Business Intelligence (BI) is the process of collecting, analyzing, and presenting business data to help organizations make better decisions. It transforms data into meaningful insights enabling companies to understand their performance, market trends, and competitive position. In this blog post I will explain how you can use BI together with a Business Process Management System.
Most BI tools follow the approach to transform raw data from a database centric business application into aggregated data for analysis. Typically those tools are built on SQL based databases which makes it easy to group data or compute totals across different queries. Of course, this approach requires a well-designed data structure and a deep understanding of the technical relationships between different information domains. Thus, it is usually a collaboration between business analysts and developers to collect this kind of data.
But what if you have a business process management system instead of a ERP software? In such a software system, there are floating and volatile workflows that generate the data to be analyzed. For example, a “complaint management” business process is more likely to look at timings, processing periods, and costs over time. The analysis of such processes in a BI tool is often very difficult to realize with conventional SQL queries. So the question is: what could be the right architecture to process this type of data in a BI platform?
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations need workflow solutions that can adapt quickly to changing requirements while maintaining operational efficiency. While there are several workflow engines available in the market, Imixs-Workflow stands out as a compelling choice, particularly for organizations seeking to put process control directly in the hands of business users. Why can Imixs-Workflow be an alternative to Camunda?
As organizations evaluate workflow engines for their process automation needs, Camunda has established itself as a powerful solution, particularly for development teams implementing complex program logic through BPMN models. However, for organizations seeking a more business-oriented approach, Imixs-Workflow emerges as a compelling alternative that addresses different yet equally important needs in the process automation landscape.
Today I was asked from customers how to compare Camunda with the Imixs-Workflow engine. This question often comes up when projects try to evaluate and compare workflow engines. My short answer to this question is: You shouldn’t compare these two engines. In the following, I will try to explain this in more detail.
First of all, I would like to make it clear that this is not an evaluation of the two engines, but only to show the different criteria that come into question for an evaluation. So first, let’s look at the similarities between Camunda and Imixs.
Both engines are open source frameworks. Both are implemented in Java and both support the BPMN 2.0 standard. But these are already the only similarities that both frameworks have in common. You could now argue that Camunda is essentially based on Spring and Imixs-Workflow is a Jakarta EE implementation. One could also highlight the different modeling concepts that both frameworks represent (I have talked about this some times ago). But all these are details of architecture and implementation in my opinion. The main difference is quite another one.
We are excited to announce that we have released today the latest version of Open-BPMN. The new release 1.2.3 of the open-source BPMN Modelling Tool includes a lot new features and fixes. Open-BPMN in its new version supports additional Event Definition Elements and the DataStore object.
Import of Camunda Models
Open-BPMN is now also able to import BPMN models created with bpmn.io from the camunda project. Importing such kind of models sometimes revealed problems if the model did not contain a public process. Open-BPMN detects now this situation and automatically add the missing elements.
A public Process represents the interactions between a private Business Process within a Pool or another Participant (see example). A public process typically shows to the outside world the Messages, and the order of these Messages, that are needed to interact with a specific Business Process. Public Processes can be modeled separately or within a Collaboration to show the flow of Messages between the public Process Activities and other Participants. Open-BPMN supports this kind of models.
Imixs-Workflow
The Open Source Workflow Engine Imixs-Workflow is built on Open-BPMN and allows the execution of complex business processes. Imixs Workflow offers a comprehensive suite of modules and adapters for digitalizing enterprise business processes. This includes interfaces, analysis modules, document management functionality, and AI integration. For small and medium-sized companies, the Imixs-Office-Workflow management suite provides an easy entry point to business process management, free from vendor lock-in and unpredictable license costs.
We are excited to announce the latest release 6.1.0 of our open-source BPMN Workflow Engine. Imixs-Workflow is built on Jakarta EE 10 and BPMN 2.0, and now includes also a lightweight workflow engine for microcontrollers!
The latest version of Imixs-Workflow significantly enhances the processing capabilities for complex BPMN 2.0 models. At its core, the new engine now integrates Open-BPMN. Open-BPMN not only enables modeling according to the BPMN 2.0 standard but also provides a powerful meta framework for analyzing and interpreting BPMN models. This advancement greatly expands the possibilities of the Imixs workflow engine, allowing runtime access to every aspect of a BPMN 2.0 model.
Imixs-Micro – The Lightweight Workflow Engine
Alongside this release, we’re proud to introduce Imixs-Micro, a new lightweight variant of the Imixs-Workflow Engine Based on the Quarkus architecture. Imixs-Micro is designed to operate on microcontrollers such as the Raspberry PI.
Empowering Production Processes with Imixs Workflow
Raspberry Pi is a versatile and cost-effective microcontroller opening up new possibilities for implementing Imixs-Workflow in various environments. Its compact size and powerful capabilities make it an ideal platform for controlling production processes. By running Imixs-Micro on a Raspberry Pi, businesses can now seamlessly integrate workflow management into their manufacturing operations, enabling real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of production lines. This integration bridges the gap between IT systems and shop floor operations, facilitating a more agile and responsive manufacturing environment.
Comprehensive Solutions for Enterprise Digitalization
Imixs Workflow offers a comprehensive suite of modules and adapters for digitalizing enterprise business processes. This includes interfaces, analysis modules, document management functionality, and AI integration. For small and medium-sized companies, the Imixs-Office-Workflow management suite provides an easy entry point to business process management, free from vendor lock-in and unpredictable license costs.
Start your journey with the open-source Imixs Workflow engine today!
We finally released the Version 1.1.0 of our new Imixs-AI framework. Imixs-AI integrates large language models (LLM) into your business process.
The integration of Imixs-AI is based on BPMN 2.0 and gives you a very flexible and powerful way to leverage your business process to the next level. The project provides you with service and adapter classes to connect your business workflow to any language server supporting the Open-AI API specification. The prompt configuration is done via your BPMN model. This makes it very easy to integrate AI into your business processes.
Imixs-AI is now becoming also part of Imixs-Office-Workflow – the business process management suite for enterprises.
In this short tutorial I will show how to build a business application with the Business Process Modelling Notation – BPMN. This approach differs from the usual data-centric approach as we focus on process management instead of data processing.
Data Processing vs. Process Management
When we follow the classic approach building a Data-Centric Business Application, we usually first design a data schema. The data schema defines what kind of data can be managed. The application allows us to create new data sets, edit existing data and of course search for data.
In a Process-Centric Business Application we instead first try to answer the question how data should be processed to give each actor the best access to information to reach a specific business goal. And this kind of question becomes more and more important in our today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. BPMN offers the perfect approach to model a workflow with its business goals from the beginning to the end. BPMN models can be created with various tools like for example the Open Source BPMN designer Open-BPMN.
The big advantage of BPMN is that it does not only give all stake holders a clear understanding about the process, a BPMN 2.0 Model can also be executed by a suitable process engine. This “low-code” or “model-driven” approach leads to a much more flexible way to implement business applications. Of course, data still plays an important role and workflow engines allow us to manage business data in various ways. So let’s see how this works…
In today’s data-driven business landscape, managing data effectively is crucial for achieving organizational goals. While data processing systems play a vital role in collecting and organizing data, it is often overlooked that data should not be managed solely for its own sake. True value lies in understanding how data can be leveraged to achieve business objectives, which is where the concept of process management comes into play.
Today we live in a world where data is everywhere and every enterprise knows about the value of data. But how do we handle data? How do we create, collect analyze it? This is the area of data processing software. And we all use databases, spread sheets and data management systems to manage all kind of data. Many software systems are build around specific data domains and we use this software to create and maintain the data.
But in this context, however, it is often overlooked that data should not be managed for its own sake. The reason why we need data in companies is that we want to achieve certain business goals. And in this context, we come to the question of how corporate goals can be achieved at all? This is the area of process management.
So what’s the difference between data processing and processes management?
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the integration of advanced technologies is not just a luxury but a necessity. One such powerful combination is Business Process Management (BPM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). At Imixs Workflow, we are excited to introduce a groundbreaking feature that leverages these technologies: Imixs Business AI. This new feature combines BPMN with AI and promises to revolutionize how businesses manage and optimize their workflows.
Understanding BPMN and AI
BPMN is a graphical representation for specifying business processes in a workflow. It provides businesses with a standardized method to visualize, document, and analyze their processes, making it easier to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
AI, on the other hand, brings the power of machine learning and data analytics to the table. AI can learn from data, recognize patterns, and make intelligent decisions, thereby automating complex tasks that would otherwise require human intervention.
With Imixs Business AI these two technologies are now combined and you can integrate artificial intelligence into your BPMN model. This gives you new opportunities to make your company’s business processes smarter.
The Synergy of BPMN and AI
Combining BPMN and AI offers several distinct advantages:
Enhanced Process Efficiency: AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify bottlenecks in business processes designed with BPMN. By doing so, it suggests optimizations and automations, significantly speeding up operations.
Intelligent Decision Making: AI-powered systems can make real-time decisions based on historical data and predictive analytics. This capability ensures that the workflow adapts dynamically to changing circumstances, enhancing agility and responsiveness.
Predictive Maintenance: In scenarios where processes involve machinery or IT infrastructure, AI can predict potential failures and suggest maintenance schedules. This proactive approach reduces downtime and improves overall efficiency.
Personalized Customer Experience: By integrating AI with BPMN, businesses can tailor their processes to individual customer needs and preferences, providing a more personalized and satisfactory customer experience.
Cost Reduction: Automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks reduces the need for manual intervention, leading to significant cost savings.
The Open Source Advantage with Imixs-Workflow
Imixs-Workflow, at its core, is an open-source BPMN-based workflow engine. Embracing open source offers multiple benefits:
Transparency and Security: With open-source software, the code is publicly available. This transparency allows for continuous scrutiny and improvement by the community, enhancing security and reliability.
Flexibility and Customization: Businesses can modify the workflow engine to meet their specific needs without being locked into proprietary solutions. This flexibility is crucial for adapting to unique business requirements and evolving market conditions.
Community Support: Open-source projects benefit from a global community of developers and users. This community-driven approach fosters innovation, rapid issue resolution, and the sharing of best practices.
Cost-Effectiveness: Utilizing open-source software eliminates licensing fees, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes.
Introducing Imixs Business AI
Our latest feature, Imixs Business AI, integrates the power of AI into the robust Imixs-Workflow engine. This integration allows businesses to:
Automate Decision-Making: AI algorithms analyze process data to make informed decisions, reducing the need for manual oversight.
Optimize Workflows: Continuous learning and data analysis help in identifying areas for process improvement, ensuring workflows are always running at peak efficiency.
Enhance Data Utilization: AI leverages data more effectively, providing insights that drive strategic business decisions.
By leveraging the synergy between BPMN and AI within the open-source framework of Imixs-Workflow, businesses can achieve unparalleled efficiency, agility, and innovation.
With our business process management suite Imixs-Office Workflow, we are committed to helping businesses harness these cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead in the competitive market. Explore our Imixs Business AI feature today and take the first step towards a smarter, more efficient future.
For more information and to see how Imixs Business AI can transform your business processes, contact us for a personalized consultation. Together, let’s revolutionize your workflows and drive your business forward.
We just released the next version of the Imixs-Cloud project! The new release 0.2.0 is marking a significant milestone in the evolution of this open-source platform project. Imixs-Cloud now supports Debian 12 and the latest Kubernetes Release 1.29.5.
About Imixs-Cloud Project
The Imixs-Cloud Project offers an easy way to build and manage a robust platform for running enterprise applications in a cloud-native environment. Leveraging the power of Kubernetes, Imixs-Cloud ensures that applications are not only scalable and resilient but also secure and easy to manage. The project is designed to simplify the management and deployment of container based business applications running on Kubernetes.
Imixs-Cloud is developed and maintained by the Imixs Software Solutions GmbH located in Munich. The open source project supports the dynamic and continuous development of a cloud infrastructure architecture for small and medium sized companies. With a focus on open-source development, the project fosters collaboration and innovation within the community, driving the creation of sustainable and adaptable business solutions.
For more information about the latest version of the Imixs-Cloud Project and to explore the new features, please visit https://imixs.github.io/imixs-cloud/.
