business process portal deployment -...

BUSINESS PROCESS PORTAL DEPLOYMENT

TCBL 646133 DELIVERABLE 5.1

8th April 2016

Co-funded by

Horizon 2020

DELIVERABLE

PROJECT ACRONYM: TCBL

GRANT AGREEMENT N.: 646133

PROJECT TITLE: Textile & Clothing Business Labs

D 5.1: Business Process Portal Deployment

V 4.0 08.04.2016

AUTHORS:

Marco Paini (Skillaware) Fabrizio Cardinali (Skillaware)

Jesse Marsh (Prato) Tobias Maschler (DITF)

REVIEWERS:

Francesco Molinari (CCA) Thanos Contargyris (Mirtec)

Dieter De Paepe (iMINDS)

CO-FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN H2020 TCBL: TEXTILES & CLOTHING BUSINESS LABS, GRANT AGREEMENT N. 646133

Dissemination Level

PU Public

Co-funded by

Horizon 2020

3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TCBL Deliverable 5.1 describes the first activities of WP5 on the implementation of Business

Services. As indicated by the TCBL DoA (p. 44), D5.1 consists of a technical description and a

user guide of the bpSquare platform, the first stone of a Business Service dedicated to training

of T&C industry players on new business processes, best practices and commercial software

applications for supply chain and value chain management.

Before presenting the technical description and the user guide, a wide section of this document

has been dedicated to describe the objectives and steps of the bpSquare platform deployment

in the whole TCBL project as well as in this first reporting period. Moreover, a description of its

internal architecture is provided, indicating three areas:

A general business process area in which existing and innovative business processes

are listed and made available to all the pilots, together with the related set of learning

materials.

A public software area, in which the available software applications are listed, and all

the IT procedures on these are tracked and collected.

A set of non-public areas in which every TCBL Pilot can explore new and innovative

business processes, change the existing ones introducing further innovation aspects,

sharing sensitive information between each other without make them visible to all the

platform users.

The installation of bpSquare as a TCBL Business Service allows training industries and pilots

on business processes and software applications, as well as setting protected and “non-public”

environments in which the TCBL Pilots can experiment innovative business scenarios and share

sensitive information among each other in a safe way.

In summary, bpSquare represents the first important TCBL Business Service component. The

main target of these components will be, during the project’s lifetime, to support not a single

business in isolation, however large or small, but a set of businesses composing an innovative

value chain in order to experiment a new Pilot Scenario, consisting of a concatenation of

innovative business models that tends to define a new market space.

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. 4

GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................ 6

1. OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................... 10

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS SERVICES ACCORDING TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION 11

Objectives in the Reporting Period.................................................................................... 11

Potential contact points with TCBL Knowledge Spaces ................................................... 13

1.2 TAKEN STEPS TOWARDS THE OBJECTIVES .................................................................... 14

Preliminary implementation of a zero footprint functionality for bpSquare........................ 14

Requirements and Installation of bpSquare on iMINDS cloud platform ............................ 14

1.3 PLANNED STEPS FOR THE NEXT PROJECT PHASE.......................................................... 16

Implementation of sedApta Orchestrator as a business process design tool ................... 17

Capturing IT procedures on Textile & Clothing-dedicated software ................................. 17

2. BPSQUARE FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION: DEFINITION OF A FIRST INTERNAL

ARCHITECTURE ...................................................................................................................... 18

2.1 GENERATION OF PILOT SCENARIOS ............................................................................... 18

2.2 THE INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE OF BPSQUARE ............................................................... 18

3. BPSQUARE TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION ...................................................................... 22

3.1 THE BASIS OF BPSQUARE: DESCRIPTION OF SKILLAWARE COMPONENTS ......................... 22

3.2 FROM SKILLAWARE TO BPSQUARE................................................................................ 23

bpSquare public environment: web portal, material sharing and supported IT procedures

execution ........................................................................................................................... 23

bpSquare internal environment: Generation of IT procedure-based learning materials and

platform analytics .............................................................................................................. 25

4. BPSQUARE USER GUIDE .............................................................................................. 26

4.1 GUIDE FOR CAPTURING AND GENERATION OF LEARNING MATERIALS ................................ 26

Recording of T&C software standard operation procedures (SOPs) ................................ 26

Post editing of SOP recordings ......................................................................................... 30

Generation of learning materials ....................................................................................... 42

Sharing and Publication of a project ................................................................................. 43

Import of a BPMN workflow in bpSquare .......................................................................... 46

4.2 GUIDE FOR TCBL USERS .............................................................................................. 49

Navigation inside bpSquare .............................................................................................. 49

Uploading of materials inside an existing workflow ........................................................... 51

Description of real-time performance support during an IT procedure execution ............. 54


646133 - TCBL Textile & Clothing Business Labs

5

5. SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................ 56

BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 57

INDEX OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ 58

INDEX OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. 59

DOCUMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................................... 60

Revision History ................................................................................................................ 60

Statement of originality ...................................................................................................... 60

Copyright ........................................................................................................................... 60

Disclaimer .......................................................................................................................... 61

Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 61



6

GLOSSARY

Term Definition and source

bpSquare platform or

bpSquare portal

A TCBL Business Service (see definition below) dedicated to the

exploration of the innovative business models depicted in the

Pilot Scenarios (see below) and to the improvement of learning

literacy of T&C industry players on selected software solutions

available on the market.

Adapted from TCBL DoA, various pp., modified after discussions

during WP6 Brussels meeting (22nd – 23rd February 2016).

bpSquare knowledge

repository

The main page of bpSquare, accessible to registered pilots and

users. It contains a general T&C business model, provided as an

example, with all the public learning materials available, together

with links to Knowledge Spaces contents.

This repository is an adaptation of one part of Skillaware software

suite (see below), named SkillPortal™.

Definition developed after discussions during WP6 Brussels

meeting (22nd – 23rd February 2016).

Business process

analysis

Joint exploration of the commercial, social, and institutional

processes involved in the TCBL Business Systems at both the

generic level of typologies and as case studies of specific pilots.

This effort will act as the baseline for supporting the adoption and

integration of the innovative business models thrown up by the

TCBL Business Labs.

Adapted from the TCBL DoA, p. 42.

Business process

modelling

The activity of visually representing specific processes of a given

organisations, with the purpose of analysing, understanding and

improving them. Such activity is typically done with the support of

a standard notation, such as BPMN 2.0.

Compare: www.bpmn.org

Electronic performance

support

Functionality of bpSquare that allows giving real-time support to

software users during the execution of a procedure (or task) on a

software.

This bpSquare functionality has been adapted from a similar one

present in a part of the Skillaware software (SkillAgent™), with

the addition of a zero footprint functionality (see below).

PaaS (Process as a

Service)

Approach depicted by F. Cardinali for TCBL project, which

describes how business processes will be used by TCBL

http://www.bpmn.org/



7

Business Services as a basis for the generation and sharing of

process-related learning materials.

Skillaware software (or

suite)

Software solution at the basis of the generation of bpSquare. It is

an IT tool dedicated to tracking the knowledge of expert users

during the execution of an IT procedure, as well as to generating

learning materials and real-time performance support for novice

users based on expert’s experience.

It is constituted by five parts (SkillEditor™, SkillPortal™,

SkillBoard™, SkillAgent™ and optionally SkillAnalyzer™).

For more information, please visit www.skillaware.com.

TCBL ecosystem A socio-digital business experimentation framework for exploring

innovations to the three main strategies undertaken so far by the

European T&C sector to handle global competitive pressure: cost-

oriented, product/service oriented and productivity-oriented.

Adapted from the TCBL DoA, p. 3 (abstract)

TCBL approach T&C business model innovation based on three main levers: 1)

the emerging opportunities of the new “Making Economy” (e.g.

personal robotics, home production, etc.); 2) redirecting the

capacities of “old artisans” and family workers (or “fasonists”) and

re-connecting their knowledge with e.g. new entrepreneurs, young

and creative people; 3) taking full advantage of the benefits of

Future Internet technologies for the T&C global supply chain

(diffused e-commerce networks, IoT tracking systems, virtual

warehouses, customer engagement, etc.) in the light of a new

customer-driven approach based on market intelligence.

Adapted from the TCBL DoA, part B, p. 17.

TCBL Associates

programme

TCBL aims to gradually populate the ecosystem with T&C actors

covering the entire value chain by means of yearly calls for

expression of interest. Three types of Associates will be looked

for:

- Business Labs (Design, Making, and Place)

- Business Systems (Laboratories and Factories)

- Business Service Providers.

Associates joining the TCBL ecosystem will not receive funding as

such, but rather specific services from project partners (as part of

the relevant work package activities) plus the TCBL label as being

part of the network.

There will also be a call for expressions of interest for start-ups;

like the Associates, they will be receiving services from partners

(in this case, incubation services such as travel, consultants, office

space, labs) rather than funding.

Adapted from the TCBL DoA, part B, pp. 13-14.

http://www.skillaware.com/



8

TCBL Business Labs Physical and/or virtual spaces in which actors involved in TCBL

can draw on existing and emerging business models to freely

experiment with new ways of designing, making, producing within

specific locations in the countries covered by the TCBL

partnership. TCBL includes three types of labs: Design Labs,

Making Labs and Place Labs.

The essential purpose of TCBL Business Labs is to produce and

transfer knowledge and innovation into T&C Business Systems,

motivating potential pilots to emerge. By so doing, Business Labs

freely explore more or less radical innovation trajectories in T&C,

structured according to a coherent framework and relying on

existing and emergent models.

Adapted from the TCBL DoA, various pp.

TCBL Business

Services (also known

as Process Support

Services)

Training and performance support facilities linked to innovative

business process models and other third party services facilitating

Business Labs and Business Systems in accessing, assimilating

and adapting the new knowledge created through the Knowledge

Spaces and in valorising it to enable new ways of working in T&C

to be developed and implemented.

Adapted from the TCBL DoA, various pp.

TCBL Business

Systems (pilots)

Pilot activities within TCBL based on existing and concrete supply

and value chains including social enterprises, primarily in, but not

limited to the T&C manufacturing sector, to establish

methodologies for “innovation transfer” of business model

elements.

Business Systems will include:

- Pilot laboratories (small existing structures with small-

scale operations based on concrete and material labour

of an artisan nature, including home businesses). They

will pilot some small-scale activities and productions,

with an emphasis on developing ‘social innovations’ that

have an impact on the local community.

- Pilot factories (bigger units that typically have a

sufficient number of workers so that the organisation of

labour becomes a key factor of production). They will

experiment with existing innovations or new processes

(e.g. reorganisation of working positions, multi-tasking,

etc.).

Adapted from TCBL DoA, part B, p. 8 and p. 35.

TCBL Cloud Cloud platform, provided by iMINDS, in which some of the TCBL

Business Services are installed.



9

TCBL Knowledge

Spaces

An online, interactive business model repository that hosts and

links to embedded and emergent materials and manufacturing

knowledge for T&C, as well as market, technology, economic and

social trend observations and policy watching.

Knowledge Spaces capture knowledge related to the practice of

T&C production, such as individual needs and desires, and other

aspects that define market conditions, analysing the social

interactions with that knowledge in order to suggest/identify trends

and options for the Business Labs and Systems.

TCBL DoA, p. 14 and part B, p. 8.

TCBL Pilot Businesses See TCBL Business Systems.

TCBL Pilot Scenario Innovative business process model to be explored by a selected

number of TCBL Pilots. TCBL Pilots can work together to

generate a Pilot Scenario, and then test it in a non-public

(confidential) section of the bpSquare platform.

Definition created during discussions in WP6 Brussels meeting

(22nd – 23rd February 2016).

Zero Footprint

(a functional definition

for TCBL)

Functionality of a software that allows avoiding installation of

components on user’s personal computer. For bpSquare, the

development of this functionality (not present in Skillaware)

became mandatory for a correct electronic performance support

deploy without installing SkillAgent™.



10

1. OBJECTIVES

This Deliverable describes the first activities of TCBL Work Package 5 (Business Process

Support), related in particular to the installation and start up of the bpSquare platform, the part

of TCBL Business Services dedicated to training on business processes and best practices,

involving also software applications dedicated to T&C industry.

In particular, this Deliverable is related to Task 5.1, which is described in the TCBL DoA as

follows1:

“Task 5.1 “Specification, Configuration and Deployment” first defines the requirements and

implementation specifications of the bpSquare portal and its integration with the common FI-

WARE cloud infrastructure and, through there, with the services of the Knowledge Spaces of

WP1. The bpSquare portal will be so designed to have a backend made accessible to relevant

stakeholders of the TCBL ecosystem for uploading BP workflows and IT tool simulations and

a frontend for knowledge sharing and training of the wider TCBL community members willing

to uptake the proposed processes and tools”.

TCBL DoA also anticipates some element of the internal architecture and the typology of

learning contents available on the bpSquare platform (p. 42):

“Following that is the implementation of the bpSquare portal mainly centred on 3 areas:

- A Process Area where the Business Labs (in particular the Making Labs) and relevant T&C

Business Pilots engage to describe and share new production processes and practices into a

central Process Knowledge Repository dedicated to the uploading, sharing, commenting and

training of innovative practices and tools in a structured approach. This part will also integrate

a social networking engine for providing and managing user feedback whilst discussing and

annotating best business processes templates shared amongst the community of practice;

- A Software Tools Area where stakeholders engaged in learning and training (with specific

reference to software usage) will be able to “hook” (drag & drop) learning material from Task

2.5 as well as interactive guides and training materials for new software tools and solutions,

in order to demonstrate and support on how specific tasks may be accomplished. This part

will also integrate the rule based reasoning engine for case handling and reporting whilst using

the SW simulations;

- A Training & Support Area linked to the Knowledge Spaces, where the T&C community

members will access listed processes and software apps, experiment procedures and tools

simulations and train themselves on proposed practices.”

The next chapters describes the objectives of WP5 in general, as reported on the TCBL DoA,

and those of the reporting period. After that, a technical description and a user guide are

presented.

1 TCBL DoA, p. 42



11

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS SERVICES ACCORDING TO THE

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION

The TCBL DoA describes Work Package 5, “Business Services” as follows (emphasis added)2:

WP5 aims to carry out the configuration and implementation, on the top of the FI-WARE

infrastructure, of a dedicated set of existing IT resources for the delivery of the following

services according to a workflow-based model based on the transition paths identified in

Task 4.2:

- Business Process Analysis and Improvement of existing / new / emerging T&C

business models from within the TCBL community;

- Electronic Performance Support and analysis of learning requirements for the training

of new Software Tools in association with the novelty or maturity of the business models

provided;

- Document management and suggestion of appropriate learning mixes / legacy

knowledge assets in accordance to specific business process needs;

- Links with other document-based business services that can be fruitfully integrated

into the workflow based mode

The above services offer training resources, quick reference material and learning analytics,

to the TCBL community and particularly to the stakeholders engaged in the business pilots on

the experimentation of innovative processes, SW tools and best practices, as described in

WP3 and WP4.

In particular, WP5 will support effective transitioning of the individual lab participants

towards business maturity as well as the sharing and widespread, open, and transparent

distribution of reusable knowledge and documentation in support to business model

innovation. It will do so by experimenting upon an innovative PaaS (Process as a Service)

model, grounded of which, the TCBL consortium expects to create a permanent community

and service environment dedicated to Europe’s T&C manufacturing and supply chain and to

promote, where appropriate, its future integration in broader global business value chains.

OBJECTIVES IN THE REPORTING PERIOD

In Figure 1, it is shown the reporting period of this Deliverable, clearly indicating the starting of

WP5 activities at M7.

Figure 1. Part of the TCBL DoA Gantt chart dedicated to WP5, with the reporting period highlighted by

the orange square.

In the reporting period, the main objective of WP5 activities is related to Task 5.1, and in

particular on the definition of requirements and implementation specifications of the bpSquare

portal, together with its integration with the common cloud infrastructure provided by iMINDS.

2 TCBL DoA, p.54.



12

A second objective is to define a first architecture for the bpSquare internal framework, with the

aim to develop the environment for several and dedicated Pilot Scenarios, using T&C Business

Processes as starting point.

In the first nine months of the project, several evolutions took place that already have an impact

on the focus of WP5 activities:

The FI-WARE cloud infrastructure has been replaced by the TCBL Cloud, a service similar

to the FI-WARE cloud but with better support, given that it is directly offered by TCBL Partner

iMINDS (see D 6.2 for further information).

The project has adopted the Ning social networking and group interaction platform as the

underlying engine of its main website. This provides in addition a structured way to manage

document (and conversation)-based collaboration, through the possibility of opening

“private” groups.

Two “external” platforms have joined and are becoming part of the TCBL suite of business

services. The first, Strategyzer©, is a commercial environment for collaborative Business

Canvas modelling3. The second, Thela©, is a supply chain management platform,

specifically designed to manage compliance with environmental and social responsibility

requirements throughout supply chains4. Thela’s owner, Cleviria, an SME based in Prato,

Italy, has begun collaborating with TCBL on a voluntary basis (in anticipation with respect

to the role foreseen as Associate Service Provider, starting month 24).

In the meantime, the project has also developed the preliminary framework activities for the

Business Labs and Business Pilots in WPs 3 and 4, feeding into Tasks 4.2 “Transition Models,

Drivers, Paths” and 6.4 “Value modelling and scaling scenarios”. These latter Tasks both started

in M7, in parallel with WP5 and are intended to contribute significantly to defining the

requirements in WP5 in the coming months.

What has emerged to date from these activities and after discussion during the Brussels meeting

of end of February is the following:

The focus (or “end user)” of the Business Services of WP5 is not a single business

in isolation, however large or small, but a set of businesses composing an innovative

value chain in order to experiment a new Pilot Scenario, consisting of a

concatenation of innovative business models which tends to define a new market

space.

Inside the TCBL Business Services ecosystem, bpSquare will represent a web environment that

carries detailed training information and learning sessions to the Business Pilot Associates and

SMEs, focused in particular on business process innovation, skills definition and training on T&C

software tools.

In particular, bpSquare will focus on:

Providing a generic background service behind the Pilot Scenario, which allows the

involved Business Pilot to have exclusive access only to the materials and procedures

they need and want to explore, organised according to Business Processes described

by WP4.

3 https://strategyzer.com/

4 http://www.cleviria.it/thela/?lang=en



13

Delivering training materials to Pilots, related to business processes, best practices

and procedures, as well as on dedicated software usage. These materials can be

provided by several sources, such as materials of T&C consultants, links to Knowledge

Spaces contents or AR activities developed in Task 1.3.

Offering to Pilots and SMEs a collection of examples of web-based software

applications for the supply chain management of T&C companies.

POTENTIAL CONTACT POINTS WITH TCBL KNOWLEDGE SPACES

As described before, while TCBL Knowledge Spaces are focused more on innovation collection

and structuring, bpSquare is characterised by a more relevant operational focus on

industrial/pilot business processes and practices, as well as on software procedures.

The following table compares the targeted business models for TCBL Knowledge Spaces and

the business service proposition of bpSquare.

Table 1. Comparison of some business model aspects of TCBL bpSquare and Knowledge Spaces.

Business Model Aspect TCBL Knowledge Spaces bpSquare

Value Proposition Learnings and new developments about business models, machinery, products, services, yellow pages for specialities.

Support for users of software, business processes, provision of operational training materials.

Typical customers Makers, designers, researchers, product developers, start-up founders, start-up funding providers.

TCBL Pilots for business process experimentations, designers with micro series production, SMEs or large companies for improvement of their supply chain and exploration on new IT tools.

Service type For free. For free for TCBL community members until the end of the project. Special commercial licenses (to be discussed) after project ending.

Service provision model Central web access point for the community, e.g. at http://tcbl.Knowledge Spaces.eu; users can include content from there in their own social media streams/ conversations.

Customised Hosting service by sedApta or specific installations for bigger companies.

Target value added phases in customer’s business

Research, commodity development, business development.

Production, training.

It can be seen that TCBL Knowledge Spaces covers assets that are mostly under development

and new learnings (such as new textile research, new machinery and so on).

http://tcbl.knowledgespaces.eu/

http://tcbl.knowledgespaces.eu/



14

On the other side, bpSquare covers learning aspects about actual business processes and how

they can be improved in the future, taking into consideration software and services being

currently commercialised or that will be commercialised during TCBL project duration.

Therefore, potential contact points are:

Common marketing and entry point via the TCBL web site.

Common login via OAuth for TCBL community members.

Reciprocal links to content.

Overlaps in the gamification approach.

1.2 TAKEN STEPS TOWARDS THE OBJECTIVES

PRELIMINARY IMPLEMENTATION OF A ZERO FOOTPRINT FUNCTIONALITY FOR

BPSQUARE

Before starting the installation of bpSquare in the top of iMINDS cloud, the WP5 leader needed

to develop a zero footprint functionality for the Skillaware software, which is mandatory for a

correct usage of bpSquare without needing installation of a bpSquare client on each user’s

personal computer.

This functionality allows receiving the real time performance support during the execution of IT

procedures on T&C software applications, as described in Chapter 3.2 of this Deliverable,

without installation of a client on PC, as it is nowadays required for Skillaware.

Zero footprint has been rapidly developed starting from existing knowledge, and today only the

installation of a free-of-charge extension on the web browser (Google Chrome, Internet

Explorer, Mozilla Firefox) is required for the final user or Pilot.

REQUIREMENTS AND INSTALLATION OF BPSQUARE ON IMINDS CLOUD PLATFORM

The installation of bpSquare on the top of iMINDS cloud requires three different parts, as shown

in the Figure below.



15

Figure 2. Configuration of bpSquare on the top of iMINDS cloud infrastructure.

The Front-End server contains the web applications of the following components:

Main public portal of bpSquare.

Functionality for learning material - business process association.

Real time performance support execution on T&C software, deployed also with the zero

footprint functionality previously described.

Analytics tool for user interaction monitoring and analysis.

sedApta ACM (Access Control Management), for authenticate the access to bpSquare

portal.

Windows Service contains the Windows services needed by the zero footprint functionality. If

necessary, these services can be installed on the same virtual machine of the Front-End server.

The database instances of bpSquare, Analytics and sedApta ACM are located in another virtual

machine, named database server.

This structure has been designed considering the achievement of the expected impact declared

in the TCBL DoA5 5 years after the end of the project (1000 users), and considering a user

concomitance on the platform of 10 % with 30 simultaneous instances of performance support

on different software applications.

The table below shows the hardware and software requirements for the three main components

of bpSquare deployment.

5 TCBL DoA, p. 20



16

Table 2. Hardware recommendations and software requirements for the deployment of bpSquare on the

top of iMINDS cloud.

Hardware Recommendations Software Requirements

Front-End Server CPU Speed: 2.0 GHz 64-bit processor. # of CPU: 8 core. RAM: 16 GB. HDD: 80 GB (depending on the space required for the contents stored into the internal Storage).

Windows Server 2012 R2. IIS 8.5. .Net Framework 4.6.

Windows Service CPU Speed: 2.0 GHz 64-bit processor. # of CPU: 8 core. RAM: 32 GB. HDD: 60 GB.

Windows Server 2012 R2. .Net Framework 4.6.

Database Server As indicated in Microsoft website for the installation of SQL Server 2012.

Windows Server 2012 R2. Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Standard or Enterprise (Full Text not required) including Data Base Services, Integration Services, Analysis Services. Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.

iMinds made available three virtual machines on the Cloud, all with Windows Server 2012 R2

and with the following specifications:

First machine: 8 cores, 16GB RAM, 100GB disk, ports for RDP and https open.

Second machine: 8 cores, 32GB RAM, 100GB disk, ports for RDP and https open.

Third machine: 4 cores, 16GB RAM, 100GB disk with SQL server Express, only RDP

open to outside.

In this first phase, a licence of SQL server Express, which is free, has been installed for

bpSquare.

1.3 PLANNED STEPS FOR THE NEXT PROJECT PHASE

Once the bpSquare platform is installed and set up, the Business Process Modelling activities

of Task 5.2 can begin the direct collaboration with the Business Pilots of WP4. These will be

selected in April 2016 and the first “matchmaking” activities carried out until the TCBL

Conference in June, so that the contours of the first Pilot Scenarios will begin to be defined. In

collaboration with Task 4.2, the Business Process Modelling activity can begin and the

bpSquare platform can begin to be populated in parallel with the set-up of the Pilot Scenario

group workspaces on the Ning platform. Platform population will be facilitated by the “Log in with

TCBL” single sign-up feature that Task 6.2 is defining as one of the first TCBL Cloud services.

TCBL Knowledge Spaces are currently getting workflow functionality and a server-rendered

web user interface. The information structure for TCBL Knowledge Spaces will be further

adapted to the user’s needs and sign-on via OAuth will be integrated.



17

In the next future, WP5 members Skillaware and DITF will discuss approaches for promoting

contents in the respective other system.

Moreover, according to activities of Task 1.2, iMINDS will develop a gamification approach for

bpSquare, as well as for all the other components of TCBL Business Services, enhancing

interactions of Pilots and Community members with the platform.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SEDAPTA ORCHESTRATOR AS A BUSINESS PROCESS DESIGN

TOOL

As previously described, with the aim to help and improve digitization of T&C industry, BPMN

2.0 notation has been selected as the main way for Business Processes and Pilot Scenarios

description and characterization.

WP5 leader Skillaware will provide in the next months a dedicated IT tool for process design

and execution based on BPMN 2.0, named Orchestrator.

Orchestrator is a tool developed by sedApta Group (of which Skillaware is part of) for process

orchestration, which allows manufacturing companies to describe and execute their business

processes in compliance with the latest technology trends described by business analysts6.

Orchestrator will be installed on the top of iMINDS cloud framework and made available for free

to the whole TCBL community, with the aim to engage people in experimentation with this tool

and to improve its usage by the most innovative Pilots.

CAPTURING IT PROCEDURES ON TEXTILE & CLOTHING-DEDICATED SOFTWARE

After the publication of bpSquare, examples of IT procedures on selected web-based software

applications will be captured thanks to Skillaware software (detailed information on how

capturing occurs are presented in Chapter 3.1), and the generated contents will feed bpSquare

platform.

This activity consists in capturing interactions of the user with the software during the execution

of an IT procedure, which generates learning materials such as Word™ and pdf documentation,

videos with text-to-speech and the real-time performance support for each IT procedure.

These generated materials will be then uploaded to bpSquare in the related Business Process

topic, as well as in the software section dedicated to the IT tool.

Concerning this, the Thela© platform could represent a first example of a T&C-related software

to be tracked7, as an IT application for environmental impact evaluation and certification.

A second software example could be provided by sedApta Group, making available for free to

the whole TCBL community one of the component of its suite, such as Web Supply Engine, a

software for collaborative supplier management8..

6 Gartner, “Magic Quadrant for Sales and Operations Planning Systems of Differentiation”, 29th

April 2015

7 http://www.cleviria.it/?lang=en

8 http://www.sedapta.com/en/web-collaboration/

18

2. BPSQUARE FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION:

DEFINITION OF A FIRST INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE

2.1 GENERATION OF PILOT SCENARIOS

The impacts of the preliminary activities described in Chapter 1.1 (section “Objectives of the

reporting period”) on WP5 may change the emphasis of service and platform integration, but do

not significantly alter the initial “Process as a Service” approach. Concretely, the following, a

slightly adapted storyboard that can emerge for WP5:

1. A set of pilots define together a Pilot Scenario and decide to begin experimenting with

that scenario within the enabling framework of the TCBL Business Labs and service

infrastructure. They set up a closed working group on the Ning platform and invite the

relevant users to join.

2. A first step is for the participating businesses (and Labs, individuals, service providers,

etc.) to carry out a Business Process Modeling activity which identifies the workflows

across the entire Pilot Scenario, including the roles of each player within the BPM

schema (much as is currently being done for departments internal to a large company

using Business Process Modeling Notation 2.0). This activity will be conducted by the

Pilots using Orchestrator (a BPMN 2.0-based software that will be provided by WP5

leader Skillaware, and that will be described later in this Deliverable), together with the

support of an expert belonging to a TCBL partner. The result of this experimentation

could then feed the public bpSquare repository with “success stories”, allowing the

reuse of the model and of innovative tasks from other Pilots as well as a real

improvement of T&C business processes.

3. The participating businesses can then structure their closed working environment

according to the consensus BPM (made by existing tasks belonging to the common

library as well as new and specific ones), creating spaces on the bpSquare platform for

the management of the documents and services required for each of the business

processes specific to that Pilot Scenario. This can include documents, designs,

invoices, etc. required at any given stage.

4. Where appropriate, specific “views” onto the tools and platforms of the Business

Services can also appear alongside the designs for a specific Business Process. This

could include access to anything ranging from an internet banking service to the Thela©

platform.

5. WP4 partners together with the Business Pilot Associates participating in one or more

scenarios will identify the services and platforms most appropriate for experimentation

with the bpSquare learning environment. This will balance the need to upgrade skills

within a Pilot Scenario group with the resources available and required to implement

bpSquare features.

2.2 THE INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE OF BPSQUARE

During the meeting held in Brussels on 22nd-23rd of February 2016, a first internal architecture

for the bpSquare platform was depicted and developed, together with all the Partners involved

in Task 5.1 and Task 5.2. The consensus architecture is represented graphically in the Figure

below.

19

Figure 3. First architecture for TCBL bpSquare platform, with examples of Business Processes and software applications that can be made available to TCBL community.



20

In this Figure, several functional characteristics of bpSquare are highlighted:

A section of the bpSquare platform is dedicated to all the processes and practices

(named Business Process Framework), which is available to all the Pilots and other

entities that join bpSquare. In this Framework, learning materials coming from software

procedure tracks, Knowledge Champions experience and other sources are present

and divided according to topics. Links to contents of Knowledge Spaces and AR results

will also be present.

In this way, the knowledge is shared within the whole TCBL community, without

restriction, giving to all the users the possibility to access all the materials related to

every business process and industrial procedure.

Right after the starting of bpSquare platform, Task 4.2 will provide some business

process templates. Moreover, materials already available inside the TCBL Consortium

can be converted in BPMN-structured business processes and uploaded inside the

platform.

The Business Process Framework is designed as a growing structure, in which

activities, experiences, innovations and results of Pilot Scenarios can improve and co-

design structure and contents of this section. These improvements will constitute the

first basis for the deliverables D5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, which are planned at M18, M30 and

M48, respectively.

This growing library of business processes will facilitate future Pilots by providing to

them ready-to-use business processes, to be further integrated and improved when

building their own Pilot Scenario.

Restricted environments can be created for each Pilot Scenario, giving access only

to people that are involved in the experimentation. In this restricted environment, Pilots

have access only to the learning materials of the selected Business Processes, and can

share information, experimentation results and sensitive data in a safe way.

The user interface of each Pilot is different. When a Pilot does not participate in any

Pilot Scenario, only the shared Business Process Framework is present, while a Pilot

with more than one active Scenario (like Pilot B in the Figure) can navigate all the

restricted environments to which it has access, as well as the public Business Process

Framework. This implies that each Pilot can be part of multiple scenarios.

A second section of the bpSquare platform acts as a repository for web-based

software applications that can be interesting or relevant for development, change and

innovation of Textile & Clothing Industry. In this section, IT procedures are classified by

software application (and not by topic), giving the possibility to Pilot to experiment and

to train themselves on IT procedures.

This section is particularly relevant for Pilots that want to evaluate the potentialities of

the software as a whole, considering that the same IT tool can cover more than one

Business Process (e.g. a tool can allow a Pilot to define the collection and to associate

fabrics and preferential suppliers to each item of the collection). Moreover, it will help to

raise the attention on digitization of production and supply chain management.

Each Pilot Scenario structures its activities and tasks starting from the Business Process

Framework, or developing new and specific tasks that are not present and can be subsequently

added to the common Framework.



21

During the Brussels meeting of last February, the BPMN 2.0 (Business Process Management

Notation, also known as Business Process Modelling Notation) has been presented as one of

the most common and interesting notations for description and execution of business processes.

Considering the widespread diffusion of this notation (it is considered like a de facto standard),

and that a direct import of these diagrams can be made on bpSquare (with the automatic

generation of the related framework, as described in Chapter 3.1.4), it was decided that BPMN

2.0 will be proposed to Pilots for the design of their business processes.

An example of a BPMN 2.0 diagram, based on the Pilot Scenario #1 of the previous figure, is

shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Example of a Pilot Scenario described using BPMN 2.0 notation.

Each business process of the workflow can be a single task (manual, manually made on a

software application, automatic, etc.) or a sub-process (as shown for the “Search Supplier with

software K” activity) constituted by different elementary tasks. If some of these tasks require the

usage of an IT tool, a real time performance support is available thanks to the Skillaware

technology.

The creation of nested sub-processes allows the generation of the indented framework inside

bpSquare, once the BPMN 2.0 diagram is imported.

Moreover, activities of each Pilot are clearly specified, thanks to the usage of different “lanes” in

the diagram (in the Figure above, coloured squares have been added to better highlight Pilot

identities, which are not part of the BPMN 2.0 standard notation).

22

3. BPSQUARE TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

As indicated by TCBL DoA9, structure and functionalities of bpSquare are based on Skillaware

technologies10, provided to the Consortium by WP5 leader Skillaware.

3.1 THE BASIS OF BPSQUARE: DESCRIPTION OF SKILLAWARE

COMPONENTS

Skillaware is constituted by distinct components, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Graphical schema of Skillaware structure and main functionalities.

These components provide to Skillaware, as well as to TCBL bpSquare, a set of different

functionalities:

SkillEditor™. It is the Skillaware component that allows the automatic capturing of

the experience of a software expert user during IT procedure executions, as described

in Chapter 3.1. Moreover, this component allows adding useful information to the

capture through tooltips, messages and rules, as well as building the learning materials

(documentation in Word™ and pdf formats, video with text-to-speech).

9 TCBL DoA, p.96.

10 http://skillaware.com/en/

http://skillaware.com/en/



23

SkillBoard™. It is the Skillaware component in which the association of the previously

generated learning materials to business processes and single tasks takes place. This

allows to share information and IT procedures to novice software users.

SkillPortal™. It is the Skillaware component that represents the repository of all

learning materials generated or added by experts, accessible by software users

whenever they want or need it.

SkillAgent™. It is the Skillaware component that provides real-time support during

software usage (exactly as a GPS system). Moreover, it gives access to the task-related

learning materials directly on the workplace.

Together with these components, the integration between Skillaware and Analytics (another

component of the sedApta software suite) generates SkillAnalyzer™, the component dedicated

to Learning Analytics and anonymous/aggregated tracing of performance data during task

execution.

3.2 FROM SKILLAWARE TO BPSQUARE

The five components of Skillaware have been used as basis for the configuration of TCBL

bpSquare.

In particular, bpSquare has been designed in two parts: a first part, which is public and

accessible to the whole TCBL community, and a second part, accessible only to specific TCBL

partners.

BPSQUARE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT: WEB PORTAL, MATERIAL SHARING AND

SUPPORTED IT PROCEDURES EXECUTION

The public part of bpSquare represents the environment in which TCBL community members

can navigate and have access to the learning materials and to Pilot Scenarios.

This environment includes the web portal, in which the general Business Process Framework

depicted in Chapter 1.3 is present, as well as the list of the available software applications. The

bpSquare main portal is based on Skillaware SkillPortal™.



24

Figure 6. Screenshot of bpSquare web portal. In the left menu, the Business Process

Framework and the software repository can be explored by users, giving access to all

the learning materials associated to each task.

In each Pilot Scenario dedicated environment, with simple drag & drop operations it is then

possible to associate additional materials (images, files, etc.) to each business process or task,

thanks to SkillBoard™. Modifications of the common Business Process Framework will be not

allowed to every user, but only to specific members of the TCBL Consortium. However, single

users can suggest the addition of specific or new learning materials to specific topics,

contributing in the co-design of the bpSquare content framework.

When a procedure on a software application is added as a learning material of a specific task,

a link to the web-based software application is present. By clicking the link, the user directly

opens her/his browser and has access to the IT tool, together with the bpSquare performance

support based on SkillAgent™. The zero footprint functionality allows bpSquare to start the

performance support in an automatic and transparent way, without need for installation or

interactions by the user.



25

Figure 7. Screenshot of SkillAgent™ real time performance support during the

execution of an IT procedure on a software. In this figure, both tooltips and extended

suggestions in the SkillAgent™ Console are shown. An audio voice describing the

operation to be performed is also present, like in a GPS system.

BPSQUARE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT: GENERATION OF IT PROCEDURE-BASED

LEARNING MATERIALS AND PLATFORM ANALYTICS

Together with the public environment, accessible by all the TCBL community members,

bpSquare is constituted by an internal environment, dedicated to the management and analytics

of the tool.

On a dedicated part of iMINDS cloud, a SkillEditor™ installation has been provided, which is

available to selected TCBL consortium partners participating in Task 5.2 (still to be defined),

which will capture the IT procedures on the software present on iMINDS cloud platform, as

described in Chapter 3.1.

A second internal part of bpSquare is dedicated to analytics, thanks to SkillAnalyzer™

functionalities. This tool is the main application for analysing user interactions with the platform,

which will be at the basis of Task 5.3 activities.

26

4. BPSQUARE USER GUIDE

In this Chapter, a user guide for bpSquare is presented, divided in the two sections related to

the capturing and generation of learning materials associated to IT procedures, which will be

performed in the non-public section of bpSquare, and to end user experience on bpSquare

portal.

4.1 GUIDE FOR CAPTURING AND GENERATION OF LEARNING

MATERIALS

The capturing of an IT procedure on a web-based software consists in the recording of the

interactions of a software expert user with the IT tool. The result of the recording is not a

simple video recording of the screen, but a replica of the webpages of the software visited by

the user, named “ScreenFlow” (Figure 8). In this way, each ScreenFlow represents one IT

procedure of the desired software.

Figure 8. Example of a ScreenFlow captured using Skillaware technology. On the bottom of the screen it

can be seen the “timeline” of web pages visited by the user during the IT procedure execution, together

with interactions (mouse clicks, for instance).

RECORDING OF T&C SOFTWARE STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURES (SOPS)

In the SkillEditor™ you are able to record the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) of your

applications. Each ScreenFlow is created by recording all the steps needed to reach a particular

goal in the reference application.

All the recorded steps are then executed in the same order in the live application, thereby

leading the user to the desired goal.

The following section describes the procedure for recording ScreenFlow with SkillEditor™.



27

CREATE A PROJECT

First, create a project so that you can then record your ScreenFlow in it. Consider that only

one Project for each software is sufficient.

To create your project you can proceed as follows:

1. In the File Menu click on New

2. ENTER A PROJECT NAME.

3. SELECT THE FOLDER FOR THE PROJECT FILE.

4. Click on Ok to create the project.

The project you have created now opens in the Home Menu and is ready to record content.

Read the following chapters on this subject. The new project is created with a new default

ScreenFlow, which has a default name and description. Some property of the ScreenFlow, are

visible clicking on the arrow that appears in the grey area.



28

To modify the ScreenFlow name and description click con Edit label, then to validate your

changes click on Ok button. If you click Cancel the changes are not saved. These properties

can be modified in every moment.

To delete the ScreenFlow click on Delete.

STARTING THE RECORDING

To start the recording, proceed as follows:

1. Open the application to be recorded. Choose the application page where you want to start

recording and prepare the application as required.

2. Select the application window that you want to record from the list.

3. Click on the Record the application button in the Home Menu. The recording console

opens.



29

4. Start the recording using the Record button in the recording console or close the console if

you want to cancel the recording.

The selected window appears in the foreground and the recording starts.

For recording web page within the SkillEditor™, the SkillRecorder component must be enabled

to communicate with SkillEditor™.

If Windows Firewall alerts you when it detects a blocked connection, please click Allow access.

This happens only for the first recording.

RECORDING CONSOLE

The recording console includes the following controls:

Stop - Clicking on this button will end the recording.

Delete - Clicking on this button will cancel the recording

Close the console if you want to cancel the recording.

The recording console can also be moved to a different position on the screen.



30

BEST PRACTICES

Before the Recording:

It's a good idea to run through all the necessary steps in the reference application before

start the recording. In this way, you can reduce or even fully avoid confusion during the

actual recording - meaning that you don't have to waste time making several attempts

to get a perfect result.

When defining the sequence, please ensure that all the steps needed to reach the

defined goal are actually recorded, thereby ensuring that the Performance Support can

lead the user to the goal in the live application.

Please also remember that the Performance Support should also be compatible with

other computers and with other user preferences. Whenever possible, you should

therefore ensure that the user preferences in the application being recorded are reset

to the default values - or at least all those values that impact on the aspect of the

application being recorded.

During the Recording

Please wait until the windows reappear before performing the next action. This indicates

that the SkillRecorder has captured and processed the action. If the next click comes

too soon, the SkillRecorder may be unable to capture the action.

When recording, mouse actions should be given preference over keyboard actions

unless, of course, a particular action can only be performed via the keyboard.

Avoid recording unnecessary actions as the users will subsequently have to repeat

these actions during the Performance Support and they are not exactly essential to

achieving the particular objective.

The SkillRecorder was designed not to record scrolling. Users receive a message

informing them of the need to scroll in the live system until the interaction object

becomes visible, thereby allowing the Performance Support to continue.

The opening of a dropdown list, as well as subsequent scrolling within the list and the

selection of the appropriate list entry, are all recorded in a single step.

The SkillRecorder actually records inputs entered into password fields, but the value

that is entered is not stored in the ScreenFlow due to security and data privacy

considerations.

POST EDITING OF SOP RECORDINGS

Once a ScreenFlow has been recorded in SkillEditor™, it can be edited in several ways.

STEP PROPERTIES

The SkillRecorder usually generates a single step for each action that is performed. Each step

consists of all the information needed by the users to perform the step in the live application.



31

To select a step in the Timeline, click the step. In each step, you can:

1. Delete it by clicking on the trash button

2. Restore it by clicking on the upper ‘plus’ button

3. Add a step after or before it by clicking on the side Plus buttons.

Select a step and go in the Properties to modify the description of the step in the documentation,

video or to change the text to speech.



32

ADD TOOLTIPS AND HIGHLIGHTS

After SOP registration, the software expert user can help the end user by adding tooltips or

highlights to specific parts of each screen of the ScreenFlow.

Select the element on which the tooltip/highlight will be evaluated (the red one in the image)

Click on the blue Plus button on the top right corner of the screen.

Select the Effects button.

If the desired effect is a highlight, select the Highlight button, as indicated in the figure below.



33

As a result, a square will appear on the screen, highlighting the desired part of the user

interface.

If the desired effect is a tooltip, select the Tooltip button, as indicated in the figure below.



34

As a result, a tooltip appears close to the selected area, containing a default text.

Click on the tooltip to change features (visibility, alignment, text, color), expand/collapse or

delete the tooltip.

Insert the desired text and click on the OK icon.



35

ADD PRE-DEFINED RULES WITH RULE ENGINE

For addition of a logic rule, select the tab Rules to open the rule engine.

Select a Rule from the Rule Set on the left to see the lifecycle of the selected rule on the timeline.

To open the Rule Editor, click on the three dots on the right of the rule and click Open, or double

click on the rule.



36

ADD A NEW BASE RULE WITH RULE ENGINE

Select the starting step of the rule you want to create.



37

Select the element on which the rule will be evaluated (the red one in the image)

Click on the blue Plus button on the top right corner of the screen.

Select the Rule button.

Select the Base Rule button, as indicated in the figure below.



38

Select the rule from the template list.



39

ADD A NEW ADVANCED RULE WITH RULE ENGINE

Select Add Rule as described until step number 4 of section 3.1.2.3, then select the

Advanced Rule button.

Click on the black dot in the ‘IF’ section to start the rule.

Select the desired type of condition (Calc for a function, Event for a click or a mouse down

event).

Select the condition (i.e. “Click Event”)



40

Drag the chunk in the condition.

If you need a “True action”, select the Then Condition action (the rule is satisfied). Add one or

more actions by clicking on the Plus and selecting it from the list.



41

If you need a “False action”, select the Else Condition action (the rule is NOT satisfied). Add

one or more actions by clicking on the Plus and selecting it from the list, as mentioned before.

If you need an “Exception”, select the Exception action (the rule is not applicable). Add one or

more actions by clicking on the plus and selecting it from the list, as mentioned before.

TAG/UNTAG A RULE

Select the rule from the Rule Set.

Select the desired step.

Tag or untag the rule by clicking on the lower button



42

GENERATION OF LEARNING MATERIALS

When all the suggestions and the rule have been added to the ScreenFlow, learning materials

on that IT procedure can be generated.

In the Tab list on the top of the screen, click on Build.

A list of all the learning materials available to be built is present. They include the real time

performance support, Microsoft Word™ and pdf documentation, a video recording with text-to-

speech and a DITA report



43

For each of the learning materials, settings of the output can be varied, by clicking the Option

button. For instance, in the MS Word™ step-by-step guide a customized template can be used.

In the image below settings for the video recording are shown.

Inside the same project, different ScreenFlows can have different learning materials settings.

Once all the options have been set, learning materials can be built by clicking the Build button.

This starts the generation of learning materials.

Once a learning material is built, click on the Open button to visualize it.

SHARING AND PUBLICATION OF A PROJECT

Before the publication of the project in the bpSquare main portal, its upgrade to the server is mandatory. Upgrade of a project to server can be performed anytime.

To do so, proceed as follows:



44

1. In the File Menu click on Project Settings and select the Information label.

2. Select from the drop down list the server in which you want to upgrade the project.

3. Click on OK button.

When a project is connected to a server, you can share your project or a single ScreenFlow with other user. To do this clicking on the specific Share button. Before sharing the project, you have to save it.

If the project is connected to a server, you can give the opportunity to other user to download the documentation produced by SkillEditor™, like Performance Support, word or pdf documentation and videos.

To publish the outputs, it is required to have configured a process and a task in the SkillPATHS on SkillBoard™ (through the import of a BPMN workflow or by scratch, as indicated later in this guide).

Before publish the documentation you have to register you ScreenFlow and produce the output files, as described in Chapter 3.1. To publish a project, please proceed as follows:

1. In the Tab list on the top of the screen, click on Publish.

2. Drag and Drop the selected ScreenFlow on the specific task you have created before, in the SkillPATHS visible under the ScreenFlow area.



45

3. Select from the list of available files the ones that you want to publish and click on the Publish Button.

4. The wheel shows the state of the process. When the process is ended, a green balloon appears. If the process is unsuccessful, a red balloon appears.



46

IMPORT OF A BPMN WORKFLOW IN BPSQUARE

If a business process has been designed and described using BPMN 2.0 notation, such as in

the figure below, the BPM structure can be directly imported in bpSquare.

As first step, enter in the SkillBoard™ section of bpSquare.



47

Click on the Import button.

Import the desired BPMN file by dragging or selecting it from your PC and click on Save

Changes.



48

The BPMN structure is replicated on the SkillPATHS™ menu on the left. Please remember that

the name of the process will become the name of the containing folder, as well as sub-processes

inside the BPMN are translated in equivalent sub-folders in the bpSquare structure.

In every moment, the bpSquare structure can be changed by right clicking on the process

name. This allows to add sub-processes, to import a new BPMN inside the previous one and to

edit, copy, cut or delete the existing process.



49

4.2 GUIDE FOR TCBL USERS

NAVIGATION INSIDE BPSQUARE

In this section, information on how TCBL users can navigate inside the bpSquare portal will be

described.

Once opened the bpSquare portal, the user can view to all the processes to which she/he has

access due to her/his role.



50

All the processes can be explored also clicking on the SkillPATHS™ button on the top-right

corner of the screen. The tree diagram is the same that the user can see opening SkillBoard™.

By clicking one of the processes, the user can view the tasks composing it.

By exploring the single task, the user has access to the materials associated to it.



51

The user can optionally evaluate each learning material by adding a score to it, simply clicking

on the stars on the right of each item. The average rate is also shown.

Each learning material can be downloaded of added to favorites by clicking the Download icon

and the Add to Favorites icon, respectively, on the left of each item.

UPLOADING OF MATERIALS INSIDE AN EXISTING WORKFLOW

In this section, the procedure for uploading external materials into an existing workflow will be

described. This is the main functionality that allows members of a Pilot Scenario to share

sensible documentation between each other, without publish them in the public portal.

The association of materials to specific processes and tasks takes place in the SkillBoard™

section of bpSquare. To access bpSquare SkillBoard™, click on the User icon on the top-right

corner of the screen, and then click on the SkillBoard™ icon.



52

On the tree diagram on the left, select the task to which the material has to be associated, and

click on the Add button.

To upload a file, simply drag it in the dedicated box or add it manually. The file name and a

description can be added, as well as document language (only languages supported by

bpSquare can be selected). When finished, click on Save Changes.



53

If an URL has to be added (such as for supported IT procedures on software), click on the URL

tag, and insert it in the form.

When an IT procedure tracked with bpSquare is present in a task, all the materials generated

by the SOP recording (see Chapter 3.1) are available by clicking the ScreenFlows tag on the

top menu.



54

DESCRIPTION OF REAL-TIME PERFORMANCE SUPPORT DURING AN IT PROCEDURE

EXECUTION

In this section, it will be described the main characteristics of the real time performance support

of bpSquare during IT procedure executions.

If a URL to a software is present as a learning material, the user can access the specific IT

procedure by clicking on it. bpSquare is capable to open the right webpage of the right software

and, thanks to the zero footprint functionality, the real-time performance support starts

automatically, without need for registration or login.



55

bpSquare suggestions are based on the SOP recording described in Chapter 3.1, and tooltips,

highlights and rules have been added during the post editing thanks to expert user knowledge.

A small text is displayed on the bottom-right corner of the screen, in which also links to generated

learning materials are present (see Chapter 3.1). Moreover, a voice describes the step to be

executed. The texts of box and speech can be different one to each other.

For an example on how the bpSquare performance support provided by Skillaware works,

please watch the related video available on the Skillaware Vimeo page11.

11 https://vimeo.com/148399567, Password: SKW_2.0

https://vimeo.com/148399567

56

5. SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

In this Deliverable, all the main characteristics of TCBL Business Services, and of the bpSquare

platform in particular, have been described.

The first chapter was dedicated to the description of the role of bpSquare inside TCBL, as

depicted by the DoA and in relationship with other services, such as the Knowledge Spaces and

iMINDS Cloud.

After that, a first architecture has been developed for the internal structure of bpSquare, clearly

indicating that this platform will be dedicated to companies (SMEs as well as large companies)

and TCBL Pilots, who can explore new business processes and supply/value chain possibilities

(named Pilot Scenarios) thanks to a dedicated and private environment inside the platform. In

these exclusive environments, Pilots can have access to all the operative learning materials

they need, as well as modify or create new business processes and exchange sensitive

information between each other, without publishing them in the main portal.

Moreover, TCBL bpSquare will act as a repository of IT procedures on selected software

applications, with the aim to enhance the digitisation of T&C industry, in particular the smallest

sized business actors.

In the second part, a technical description of the main functionalities of bpSquare was shown,

together with its relationship with Skillaware software.

In the third chapter, a distinction between the public environment of bpSquare (constituted by

the web portal and the material sharing and performance support functionalities) and the TCBL

internal environment (for the generation of learning materials on IT procedures), has been

presented.

The last chapter was dedicated to the bpSquare user guide, which can help users to use

bpSquare in a correct and inspiring way for the exploration of innovative business processes,

based on TCBL community knowledge and experience, and the use of new technologies and

new software to improve efficiency and reduce negative social and environmental impacts.

57

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Payne, Tim; Magic Quadrant for Sales and Operations Planning Systems of

Differentiation, (Gartner), published on 29th April 2015.

TCBL DoA: TCBL Description of the Action, 11.05.2015.

58

INDEX OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Part of the TCBL DoA Gantt chart dedicated to WP5, with the reporting period

highlighted by the orange square. ............................................................................................. 11

Figure 2. Configuration of bpSquare on the top of iMINDS cloud infrastructure. ..................... 15

Figure 3. First architecture for TCBL bpSquare platform, with examples of Business Processes

and software applications that can be made available to TCBL community. ........................... 19

Figure 4. Example of a Pilot Scenario described using BPMN 2.0 notation. ............................ 21

Figure 5. Graphical schema of Skillaware structure and main functionalities. ......................... 22

Figure 6. Screenshot of bpSquare web portal. In the left menu, the Business Process

Framework and the software repository can be explored by users, giving access to all the

learning materials associated to each task. .............................................................................. 24

Figure 7. Screenshot of SkillAgent™ real time performance support during the execution of an

IT procedure on a software. In this figure, both tooltips and extended suggestions in the

SkillAgent™ Console are shown. An audio voice describing the operation to be performed is

also present, like in a GPS system. .......................................................................................... 25

Figure 8. Example of a ScreenFlow captured using Skillaware technology. On the bottom of the

screen it can be seen the “timeline” of web pages visited by the user during the IT procedure

execution, together with interactions (mouse clicks, for instance). ........................................... 26

59

INDEX OF TABLES

Table 1. Comparison of some business model aspects of TCBL bpSquare and Knowledge

Spaces. ..................................................................................................................................... 13

Table 2. Hardware recommendations and software requirements for the deployment of

bpSquare on the top of iMINDS cloud. ..................................................................................... 16

60

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

REVISION HISTORY

REVISION DATE AUTHOR ORGANISATION DESCRIPTION

0.1 Marco Paini SKILL Table of Contents (ToC)

1.0 18/03/2016 Marco Paini

Fabrizio Cardinali

Jesse Marsh

Tobias Maschler

SKILL

SKILL

City of Prato

DITF

Chapter 1, 2 and 3.1

Chapter 1, 2 and 3.1

Contributions to Chapter 1

Contributions to Chapter 1

1.1 26.03.2016 Marco Paini SKILL Integration of reviewer

comments (D. De Paepe)

2.0 30.03.2016 Jesse Marsh

Francesco Molinari

City of Prato

CCA

Formatting and check

Internal review

2.1 31.03.2016 Marco Paini SKILL Chapter 3.2, 4 and Exec.

Summary, integration of

reviewer comments

(F. Molinari)


comments (T. Contargyris)


comments (2nd cycle)

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY

This deliverable contains original unpublished work except where clearly indicated otherwise.

Acknowledgement of previously published material and of the work of others has been made

through appropriate citation, quotation or both.

COPYRIGHT

This work is licensed by the TCBL Consortium under a Creative Commons

Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, 2015. For details, see

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

The TCBL Consortium, consisting of: Municipality of Prato (PRATO) Italy; German Institutes for

Textile and Fiber Research - Center for Management Research (DITF) Germany; Istituto

Superiore Mario Boella (ISMB) Italy; Skillaware (SKILL) Italy; The Open University (OU) UK;

IMINDS (IMINDS) Belgium; Tavistock Institute (TAVI) UK; Materials Industrial Research &

Technology Center S.A. (MIRTEC) Greece; Waag Society (WAAG) Netherlands; Huddersfield

& District Textile Training Company Ltd (TCOE) UK; eZavod (eZAVOD) Slovenia; Consorzio

Arca (ARCA) Italy; Unioncamere del Veneto (UCV) Italy; Hellenic Clothing Industry Association

(HCIA) Greece; Sanjotec - Centro Empresarial e Tecnológico (SANJO) Portugal; Clear

Communication Associates Ltd (CCA) UK.



61

DISCLAIMER

All information included in this document is subject to change without notice. The Members of

the TCBL Consortium make no warranty of any kind with regard to this document, including, but

not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The

Members of the TCBL Consortium shall not be held liable for errors contained herein or direct,

indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing,

performance, or use of this material.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The TCBL project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Programme

for research, technology development, and innovation under Grant Agreement n.646133.

business process portal deployment -...

Documents