to control "PayPal billing system" from Workflow system.

In these mechanisms (Workflow Application), an automatic Step (Addon Service Task) is arranged in the middle of the flow diagram. That is, each time when a billing Issue arrives these Steps, the Workflow system transmits "Requests" such as

Generate "PayPal Invoice" (PayPal Create)
Transmit a "PayPal Invoice" (PayPal Send)
What is the settlement status? (PayPal Check)

In other words, "accounting works" such as "generation of electronic invoice", "transmission of electronic invoice", "confirmation of status of electronic invoice" have been made unmanned. (REST / OAuth2 communication with PayPal Invoicing API)

Today, not only the "payment system" (*1) as in this example, but also the operation of various information systems are automated, and the productivity is improved. For example, preservation of quotation to "Storage system" (*2), or management of product master data in "Spreadsheet / Data management system" (*3), are typical examples.

*1: PayPal, Stripe, etc. *2: Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, etc. *3 Google SpreadSheet, Kintone, etc.

＜Setting screen: PayPal Create＞

＜Setting screen: PayPal Send＞

＜Setting screen: PayPal Check＞

The fact that the process owner only needs to set properties of the Addon automatic Step (programming knowledge is no longer needed) is also one of the reasons for popularization.

Until which stage of situation change you should make unmanned?

However, there are not only "advantages" that unmanning brings.

In the previous article, for example, it was a business flow that it continues confirming (keep on looping) until the status of electronic invoice turns to "PAID".

It sure is, there is no human cost on "confirmation work" alone since human does not intervene.

However, if an event such as "order cancellation" or "remittance with another settlement method" has occurred, it may be necessary to stop the Task of "shipping processing" in some cases. Or depending on circumstances, it may become necessary to modify the processing of "recording sales". Yet, as for the situation change which "influence degree × occurrence probability" is large, as a business process definition, I would like to make it "within the range of assumption" as much as possible, not leaving it as "unexpected".

In the following business process definition, "CANCELED status" (cancellation) which is relatively frequently occurring has been taken into consideration. That is, it is added devising that alert email to be sent when payment is refused.

[PayPal Invoice Issuance-Cancellation notification]

Automatize billing

In the previous article, we created a workflow in which "PayPal Invoice" is automatically sent, by placing two automatic Steps "PayPal Create" and "PayPal Send".

That is, "billing data" which has been checked and approved in the human Step is automatically POSTed to PayPal side and then "PayPal invoice" is generated. And at the specified time (send command is delivered), it will be sent by email. After all, since it can be defined with only "Addon Service Task" ("Script Task" is not used), it is attractive to be able to build an "automatic billing system" according to your business even if you had no programming knowledge.

However, it was "out of scope" for "work of checking whether 'PayPal invoice' was settled".

Automatize throughout deposit confirmation

In the following Business Process, an automatic Step called "PayPal Check" (Addon Service Task) has been added furthermore. In other words, this Workflow system is set to continuously check the settlement status for "PayPal invoice" that has been sent, periodically and automatically.

Specifically, an Issue which is staying at "(3. Unpaid retention)" will arrive at "PayPal Check", each time when

the accounting staff proceeds the Issue, or
retention time of 12 hours passes.

So, the settlement status is inquired via secure communication (OAuth 2 communication / PayPal Invoicing API). If the status is "settled (PAID)", it will store "Settled time" and "Settled amount", and the entire process end, without returning to "(3. Unpaid retention)".

[PayPal Invoice Issuance-PayPal Check]

Invoice directly connected to settlement

"PayPal Invoice" is an electronic invoice in the format of "Email".

From the viewpoint of the person who received the mail, it is very simple since you can click on the "View and Pay Invoice" button and immediately complete the settlement processing (card payment / PayPal account settlement). Of course, even when "in-house transfer to accounting personnel" is required, it is very easy to do, just a transfer operation on email client.

Also, viewing from person who issued the invoice, it is very easy since its procedures are only

Login to PayPal and enter billing data
(receive Settlement completion notification)

comparing to conventional "Business Process of invoicing in paper" took

Create Excel data of invoice
Printout the invoice
Mail the invoice
Confirm remittance in specified bank account

Moreover, we do not receive credit card information, so there is no "information leakage risk".

In recent years, it has also gained much attention on the aspects of "productivity improvement" and "teleworking environment improvement". (PayPal Invoice)

[Example of received email]

API connection to Workflow

"PayPal invoice" does not require introduction of particular system.

However, this ease of "you can send an invoice by logging in to PayPal" also brings new challenges such as "ambiguous approval by supervisor" and "difficult to make mistake checks by multiple people". Especially if a company emphasizes "Business Process", there is a possibility of being discussed as a problem on governance.

In the following Business Process definition example, we have realized the policy that

"to utilize PayPal invoice without logging in to PayPal"

by implementing API control from the Workflow system. That is, the data which have been approved and checked in the workflow system is automatically linked to PayPal side through the API, and the "command to send the invoice email" is also delivered from the Workflow system via the API. And all work records of "When and who did what" are all recorded on the Workflow system side.

* If it is a Cloud-based workflow "Questetra BPM Suite", it can be realized for free. (By importing the Business Process definition, you can build it in a few hours.)

[PayPal Invoice Issuance]

Passive Step of "Receiving acceptance report"

Illustration production, Website production, Interior construction... "Acceptance inspection" is accompaniment to these outsourced businesses.

Issues based on contract is, not simply 1)"to deliver" the deliverable, but through 2) the step of "Receiving an acceptance report" from the client, and finally you can 3)"Claim the commission fee".

(Although there are cases in special business relationship where "Acceptance inspection step' is omitted and "immediate billing on delivery" is allowed...)

Pathetically sincere efforts and ingenuity have been performed all over the world, such as

attaching a sample of "Acceptance report" for clients, or
titling the slip as "Acceptance report request (cum-Deliverly note)" instead of "Delivery note".

Not yet decided what the Step is for to do?

However, "Receiving of Acceptance report" in the reality, there are not only cases that

A) They give "Acceptance report" on the delivery day.

There occurs various cases such as

B) they will send "Acceptance report" to the inspection deadline limit, or
C) the client presupposes the application of the "provision on deemed inspection passed" without submitting the acceptance report.

Moreover, there could be

D) cases where it is judged that "the deliverable do not meet the specifications" and forced to extend the acceptance period, or
E) cases where it is judged that "the deliverable do not meet the specifications" and forced to re-deliver.

So what kind of Business Process diagram should you draw for such cases? In particular, for cases of C) which is "doing nothing until the deadline, then ends", it is difficult how to express it.

[Acceptance inspection corresponding flow]

Season for reviewing Processes

April...

In Japan, it is a month when a new fiscal year starts.

Not only the accounting of the nation, accounting of local governments, new grades at school, etc. start, but also the ceremony for new entrants are conducted simultaneously in April. (About 20% of Japanese companies start their fiscal year in April)

It can be said that in Japan, April is 'the month when motivation for improving business processes increases' or 'perfect month for improving business process'.

Also in Questetra, Inc., which operates this blog, the amount of updating on Business Processes (number of version upgrades of Workflow Apps) will increase in April.

Dare to extend the time required

The business process introducing this time is a slightly strange improvement example that is "extending the time required at all Steps".

As a usual business improvement, it is normal to consider about improvement on "flows" or "data input screens" upon "dissatisfaction" and "challenges" that you are feeling during your daily work.

Automation of Steps
Addition of double-checking Step
Addition of guidance sentences
Implementation of handy button

And, in many cases, we will seek "a direction for a measure to shorten the total duration of work as much as possible".

However, in April, which is a break of the fiscal year, you might become wanting to deal with "inefficiencies you felt throughout the total counting work". In this business process (Workflow-App), it has been revised to stay in the middle of the way. (Addition of Human Process: "x. Retaining Rework")
Business process before improvement: Episode 511: Automatically Generate Transfer Slip File (Excel-CSV)

[Invoice Issuance-Retention]

Measurement of error rate

The invoice issuance process is one of the tasks in which mistakes are not allowed.

"Accounts receivable / sales" is recorded based on accurate billing data, and "savings accounts / accounts receivable" should be recorded upon collection afterword.

However, "redoing" occurs on the actual work site. For example, even in the same human process in Questetra, "Redo" occurred with a 2.8% chance as a result of last year.

Correction on "customer address and name"
Correction on "quantity and amount"
Correction on "issue date and due date"

Of course, the causes are various, including "unavoidable redoing".

Information was changed between order acceptance and billing (change of person in charge of customer)
The sales representative made a mistake in transcribing the contents of the order form
In the first place 'order data' was wrong

However, in any case, if the invoice (billing data) is "redoing the entire process again" when the customer receives it, in addition to the effort of redoing the bill approval processing, the data of the accounting system must also be manually corrected.

I must say such a "Redoing process from scratch" is "big loss".

Reworking and Sending back

In this business process improvement, the retaining Step of "x. Retain Sending back" of the Accounting manager is added, and progress toward the downstream process (data cooperation with the accounting system) is restrained.

That is, it will retain in the state that can be sent back to the most upstream, for a while (e.g. until the end of the month). (Reduce the risk of occurrence of "big loss" rather than increasing overall speed.)

Certainly, data such as 'sales' would like to be incorporated into the accounting system as soon as possible. I agree that it is a wonderful direction as a business management to further "accelerate monthly settlement of accounts" aiming for "daily settlement of accounts."

However, as in this example, "Business process that can absorb some extent of data modification by slowly flowing business Issues" can be another direction of business process improvement.

[Invoice Issuance-Retention:"1. Bill info entry" screen]

[Data Items list]

[Free Download]

Business Template: Invoice Issuance-Retention

Episode 488: Collaboration with Cloud Accounting (Part 3) (2016-06-20)
Episode 502: "Master Reference" is for Eliminating the Fluctuation! (2016-09-26)
Episode 479: Cautions for Letting "Prorating" to Script Step (2016-04-18)

<<Related Articles>>

[Japanese Entry (和文記事)]

Isolation of Accounting Steps

It is very convenient if prepared "PayPal Billing Flow" as "Independent Subroutine Process".

Since it can be called from various business flows in the Workflow system, the process owner can focus on the design and maintenance of the main business flow.

Even from the perspective of the Accounting department on the downstream side, they will be able to perform efficient business since they can handle multiple business flows without distinction. (However, involvement to upstream will tend to decrease.) In addition, there is a need that "want to manage and maintain centrally" in the accounting system (*) in which the changes in the past one or two years were extremely vigorous.

* ※ "Cloud Accounting", "Bank API", "Accounting BPO", etc.

Processing of PayPal Invoice

The following business process definition (Workflow / App) is "PayPal billing process" which automatically collaborates with PayPal.

Various requests are made from the Workflow system side via "PayPal REST API", specifically "PayPal Invoicing API". That is, it is a mechanism that

let PayPal generate 'PayPal Invoice'
let PayPal send "PayPal Invoice"
check payment status of "PayPal Invoice" against PayPal.

(The opportunity to login directly to PayPal will be reduced.)

[PayPal-Invoice]

Automation of billing

It will be very convenient if you can control "PayPal" as a billing system from the workflow system "Questetra".

For example, if you create a mechanism that automatically issues a "PayPal invoice according to delivery details" immediately after "product delivery flow" is completed, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of "billing mistake" or "billing omission". If the current situation is a billing operation that mails a "paper invoice", it is also possible to reduce all stamp fee, printing fee and office work labor costs to zero.

In the previous article, I introduced you mechanisms that automatically instructs PayPal "to generate invoices in PayPal" and "to send the invoice generated in PayPal further to customers".

Episode 525: How to Send OAuth2 Request from Automatic Step
Episode 527: Calling PayPal Invoicing API at Auto-step

Further automation

If you could automate

letting PayPal generate a "PayPal Invoice", and
letting PayPal send a "PayPal Invoice" via email,

I would like to further automate

confirming payment to PayPal. (Improve efficiency of debt collection business)

In this article, we will consider assembling the automatic Steps cleverly and making the "payment check flow" unmanned.

* Here, programming knowledge is required since we are going to use "Script Task" which is a type of automatic Step

[Entry reception system-PayPal billing-Payment confirmation]

PayPal as a Billing System

"PayPal Invoice" is very useful.

Just by logging-in to PayPal and entering "destination email address" and "details of sold item", anyone can easily send the invoice. It can be said that it is one of a few settlement methods that can flexibly deal with "a little consignment work" or "special discounts". It almost makes me think that procedures of shopping at EC site is rather more difficult. Moreover, there is no need to tell "credit card number" from the buyer to the seller.

However, if dozens of issuance must be, it will inevitably be troublesome. (Its "flexibility" serves harmful.)

If the billing contents were exactly the same, there was a function to process collectively, but if the contents are subtly different from each other, you have to set the billing information one by one. However, repetition of manual work falls into error, by all means.

Automate invoice creation and transmission

In the previous article (*), I introduced you "a mechanism to automatically generate a request that "Generate a PayPal invoice" and transmit it to the PayPal system.
* Episode 525: How to Send OAuth2 Request from Automatic Step

In this article, I would like to study further about "a mechanism to automatically send a request that "generate and send PayPal invoice to the buyer". (Programming knowledge is required)

[Entry reception system]

Automation with server side JavaScript

In the last article (*), I mentioned that "automatic Step of Questetra BPM Suite can implement (not only simple numerical calculation) OAuth2 communication".
* Episode 524: Automation of Work with Server-side JavaScript

Therefore, in this article, I would like to briefly summarize about "what kind of external service is specifically possible with OAuth2 communication" and "what kind of programming is required specifically". (In the viewpoint of requesting from the workflow system side.)

What is OAuth2 communication

OAuth is a "scheme for authorizing requests to servers".

Reference) What is "OAuth", the Cloud Technology which Everyone should Know?

Since OAuth2 first appeared in 2012, APIs of many "resource servers", such as Google Drive and Dropbox, are now compatible with "OAuth2 access". That is, the external system can throw various "Reference request" and "Update request" to "resource server". (RFC6749/6750)

In the cloud-based Workflow "Questetra BPM Suite", it is possible for an automatic Step placed in a business process definition to behave as an "external system" (OAuth2 client). In other words, you can set so that the following requests are automatically executed each time an Issue reaches the automatic Step (Script Task / Service Task).

a. Google Sheets API v4 (Read, write, and format data in Sheets)

Acquire the value of a specific cell area with Append multiple data to the end of the sheet with Method: spreadsheets.batchUpdate

b. PayPal Invoicing API REST API edition (Generation and Transmission of Invoice)

Using Create draft invoice method, Create a new invoice

c. Dropbox API v1

Using files put method, upload files.

Script Task: a Step in which a Business designer can set server-side JavaScript (Communication using HttpClientWrapper can also be implemented) M230
Service Task (Addon): Step which packaged Script Task. Only configure setting is allowed for Business designer. M415 M416

Reference)

How to get access token

"Access token" is required for such request communication.

"Access token" is "a proof that it is a request authorized by the owner of the resource", and the entity is a string of from about several tens to 200 characters. However, the access token acquisition method differs depending on "resource server".

As main method, there are

A. Let the owner click on "grant button" and then automatically obtain. (Authorization Code Grant)
B. Set secret credentials, then retrieve automatically (Client Credentials Grant)
C. Set the access token itself (e.g. when an Access Token without expiration date is possible)

However, it varies depending on the type or characteristic of data managed by "resource server".

Caution) Even with the OAuth 2 authorization method that the destination API can implement, there might be cases where automatic communication can not be set depending on implementation restrictions (Questetra side) regarding "HTTP header" and "Content - Type format".

[Invoice Submission]

In the last three articles of

I mentioned the difference and respective implementation method of

A) Automatically advance to the "next Step" in the Business Process
B) Make "certain Step" within a Business Processes to be processed unattended

regarding automation within a "Business Process".

In this (final) article, I am going to organize about the automation between Business Processes.

Connection between Business Processes

Positions of Business Processes

Until now, we discussed focusing on "individual Business Processes" such as "Estimate Approval process" and "Order Receipt process". However, in order to promote automation (improvement of productivity) in the company-wide, we must consider about "connectivity between Business Processes".

On such a stage, it is a shortcut for improvement discussion that enumerating the internal "Business Processes" as much as possible in advance.

That is, the overall viewing would reveal the position and dependency of each Business Process, and the way it should be of the "inputs" and "outputs" of each Business Process would become clear. Along with, it would also clarify the operation method and direction of improvement that the responsible person (Process Owner) of the Business Process should aim for.

Enumerating Business Processes

So, what kind of "Business Processes" are there inside the company?

It goes without saying that it varies greatly depending on the business contents and organization size. At the same time, you should suppose that there is no one who can grasp all the business details in the company. In other words, regardless of who is in charge of "enumerating Business Processes", on-site hearings in certain extent will be required.

And when enumerating the survey results, it is important to enumerate by categories so as to make it easy to see the whole.

As a methodology in practice, it is necessary to map in-house Business Processes utilizing the cost categorization upon calculating the profit and loss of the compan such as "manufacturing cost", "selling expenses" and "general administrative expenses", in addition to the Process classification method of the research institution.

[APQC Process Classification Framework]

Develop Vision and Strategy
Develop and Manage Products and Services
Market and Sell Products and Services
Deliver Products and Services
Manage Customer Service
Develop and Manage Human Capital
Manage Information Technology
Manage Financial Resources
Acquire, Construct, and Manage Assets
Manage Enterprise Risk, Compliance, and Resiliency
Manage External Relationships
Develop and Manage Business Capabilities

[Quote Creation and Approval-Order Report launcher]

[Order Report-Launched by Quote flow]

In "What is Automation of Business Process (Part 1)", the previous article, I described about two aspects on automating Business Process, such as

[A] Automate the delivery of Issues information between Processes
[B] Automate processing in certain Step

In this article, I would like to organize the scope of application of "[A] automation of delivery".
* Regarding "[B] automation of processing", I will describe in the next article.

What kind of "delivery" can be automated

How to define a Flow

In order to smoothly deliver "Issue information" in daily work, (as a matter of course) "Flow of work" must be defined.

In the age where Issue information was managed by "paper" or "signboard", it was sufficient that "Business flow" has been described in natural languages (sentences) such as business manuals. However, to let the computers do delivery, "business flow" is needed to be defined in a "manner that computers can recognize".

In other words, it can be said "the Flows comprehensible by the computer" are the applicable range of "[A] automation of delivery".

[Order Reporting flow-email notification]

What is a "Business Process" in the first place?

A Business Process is a sequence of "several Steps".

For example, in the Orders reporting Process that occurs daily on many companies, it is formed with Steps such as;

[1] Sales department employee: register the contents of the order
[2] Sales leader: Confirm the order details
[3] Sales department manager: approve the order details

Automation, two aspects

And today, "automation of Business Process" which became popular as a topic under the keyword "productivity improvement" is discussed in either or both of the meaning of;

[A] Automation of handing over of Issue information between Processes
[B] Automation of processing in certain Step

What is "A: Automation of handing over"?

The antonym of "automatic" is "manual" or "labored", and after all, it can be said that "something that is not a human being" will be responsible for handing over. Today, "Automation with computers and the Internet" is the basic.

It can be said that these functions are necessary condition. In such an environment of automation, It will be transmitted automatically, i.e.;

If the output of the Step of [1] is input, it will go to the Step of [2]
If the output of the Step of [2] is input, it will go to the Step of [3]

As a matter of course, it is necessary to set Business flow in advance. And also, in reality, it is prerequisite that individual Issue information is managed in "digital data" (paperless).

"Handover" by Workflow

And today there are many products that correspond to splitting and looping of flow.

For example, the following Business Process definition (setting of Business flow) expresses

[1] Sales department staff: register the contents of the order
[1x] Sales department staff: Re-register the contents of the order (Reworking on rejected issue)
[2] Sales leader: Confirm the order details
[3] Sales department manager: approve the order details
[4] Sales department manager: Report on the content of Issue over 1 million yen to supervisory directors

(According to International Standard Notation BPMN: Business Process Model and Notation)

[Order Reporting flow]

"It's so troublesome to enter billing data..."

Logs such as bank deposits and withdrawals and card payments have become "automatic journalizing", and "accounting input work" became quite easier compared to before.

However, in terms of "sales" in particular, it is too late to wait for the timing of "deposit". After all, it is desirable to record it as "sales as accounts receivable" at the time of "invoice" issuance... Rather, it's a must.

2016 - 11 - 22: Accounts receivable 120,000 / Sales 120,000 = Website creation (for company A)
2016 - 12 - 31: Saving deposit 120,000 / Accounts receivable 120,000 = Website creation (for company A)

Incidentally, on the contrary, there are cases where cannot include in "sales" at the time of issuing "Invoice" (even at the time of "deposit").

2016 - 12 - 31: Saving deposit 120,000 / Advance received 120,000 = Maintenance 2017 - 01 - 2017 - 12 (for Company A)
2017-01-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-01 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-02-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-02 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-03-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-03 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-04-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-04 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-05-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-05 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-06-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-06 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-07-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-07 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-08-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-08 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-09-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-09 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-10-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-10 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-11-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-11 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)
2017-12-01: Advance received 10,000 / sales 10,000 = 2017-12 of Maintenance 2017-01 to 2017-12 (for company A)

The creation method and creation timing of so-called "transfer slips" (transfer records) varies depending not only on the type of industry but also on company policy. Even so, the work itself should certainly be "automated".

In the following Workflow, at the moment when the "Invoice" is approved by the supervisor,

Receipt PDF will be emailed to he customer,
Multiple line "transfer records" are automatically calculated
The import file is automatically generated.

Accounting staff can finish "input work" by only uploading the automatically generated Excel-CSV file to the accounting system.

[Invoice Issuance flow]

"Monthly settlement confirmation, oh, bother..."

Trouble concerning settlement would never end. Even though 'Online banking' has become convenient, still it takes some sort of effort.

Furthermore, work of "dunning" occurs if "unpaid" occurred. This is not just 'laborious'(increase of steps), it will be a burden to mental health for both the debtor and the creditor. Why can't it be "electronic settlement" furthermore?

The following Business Process Definition is a Workflow of credit card settlement on "monthly tuition for piano lesson".

In this example, 'fee according to the number of lessons' (instead of 'fixed monthly tuition') will be charged at the end of months. It is like, for example, 2000JPY for the month in which two lessons have given, 5000 JPY for five lessons. (We use "Stripe" for online settlement.)

When you realize electronic settlement for lesson fees with this Workflow, you will no longer have to hand-deliver the "invoice" to your students. For the parents of the student, they will not need to go to the bank to make a remittance of the lesson fee every month.

By the way, "Questetra BPM Suite", a Cloud-based Workflow, is free of charge for a use by 'less than ten staffs'. However, you should be careful that the service will be stopped if an interval of logins exceeds 15 days. But that won't be a problem, as long as you login after each lesson to write "date of lesson" (information for charging).

[Lesson Fee Credit Charge]

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