SaaSベンダーの株式会社クエステトラ（京都市、代表執行役 CEO 今村元一）は11月20日、クラウド型ワークフロー製品である 『Questetra BPM Suite』 の新バージョン11.5を公開しました。新バージョン11.5では、OpenAPI 仕様（旧名 Swagger 仕様）に対応した REST API テスト環境およびドキュメントが整理され、利用者は外部システムからの API 連携プログラムを容易に開発できるようになります。
日常業務の生産性向上のためには業務プロセスの自動化や複数のサービス間の連携が欠かせません。今日では、多くのクラウドサービスにおいて自サービスのリソースにアクセスするための API (Application Programming Interface) が公開され、「API 利用アプリの開発」や「複数サービス間の API 連携」といった事例も珍しくなくなってきたと言えます。
業務案件は業務フロー図に従ってコントロールされ、案件が人間工程に到達すれば担当者はアウトプットを求められます。また、案件が自動工程に到達した際には、「PDFの生成」や「クラウドストレージへの保存」といった既定の処理（サーバサイド処理）が自動的に行われます。（BPM: Business Process Management）
JTB BUSINESS INNOVATORS Corp. is a company that provides finance and settlement services for travellers and travel agencies.
For example, we offer pre-paid cards that can be used overseas, foreign currency exchange services for foreign visitors to Japan, pre-settlement services for web accommodation reservations and so on.
We are using Questetra for contract conclusion work. We operate three Workflows, from drafting a request for approval to making a decision, applying for a seal, and registering contract information, and since we can check the contracts in digital files it helps us to prevent the loss of the originals.
Q. Please tell us why you chose Questetra.
By using Questetra we cannot create an official contract unless we go through the Approval process and the Signature process, so we are able to thoroughly enforce internal rules.
In addition, the approver is able to make decisions even while on business trips, and this has made it possible to shorten the time required for approval. It is stable as a system and we can use it with confidence considering the experience of JTB SYSTEM SOLUTION INC., a group company.
Workflow with strict authority management and control of approval routes
Q. What challenges did you have before introducing Questetra and how did you solve them?
Prior to using Questetra we were managing contract signing draft documents on paper.
From the drafting person’s viewpoint it was not clear how far the approval or signing work was to being finished, and they had to deal with unnecessary stress of having to contact the management department. By using Questetra’s data retrieval function the drafter became able to see the progress of the approval settlement and signing work, and this has helped us to understand when the official contract will be completed and to relieve the stress.
Q. Is there anything you have devised for its use?
Since we deal with important and confidential contract information as our business, we restrict viewing authority and control over process to the General affairs division and strictly manage authorization.
We have designed the Workflow so that the approval route that complies with internal rules is automatically determined depending on the type of contract. In addition, we have prepared a Step for the General affairs department to check midstream to make sure that the contract type is not wrong, so there is no chance that we take the wrong decision route.
From now on, I would like to promote automation like digitally storing the approval history information along with the approval document, so that we can utilize it for business expansion of the company.
Approximately 30 HR-related tasks were digitized from paper. Further labor savings achieved through the use of automatic processing functions and more.
Established
1983
No. of Employees
1,020 as of April 1, 2024
Main Business
Collaborative IT Full Outsourcing, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Services, Open System Services, Infrastructure Services, etc
ABeam Systems provides a business model called “Full-outsourcing” that goes beyond mere system development, entrusting our clients with the IT strategy to realize their management and business strategies. We support the improvement and promotion of our customer’s business processes in order to achieve their goals, including IT support centered on the development and introduction of ERP systems.
We are using Questetra to conduct approval requests, requests for internal system usage, and tasks in human resources such as providing training and new employee follow-up (approximately 30 types of business processes).
Transitioning from paper applications has improved the processing speed of applications
We used to submit and approve applications using paper forms.
The approver was often out of the office and the approval process was slow, the applicant and approver were sometimes located far from each other and it took a long time for the application to be mailed to the approver, and the applicant had to find out who was approving the application.
By using Questetra approving on the go becomes possible, and the processing speed from application to approval has been improved. In addition, since the approver is automatically determined based on the department the applicant belongs to we can now make requests without confusion.
Labor was saved by using automatic processing functions and optimizing form layouts. Operations can be conducted without the need for manuals
Approval routes are decided along the organization hierarchy in accordance with internal rules.
If an approver concurrently belongs to multiple organizations, approval Steps could be assigned consecutively even though the internal rule allows for a single approval. We use automatic processing functions (Error Boundary Event, etc.) to avoid consecutive approvals, so that the same approver is not required to repeatedly approve the same thing.
We are also working on reducing erroneous operations by applicants and labor saving for input operations. We provide information on the meaning of the input contents and entry examples for each input form, so that applicants can fill in the form without hesitation and without looking at the whole manual. In addition, when a specific option is chosen, the initial value on another input form is automatically set.
We appreciate the ability to create workflows without the need for system development knowledge
We appreciate the fact that even those without system development experience can design Workflow diagrams.
Since we can design Workflow diagrams that easily comply with business rules, basic design can be done in a short period of time and we were able to spend more time on the detailed settings (input labor saving, etc.).
Moreover, we appreciate the quality of Questetra’s support. If I have questions or ask for innovative tips in Workflow designing they return the answer within one day, which is very helpful. We also hear from staff within the company who want to put their department’s work onto the Workflow, so we hope that Questetra will continue to provide support and enhance the web manual.
Planning, production, and sales of various contents using the Internet and other media, as well as operation of services related to these contents.
Industry
Hitech
User Departments
Approval Flows
Renewed upon the transition to Google Workspace
Q. What kind of work are you using Questetra for?
At POCKE INC. we provide content services related to fortune telling, child-rearing, weight loss, weather, etc. based on the concept of creating a smile in the world.
Our fortune-telling service has been very popular thanks to collaboration with fortune-tellers who frequently appear on TV and various media. Also, a headache forecast service, “Zutool“, which was derived from our weather service has been featured in the media, making it a popular service. In addition to providing content, we have also recently begun to offer a “trading desk” service that uses our expertise in attracting customers through content to manage advertising.
We are using Questetra for various application approval tasks within the company, such as decision-making requests, applications for general affairs, accounting, and legal affairs.
Q. Please tell me how you are using it specifically.
Previously, we were using a Workflow system which had been included in a groupware package. Since it was functionally simple there were many jobs that had yet to be digitised and were still carried out on paper.
We decided to migrate our groupware to Google workspace (at that time Google Apps), and so had to replace the Workflow system accordingly. At that time, we compared several workflow services that can cooperate with Google workspace by evaluating the following:
The ability to handle loops, such as returning to a specified process, rather than simply returning to the applicant
The ability to organize and visualize workflows
The ability to handle complex content creation flows
Based on these factors we decided to adopt Questetra.
Work that had to be done on paper up to that point could proceed with the transition to Questetra, and now there are only very few operations still done on paper.
Secure collection of Individual Numbers
Q. I heard you are also using it for the collection of Individual Numbers.
In addition to our employee’s Individual Numbers we also need to manage those of the self-employed who we deal with for fortune-telling services, etc.
Because I wanted to avoid building a new system just for collecting Individual Numbers, and I knew samples were prepared for it, so we made it possible to collect Individual Numbers with Questetra.
It was a great help that I could build a system that can securely collect Individual Numbers in the short-term at a low-cost by slightly modifying the samples prepared by Questetra. Even now we are using that flow as part of our induction process.
Q. Please tell me anything you have devised.
When collecting the Individual Numbers of external business people, I tried to link to Questetra from the web form created in-house. By doing so, we are able to carry out processing without delays or omission. Also, there are operations in which we keep the master data used by Questetra on a Google Spreadsheet, since Questetra has a high affinity with Google workspace. In addition, day-to-day internal communication to prompt the submission of overtime work applications, and regular contact at the end of the month have been automated by Questetra to make it more efficient.
Although I am using Questetra quite a lot with the help of Questetra’s customer support staff who taught me a lot, I would like to use it more extensively in the future.
Integrated Management from Application Acceptance to Service Provision
Q. What kind of business are you using Questetra for?
Silver Egg Technology Co. Ltd. develops and provides artificial intelligence (AI) based Web marketing services. We mainly offer the “Aigent Recommender” which is a real time recommendation service.
A recommendation service is a system that recommends goods and information that match the user’s preferences on EC sites and various other services. Our recommendation service is based on our uniquely developed AI algorithm, which understands and analyzes the site access, purchase status and the behavior flow of each user in real time, so that it can display recommended products and information suitable for each person’s preference instantaneously.
We are using Questetra for the management of our ad-serving service, from the application to the implementation (server setting, parameters, banner creation, etc.).
We are managing the progress of each task starting from service application acceptance to implementation work (server setting / parameter arrangement / banner production etc.). We have been using it since the launch of our advertisement distribution business in 2012, and about 20 people manage hundreds of cases per year.
Q. What kind of challenges did you have?
Prior to launching the advertisement distribution business we had been managing issues with Excel.
When an application was made, it was filled in the application sheet in Excel and the person in charge of the implementation work viewed it periodically and carried out the work. However, with Excel-based management there was often missing entries, errors and delays, so it was not possible to accurately grasp the status of the work being carried out and respond the delays in the progress.
In addition, since the implementation process requires multiple tasks being carried out concurrently, it was difficult to understand which tasks were affecting the overall progress. Therefore, we needed a tool that would allow us to understand the work currently underway in the flow diagram.
Stable Utilization for about 6 Years from Launch of New Business
Q. How did you develop the Workflow at the time of its introduction?
Workflow design was the responsibility of just one person.
We designed the workflow to coincide with the launch of our ad serving business. After three months of trial work, we made some minor changes to the workflow and finalised it. The system has been in full operation since December 2012 and we have had no significant problems in the six years since then.
Q. Is there anything you have devised?
In order to grasp the progress status of a project at a glance we have devised a way of drawing flow diagrams.
We were careful not to reduce the visibility of the workflow diagram by not intersecting the arrow lines (sequence flow) that connect the Steps, and not dividing the Process more than necessary. By doing this, we can easily grasp the backlog status of detailed issue information.
We have also made it more convenient by promoting the use of Questetra using smartphones, so that those on business trips can get access from outside the office.
Connect to Workflow from the Backbone System more securely.
Kyoto, Japan – September 11th, 2017 – Questetra, Inc., the global SaaS provider of Business Process Management (BPM), today announced that they have published the new version 11.4 of the Cloud-based Workflow product “Questetra BPM Suite” on Sep 11th, 2017. In this new version, you can configure “Allowed IP” onto each Data Catching Event (API Endpoint) of Workflow. (API IP Filtering)
To improve the productivity of day-to-day operations, automation of Business Processes is essential. Work style reform is recommended today, and cases of API connection, such as automatically starting a Workflow system from a business system in an in-house server or cloud storage service AWS, are no longer unusual. (e.g. Starting “Materials sending Process” when there is an application to the campaign site, starting “Lecturing Process” upon service contract, etc.)
On and after the new version 11.4, you can set “list of IPs that allow access” for each API-URI (Endpoint of Questetra BPM Suite). We have supported various kinds of secure communication so far, but from now on, it will be possible to realize cooperation between systems with even higher security levels.
Questetra BPM Suite
Cloud-based Workflow “Questetra BPM Suite” is a business platform for realizing environments of paper-less and remote-working.
Business issues are controlled according with Business Flow Diagram. When a process reaches human task, the user will be asked to input. Also, when an issue reaches to automated Step, the predetermined processing (server-side processing) such as “Generate PDF” and “Save to cloud storage” is performed automatically. (BPM: Business Process Management)
You can apply it to various business operations such as “Approval request flow”, “Document translation flow”, “Quality check process”, “Invoice issuance process”. Process owner of each Business Process can practice “improvement of Business Process” little by little in daily work.
API IP Filtering function
Regarding access to Start Event and Catching Intermediate Event (“Message Catch Event API”), you can set “source IP address to allow access” for the URI path, in addition to the access restriction by the “API key” so far (Whitelisting by “Source IP” or “IP range CIDR”). You can apply different IP restrictions to each one of plural events. System administrator privilege is required for setting.
Message Start Event (HTTP): Starting a Process upon an HTTP request comes to the URI
Catching Message Intermediate Event (HTTP): Standing by for an HTTP request coming to the URI
Message Start Event (Form): Starting a Process if there is a post on a Web form for huma
Note 1) The Workflow App connection (Process Model connection) within the same Workflow platform is not affected by the API IP Filtering.
Note 2) Developer APIs such as “System Setting APIs” to change setting of Workflow platform and “Workflow APIs” to control flowing Issues are not subject to the API IP Filtering function, initially. Please use secure communication by “OAuth 2 authorization” or “Basic authentication” as before.
IP Filtering setting for “Message start event (form)” will restrict access by human.
IP Address Filtering
Other Improvements
User-Interface IP Filtering
“Source IP address to allow access” can be set also for user access from personal computers, smartphones, etc. (Whitelisting)
Format of API Access URI
Resource information such as “Workflow App ID” and “Event Node ID” was specified in the query part and body part when accessing Start Event and Catching Intermediate Event (“Message Catch Event API”), so far. From now on, it will be possible to specify it by “path parameter “. (e.g. “/System/Event/MessageStart/APP-ID/NODE-ID/start”)
Cross-Origin Resource Sharing function
It is possible to set to allow CORS access to “Message Catch Event API” and “Workflow Control API” etc.
日常業務の生産性向上のためには業務プロセスの自動化が欠かせません。働き方改革が叫ばれる今日では、社内サーバや AWS クラウド等にある業務システムからワークフローシステムを自動的にスタートさせるといった API 連携の事例も珍しくなくなってきたと言えます。（キャンペーンサイトへの申し込みがあった際に「資料発送プロセス」を開始させる、サービス成約時に「レクチャー・プロセス」を開始させる、など）
新バージョン 11.4 からは、API URI（Questetra BPM Suite のエンドポイント）それぞれに対して「アクセスを許可する接続元 IPのリスト」が設定できるようになります。これまでにおいても様々なセキュア通信をサポートしておりましたが、今後は、より一層セキュリティレベルの高いシステム間連携を実現していただく事が可能となります。
業務案件は業務フロー図に従ってコントロールされ、案件が人間工程に到達すれば担当者はアウトプットを求められます。また、案件が自動工程に到達した際には、「PDFの生成」や「クラウドストレージへの保存」といった既定の処理（サーバサイド処理）が自動的に行われます。（BPM: Business Process Management）
ソフトウェアの「カテゴリ名」である。 ※ まずもって、「そう思っているヒト」と「そう思ってないヒト」では、議論は噛み合わない。（←どうしても定義は必要… Wikipedia によれば『ホワイトカラー業務の効率化・自動化の取組み』とある。それはそれで正しい。しかし、もう少し深く認識していただきたい点は『人間によるコンピュータ操作を再現するソフトウェアである』(※)という説明だ。
英語版の Wikipedia： a software application that replicates the actions of a human being interacting with the user interface of a computer system （日本語版 Wikipedia の現状は、『人間と同じように操作を行うことができるようなソフトウェア』と…、ナンダカ分かりにくい文章になっている）
