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APQC PCF Benchmarkable Processes

Total Benchmarkable Processes: 227 Coverage: 12.2% of all processes

Overview

APQC provides benchmarking metrics for 227 process elements. These metrics allow organizations to compare their performance against industry peers.

Why This Matters for AI Automation

Processes with established metrics are:

  • Measurable - Clear KPIs for automation ROI
  • Comparable - Industry baselines exist
  • Mature - Well-understood process patterns
  • High-Value Targets - Already tracked = business priority

Metrics Distribution by Category

CategoryBenchmarkableTotalCoverage
1.0 Develop Vision and Strategy31232%
2.0 Develop and Manage Products and Services1210012%
3.0 Market and Sell Products and Services3420217%
4.0 Deliver Physical Products2014714%
5.0 Deliver Services6679%
6.0 Manage Customer Service1410413%
7.0 Develop and Manage Human Capital3113523%
8.0 Manage Information Technology (IT)83212%
9.0 Manage Financial Resources8727032%
10.0 Acquire, Construct, and Manage Assets3694%
11.0 Manage Enterprise Risk, Compliance, Reme3565%
12.0 Manage External Relationships2544%
13.0 Develop and Manage Business Capabilities42072%
TOTAL227185512%

Top Categories by Metrics Coverage

  1. 9.0 Manage Financial Resources - 32% (87 processes)
  2. 7.0 Develop and Manage Human Capital - 23% (31 processes)
  3. 3.0 Market and Sell Products and Services - 17% (34 processes)
  4. 4.0 Deliver Physical Products - 14% (20 processes)
  5. 6.0 Manage Customer Service - 13% (14 processes)

Complete List of Benchmarkable Processes

1.0 - Develop Vision and Strategy

3 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
1.0Develop Vision and Strategy10002Establishing a direction and vision for an organization. Thi...
1.1.1Assess the external environment10017Assessing all forces, entities, and systems that are externa...
1.1.2Survey market and determine custome10018Examining the market to identify customer required solutions...

2.0 - Develop and Manage Products and Services

12 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
2.0Develop and Manage Products and Ser10003Detailing practices and procedures related to the concept of...
2.1Govern and manage product/service d19696Supervising the complete product/service program from innova...
2.1.1Manage product and service portfoli10061Managing a portfolio of product/service offerings to take ad...
2.1.1.1Evaluate performance of existing pr10063Assessing the capabilities and performance of existing produ...
2.1.2Manage product and service life cyc10067Manage the introduction and withdrawal of products/services....
2.1.4Manage product and service master d11740Controlling/authorizing to enable services' and products' da...
2.2Generate and define new product/ser19698Identifying and describing new product or service thoughts b...
2.2.1Perform discovery research10065Coordinating R&D activity to identify new technologies to in...
2.3Develop products and services10062Developing new products/services from scratch, including all...
2.3.1Design and prototype products and s19993Sketching and standardizing product and service based on the...
2.3.2Test market for new or revised prod19996Expanding on the marketplace analysis that took place earlie...
2.3.3Prepare for production/service deli19997Devising business plans and procedures for manufacturing/ope...

3.0 - Market and Sell Products and Services

34 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
3.0Market and Sell Products and Servic10004Outlining process groups related to understanding markets, c...
3.1Understand markets, customers, and10101Making sense of the market and customers to identify the rig...
3.1.1Perform customer and market intelli10106Gathering intelligence on the market and customers. Closely ...
3.1.2Evaluate and prioritize market oppo10107Appraising market opportunities by quantifying and subjectin...
3.2Develop marketing strategy10102Charting a strategic course for marketing products/services....
3.2.1Define offering and customer value11168Refining the attributes of organizational offerings to defin...
3.2.3Define and manage channel strategy20000Establishing all the activities needed to identify the appro...
3.2.3.7Orchestrate seamless customer exper20004Coordinating marketing and distribution efforts across diffe...
3.2.4Analyze and manage channel performa20006Monitoring marketing and distribution efforts of all channel...
3.2.4.1Establish channel-specific metrics16573Determining measurable parameters to be used for comparing t...
3.3Develop and manage marketing plans20008Creating specific plans to market offerings to customers. Th...
3.3.1Establish goals, objectives, and me10148Determining what to achieve by marketing. Create qualitative...
3.3.2Establish marketing budgets10149Creating a budget for the organization's marketing efforts, ...
3.3.5Track customer management measures10153Collating all customer-centered metrics. The objective is to...
3.3.6Analyze and respond to customer ins16613Reviewing and responding to customer feedback. Create ticket...
3.4Develop sales strategy10103Developing concrete plans for guiding and providing support ...
3.4.1Develop sales forecast10129Developing a sales forecast for the organization's portfolio...
3.4.3Establish overall sales budgets10131Setting up a financial plan for the sales function. Calculat...
3.4.3.1Calculate product market share17682Determining the percentage of total sales volume in the mark...
3.4.4Establish sales goals and measures10132Establishing specific quantitative and qualitative measures ...
3.4.5Establish customer management measu10133Identifying the appropriate measures that can represent key ...
3.5Develop and manage sales plans10105Selling products/services. Set appropriate customer expectat...
3.5.1Manage leads/opportunities10182Generating leads of prospective customers to grow the organi...
3.5.1.6Manage opportunity pipeline20011Overseeing and planning the acquisition of new customers.
3.5.1.8Manage customer sales calls10184Managing the entire sales process, from using leads to open ...
3.5.1.8.5Record outcome of sales process10193Completing all the paper-work associated with the sale of it...
3.5.2Manage customers and accounts10183Managing the customer's expectations, with the intent of res...
3.5.3Develop and manage sales proposals,11779Understanding and refining the customer requirements as prov...
3.5.4Manage sales orders10185Taking, receiving, processing, and acknowledging new custome...
3.5.4.2Collect and maintain account inform10195Collecting and maintaining all account information. Collect ...
3.5.4.3Determine availability10196Ascertaining the volume or scale of products/services to pro...
3.5.4.4Determine fulfillment process10197Devising a blueprint for order fulfillment. Create a schemat...
3.5.4.5Enter orders into system10198Analyzing all data relating to sales orders by entering it i...
3.5.4.6Identify/perform cross-sell/up-sell17404Utilizing customer inquiries as opportunities to either prov...

4.0 - Deliver Physical Products

20 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
4.0Deliver Physical Products20022Performing supply chain activities include planning supply c...
4.1Plan for and align supply chain res10215Creating strategies for production and materials. Handle the...
4.1.2.7Measure demand forecast accuracy10241Calculating and inspecting the accuracy of demand forecasts....
4.2Procure materials and services10216Creating a plan for procuring materials and services. Develo...
4.2.1Provide sourcing governance and per10277Creating strategies for procuring materials and services fro...
4.2.3Select suppliers and develop/mainta10278Evaluating supplier options to select the most effective and...
4.2.4Order materials and services10279Creating and approving requisitions and distributing purchas...
4.2.4.4Create/Distribute purchase orders10295Creating and placing the orders for purchasing materials and...
4.2.4.6Reconcile purchase orders10297Verify that purchase orders are filled as expected: verify t...
4.2.5Manage suppliers10280Collecting and analyzing new information in order to track a...
4.3Produce/Assemble/Test product10217Processing and delivering the finished goods manufactured by...
4.3.2Produce/Assemble product10304Manufacturing the product. Convert the raw materials to deve...
4.3.3.2Perform testing using the standard10374Performing testing using calibrated equipment and in consent...
4.4Manage logistics and warehousing10219Administering and overseeing all activities related to logis...
4.4.1Provide logistics governance10338Outlining the strategy for managing logistics. Translate cus...
4.4.2Plan and manage inbound material fl20936Creating and executing a strategy for all the internal activ...
4.4.2.6Salvage or repair returned products20109Determining if a returned product can be salvaged or repaire...
4.4.3Operate warehousing10340Tracking the inventory deployment. Accept and store products...
4.4.3.7Manage physical finished goods inve10359Administering the movement of the finished products that are...
4.4.4Operate outbound transportation10341Creating a plan that specifies the schedule and system for t...

5.0 - Deliver Services

6 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
5.0Deliver Services20025Offering services to customers. This is the act of providing...
5.1Establish service delivery governan20026Creating rules and regulations for service delivery to the c...
5.2Manage service delivery resources20040Understanding the demands on resources and creating a plan t...
5.3.1Initiate service delivery20059Collaborating with the customer to understand service needs....
5.3.2Execute service delivery20069Carrying out service delivery to the customer by creating an...
5.3.3Complete service delivery20077Implementing final steps to complete service delivery to the...

6.0 - Manage Customer Service

14 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
6.0Manage Customer Service20085Managing customers before and after the delivery of services...
6.1Develop customer care/customer serv10378Defining a plan that removes customer obstacles by gathering...
6.1.5Establish target service level for10383Determining and implementing levels for customer services. B...
6.2Plan and manage customer service co10379Planning and administering work force operations for custome...
6.2.1Plan and manage customer service wo10387Creating and administering the work force deployed for the c...
6.2.2Manage customer service problems, r10388Handling the requests and inquiries from customers that seek...
6.2.3Manage customer complaints10389Obtaining customer complaints online or by phone. Direct the...
6.3Service products after sales12658Assigning post-sales policies and paying claims on purchased...
6.3.2Process warranty claims12669Identifying, investigating, and processes warranty claims. T...
6.3.4Service products10218Validating specific service requirements for individual cust...
6.3.4.4.2Identify incomplete service orders10335Determining orders which have not been completed or delivere...
6.5.2Measure customer satisfaction with10402Measuring the satisfaction level of customers as pertains to...
6.5.3Measure customer satisfaction with10403Calculating satisfaction levels of customers with products/s...
6.5.4Evaluate and manage warranty perfor12672Assessing the cost and effectiveness of warranties.

7.0 - Develop and Manage Human Capital

31 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
7.0Develop and Manage Human Capital10007Delivering processes traditionally defined as "human resourc...
7.1Develop and manage human resources17043Creating strategies for the HR function. Create and implemen...
7.1.2.4Develop succession plan10426Creating and implementing the plan for continuation of key p...
7.1.3Monitor and update strategy, plans,10417Supervising the HR strategy, plans, and policies in order to...
7.2Recruit, source, and select employe10410Determining and handling employee requirements. Recruit or s...
7.2.4Manage new hire/re-hire10443Creating and making job offers to the selected candidates. F...
7.3Manage employee on boarding, develo20599Assisting employees in developing their capabilities, and pr...
7.3.1Manage employee orientation and dep10469Creating and maintaining various employee on-boarding progra...
7.3.2Manage employee performance10470Defining individual performance objectives. Review performan...
7.3.3Manage employee development10472Establishing employee development guidelines. Lay out career...
7.3.4Develop and train employees10473Creating a link between employee and organizational developm...
7.3.4.5Develop, conduct, and manage employ10493Creating, implementing, and managing the programs for traini...
7.4Manage employee relations17052Assisting general management in developing, maintaining, and...
7.4.1Manage labor relations10483Managing labor relations, the collective bargaining process,...
7.4.4Manage employee grievances10531Taking care or resolving any complaint raised by an employee...
7.5Reward and retain employees10412Creating frameworks for rewarding and recognizing employees ...
7.5.1Develop and manage reward, recognit10494Developing a salary/compensation structure and plan; develop...
7.5.1.1Develop salary/compensation structu10498Creating the framework for the provision of salary/compensat...
7.5.4Administer payroll10497Managing the sum of all financial records of salaries for an...
7.6Redeploy and retire employees10413Managing the reassignment and retirement of employees. Manag...
7.6.1Manage promotion and demotion proce10512Administering the process of promoting and demoting employee...
7.6.2Manage separation10513Managing the process of employee separation, including resig...
7.6.7.1Manage expatriates10520Managing foreign resources. Manage employees who are sent to...
7.7Manage employee information and ana17056Managing the employee reporting processes, employee inquiry ...
7.7.1Manage reporting processes10522Providing information and reports regarding employees to man...
7.7.2Manage employee inquiry process10523Handling instances where an employee believes that he/she ha...
7.7.3Manage and maintain employee data10524Capturing and updating employee information and data and inf...
7.7.4Manage human resource information s10525Administering and maintaining HR information systems that ta...
7.7.5Develop and manage employee metrics10526Creating and maintaining performance metrics for employees. ...
7.7.6Develop and manage time and attenda10527Developing and maintaining systems for managing the time and...
7.8Manage employee communication17057Creating an effective plan that initiates and promotes commu...

8.0 - Manage Information Technology (IT)

8 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
8.0Manage Information Technology (IT)20607Managing process groups relevant to the business of informat...
8.1Develop and manage IT customer rela20608Creating and administering relationships with IT customers. ...
8.2Develop and manage IT business stra20652Handling the business of IT. Create a organization-wide stra...
8.3Develop and manage IT resilience an20706Develop and include the processes required to rapidly adapt ...
8.4Manage information20765Creating strategies to manage the organization's information...
8.5Develop and manage services/solutio20784Designing and maintaining the IT services/solutions catalogu...
8.6Deploy services/solutions20824Executing IT services/solutions by creating a strategy for d...
8.7Create and manage support services/20866Establishing and managing services for providing support to ...

9.0 - Manage Financial Resources

87 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
9.0Manage Financial Resources17058Overseeing key back-office processes for organizations. This...
9.1Perform planning and management acc10728Determining different stages of the planning process and acc...
9.1.1Perform planning/budgeting/forecast10738Allocating funds to meet future and current financial goals....
9.1.2Perform cost accounting and control10739Defining costs to be incurred and methods for optimum utiliz...
9.1.3Perform cost management10740Deciding which expenses can be avoided to reduce some costs ...
9.1.4Evaluate and manage financial perfo10741Checking and achieving predetermined financial targets and t...
9.2Perform revenue accounting10729Comparing revenue targets to reality. Review all transaction...
9.2.1Process customer credit10742Evaluating and processing requests for advances. Evaluate cr...
9.2.1.1Establish credit policies10789Creating guidelines for providing advances. Set up credit st...
9.2.1.2Analyze/Approve new account applica10790Checking and accepting new requests based on eligibility cri...
9.2.1.5Review existing accounts10791Evaluating existing account holders and their past performan...
9.2.1.6Produce credit/collection reports10792Preparing account payable reports about payments to be made ...
9.2.2Invoice customer10743Preparing detailed reports of customer purchases. Prepare a ...
9.2.2.1Maintain customer/product master fi10794Creating and updating a record of customers and the products...
9.2.2.2Generate customer billing data10795Preparing detailed reports about products purchased by custo...
9.2.2.3Transmit billing data to customers10796Providing information to customers about purchases made by t...
9.2.2.4Post receivable entries10797Registering transactions and their scheduled payments.
9.2.2.5Resolve customer billing inquiries10798Checking and solving billing queries raised by customers.
9.2.3Process accounts receivable (AR)10744Processing payments due from customers. This includes all pr...
9.2.4Manage and process collections10745Posting entries to respective accounts, and preparing accoun...
9.2.4.5Process adjustments/write off balan10808Maintaining reserves for write-offs and adjustments. Adjust ...
9.2.5Manage and process adjustments/dedu10746Creating and providing funds for necessary adjustments and d...
9.3Perform general accounting and repo10730Making statements about business activities and functions. P...
9.3.1Manage policies and procedures10747Creating procedures to perform general accounting and report...
9.3.1.1Negotiate service-level agreements10815Agreeing upon terms and conditions. Negotiate an agreement b...
9.3.1.2Establish accounting policies10816Establishing policies and procedures to prepare financial st...
9.3.1.3Publish accounting policies20604Creating a written copy of agreed-upon procedures for prepar...
9.3.1.4Set and enforce approval limits10817Implementing parameters for accounting. Apply set conditions...
9.3.1.5Establish common financial systems10818Establishing processes and procedures to exercise financial ...
9.3.2Perform general accounting10748Applying basic principles, concepts, and accounting practice...
9.3.2.1Maintain chart of accounts10819Preparing trial balance account from general ledgers. List a...
9.3.2.2Process journal entries10820Making ledger and trial balance accounts from journal entrie...
9.3.2.3Process allocations10821Allocating funds across functions. Apportion funds in line w...
9.3.2.4Process period end adjustments10822Updating journal entries to adjust the balance of income and...
9.3.2.5Post and reconcile intercompany tra10823Checking accounts separately for a parent and subsidiary com...
9.3.2.6Reconcile general ledger accounts10824Reviewing general ledger accounts for a parent and subsidiar...
9.3.2.7Perform consolidations and process10825Aggregating different processes in the business. Eliminate d...
9.3.2.8Prepare trial balance10826Balancing debit and credit balances of trial balance to prep...
9.3.2.9Prepare and post management adjustm10827Accounting for changes due to country-level policy changes. ...
9.3.3Perform fixed-asset accounting10749Accounting for long-term and fixed assets. Record purchased,...
9.3.3.4Process and record fixed-asset adju10831Keeping a summary of expenses for installing and modifying a...
9.3.4Perform financial reporting10750Reporting on the organization's financial status to stakehol...
9.3.4.1Prepare business unit financial sta10837Making reports of subsidiaries units to show profits generat...
9.3.4.2Prepare consolidated financial stat10838Making final accounts for all units of company together. Pre...
9.3.4.3Perform business unit reporting/rev10839Making reports for units/subsidiaries to help management in ...
9.3.4.4Perform consolidated reporting/revi10840Making reports for all units to help higher management in de...
9.3.4.5Prepare statements for board review10841Preparing a draft of financial statements for the board to r...
9.3.4.6Produce quarterly/annual filings an10842Making and presenting financial reports to stakeholders. Cre...
9.3.4.7Produce regulatory reports10843Reporting raw or summary data for final accounts following r...
9.3.4.8Perform legal and management consol14074Carrying out activities associated with legal and management...
9.4Manage fixed-asset project accounti10731Managing accounts for large funds-invested projects. Manage ...
9.4.1Perform capital planning and projec10751Preparing a project finance report to solicit approvals in c...
9.4.2Perform capital project accounting10752Accounting for large-scale and large-cost investments. Manag...
9.5Process payroll10732Handling reporting time, managing pay, and processing taxes ...
9.5.1Report time10753Recording the reporting time of employees on-site. Track wor...
9.5.2Manage pay10754Managing the total payments made in employees payroll, inclu...
9.5.3Manage and process payroll taxes10755Deducting and paying taxes from employees' salaries.
9.6Process accounts payable and expens10733Handling bills and reimbursements to be made. Make payments ...
9.6.1Process accounts payable (AP)10756Processing payments of operating expenses and other supplier...
9.6.1.1Verify AP pay file with purchase or10869Matching records of bills to be paid with accounts. Check ac...
9.6.1.2Maintain/Manage electronic commerce10870Tracking all online transactions.
9.6.1.3Audit invoices and key data in AP s10871Monitoring and evaluating bills registered in accounts books...
9.6.1.4Approve payments10872Processing payments for products/services.
9.6.1.5Process financial accruals and reve10873Handling transactions for accruals and reversals. Record tra...
9.6.1.6Process payables taxes10874Filing the amount of taxes that a company owes as of the bal...
9.6.1.7Research/Resolve payable exceptions10875Resolving any atypical or inconsistent situation concerning ...
9.6.1.8Process payments10876Making payments for products/services on due dates (payment ...
9.6.1.9Respond to AP inquiries10877Clarifying or address queries relating to the particulars of...
9.6.1.10Retain records10878Keeping bills of every transaction for future reference.
9.6.1.11Adjust accounting records10879Rectifying for alterations occurred in accounts while record...
9.6.2Process expense reimbursements10757Processing reimbursements to employees for the expenses incu...
9.6.2.1Establish and communicate expense r10880Explaining policies and procedures related to reimbursements...
9.6.2.2Capture and report relevant tax dat10881Collecting and reporting all pertinent information regarding...
9.6.2.3Approve reimbursements and advances10882Permitting expense reimbursement requests from employees.
9.6.2.4Process reimbursements and advances10883Paying for expense reimbursement requests from employees. (F...
9.6.2.5Manage personnel accounts10884Maintaining accounts of individuals who are connected with b...
9.7Manage treasury operations10734Managing business's investments in trading in bonds, currenc...
9.7.1Manage treasury policies and proced10758Managing rules and regulations for investments in trading in...
9.7.2Manage cash10759Taking care of all cash-related activities in the business. ...
9.7.5Monitor and execute risk and hedgin11208Performing transactions that limit investment risk with the ...
9.8Manage internal controls10735Administering internal controls. This process requires the o...
9.8.1Establish internal controls, polici10762Forming rules and regulations to ensure the achievement of e...
9.8.2Operate controls and monitor compli10763Incorporating planning, management, operations, and monitori...
9.8.3Report on internal controls complia10764Reporting on internal controls compliance to the appropriate...
9.9Manage taxes10736Estimating the organization's periodic tax liabilities. Ensu...
9.9.2Process taxes10766Processing the taxes of the organization in line with the re...
9.10.3Monitor currency exposure/hedge cur10769Assessing exposure to potential financial losses as a result...

10.0 - Acquire, Construct, and Manage Assets

3 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
10.1.1.1Confirm alignment of property requi10955Creating alignment between the requirement of properties and...
10.1.2Plan facility10943Recognizing the needs of facility users in order to construc...
10.4Dispose of assets10940Retiring productive and non-productive assets.

11.0 - Manage Enterprise Risk, Compliance, Remediation, and Resiliency

3 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
11.1Manage enterprise risk17060Creating requisite frameworks and coordinating all risk mana...
11.3Manage remediation efforts11185Administering the efforts and activities for remediation. Th...
11.4Manage business resiliency11216Including the processes required to rapidly adapt and respon...

12.0 - Manage External Relationships

2 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
12.0Manage External Relationships10012Fostering external relationships with stakeholders of the en...
12.4Manage legal and ethical issues11013Managing legal practices to abide by the law, as well as eth...

13.0 - Develop and Manage Business Capabilities

4 benchmarkable processes

IDProcessPCF IDDefinition
13.0Develop and Manage Business Capabil10013Performing activities by an organization that are fundamenta...
13.5Develop and manage enterprise-wide11073Creating and administering the capability of the organizatio...
13.5.2Assess KM capabilities11096Assessing the maturity of the existing initiatives in knowle...
13.7.1Determine environmental health and11180Determining the impact of EHS offering--and the procedures i...

AI Automation Priority Matrix

Based on metrics availability and process characteristics:

Tier 1: High Priority (Metrics + High Volume)

ProcessWhy Automate
9.3 General AccountingHigh transaction volume, clear metrics
9.5 Process PayrollRepetitive, rule-based, measurable
9.6 Accounts PayableInvoice processing, matching, approval
3.3 Marketing PlansCampaign analytics, A/B testing
7.2 Recruit EmployeesResume screening, scheduling

Tier 2: Medium Priority (Metrics + Moderate Complexity)

ProcessWhy Automate
4.2 Procure MaterialsVendor selection, PO processing
6.2 Customer ContactsTicket routing, FAQ responses
9.7 Treasury OperationsCash forecasting, reconciliation

Tier 3: Augmentation Focus (Metrics + Human Judgment)

ProcessWhy Augment
1.1 Business VisionAI provides data, humans decide
2.3 Develop ProductsAI assists research, humans create
7.3 Employee DevelopmentAI recommends, managers approve

Back to: APQC PCF Overview