EPC and BPMN 2.0 – advantages, definition, and differences of the two process modeling languages

The event-driven process chain can be enhanced by two additional elements - to become the extended event-driven process chain (eEPC). These two elements are an organizational unit element and an information element, which provide a more detailed graphical representation. For example, the persons responsible for certain process steps can be mapped in this way.

The modeling language Business Process Model and Notation 2.0, or BPMN 2.0 for short, is used for the visual representation and automation of business processes. With the internationally used notation, processes can therefore not only be represented graphically, but also executed automatically in the background. This integration of the business departments with IT sets BPMN 2.0 apart from other process model languages. BPMN can thus be seen as a cornerstone of the digital transformation, since analog processes in the company were previously mapped digitally and, based on this, controlled by IT.

The elements of BPMN 2.0 are:

• Event
  Events indicate where the process or sub-process begins, where it ends, and where relevant intermediate steps are located.
• Activity
  Activities are concrete action steps that are connected by arrows and thus form a processing sequence.  
• Gateway
  Gateways represent decision points in the sequence flows that trigger and merge branches. They are divided into: exclusive, parallel and inclusive gateways, among others.
• Token
  Tokens are used to provide a controlled and traceable flow of individual steps and indicate the current point in the execution of a process. From a technical point of view, tokens also control when an activity may be started and when it is considered finished.
• Connecting arrow
  Connecting arrows connect elements and may be enhanced by gateways. Depending on the nature of the lines, the arrows mean that there is a sequence flow (solid line), an association (dotted line), or a message flow (dashed line) between the connected elements.
• Sub-process
  Several activities can be outsourced as a sub-process to reduce the complexity of a process.

The division of the flow charts into pools (areas) with swimlanes (lanes) ensures a clear representation. A pool covers the entire process under consideration, and the swimlanes represent the responsibilities in separate lanes. The individual elements (activities, events, connecting arrows and gateways) are arranged chronologically in these lanes.With BPMN 2.0, both simple and complex processes can be visualized in a comprehensible way. In business processes that can be automated, the activities are controlled automatically via service tasks.

Common features

Both modeling languages can be used across applications and offer simple and clear ways of representing processes. They are easy and intuitive to use, so that even non-experts can understand and operate them well.

Differences

The two images of the same onboarding process – one as an EPC and one as a BPMN 2.0 workflow – immediately reveal the weaknesses of the EPC. The EPC requires considerably more elements to represent the process than BPMN 2.0, making it more confusing.

Representation

Regarding the representation, EPC and BPMN 2.0 differ very much. While processes are represented in the EPC from top to bottom as a diagram and responsible persons can only be entered in the extended form, the BPMN 2.0 can represent processes in pools and lanes both horizontally and vertically. On the one hand, this enables the exact mapping of responsibilities for each process step and thus ensures a much clearer arrangement than with the diagrams of the EPC (or the eEPC).

Elements

An intersection of the elements of both notations is similar, in addition, BPMN 2.0 includes a variety of other elements that give process models more accuracy and detail.

Since the EPC is event-driven, there are often duplications in process modeling that make the mapping more extensive but offer little added value – each activity (= function in the EPC) must necessarily be followed by an event and vice versa: e.g., “Reorder product” (function) -> “Product reordered” (event).

In BPMN 2.0, the token can be used to keep track of the progress of an automated process (current processing status). Tokens are also used technically to make parallel or time-controlled processes possible.

Automation

The biggest difference lies in the automation of processes, where BPMN 2.0 outshines EPC. This notation is thus better suited than the EPC for modeling non-automatable as well as automatable business processes. The BPMN engine monitors error-free process execution; employees are informed about pending tasks, external systems are activated, and automatable tasks are executed directly. This ensures that no process step is forgotten, and that the execution sequence is adhered to.

Distribution

The EPC is mainly used throughout Germany. On the one hand, this is because the notation was developed in Germany, and on the other hand, it has only been able to establish itself to a limited extent outside the German-speaking world due to its lack of standardization.

In contrast, BPMN 2.0 is used worldwide. This causes a constant further development of the tool, whereby processes can be built up more and more flexible and complex with BPMN 2.0, such as with integrated loops (repetitions), specific conditions, time control or parallel processes.