Groupmax was first shipped in 1993 as a tools for advancing Japanese-style BPR (that is, Business Process Reengineering). Since then, plenty of the functions for system construction, such as Workflow, have been applied and evaluated in more than 1,800 companies who have introduced Groupmax. Response has been highly favorable.
For expanding workflow systems, Groupmax Enterprise Version 5 adds the Groupmax Workflow connecting function so that multiple workflows can actualize company-wide information linkage, linkage between related companies, and between client companies over a network, adding to the existing multi-server function. This function enables you to construct an SCM system, which is essential in sharing information with other companies easily, and it helps improve productivity, efficiency for business management, and the practical use of information resources. Also, with the release of the Groupmax Enterprise Version 5 product, substantial service contents, such as consulting, outsourcing, and educating provide solutions to constructing an enterprise workflow system.
The interface for connecting functions among workflows satisfies the standard WfMC Interoperability (Interface 4) regulated by WfMC (Workflow Management Coalition) to actualize linkage with workflow system products. These standards will help promote connectivity with other companies' workflows developed in the future. Also, because the new product supports XML when workflows are linked, it makes it simpler to exchange and to catalog the data input from electronic forms.
To further improve workflow system reliability, the "failover", a function for switching to an alternate server system when the primary server system failures, has been improved by supporting MC/Service Guard for HP-UX in addition to Window NT clusters.