Extensive Configuration of Processes and Applications
EcholoN Professional is designed for organizations that want to comprehensively customize existing functions, processes, and applications to meet their own requirements—without having to develop their own Pro-Code components or undertake independent software development.
Processes, workflows, forms, fields, dashboards, roles, as well as data and object structures can be extensively configured and extended within the EcholoN platform.
As such, Professional serves as the intermediate step between using standardized processes and developing custom software components with Pro-Code using the Enterprise edition.
Use the standard. Configure it to your needs. Use Pro-Code only where it’s actually needed.
When is the Professional edition the right choice?
The Professional edition is a good fit if existing EcholoN functions and process models provide a solid foundation, but do not fully align with your organization’s and business’s specific requirements.
Professional is the right choice if you…
- want to comprehensively customize existing processes
- want to design your own workflows and process flows
- want to individually map responsibilities, approvals, escalations, or status models
- want to define or modify forms and fields yourself
- need custom dashboards and user interfaces
- want to adapt roles and business contexts to your organization
- wish to design data and object structures as well as relationships from a business perspective
- wish to build CMDB and configuration management structures individually
- wish to configure different business processes within the same platform
- require a high degree of customization without in-house pro-code development
Trained customer and partner teams can implement many of these customizations themselves using the provided EcholoN configuration mechanisms.
You should consider the Standard Edition if …
- existing functions and process models can be used largely as-is
- standardized workflows already sufficiently meet your requirements
- no extensive customization of processes, forms, or structures is required
Company size is not a factor in edition selection. Even large organizations can get by with the Standard Edition if the required scope of functionality and configuration allows it.
Learn more about EcholoN Standard Edition →
You should consider Enterprise if …
- you plan to develop your own line-of-business applications using Pro-Code
- you need your own modules or software components
- custom technical components need to be programmed
- existing configuration and extension mechanisms are no longer sufficient for your requirements
Standard, Professional, or Enterprise?
The key question is: To what extent do you want to customize EcholoN to meet your needs?
| Your Requirements | Appropriate Edition |
|---|---|
| Use existing functions and standardized processes | Standard |
| Extensively configure processes, workflows, forms, roles, and data and object structures | Professional |
| Develop your own applications, modules, and software components using Pro-Code | Enterprise |
Standard: Use existing processes
Standard is the right edition if existing features and standardized process models already sufficiently meet your requirements.
Professional: Extensive Configuration
Professional significantly expands the scope for customization within the platform. Processes and applications can be adapted to your specific business requirements using the provided configuration and extension mechanisms.
Enterprise: Additional development via Pro-Code
Enterprise comes into play when configuration and existing extension mechanisms are no longer sufficient.
This edition expands the development capabilities for custom business applications, modules, and software components via Pro-Code.
Compare all EcholoN editions in detail →
What You Can Configure Yourself with Professional
Professional enables a high degree of customization within the EcholoN platform.
Processes and Workflows
Process flows can be adapted to organizational requirements, and custom workflows can be designed.
Among other things, the following can be mapped:
- Responsibilities
- Process steps
- Approval levels
- Escalations
- Status models
- Rules
- Process dependencies
.
This allows existing processes to be used as a starting point and adapted to the organization’s actual workflows.
Learn about the EcholoN Workflow Engine →
Forms and Fields
Forms and fields can be added, defined, and modified.
This allows the collection and presentation of information to be tailored to the specific business process without having to develop custom Pro-Code components for every change.
Cockpits and User Interfaces
Professional enables the custom definition of cockpits and dashboards.
This allows different roles and user groups to access the information and functions relevant to their respective tasks.
Data and Object Structures and Relationships
Business objects and information can be structured and linked to one another.
For example, relationships can be mapped between:
- People
- Organizations
- Services
- Devices
- Assets
- Products
- Contracts
- Processes
- Other business objects
.
CMDB and Configuration Management
Professional enables the comprehensive development of configuration management structures.
Configuration items can be structured according to business needs and linked to one another. This allows, for example, systems, assets, assemblies, or other objects to be represented in accordance with the respective application scenario.
Roles and Business Contexts
Applications and processes can be configured for different roles, organizational units, and business contexts.
This enables multiple user groups to work on the same technical platform without having to use identical interfaces, information, or process flows.
Use the Standard and Configure It Specifically
“Professional” does not mean having to completely rebuild existing EcholoN processes and applications from scratch.
The more sensible approach is to use existing product features where they already fit and to customize only those requirements that are truly specific to your organization.
Adopt Existing Standards
Existing features and process models form the basis for requirements that are already covered by EcholoN.
Configure Organization-Specific Differences
Workflows, forms, roles, fields, dashboards, and data and object relationships can be customized wherever processes deviate from the existing standard configuration.
Avoid Pro-Code as Long as Platform Mechanisms Are Sufficient
If a requirement can be fully implemented via configuration, scripts, expressions, or other intended extension mechanisms, no custom Pro-Code component is required.
Only when these options are no longer sufficient should the Enterprise Edition, with its additional development capabilities, be considered.
Adopt the standard where it fits. Configure individually where necessary. Use Pro-Code selectively.
Configuring Different Processes on a Single Platform
Professional is not limited to IT service management or a single service area.
The configuration options can be used for various functional and business processes, for example:
- IT and service management processes
- Customer and support processes
- Asset and configuration management
- Facility and maintenance processes
- Quality, approval, and other business processes
Which solution is to be implemented from a functional perspective and which edition is required for it are two separate decisions.
Even Enterprise Service Management, for example, does not automatically require the Enterprise Edition. The decisive factors are which functions are needed, to what extent processes and applications are to be configured, and whether custom Pro-Code components are also required.
Configuration Based on an Updateable Product Platform
A high degree of customization should not automatically lead to a technically isolated, custom development.
EcholoN Professional therefore uses the platform’s built-in configuration and extension mechanisms to tailor processes and applications to specific needs.
Configurations implemented within the platform’s intended mechanisms remain part of the update-compatible EcholoN product base.
This is particularly relevant for applications operated over the long term: The more requirements that can be implemented using standard functions and the intended configuration, the less custom software needs to be developed and technically maintained.
However, in the case of custom scripts, integrations, or other technical extensions, changes to the platform functions or interfaces used may still require adjustments.
Such extensions should therefore be technically reviewed as part of relevant updates.
Frequently Asked Questions About EcholoN Professional Edition
FAQs
What is EcholoN Professional Edition?
EcholoN Professional is the edition designed for organizations that want to extensively customize existing EcholoN processes and applications to meet their own requirements.
This includes, among other things, processes, workflows, forms, fields, dashboards, roles, as well as data and object structures and their relationships.
Do I need programming skills to use Professional?
Many customizations can be implemented using the built-in EcholoN configuration mechanisms without having to develop your own Pro-Code components.
However, depending on the specific requirements and the extension mechanism used, relevant product or technical expertise may be necessary.
Trained customer and partner teams can handle many of these tasks on their own.
Can existing EcholoN standard processes be modified?
Yes. Professional allows you to use existing processes and standards as a starting point and adapt them to your own organizational and technical requirements.
What is the difference between Standard and Professional?
Standard is designed for using existing features and standardized processes.
Professional is the right choice when processes, workflows, forms, roles, and data and object structures need to be extensively customized.
What is the difference between Professional and Enterprise?
Professional stands for extensive configuration and extension within the EcholoN platform’s built-in mechanisms.
Enterprise additionally provides pro-code development capabilities for custom business applications, modules, and software components.
Custom applications are therefore not automatically an Enterprise matter. The decisive factor is whether the requirements can be implemented within the configuration and extension mechanisms or whether custom Pro-Code development is required.
Is the Standard Edition Enough - or Do You Need the Professional Edition?
If existing features and standardized processes are sufficient, you should consider the Standard Edition. If you want to extensively customize processes, workflows, forms, roles, as well as data and object structures yourself, the Professional Edition is the appropriate option.
If the application scenario also requires custom business applications, modules, or software components developed using Pro-Code, you should consider the Enterprise edition.
A case-by-case analysis can determine which requirements are already covered by existing features and where additional configuration or development is actually necessary.