Batching vs. non-batching in business processes: Challenges with regards to Batch Activities in Business Processes

Abstract

A common phenomenon in operational business processes is batch processing. Batching is used to reduce cost or time by collectively executing several cases at specific activities in a business process. Recently, approaches were developed to explicitly design and execute batch activities in business process models, and to mine batch work from historic process execution logs. Process redesign suggests organizations to evaluate which activity should be designed in a case-based or batch-oriented fashion. However, it is not discussed how such an analysis should be conducted. This paper discusses current challenges on this topic. Further, it proposes a preliminary methodology for identifying beneficial batch activities and their configuration.