Method of visualizing enterprise business process as process menu

Abstract

To provide a user interface method for visualizing enterprise business processes as process menus, configured to improve availability of ERP solution by presenting the number of tasks to be processed as well as intuitively presenting flows of process operations to a user.SOLUTION: A user interface 120 is configured to visualize enterprise business processes in a computer system that supports Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), as process menus 121, 122, 123, 127, 128. A process menu screen is implemented on an ERP system, thereby allowing a user who is in charge of ERP operation, who is not a developer, to directly and easily form or correct business processes in the solution. The user clicks a process menu to simply execute an event, such as inquiry or input.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to enterprise operations, and more particularly to a user interface method for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software.

Background Art

[0002] Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) refers to a type of software used by an enterprise organization for its daily business activities such as finance, accounting, logistics, project management, human resources, risk management, and regulatory compliance. An ERP system constructed by installing such software in an enterprise's computer network system bundles various business processes together and enables the flow of data between processes. Recently, ERP systems have played an important role in the management of numerous businesses within all enterprises, and ERP is regarded as an essential element for enterprise activities, just like electricity that lights up.

[0003] However, because various operations carried out by an enterprise are integrated into an ERP system, enterprise activities carried out offline are composed of various functions of the ERP system. That is, the processes constructed in the ERP system can only be composed of numerous businesses and are very complex compared to other application programs. Conventional ERP systems that attempt to simplify such complexity systematize enterprise business processes vertically. For example, from the perspective of the user interface, the enterprise business is constructed in the ERP system in the form of a dropdown menu method where a specific button is clicked to open a sub-menu, or in the form of a folder menu. Therefore, users of the ERP system could not grasp at a glance the processes implemented in the menu.

[0004] An ERP solution is a system that integrates corporate operations. By building an ERP solution, a company can understand its own processes and aims to grasp the constructed processes at a glance. This is an essential need for most users of ERP solutions. Of course, even if a drop-down or folder-style menu is used, long-term experienced users may be able to use the designed functions of the ERP solution without inconvenience. However, there are drawbacks such as it being very difficult to understand the operations when the person in charge changes, and the problem that it takes a lot of time to get used to the operations and understand them.

[0005] As a result of years of research and development to solve such problems, the inventors of the present invention have completed the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to make it possible to grasp a company's operations at a glance on the screen of an ERP solution by processifying the menu of the ERP solution itself to configure a user interface. The inventors of the present invention regard this as a very important matter. This is because if the user interface of the ERP solution itself can provide an environment that enables users to easily understand the operations, even if the person in charge of the operations changes, the new person in charge can grasp the new operations more quickly and accurately and can demonstrate their own abilities.

[0007] The work of improving the user interface may not be a big deal. This is because the developer can design it and code based on that design. However, since the business personnel do not directly code, ultimately, there is no alternative but for the interests and needs to differ between the developer and the user. As a result, there is a limitation that the user cannot understand the business embodied in the solution unless they can grasp the intention of the developer. Another object of the present invention is to actively reflect the intention of the user, which is not the intention of the developer's coding, in the user interface. That is, when processifying the menu itself of the ERP solution, the present invention intends to provide a means by which the user can directly create or adjust the process to reflect their own intention.

[0008] The present invention enables the user to intuitively grasp the overall flow of the business, dynamically understand the progress of the business they are engaged in (i.e., the context of the business), and enables the process to be freely edited. On the other hand, other objects not explicitly stated in the present invention should be additionally considered within the scope that can be easily inferred from the following detailed description and its effects.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0009] The present invention for achieving the above problems is a user interface method for visualizing a corporate business process in a computer system that supports enterprise resource planning as a process menu, comprising: a step in which a user terminal accesses the computer system and selects a process module in which sequential operations are pre-registered from a major classification menu; In the process user interface corresponding to the process module, a menu icon having a hyperlink function for calling a query window or an input window is displayed as a process menu in a process diagrammed and connected by arrow nodes indicating business procedures, and a process menu for moving to another process module is displayed as part of the diagrammed process; and when the user terminal clicks the process menu, the computer system executes any one of an event for querying, an input event, and an event for connecting to another process module, and a user interface corresponding to the event is displayed on the screen of the computer system.

[0010] In a user interface method for visualizing a corporate business process as a process menu in a computer system for supporting enterprise resource planning according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if an event to be performed by the user terminal in the process menu has not been executed, preferably, the method further includes a step of displaying, as the number of unprocessed items, the number of unexecuted events above or adjacent to the corresponding process menu in numerical form.

[0011] Preferably, a process menu editor is simultaneously displayed with the process user interface as a screen area independent of the process user interface, and the method further includes a step of the user terminal modifying the arrangement of the process menu of the process user interface.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the user interface method of the ERP system of the present invention, the user can freely configure the "process menu" using PowerPoint, which the user is familiar with. Therefore, since it does not require a deep understanding of the process menu editor, it is easy for users to access. Of course, it goes without saying that the process menu disclosed in this specification can be implemented using other programs or tools instead of editing with PowerPoint. Therefore, the features and advantages of the present invention are not limited to simply using PowerPoint (registered trademark). On the other hand, even for effects not explicitly mentioned here, the effects described in the following specification expected by the technical features of the present invention and their provisional effects are to be treated as described in the specification of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] The term "process menu" appears in the present invention. This is an icon that is processed and has a menu function. For example, according to the present invention, in a user interface corresponding to a business category selected from the main menu of an ERP solution, a menu icon having a hyperlink function for calling a query window or an input window is connected by arrow nodes indicating the business procedures. Thereby, a series of processes are diagrammed. In other words, the process menu can dynamically display a pre-determined or user-uploaded process.

[0015] The present invention deviates from traditional drop-down menu or filter menu forms and configures the screen of the ERP system in the same flow as the actual business procedure manual of the company. Preferably, with PowerPoint (registered trademark) (plugin), a PPT file allows users of the ERP system who are not professional developers to directly create and manage business screens. After uploading the created PPT file to the system, the process menu of the present invention that can be easily used is completed simply by specifying an icon area or the like by a web editor.

[0016] Hereinafter, the specific content of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings exemplarily showing the configuration of the present invention. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the related known functions are obvious to those skilled in the art and may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a computer system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] A computer system server 10 including one or more hardware and software facilities constructs an ERP system 100. The computer system server 10 is composed of one or more servers including a DBMS, MSSQL, and includes a backup server 11. Of course, it can exchange data with external servers existing in a network (not shown) via a communication network.

[0019] User terminals 1, 1 access the ERP system 100 via a network. As such terminals, various devices such as personal computers, tablet PCs, and smartphones can be used.

[0020] The ERP system 100 of the present invention provides an intuitive and dynamic ERP system to users by the user interface method described below. Such an intuitive and dynamic user interface can be configured using a process menu editor 150. As the process menu editor 150, Microsoft PowerPoint (registered trademark) can be preferably used. Other presentation programs may be used, but PowerPoint (registered trademark), which is widely used in the market from the perspective of versatility, is useful.

[0021] The computer system of the present invention includes a plurality of databases 15 and stores various resources and data enabling the services provided by the ERP system 100.

[0022] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the upper-level categories 101 of corporate operations provided by the ERP system 100 of the present invention. Corporate operations included in such categories 101 are displayed via the screen of the ERP system 100 according to predetermined rules. For example, it is as follows. HR (Human Resources): Organization, general administration, welfare, etc. LM (Labor Management): Attendance management, labor management, etc. PM (Pay Management): Salary, social insurance, settlement, retroactive, retirement, etc. Evaluation: Strength evaluation, performance evaluation, multi-faceted evaluation, comprehensive evaluation, etc. Finance: Finance, vouchers, books, settlement, assets, etc. Budget: Budget preparation, deadlines, budget control, carry-overs, etc. Tax: Electronic tax invoices, value-added tax, etc. Activities: Business activities, prospective customer management, field reports, business results, etc. Sales: Sales plans, unit price management, domestic sales, sales performance, etc. Exports: Export management, local conversion, export performance, etc. Services: Customer registration, after-sales service reception processing, paid / free processing, etc. Distribution: Inventory, other incoming / outgoing, consignment / commission, etc. Production: Production plans, CAPA, MRP, equipment, performance, etc. Outsourcing: Outsourcing contracts, outsourcing orders, deliveries, performance, etc. Purchase: Purchase unit price, purchase requests, purchase orders, deliveries, returns, etc. Import: Import management, local conversion, import performance, etc. Materials: Material requests, outgoing, material returns, etc. Quality: Quality standard information, purchases, receipts, processes, outsourcing, shipping inspections, etc. SCM: Collaborator orders, outsourced purchasing companies, delivery management, etc. Project: Contracts, WBS, resource budgets, progress rate sales, etc.

[0023] Among the enterprise operations classified into the upper-level category 101 as described above, the sequential operations are the processor module of the present invention, and are embodied in the process user interface and process menu to be described below.

[0024] Figure 3 conceptually shows how the process menus 121, 123, and 127 are visually presented in the business screen 100 of the ERP system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] On the left column 105 of the user screen, a large menu including process modules is displayed. Suppose the user terminal selects order / shipment from among the process modules. Then, a process user interface 120 corresponding to the relevant processor module is displayed on the right side of the business screen 110. That is, the left side is a list and the right side is the process user interface 120. The process user interface 120 is not set for all large menus. The process user interface 120 is preset only for sequential operations.

[0026] The process user interface 120 includes process menus 121, 123, 127 displayed with different icons and arrow nodes 130 indicating the procedure of the operation. That is, by connecting and formulating the process menus 121, 123, 127 with the arrow nodes 130, the process user interface 120 integrates the menu and the business process. The user can inquire, move, or record the operations predetermined for the relevant menu by clicking on the process menus 121, 123, 127. Figure 5 will further explain the icons and identifiers used in the process user interface 120.

[0027] Also, as an independent screen area from the process user interface 120 corresponding to the process module, a process menu editor 150 is displayed simultaneously with the process user interface 120. The user terminal can define process menus, operation procedures, etc. in PowerPoint format to create a PPT file, and this PPT file can be connected to and uploaded to the computer system to generate and modify the process user interface. The process user interface produced in this way requires fine-tuning such as the arrangement of process menus on the screen. The user terminal can perform such operations using the process menu editor 150, which will be further explained in Figure 6.

[0028] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a scenario of the process user interface 120 for the order / receipt business according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The process menus 121, 123, 127, and 128 are connected by arrow nodes to visualize the business process.

[0029] The process menus can be classified into a first process menu and a second process menu. The first process menu is a menu icon connected by arrow nodes, indicated by 121, 123, 127, and 128. The second process menu is a menu icon that does not have arrow node connections but immediately executes a determined function, which is 121 and 125 in the upper left of the drawing.

[0030] The user can intuitively grasp the order / receipt business at a glance through this screen. By clicking on the process menu, the desired business screen can be immediately called up or moved to.

[0031] Also, the process menus can be classified according to the type of subsequent events. Subsequent events include query events, input events, events that connect to other process modules, and the like.

[0032] Regarding the process menu, it is preferably to display the name of the process menu at the lower end of the menu icon. However, it is difficult to display all the text in the drawing, and it is indicated by symbols for convenience in the drawing. In an actual scenario, it is preferably to display it in text instead of symbols. The actual process menu names displayed in place of the symbols are as follows. What is in the parentheses is a brief explanation regarding the function given to the process menu. (1): Quotation Input (An input event is executed by clicking on the menu icon of the user terminal) (2): Quotation Inquiry (A query event is executed by clicking on the menu icon of the user terminal) (3): Order Input (An input event is executed by clicking on the menu icon of the user terminal) (4): Order Item Inquiry (The inquiry event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (5): Order Inquiry (The inquiry event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (6): Order Change Registration (The input event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (7): Shipment Request Input (The input event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (8): Shipment Request Inquiry (The inquiry event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (9): Transaction Document Input (The input event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (10): Transaction Document Input (Unit Price Retroactive) (The input event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (11): Production Request Input (The input event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (12): Purchase Request Input (The input event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (13): Consignment Shipment Request Input (The input event is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (14): Subcontractor Order (The event that links to other process modules in the same major classification menu is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (15): Inspection Management (The event that links to process modules in different major classification menus is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (16): Consignment Management (The event that links to process modules in different major classification menus is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (17): Purchase Management (The event that links to process modules in different major classification menus is executed by clicking the menu icon on the user terminal) (18): Production Management (An event that links to process modules of different major classification menus is executed by clicking on the menu icon of the user terminal.) (19): Shipping / Sales (An event that links to other process modules of the same major classification menu is executed by clicking on the menu icon of the user terminal.)

[0033] The user terminal uses a process menu editor to connect process menus with arrow nodes. At this time, text 135 can be added. Texts related to the inspection management process menu 127 and the print icon 133 can also be added for such purposes.

[0034] Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of menu icons that visually distinguish process menus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] The process menu 121 is a menu icon provided with a function that allows the user terminal to directly input information when the corresponding menu icon is clicked.

[0036] The process menu 122 is different from the process menu 121 and is a menu icon that can execute an input event after jumping. That is, it is a menu icon provided with a function that allows jumping and input through a characteristic button on the previous screen. Therefore, unlike the process menu 121, it cannot directly open an input screen.

[0037] The process menu 123 is a menu icon that opens a screen for executing an event to query the target to proceed to the next screen in the process flow.

[0038] The process menu 124 is different from the process menu 123 that queries the target and is a menu icon that queries graphics. Instead of a screen for querying general data, it calls a screen that can be queried in an analyzable form such as charts and graphs.

[0039] Process Menu 125 calls up a query screen similar to Process Menu 123. However, it is a menu icon that is not connected to other process menus at the arrow node, that is, a screen not related to the process flow, and can execute an event to query the input information.

[0040] Process Menu 126 is a menu icon provided with a function to arrange in batch processing. The screen can be directly opened on the process user interface. Through Process Menu 126, a screen is called up that is developed to facilitate batch processing by uploading an Excel-like format and processing it for batch input, or by making copy / paste in batch.

[0041] Process Menu 127 is a menu icon provided with a function to connect to a process module of another major classification menu, that is, to move to a process user interface of another major classification. In contrast, Process Menu 128 is a menu icon provided with a function to connect to another process module of the same major classification menu. For example, "Order / Shipping" is classified as a sales process. However, the "Stock / Sales" process is also predefined as a sales process. Then it is connected by Process Menu 128. However, "Production Management", "Purchase Management", etc. are pre-registered as process modules belonging to other major classifications. Then it is connected by Process Menu 127.

[0042] The solid-line arrow node 130 means the process flow that must be processed, and the dotted-line arrow node 129 means the flow that may be processed selectively.

[0043] Preferably, after running PowerPoint with the PowerPoint plug-in function preset to generate the process user interface of the present invention, a process menu (including modification, addition, deletion) is created on the PowerPoint screen, connected with arrow nodes, and a PPT file can be produced. Then, it can be connected to the ERP system to generate a process user interface. In this embodiment, the PowerPoint for creating the PPT file uploaded to the ERP system becomes the process menu editor of the present invention. However, in the case of a web editor, a function for adjusting the layout of the icon area is provided. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the process menu editor 150 as a web editor in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The main configuration of the process menu editor 150 as the web editor in FIG. 6 is as follows.

[0044] Upload 151 uploads the PPT image that serves as the background of the process user interface.

[0045] Reset 152 can specify the area where the menu icons can be clicked in addition to the background image. Also, the menu icon area specification can be rearranged.

[0046] Refresh 153 is a function for updating the screen to confirm the changed background, such as upload and rearrangement of the menu icon area.

[0047] Save 154 is a function for saving the relevant content after rearranging the menu icon area specification.

[0048] Template 155 provides a function for downloading a PPT file that guides the method of creating a process user interface in PowerPoint.

[0049] PPT Download 156 provides the user terminal with a PPT file that records the process menu and business procedures pre-registered for the business process logic related to order receipt / shipping.

[0050] On the one hand, the present invention helps the process user interface 120 to enable the user to intuitively understand and grasp the overall flow of operations related to the selected process module, and can display up to "operations to be performed". That is, if the events that the user terminal should perform have not been executed, the number of such unexecuted events can be displayed.

[0051] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a process menu 123 displayed on the process user interface 120 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For the process menu 123 that can perform the order inquiry event, the number of unexecuted events can be displayed numerically as the number of unprocessed cases 163 adjacent to the corresponding process menu 123 or above the process menu 123. In the case of FIG. 7, the user should perform 3 order inquiry events. In other words, 3 orders have not been inquired. When the user executes the inquiry event, the number of unprocessed cases 163 will be changed or disappear.

[0052] Not only for the order inquiry event, but also for process menus such as quotation inquiry, order item inquiry, and shipping request inquiry, the number of unprocessed cases as described above can be displayed numerically.

[0053] FIG. 8 briefly shows the overall process of a user interface method for visualizing enterprise business processes as process menus in a computer system for supporting enterprise resource planning according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] First, in S110, the user terminal accesses the ERP system of the present invention and selects a process module in which sequential operations are pre-registered from the major classification menu. For example, an order / shipping module can be selected.

[0055] Then, the server of the ERP system displays the process user interface corresponding to the selected process module at S120. As described above, this process user interface includes a process menu and arrow nodes that define the business procedures of the process menu. The process menu is a menu icon with a query window, an input window, and a hyperlink function for calling other process modules. And the arrow nodes connect the process menus to show the business procedures. With the process user interface diagrammed by such a process menu and arrow nodes, the user can intuitively grasp the business flow.

[0056] Next, at S130, after the input means of the user terminal selects a specific process menu, it executes the event of the function given to that process menu. That is, when the user terminal clicks on a specific process menu, the ERP computer system shows a screen for executing one of the query event, the input event, and the event for connecting other process modules. The user executes the corresponding event on that screen.

[0057] Incidentally, in a computer system for supporting enterprise resource planning according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user interface method for visualizing an enterprise business process as a process menu can be embodied in the form of program instructions executable by various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. Also, a computer-readable medium in which the above steps are embodied in the form of program instructions can include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and configured for the present invention or those known to and usable by those skilled in the art of computer software.

[0058] Examples of computer-readable media can include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROMs, RAMs, flash memories, etc. Examples of program instructions can include not only machine language code such as that produced by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The above-described hardware devices can be configured to operate as one or more software modules for performing the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

[0059] On the other hand, the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the description and expression of the embodiments explicitly described so far. Various substitutions and modifications are possible within the protection scope of the present invention. Additionally, it should be noted that the protection scope of the present invention is not limited by obvious changes and substitutions made in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

[0060] By implementing the method of the present invention in an ERP system, a user in charge of ERP operations who is not a developer can easily create and modify a process menu screen directly using PowerPoint (plugin). Then, the created / modified process menu can be immediately applied to the web screen.

[0061] The process menu of the present invention may immediately execute events such as queries and inputs on the user interface. In addition to intuitively showing the flow of the process business to the user, presenting the number of tasks to be processed can further improve the usability of the ERP solution. Since the user can perform easy and free process editing, rather than the conventional static document form management when conducting business, the know-how of the business can be more dynamically reflected on the ERP screen.

Claims

1. A user interface method for visualizing an enterprise business process as a process menu in a computer system for supporting enterprise resource planning, comprising: a step in which a user terminal accesses the computer system and selects a process module in which sequential operations are pre-registered from a major classification menu; in a process user interface corresponding to the process module, a menu icon having a hyperlink function for calling a query window or an input window is displayed as a process menu in a process diagrammed and connected by arrow nodes indicating the procedure of the operation, and a process menu for moving to another process module is displayed as a part of the diagrammed process; a step in which when the user terminal clicks the process menu, the computer system executes any one of an event for query, an event for input, and an event for connecting to another process module, and a user interface corresponding to the event is displayed on the screen of the computer system. A user interface method for visualizing an enterprise business process as a process menu in a computer system for supporting enterprise resource planning, characterized by including the above steps.

2. If an event to be performed by the user terminal among the process menus has not been executed, the method further includes a step of displaying, as the number of unprocessed cases, the number of unexecuted events as a number above or adjacent to the corresponding process menu. The user interface method for visualizing an enterprise business process as a process menu in a computer system for supporting enterprise resource planning according to Claim 1.

3. a process menu editor is displayed simultaneously with the process user interface as an independent screen area; The user interface method for visualizing an enterprise business process as a process menu in a computer system for supporting enterprise resource planning according to Claim 1, further including a step in which the user terminal corrects the arrangement of the process menu in the process user interface.

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