Terminology hub
A concise reference for terms commonly used when designing digital SOPs, workflows, and system integrations.
Structured definitions
Each term has a concise definition, anchor URL, and schema markup to help people and search engines find it.
Definition
BPMN 2.0 is a visual notation standard for modeling business processes with elements such as events, activities, gateways, and flows. It helps business and technical teams read a process in the same language before it is executed or automated.
#bpmn-2-0Definition
Business Process Management (BPM) is a discipline for identifying, designing, executing, monitoring, and improving business processes. BPM covers more than software: it includes roles, rules, metrics, and continuous process improvement.
#bpmDefinition
A workflow engine is a software component that interprets a process model and directs work to the right people or systems. It consistently runs rules, conditions, deadlines, and task transitions.
#workflow-engineDefinition
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is documented instruction for performing work consistently. A strong SOP explains its objective, sequence of steps, owner, inputs, outputs, and exceptions to handle.
#sopDefinition
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) uses software bots to mimic repetitive steps normally performed by users in applications. RPA is best suited to high-volume, rule-based work, while BPM manages end-to-end processes across roles.
#rpaDefinition
Low-code and no-code are application-development approaches that prioritize visual configuration over writing code from scratch. They speed up workflow and form creation, while complex rules or integrations may still require technical development.
#low-code-no-codeDefinition
Workflow automation uses rules and technology to automatically move work, data, or notifications between roles and systems. Effective automation still needs a clear process, task ownership, and defined decision conditions.
#workflow-automationDefinition
Process mining analyzes event logs from information systems to discover how a process actually runs. It helps identify variations, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities, but does not replace process design or automation itself.
#process-miningDefinition
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is an integrated system for managing core business data and transactions such as finance, inventory, purchasing, and human resources. A workflow engine can complement ERP by managing approvals, process orchestration, and cross-application integration.
#erpDefinition
An Application Programming Interface (API) is an interface that lets applications exchange data or call one another's functions through agreed rules. APIs let workflows connect to ERP, CRM, internal systems, and third-party services without manual data exchange.
#apiContinue learning