End-to-End

The process where a system or software is carried out from beginning to end without assistance from third-party vendors

What is End-to-End?

End-to-end solutions refer to the process where a system or service is carried out from beginning to end without assistance from a third-party. A solutions provider strives to deliver a fully functional system, service, or project from start to finish. For example, there will only be one vendor supplying a system’s software and hardware components including installing, implementing, and maintaining a new technological system.

 

End-to-End - Image with the word end-to-end written alongside icons of related concepts

 

End-to-end is considered a type of process improvement to help improve the efficiency and performance of information technology in a business. It also allows the company to better monitor the process from the planning stage to the execution stage, ensuring that the project produces the results that the company desires. Note that there can be different variations of the process, depending on the needs and requirements of the specific project that the company is undertaking.

 

Designing an End-to-End Process

  • Identify requirements by figuring out what data you need in order to make the project function properly and support the business process.
  • Define a business process, which is a collection of tasks or activities that are related to producing a product or service.
  • If the end-to-end process involves a customer, the process must accurately represent the customer’s views, whether it is when the process begins or when a successful outcome is produced. It must also accurately reflect the company’s views in terms of their interactions with the customer and meeting the objectives of the business.

 

Benefits of an End-to-End Process

  • When a company establishes a new system or software, utilizing an end-to-end process can result in a competitive advantage and improve financial outcomes. It also adds value to a company’s governance, ownership, and measurement of performance.
  • An end-to-end process can create more clarity and transparency for the organization, as only one vendor is responsible for the process from beginning to end.
  • An end-to-end process can support strategic initiatives for the organization, including revenue growth, customer retention, or a reduction in expenses.
  • Even if there are more complex business structures, such as outsourcing and having shared services, an organization with end-to-end processes can increase the speed of executing new projects.

 

Limitations of an End-to-End Process

  • When an organization is first establishing an end-to-end process, there must be effective change management in place to ensure there is successful integration with the organization’s existing departments and business units.
  • Information technology systems or applications may need to be used to allow the integration to be completed smoothly.
  • Since there is one vendor or one process owner, conflicts may also arise about the ownership of business processes and control of functional areas.

 

Different Uses of an End-to-End Process

Although it is most often used to improve processes in information technology-related projects, the concept can also be applied to other areas in business as well:

  • Recruitment to retirement: Human resources will oversee an employee’s entire employment cycle from recruiting, hiring, and promoting to retiring.
  • Order to cash: A retailer will oversee the entire process from the customer placing the order to packaging, delivering the product, and receiving payment from the customer.
  • Procurement to payment: A company that is procuring materials from a supplier will be responsible for the procurement cycle by placing an order, receiving the materials, and offering payment to the supplier.
  • Issue to resolution: Managers who identify managerial issues within the company will see through the problem from beginning to end by developing a solution and receiving feedback.
  • Financial plan to financial results: The finance or accounting department of a company will develop a budget or financial plan. After the financial plan is executed, they can create a financial report that details actual financial results.

 

More Resources

CFI is the official provider of the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® certification program. CFI also offers a variety of courses and related readings for you to continue learning about topics in finance:

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