BPMN Tutorial for Beginners: Your First Process Model
Learn BPMN by drawing a real process in the free bpmn.io modeler, no account needed. A start event, tasks, an exclusive gateway with labelled flows and two end events, using an online shop's order to delivery process.
Step by step
What is BPMN
- Your first BPMN model. BPMN is the standard way business analysts draw a process, so everyone reads it the same way. Here's the order process we'll model today, in the free bpmn.io modeler.
- New diagram. Go to demo dot bpmn.io and start a new diagram. You get one thin circle. That's the start event, the moment the process begins.
- Start event. Double-click it and name what starts the process. Order placed. Events are things that happen, so name them as a short state.
Tasks
- Task. Click the start event. A small menu opens next to it. Click the rounded box to add a task, and type check stock. A task is work, so use a verb and a noun.
Gateways
- Gateway. Now a decision. Click the task, then the diamond. That's an exclusive gateway: only one way out is taken. Name it with a short question. In stock?
- Label the flows. From the gateway, add the yes path: a new task, ship order. Then double-click the arrow and label it yes.
End events
- End event. Every path needs an end. Click ship order, then the thick circle. That's an end event. Name the result. Order delivered.
- Second end. Now the no path. Drag the end event from the gateway's menu to the space below it. Name it order on hold, and label the arrow no.
- Label the flows. Look at the gateway. Both arrows out of it have a label, so anyone can read the rule without asking you.
- The finished model. Click away to see the whole model. One start, two tasks, one decision and two ends. That's a complete BPMN process.
Recap
- The rules. So, begin with one start event, name tasks with a verb and a noun, label every arrow out of a gateway, and end every path with an end event. Subscribe for more BPMN tips for business analysts.
