Have you ever wondered if there are software systems you can actually configure using visual models instead of code? My talk explores this idea—how business process management systems (BPMS) let you design, adjust, and even automate business processes directly from diagrams rather than hand-written specs or endless meetings.

I highlight how these visual models—built with tools like BPMN—tackle one of the toughest problems in business and IT: miscommunication. By turning complex processes into shared diagrams, everyone from business users to developers can literally “see” what’s happening, minimizing confusion and speeding up alignment.

Then, I take you through the core components of a BPMS in real-world terms:

• The process model, where you visually define tasks, events, and decisions.
• The execution engine, which runs those models—automating tasks, tracking progress, and enforcing rules.
• Task lists for users—web interfaces showing assigned work like approvals and data entry, with task claiming, prioritization, and due dates to keep everyone accountable.
• Monitoring dashboards (cockpit)—real-time visibility into running processes with flow diagrams, bottleneck analysis, and the ability to migrate or modify live instances.
• REST APIs—programmatic access to trigger processes, query workflow states, assign tasks, and extract data for seamless integration with other business systems.

This approach offers a rapid way to not just document but actually implement and improve business operations—all driven by diagrams that become living, running systems.